With 'Choose to Be Kind,' Tjmendoza Trades Noise for Intention

Toronto’s hip-hop scene isn’t short on talent, but it is short on artists willing to slow down and tell the truth without hiding behind aesthetics or trends. Choose to Be Kind doesn’t posture, chase virality, or over-explain itself. It exists with purpose, and that confidence runs through every track.

This album is fully self-made, written, produced, recorded, arranged, and performed by Tjmendoza himself, and that level of control matters. You can hear it in the cohesion. Nothing feels outsourced or stitched together to fit a playlist formula. The sound moves between cloud rap and trap, but it never traps itself in either lane. Instead, the production stays atmospheric and bass-heavy, giving space for reflection rather than distraction. It’s subtle, intentional, and clearly built for listeners who actually sit with music.

At its core, Choose to Be Kind is an introspective project rooted in spiritual grounding, self-awareness, and personal accountability. Tjmendoza reflects on deepening his relationship with God, learning to love himself without ego, and moving through life with clearer priorities. This isn’t faith as performance or branding, it’s faith as a foundation. The album acknowledges uncertainty without fear, embracing the idea that even when life doesn’t unfold as planned, there’s protection and purpose in the path itself.

The writing throughout the project is calm but deliberate. Tjmendoza isn’t trying to convince anyone of his growth; he’s documenting it. There’s a noticeable shift from reaction to intention, from noise to clarity. He approaches life differently now, and that evolution shapes the album’s emotional center. Past experiences aren’t framed as regrets but as necessary lessons that shaped the man he’s becoming.

The album opens with “All Stated Gem,” setting a reflective tone that feels grounded and honest. From there, “Don’t Sell Yourself Short” reads like a reminder rather than a warning, reinforcing self-worth without drifting into empty motivation. “Prove It To Me” introduces emotional tension, exploring trust, doubt, and vulnerability without dramatizing them. That openness continues on “Say You Love Me,” where romantic longing is treated thoughtfully, capturing the desire for something genuine in a culture that often feels surface-level and transactional.

Midway through the project, “Gist” and “Tweak The Mould” function as moments of recalibration. These tracks reflect perspective shifts, personal responsibility, and the willingness to unlearn old patterns. There’s maturity in how these ideas are handled, growth without erasing the past, clarity without denial. The album closes with “For My Kin,” a track centered on gratitude, loyalty, and purpose beyond the self. It’s a quiet but meaningful conclusion, reinforcing the album’s values rather than trying to end on spectacle.

What makes Choose to Be Kind stand out is restraint. Tjmendoza doesn’t overshare for emotional payoff or inflate moments for impact. He trusts the listener to connect the dots. The album lives in honesty more than genre, and that’s its strength. It doesn’t ask for attention; it earns it by being real.

In a time when much of hip-hop feels rushed, overstated, or algorithm-driven, Choose to Be Kind feels grounded, intentional, and human. It’s an album about faith, self-respect, love, and learning who and what actually deserves your energy. No gimmicks. No noise. Just growth, documented honestly.

You handled every part of this album yourself. What moment during the process forced you to confront yourself the hardest? The most confronting part of this project was the songwriting itself. It forced me to articulate thoughts and emotions I had long internalized, while also addressing the experiences shaping my current state. Bringing everything to the surface in a way that feels honest to me, yet relatable to others, was a challenge I embraced fully. There are moments when we can say or do things for the sake of appeasing others, and in that process, lose touch with our authentic selves. This time around, I was far more conscious of that balance.

Compared to my previous releases, I was able to bridge that gap more intentionally, creating work that feels truer to who I am. Some feelings I have I didn’t realize I was feeling until the creation of this album. I always find that part of the process so interesting, where I’m able to listen to the finished product because it magnifies my feelings in a unique way.

It gives me the opportunity to see aspects of my life from a different perspective. I find it so beautiful and beneficial. It gives me the chance to live in the moment while still being reflective all at the same time. 

Faith shows up here quietly but consistently. How did you know when to let spirituality lead the music instead of overpowering it? Throughout this album, I wanted to speak from the heart and offer a clear window into where my mind is at. That intention allowed spirituality to lead the music rather than overpower it. I set out with a concept that shows listeners what’s on my mind and in my heart, while still meeting people where they are.

We’re all in different chapters of the same book called life, and this project reflects my journey—sharing what matters most to me, not just in my walk, but in life as a whole, and that’s God. Bringing spirituality to the forefront in a conscious way, grounded in vulnerability and openness. It was essential to tell the stories about my life honestly.

You talk about self-love without turning it into ego. Was that balance something you had to learn the hard way? I wouldn’t say the process was difficult—it was deeply intentional. It required time and reflection to understand how to approach it the right way and how I wanted it to take shape. Sometimes you can gain something but go about it incorrectly, and when that happens, it can become distorted or influenced in ways it was never meant to be. I wanted to create something that felt pure, and that clarity came as my relationship with God grew.

Through that process, I realized that self-love and spirituality go hand in hand, and that understanding became a foundation for this project. I’m so thankful for the journey and lessons learned along the way. 

What did you unlearn while making this album that you will never bring into your next project? I had to unlearn the habit of overthinking. In the past, being overly critical during the creative process often took the enjoyment out of it. This time, living in the moment and being honest about my thoughts and experiences became the foundation for the album, positively influencing everything from songwriting and concepts to production.

On previous projects, I focused heavily on what listeners might want to hear. This time, I created what I wanted them to hear. It was a subtle shift, but one that paid off in a meaningful way.

When listeners tell you this album helped them sit with themselves instead of escape, how does that change the way you think about success? This project has reshaped how I define success. Music was one of the first loves I ever had, and it remains a powerful tool for self-expression and emotional regulation. I’m naturally drawn to creating music that’s introspective and thought-provoking, while still being enjoyable and engaging. It helps me navigate my day-to-day life, and if it can do that for me, I believe it can do the same for someone else.

For me, success is measured by connection. If my music can make even one person feel seen, heard, or less alone, then I’ve achieved my goal. Being able to reach people and touch lives in that way is truly a blessing.

Growth requires the willingness to sit with yourself. I’ve experienced moments where I searched for escape in the wrong places, but real change didn’t happen until I faced myself honestly. Through that process, I found growth, strength, peace, and love.I

don’t feel like there’s enough music that carries a positive, relatable message, and I want to be the kind of artist and energy I wish I saw more of. Words are powerful, so I’m intentional about the messages I convey in my music.