A fresh 19-year-old gap year student, Hamzah The Fantastic forever changed the way TikTok lip-synced with his viral Promiscuous Girl video. He gained a massive following of 1.4 Million on TikTok through his outshining personality and funny skits. He streamed the popular 4freakshow with his friends, started a Youtube career and even dropped a single, and now has his very own podcast, Out Of Character, where he talks to different media influencers.
The Teen Magazine had the special opportunity to interview Hamzah on his journey as a social media creator, his struggles growing up, and what he has on hold for the future.
Exploring TikTok
How did you get into TikTok?
Hamzah reminisced back to when they first moved to Canada, where he was bored of having nothing to do all day. People around him always thought he was funny, and so he took a chance to explore and create TikToks. He said honestly, "I didn't have any specific goals, really. I just did it for fun."
When did you realize your TikTok career was taking off?
He realized that he was attracting viewers the summer he graduated high school, accomplishing his goal of half a million followers before he expected it. Hamzah decides to take a gap year to further grow his audience, "So I withdrew and it's been amazing so far."
Your content is hilarious. Do you feel the pressure to maintain the sense of humour/personality you originated with?
"Yes, I do," Hamzah admitted, "But it's good pressure. It's what I want- I don't want to wake up one morning and feel like OK, this isn't what I signed up for. So far I haven't had that moment really. I don't feel any negative pressure because this is what I want to do."
How did you and your family respond to your success online?
"My family didn't really care or believe it until I got recognized in public when I was with them," Hamzah laughed, "Even then, they still expect me to go to college." He also experienced downsides, saying, "Because they still had a high expectation for me. Like being a lawyer, doctor, or engineer. That kind of stuff." He admitted that he too had the same expectations, "So did I, that’s the funny part. I’m a student with straight As and a 4.0 GPA who does TikTok. But it’s been amazing."
When was a turning point when you realized you want to pursue being an influencer seriously?
"I would say with the growth of 4freakshow," Hamzah answered, "I realized the potential of what this could do to my life. It can take me down avenues I would have never seen, meet people I would never imagine I would meet, and talk to people I always looked up to." He exclaimed, "This was a really unique experience."
Where do your TikTok inspirations come from?
Hamzah explained he was inspired by Jack Innanen, a skits TikToker when he first started his account, " I loved his skits and that's what I got into TikTok for. Just because that was some sort of formula I could follow with Skits. But now I’m trying to do my own thing." He also expressed his admiration and love for people with a unique sense of humour, TikTokers like Nathan Fielder. He added, "Just being genuine and showing myself- because that's when I think of myself as the funniest when I'm not documenting the thirty seconds of me on TikTok."
Growing Up & Dealing With Hate
How did the environment you grew up in shape who you are today?
"I would say a lot of 'funny people' used humor to cope with their situations. Not that I had a super traumatic situation, but it wasn’t ideal," Hamzah explained. "I grew up in a small apartment with four other siblings. We slept in the same room till I was in high school. I know what it feels like to not have stuff and couldn’t do whatever you want. I definitely wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for those things."
How do you deal with hate online?
"I honestly just ignore it," Hamzah said frankly. He explained that what bugged him the most were not hate but misworded and untrue stories about him. "That stuff would drag me insane earlier on," he said, "Like if I did a bad thing, and if people were mad I did that, it would be a different story. But if it was just unwanted represented quotes of me, that used to bug me. Now, I think if you are going to give the hate so much weight, you got to give the positive comments the same weight. Or else it would feel like a proportion of loud minority hating on you."
On His Future Plans
How will you use your big platform for the future?
"I would use it to get bigger," Hamzah said thoughtfully, "Some people get mad at me for not speaking out on certain things, but I don’t think I'm in the place to do so right now." He wants to be in a more stable position in life to really reflect on the things he wants to talk about and the things people want to hear. "No one wants to hear a small TikToker talking about things they haven’t been involved with before," Hamzah explained his choice.
What is your next step, and how do you see yourself grow?
"I have so many plans," Hamzah revealed excitingly, "I have this mindset of not can I do this but how can I do this. I see myself doing linear TV and more experimental stuff. I love the podcast I’m doing right now and I feel like it's something I could be honestly affecting people positively, like on an individual basis." He reflected, "Now is the time to prove myself that I am worth viewing or paying attention to. It's nerve-racking, but it's a lot of fun."
Quick 10 Fun Q&As
1. What is your comfort movie?
I used to say Mr. fantastic fox, but it’s too quirky now, I think. I didn’t even know it was a cult favorite until recently. But I would say Rango, Coraline, or the Pixar movie Soul. Those are the good ones.
2. Any advice on lip sync?
Don’t do it. Unless you have those friends, like the ones that you graduated high school with or those from your hometown, they will keep you in check. If they see you post that kind of video, they would tell you to delete it immediately.
Maybe it's my fragile masculinity, but I've only done one lip sync video. Lucky for me, it was the one that went viral.
3. The best way to make friends?
If I were to make some, this is how I would do it- the key to making friends is to be yourself. Now that's really stupid advice but I will tell you why. If you were yourself, whether that’s a furry or a rock connoisseur or a gymnast or whatever, if you put that on the forefront when you’re making friends, though you might not get a lot of takers to begin with, the people who remain will like you for who you are. Instead of keeping up with the fake facade of what you think they want, this way you can see who truly likes you for yourself.
4. What’s the worst lie you told your parents?
Maybe that -long stop- I'm doing fine mentally.
5. Favourite TikTok trend?
Definitely the one where they show their side profile.
6. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Eat a lot of greasy food: Mexican, Chinese, and Thai food. Food is probably my guiltiest pressure.
7. What would your self-care day look like?
Waking up early afternoon, get a coffee, go fishing, and have some subway with me. And the whole time I'm listening to a podcast of some sort. Drive home, watch a good movie, and yea probably another movie.
Two movies in a roll. That's a lot of self-care.
8. If your personality is a type of ice cream, what would it be?
Definitely fruity fruity fruity combo mix. The fruitiest one.
9. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who chew really loud. People who do a light jog instead of fully running when they do a corner kick during a soccer game. That kind of thing.
10. Any shows you’re currently into?
Not right now. But I've recently finished the show Bojack Horseman and I think that’s one of the greatest shows ever made.
You can find Hamzah on his Instagram @hamzahthefantastic and make sure to subscribe to his youtube channel, here
