FEATURES
AL99 (pronounced (”AL nine-nine”) is an artist who has been making music for seven years now and he has been progressing the entire time. As with any journey worth going on, he’s not in the same place he was when he started it. He’s learned multiple things about the music industry, both from the creative side and the business side. But most importantly, he’s grown as an individual which has allowed him to be at the best of his ability when making music.
"My body, my mind and my spirit are all in a great place right now. I feel great. That's something I struggled with in the past in different ways but it's not like that anymore. I'm blessed." he said.
Mental health is commonly discussed in the music industry now whether it’s people making songs advocating for it or canceling their tours because of things they may be going through. People like AL know that in order to make music to the best of your ability, you must be able to function to the best of your ability outside the studio too. Having a support system is helpful but it starts with internal motivation.
Making music with intentionality is something AL does effortlessly. Well most people know him for rap, he’s made music in multiple genres and plays guitar, drums and even a little keyboard. With this level of music knowledge, he knows how to blend a variety of sounds together creatively. As a result, much of his discography is self produced but also mixed and mastered by him too.
AL99 has earned degrees in both Audio Production and Music Business, ensuring he can effectively handle all aspects of his music or direct someone in the studio or the boardroom to do what needs to be done with it. In 2026, things like this have to be navigated differently than how they were 10 years ago. AI was not even a factor back then but now, artists are in a constant war with maintaining and preserving the value of human creativity in their music as investors and labels want to replace them or exploit them.
"I feel like AI takes away from the art and heart of human creativity. AI can only replicate and duplicate. It can't innovate." he said.
In addition to the world of AI, labels, contracts, ownership and more aspects are all part of the music industry too. Some artists choose to stay completely independent to avoid all of this while others have a goal of signing to a label and find out the hard way they should have gone a different route. In 2026, we have heard multiple stories in connection to the latter and it seems like we see some sort of new ownership or partnership with billion dollar companies every day on our timelines. However, with AL’s degree in Music Business, he has learned first hand how to navigate all these aspects and use that knowledge to his benefit.
AL99 releases music through TPC (To Progress the Culture) Music Production, his company. By doing this, he has ensured ownership of not only his music but of any other business endeavors he pursues whether it is related to the music or not. Additionally, many of the people at TPC are his close family and friends, meaning the money generated goes directly to the people he loves most but the money does not impact the unbreakable bonds he has built with all of them.
Another aspect of the music industry that AL99 has a strong handle on is social media presence. In current times, social media can be used to capitalize on or even start a career in the music industry. It can be used to grow, build and sustain a fanbase. Sometimes, artists also use it to speak on topics of all kinds which can sometimes get them in trouble for a variety of reasons. AL has never found himself in that position, opting to put his thoughts and opinions in the music and then using social media to promote it.
"These days, having a social media presence is important but I like to share my opinions in the music instead of on there. It can be a tool used to build an audience because sometimes to make deals and other things happen, they want you to have a strong social media following." he said.
Decisions like this help AL99 set himself apart from his contemporaries. As a student of music, he has often looked to legends of the past from multiple genres for inspiration. With most of the music he makes fits in the rap lane, he initially was a bit disapproving of where it had gone overall at the mainstream level. However, he soon realized that with each generation that makes music, the one before it typically disapproved of it.
"You can take tips and tools and sounds from the past but you also can't be too far removed from the current times. It's good to have a balance where you can pay homage to those before you but still capture the ears of people in current times." he said.
This level of discernment has benefited AL greatly as he has made all kinds of music with different people latching on to different things. Naturally, they have their preferences for what he puts out and others like everything he does. His ability to do this is a testament to his skill as a musician because no matter what genre he delves into, he’s doing it authentically and intentionally.
AL99’s journey in the music industry is constantly elevating. His knowledge is growing both inside and outside the studio and he’s continuing to make himself a better person mentally every day. With support from his family and his fans and a commitment to his craft, he’s building a legacy that extends beyond music.
You can continue to keep up with all of AL99’s endeavours by following him on these platforms.
LinkTree | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
The Starlight PR Team thanks AL99 for taking the time to speak with us.
Follow AL99 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_bigal9999/
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