While Winter’s Diary 2 is going to be mostly R&B, Boss Up combines both Tink’s rap and R&B sounds. In the beginning, she tried to keep projects separate so people knew what they were getting into even though on every tape you hear a little bit of both. “I kind of push them together, but as a whole project, you’ll know the difference,” she said. As to lyrics, her life determines how she writes and what she writes, “If I go through something with a boyfriend, or I get played or something, I’ll make a song the next day just because of my feelings or my emotions. But other times when I go into the studio with a producer, we’re trying to just turn up and it’s some hardcore stuff, so you know it depends on how I’m feeling.” Being able to switch it up makes Tink a unique artist.
Tink is a writer, a storyteller too at times, drawing inspiration from ‘90s artists such as TLC, which is heard when you listen to Tink sing, “when you listen to old school songs you hear a story every time that is real, that is actual writing.” She also keeps in mind her younger audience and tends to watch what she says, aware of her influence keeping certain content on lock.
Tink has a maturity that is beyond her years. Not only is her musical skill sophisticated, but her respect for her fellow rappers shows her understanding of the game. “Of course people understand that Chicago is on the rise in music, but as far as the female rappers from Chicago, there’s so many of us talented females that rap,” she stated. “No shade to other artists, there’s room for everybody and every female rapper. There’s room for us at the top. I think sometimes people put us in competition when really it shouldn’t be like that. We’re all working towards that one thing, so there’s room for everybody,” Tink continued.
Boss Up hasn’t been out three full weeks and Tink is already talking about her fifth project. She’s driven and constantly striving to do better than her previous work, “I always say, ‘my best work is coming up.’ I’m never satisfied with what I do. It doesn’t matter what happens, I’m always going to be, ‘you haven’t seen nothing yet because what I’m working on right now is going to be way better.’”
Tink has performed all over the United States, and has an upcoming show in Las Vegas. All this and she isn’t signed to a label yet. Tink raps in “Versace Remix” on Boss Up, “Stop with the rumors I went to LA and I turned down their offer.” Still being independent has it’s good and bad sides, but she is content at the end of the day. Tink explains, “Of course it’s great. This is what I really love to do as far as making music and performing for other people. But some days it does have its negative vibes. I get homesick sometimes. Doing everything on my own [has some] pressure. It’s more responsibility that I have to take on because I am independent. It has its ups and downs.”
All that drive makes one wonder where Tink will be by 21. She wants to travel, go beyond Chicago, and the United States. “Honestly, by my 21st birthday I really want to be established in the game as an artist, and people will recognize me for everything that I’ve done. [Winter’s Diary 2] will be my fifth mixtape, and I don’t think people really understand how much work goes into a mixtape, and putting together a song with someone. So by 21 I want the whole world to recognize what I’m doing.” At the rate she’s going, they will.