TONY NEW Turns Personal Growth Into Purpose on New Album "FOREVER GOOD"

New Jersey-born hip-hop artist TONY NEW is embracing personal evolution with his album FOREVER GOOD, a deeply reflective project exploring identity, ambition, and the courage to leave the past behind. Blending soulful, sample-driven production with smooth vocals and pop-rap influences, TONY NEW delivers a project rooted in self-discovery and the determination to build something meaningful.

Also known as Tony Newbury, TONY NEW has accumulated over two million streams across platforms while building an impressive behind-the-scenes career. His songwriting, engineering, and production experience includes collaborations with A$AP Rocky, YG, Malik Yusef, WESTSIDE BOOGIE, and Buddy.

Before relocating to Los Angeles, TONY NEW taught music production to young creatives at Newark's HUBB Arts and Trauma Center. This experience strengthened his commitment to using music as a vehicle for opportunity.

Created over three years, the album documents TONY NEW's decision to embrace his identity without compromise. Throughout the creative process, he confronted relationships, experiences, and expectations that no longer aligned with his future.

Rather than presenting personal growth as an overnight transformation, FOREVER GOOD acknowledges the uncomfortable decisions required to move forward. The project also features “DOPAMINE REMIX,” accompanied by a music video featuring WESTSIDE BOOGIE. Shot by R3x Wonders and Natalie Cali, the visual adds another dimension to TONY NEW's expanding creative world.

“I want people to feel inspired to follow their vision and understand that there's no timetable for creating something,” TONY NEW shares. Beyond his own artistic ambitions, TONY NEW envisions building opportunities for other creatives, potentially through leadership or establishing a record label.

With FOREVER GOOD, TONY NEW reinforces a message that extends beyond music: meaningful success begins with knowing yourself, trusting your direction, and refusing to stop moving forward.

You spent three years developing FOREVER GOOD, and you've described the process as becoming more unapologetically yourself. What was the biggest personal realization you had during those three years, and how did it change the album's direction?

As much as I thought I was all in, I realized I was still holding myself back from being the real me. I was saying yes to things I thought were opportunities, but were really just feeding my ego. I had to start investing more in myself, which meant therapy, being vulnerable, and becoming more selective about who I allowed into my life. I’m still working on myself, but I’ve learned that I can be there for others without losing myself in the process.

You've worked behind the scenes with artists like A$AP Rocky, YG, and WESTSIDE BOOGIE. What have those experiences taught you about navigating the industry, and how have they shaped the identity you're building as TONY NEW?

To be relentless. To keep going even when I feel like giving up. Those experiences taught me more than I expected, not just about the industry, but about myself. I wasn’t perfect in those moments either, and I want people to know that. I used to imagine meeting artists I fucked with and everything going perfectly, but that’s not real life. I’m grateful those artists showed me love, but I learned a lot just by being myself and figuring things out as I went. I’m still learning, still growing, and that’s what TONY NEW is about. Just being real with myself and continuing to go after what I want, no matter what.

“DOPAMINE REMIX” features WESTSIDE BOOGIE, with a visual brought to life by R3x Wonders and Natalie Cali. How did that collaboration come together, and what did you want the music video to communicate beyond the song itself?

The link-up with Boogie all happened through Instagram. Thank God for the internet lol. I met R3x through another artist friend, and Cali was a videographer friend of his. I really just wanted a clean visual that captured the feeling of a high, something with effects and constant edits. R3x really killed it and brought the vision to life.

Before moving to Los Angeles, you taught music production to young people at The HUBB Arts and Trauma Center in Newark. How did working with those aspiring creatives shape your perspective on success, responsibility, and the kind of impact you want to have in music?

Man, it really changed the way I look at life. People always talk to me about not selling your soul or becoming a puppet in the game. But now, I got these kids I want to inspire. I want to be somebody they can look at and see that you don’t have to be something you’re not just to make it.

Working with them showed me a lot of different perspectives and ways of thinking. It made me realize that what you do with your life can mean a lot more than just what you accomplish for yourself. I want to show people that you can move how you want to move, stay true to yourself, and still make something happen. That’s really the goal.

You've spoken about eventually creating opportunities for other artists, potentially through your own label. What do you think the music industry is missing right now in supporting genuine creatives, and what would you do differently if you were in a position to lead that change?

I think it’s about helping independent artists get access to the same kind of network and connections that a lot of artists on major labels have. It’s a different world now. Anybody can put music out from home, but I think things are gonna shift again. I wanna stay aware of that and learn how to adapt. And if I can help other artists figure things out for themselves along the way, that’s important to me. Nobody really taught me everything I needed to know. I had to find my own way, and I’m still doing that. I just wanna make that process a little easier for somebody else.