Actor and Rapper Dylan Gilmer Dishes on His Career and His Self-Titled Series Young Dylan

13-year-old Dylan Gilmer has been in the spotlight from a young age, and with his big resume and busy schedule, we think he's destined to stay a star.

It all started four years ago with a viral video of Dylan rapping Bryson Tiller's "Don't," and since then, Dylan's gone on to continue making music as well as act, appearing on Nickelodeon's All That before getting his own titular series, Tyler Perry's Young Dylan, as well as hosting on the network's NFL Slimetime. If it's not clear already, we're huge fans of Dylan, and we got the chance to ask him about his work and so much more in the interview below.

Sweety High: It seems you've been rapping for almost your entire life! Can you tell us a little bit about how you first fell in love with music, and how that led to your being discovered?

Dylan Gilmer: I really first fell in love with music while riding around with my dad in his car. He usually would play a lot of Drake, and I would memorize every song!

 

SH: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific moment that made you realize you also wanted to pursue being an actor as a career?

DG: I discovered my passion for acting when I got the chance to be on Nickelodeon's All That. After that experience, I knew I could and would be an actor.

Once I received my first script, I knew. It came so naturally and I could memorize lines so easily.

 

SH: Can you tell us about Young Dylan?

DG: I play Dylan on Young Dylan—Dylan is a kid from Chicago whose mom originally left him to live with his grandmother. From there, his grandmother took him to live with his auntie and uncle and he turns their lives upside down.

 

Also read about: Madison Lintz Talks Coming From an Acting Family and Growing Up as Maddie on Bosch

 

SH: What's it like to have a Nickelodeon series based around you?

DG: It's a really great experience to have my own show based around me. I can be myself and have so much fun while acting and working on the show.

 

SH: How much like the fictional Dylan are you like in real life?

DG: We are alike in many ways. Our personalities are very similar, for example—we both love to rap and always want to have fun!

 

SH: What does it mean to you to get to combine your passions and make music for Young Dylan as well?

DG: It really means a lot to me and it feels like all of my dreams are coming true. I really like that I get to show other kids that with hard work, you, too, can make your dreams a reality.

 

Also read about: Bella Thorne Shares Her Favorite Moments Filming On Location in Italy for Game of Love

 

SH: What's your favorite moment so far from NFL Slimetime?

DG: My favorite moment so far has definitely been getting to be a sideline reporter at the NFL playoff game last year!

 

SH: Do you have a favorite NFL team?

DG: My favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles. My all-time favorite players are Randall Cunningham and DeSean Jackson, who both played on the team.

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

DG: To all of the other kids who want to pursue their dreams—always remember to just be yourself, and that you can be anything you want to be in life.

 

For more from our favorite actors, click HERE to read our interview with Jy Prishkulnik on her role in Monster High: The Movie.