For Tony Sunshine, music has never been confined to a single lane. The New York native — whose melodic hooks helped define an era of hip-hop and R&B crossovers — returns with a new single, “Pump It Up,” a high-energy collaboration with Lil Pump that bridges generations and styles.
“Anybody that knows me understands I’ve always blended R&B and hip-hop,” Sunshine says. “Before singers were rapping and rappers were singing, I was already doing both.”
That duality is front and center on “Pump It Up,” a track born not in a studio, but in a gym.
From gym sessions to studio magic
The origin story of the single feels almost cinematic. Sunshine credits a mutual connection — his trainer — for sparking the collaboration.
“He came to me with the beat and said, ‘See what you can do with this,’” Sunshine recalls. “I laid down a hook and a verse, gave it back, and next thing I know, Pump’s on it too.”
The chemistry clicked instantly. “It had energy. It felt natural,” he says. “Sometimes you don’t need to overthink it—you just know when something hits.”
Paying respect while moving forward
In conversation, Sunshine beams like ultraviolet sunrays when reflecting on influences, even taking a moment to honor legends like Jimi Hendrix. “One of the greatest I’ve ever heard,” he says. “From what I’ve seen, he was just incredible.”
That reverence for musical pioneers runs deep in Sunshine’s DNA. He cites icons like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Prince as key influences, alongside Latin greats like Marc Anthony.
“I taught myself how to riff by studying Stevie,” he says. “That’s how I found my voice.”
A journey rooted in resilience
Sunshine’s story begins in the Bronx borough of New York, where he crossed paths with Fat Joe at just 13 years old.
“I told him I could sing. He told me to prove it,” Sunshine remembers. “I sang ‘Forever My Lady,’ and he told me he’d come back one day.”
That “one day” turned out to be the very next afternoon.
“He pulled up and said, ‘Get in.’ That was it. My life changed.”
Soon after, Sunshine also connected with Big Pun, forming relationships that helped launch his career. “Those guys gave me a platform,” he says. “They believed in me early.”
Miami: A new chapter
Though New York made him, Sunshine says Miami helped refine him.
“I spent my whole life in New York. At some point, I needed a change,” he explains. “Miami just felt right — organic, creative, full of energy.”
Surrounded by collaborators like DJ Khaled and production duo Cool & Dre, Sunshine found a renewed sense of artistic direction.
“I learned so much down here — about songwriting, production, everything,” he says.
What’s next? Romance, roots and range
“Pump It Up” is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle. Sunshine is preparing to release a new R&B mixtape, tentatively titled Kissing After Dark, designed to revive the genre’s classic feel.
“It’s for the ladies,” he says with a smile. “That real R&B — baby-making music, harmonies, emotion. The stuff we grew up on.”
He’s also working on a Spanish-language album, reconnecting with his early roots.
“I started singing Spanish music as a kid,” he explains. “Now it’s time to give that back — to do it the right way for the culture.”
The project will span styles like bachata, reggaeton, and ballads — everything, he says, “except hip-hop.”
The energy of ‘Pump It Up’
For now, Sunshine is focused on pushing his latest single and gearing up for a promotional run through New York, Los Angeles, and beyond.
“It’s a summer record,” he says. “It’s about energy, movement, and just feeling good.”
And if his track record is any indication, Tony Sunshine knows exactly how to deliver that.
“Music is my escape,” he reflects. “No matter the mood, there’s always an R&B song for it. That’s what I bring to everything I do.”
With “Pump It Up,” he’s not just keeping up — he’s reminding listeners why he’s been ahead of the curve all along.