When he first blessed the mic at the age of 5, Droop-E was a carbon copy of his father, the Bay Area's master "phraseologist" E-40. But it didn't take long for him to develop his own sound, and while many people that grow up with famous parents struggle to cope with the burden of expectations, the only shadow Droop is worried about is his own.

Now, at 25, the "Until The World End" rapper has already carved out his own sizable fan base by combining a youthful swag with an old soul, and possessing a tireless work ethic and a keen sense of the direction of music.

"The void [in hip hop today] is something different, something honest, something forward thinking. That's what I'm going for," the young hit maker told BET.com. "A lot of stuff right now I think is more or less recreated."

As a member of the production team the Pharmaceuticals, the NorCal native brings a fresh sound to an already diverse landscape. And while hip hop is his passion, he maintains that his sources of inspiration know no boundaries.

"I draw influence from everybody from Supertramp to Sade to Kanye West and of course E-40 ... I go back and listen to old records and I find anything that sounds good, whether it's Al Stewart or the Neptunes."

On his new EP, Hungry and Humble, which dropped July 16, Droop-E flaunts that originality in a way that he hopes will brighten the spotlight that already shines bright on his home territory.

"It's something that's never been done before. What I mean by that is just musically. It's not typical music. You're gonna get a good balance, something different and something dope."

Having already worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop from Kendrick Lamar to Wiz Khalifa to DJ Shadow, the Vallejo MC has accomplished more than most could hope to in a lifetime. But despite all the accolades, Droop knows that comfort is not an option.

"[The moment] is vital," he said. "Cause you really don't have time to waste. I'm getting older, I'm 25, but there's no time for me to sit around and lounge. I gotta go make my mark right now."

However, he clarified, "I don't really feel pressure. I gotta do what I gotta do and I'ma have my own story. The only pressure I feel is my own destiny."

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(Photo: Droop-E/Sick Wid It Records)