Minnesota’s rising Hip-Hop talent Lil Nuka is continuing to build serious momentum with the release of his latest EP, “ITMT2,” a project that highlights his evolution as an artist while bringing together two notable collaborations with Billionaire Black and the late Funny Money.
After an impressive year of releases and growing buzz surrounding his next move, Lil Nuka is stepping into a new chapter of his career with a project that feels both personal and authentic. “ITMT2” gives listeners a closer look at his perspective, ambition and commitment to remaining true to himself in an industry increasingly influenced by social media and online appearances.
The EP also carries additional significance through its collaborations. Lil Nuka connects with Chicago Hip-Hop figure Billionaire Black, while also featuring the late Funny Money, whose contribution to the project has taken on an even deeper meaning following his passing.
The Meaning Behind “ITMT2”
For Lil Nuka, the title “ITMT2” stands for “I’m The Mean Time 2,” a concept he believes represents the mindset of genuine artists and hustlers navigating life outside of the image created by the internet.
According to Nuka, the project is ultimately about authenticity.
“I truly feel all real, genuine artists can relate to this. This project is for real hustlers and is dedicated to being authentic. Too many times we forget what being authentic is. That’s the definition that gets overlooked nowadays because of the internet.”
Bringing Together Billionaire Black & Funny Money
One of the project’s biggest highlights is its collection of high-profile collaborations.
Lil Nuka’s connection with Billionaire Black dates back to his relationship with the Chicago Hip-Hop scene and the FBG movement. That history made the collaboration a natural extension of the relationships he has built throughout his musical journey.
Lil Nuka describes Funny Money as a genuine person whose passing deeply affected him. Initially, Nuka considered keeping their collaboration off the EP, but ultimately decided that releasing the song would be a meaningful way to preserve the music they created together.
“Funny Money had always been a genuine soul and his passing truly hurt me. To be honest, I wasn’t going to release the song, but once I noticed his support was towards more music, I had to put it on my EP.”
As his name continues to gain recognition throughout Minnesota and beyond, “ITMT2” could become another important milestone in Lil Nuka’s developing career.