“It’s my first time being here,” Dej Loaf opens up on her first SXSW performance. The “Try Me” femcee admits that everything was all good. Everything but the weather. The hot and muggy mixture is not a good one when you have asthma. With those things aside, Loaf uses SXSW as a time to further her name status. “I don’t look at it as being an established artist just because I got signed,” she says. “I know what kind of work I need to put in.”

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In addition to her first SXSW performance, another first is Loaf going on tour with Nicki Minaj, someone she calls a “legend.” Minaj is currently stomping European ground for The Pinkprint Tour, but she will immediately follow with the U.S. leg, which is where Loaf comes in. “It’s going to be dope.”

Turning any naysayers into believers is not the only thing the Detroit artist is looking to do while on tour. Loaf also has high hopes of making music with Nick during any downtime, and to simply learn from the best. 2015 is in the palm of Def Loaf’s hands.

Hit up the gallery for Def Loaf SXSW run-ins.