Laugh Now, Rap Later: Zeddy Will’s Glow-Up Feels Personal As He Drops First Ever Mixtape “Set The Tone”

King Silvy
Apr 30
4 min read

If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok, the NYC club scene, or a college homecoming within the last year, you’ve likely heard Zeddy Will. Maybe it was the infectious hook of “Twerkin Wit Ya Friends” flooding your For You Page, or the now-iconic “Get Jiggy” collab with B Jack$ moving through your headphones at 1M+ streams a day. But Zeddy Will isn’t just a viral moment. He’s a movement in the making—and with his debut mixtape Set The Tone (dropping May 2), the Queens-born artist is laying down the foundation for a long-term seat at hip-hop’s ever-evolving table.

A Mixtape with Meaning

Unlike the one-off loosies that brought him mainstream attention (“Bottles N Btches” with Dee Billz, “Trippin’” with Sturdyyoungin and Ohthatsmizz, or the TikTok-dominating “Get Jiggy”), Set The Tone is a focused 10-track collection meant to reflect Zeddy’s story, evolution, and versatility.

“I made a mixtape that just feels good,” Zeddy says. “It’s 10 songs on there where you don’t gotta think too hard. You either like the song or you love it—’cause I don’t think people are gonna hear anything on here and be like ‘uhhh I don’t like this one.’”

And he’s right. From the project’s cinematic opener “Set The Tone” to the viral-ready “Uh Oh” and fan-favorite “Ask About Me,” the tape is filled with high-energy bops, melodic moments, and real storytelling. Zeddy opens up about childhood struggles, doubters, and the journey from being class clown to front-stage phenom.

“I really sat down and I wrote. I talk about my life—it’s like a biography,” he says about the title track. “I used to get picked on by teachers and students. They thought something was wrong with me for being the way I was. I just wanted people to like me. I just wanted to entertain.”

Lyrical Acrobatics, With a Smile

Don’t let the fun persona fool you—Zeddy Will can rap. On the track “Joe Budden,” he flips the legendary “Pump It Up” beat with playful precision:

“Google ‘What’s my net worth?’ They say something below a mil / Tell me who be writing this, ’cause that n*** off a pill…”*

Zeddy laughs about it now, but moments like these show that beneath the jokes is a technically sharp emcee with serious musical instincts.

“I love old school beats like that,” he says. “That beat is pain. Joe Budden really rapped on it. I feel like I could do the same.”

He also credits freestyling for most of his tracks, letting the beat guide the vibe. His only fully written breakout? “Cha Cha,” the standout On The Radar freestyle that introduced him to millions.

Zeddy Will "Cha Cha"

From Class Clown to Campus King

Zeddy Will might be from Queens, but he’s dubbed himself the “King of HBCUs.” Having attended Howard University, he understands the nuances of Black college culture—especially how important it is to show up on campus, in person. He has been traveling state to state, school to school seeing his fans in person, building his brand brick by brick.

“When I’m not there, it’s slow, it's silent. But when I am there—it’s a movie.”

That energy’s translated to performances at SXSW, on Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out Tour, and most recently at Clark Atlanta, where he brought out friends like Tylil James to do his viral dance to “Violent Crimes” by Kanye West and YKNiece (I'm talmbout innit), 1 half of the duo that has Tik Tok in shambles with their viral song “Whim Whamiee” by Pluto. These weren’t just cameos—they were calculated collaborations, designed to turn up and tap in.

Streaming Stardom and Viral Shenanigans

If Zeddy isn’t on stage, he’s probably on your timeline. Whether he's cracking jokes on stream with close friends like Zoe Spencer, Tylil James, and Honey Bxby, or faking out fans trolling on TikTok (“Nah, Twerkin Wit Ya Friends ain’t about Zoe,” he laughs), Zeddy knows how to use the internet to keep people curious. Though he doesn’t stream himself, Zeddy’s often featured on platforms run by his crew, saying:

“If you see me on a stream, it’s usually on their stream. The reason I don’t stream is because I see how much time goes into it and I got this rap sh-t, comedy and skits going on — it’s extra, it's a lot of work. You got to have mods and all this extra sh-t”

Tylil James X Zoe Spencer X Zeddy Will Full Stream

Still, his name stays in rotation—especially thanks to Kai Cenat, Twitch’s biggest streamer and an honorary “hood A&R,” who plays Zeddy’s music regularly to his 50M+ followers. It’s exposure money can’t buy, but charisma definitely can.

Kai Cenat Dancing To "Get Jiggy" By Zeddy Will & BJack$

Looking Ahead: Plaques, Acting & For The Love of Zeddy Will?

Despite his carefree tone, Zeddy’s vision is crystal clear. He’s aiming for plaques, major collaborations (Drake and NLE Choppa are on his wishlist), and eventually, a pivot to acting.

“I get with Drake? Drake is dancing,” he jokes. “Every artist I work with—I bring out their inner child. I just want people to have fun.”

And as for a reality dating show like Druski’s Coulda Been Love?

“Yes! OMG. First ones I’m casting? Zoe, Honey Bxby, Karrahboo—then we’ll see who else shows up!”

Aside from a fake viral relationship with Honey Bxby, Zeddy has some music coming out with her on it and another mixtape potentially dropping a month after this first drop.

Zeddy Will Is Just Getting Started

Billboard already named him one of the “15 Hip-Hop, African & R&B Artists to Watch in 2025.” XXL’s Freshman 10th Spot is in the conversation. A tour is on the horizon. And on May 2, Zeddy Will will headline a free mixtape release show at American Dream Mall in New Jersey, giving fans a live taste of the project that proves he’s more than a viral spark—he’s a flame that won’t burn out.