INTERVIEW WITH ROB APOLLO
Rob Apollo, 17, a Detroit native, is an artist and producer. With everything from chilling, emotional lyrics, to upbeat hip hop vibes, individualizes him from anything on the radio. His unique sound and approach is just the start. I had the chance to sit down with him and ask about his work.
US: What drove you to start making music?
RA: Â I just loved listening to it and had a passion for writing. So I started recording a couple years ago.
US: What do you think sets you apart from most mainstream artists? Not only your music, but you as an artist.
RA: Them niggas corny as fuck. Half are just deadass trash. Theyâre all starting to sound alike, most are afraid to try wild shit and take risks because itâll affect their pocketbooks. Iâve never been about the money. I wanna affect peoples lives. It sounds cliche but its the truth - I wanna work with as many artists possible to make this the dopest shit that I can.
US: Who would you say is your music inspiration?
RA: Â At first, I was listening to that lyrical boom bap shit, like Joey Badass and Pro Era, but Iâm past that now. Recently Iâve drawn influence from 2008 Soulja Boy and Lil Yachty. Deadass they both make incredible cross genre music. I donât care what anyone has to say, Soulja Boy a fucking legend and Lil Boat will be one day.
Also, Iâve drawn inspiration from more than just music artists. Visual artists have really influenced me lately, and I wanna do more than just music.
US: What genre would you describe your music as?
RA: Genres are dead. Music is just music now - free flowing - more about emotion now than genre.
US: What emotions do you usually write about?
RA: I usually write in 1 of 2 moods; hype and excited, or sad as fuck. I need to feel a lot of emotion to write a song, so Iâm usually at an absolute high or low when I do so.
US: How did you chose the stage name Rob Apollo?
RA: My middle name is Robert, Apollo is the god of music. I donât like it that much. I wish I had a cool name, like Soulja Boy or Retchy P. Prolly too late now, though.
US: Whatâs the most important song to you that youâve written?
RA: This song called â48 Hoursâ. Itâs going on my next project, and epitomizes a lot of the issues I deal with in my own head, and the thoughts that fuck me up late at night, ya feel. Itâs sad as fuck, donât listen to it alone in a dark room.
US: How would you describe your most recent album and how it differs from your previous ones?
RA: Well, âFREE KWAME EPâ, which I did with my homie Kaio, is really hype and upbeat, but doesnât have much substance. Itâs just flex turn up music. In the past, I was against making that kinda shit, but we did it just for fun. I think the music is quality, but it sounds like a lot of other music being put out now. Itâs not as original as a lot of my other shit. Itâs not really personal either. In all my other projects, Iâm really bleeding how I feel into it. Free Kwame was just like, âhey lets turn up in the studio and forget about the sadnessâ.
US: Do you suddenly come up with an idea for your music or do you think about it for a while?
RA: I used to think about ideas for awhile, then try to make them happen. But now, everything is in the moment. I write exactly how I feel and what I feel at the moment, âcause thatâs the best way to capture emotion.
US: What do you feel is the main message your music and styles gives out?
RA: Do you. Donât really care what people have to say. People are gonna hate regardless, niggas is haters. Iâll wear a pink crop-top if i want to, I donât really care. I bleed my heart into my music âcause Iâm not ashamed of shit, and I want other people to feel the same.
US: Whatâs something you want people to know about you and your intentions?
RA: That ultimately I just want to give the world as much as I can before I die. Everyday, I think about how I can change the world, and one day, I will. That shit is corny, but watch. Give me a few years.
US: What advice you have for young artists?
RA: Keep doing you. Everyone sucks at first, you just gotta power through it - but humbly. Youâre not that good.. Yet. Donât be arrogant, but stay optimistic. We all start off garbage as fuck.
US: What should we expect next from Rop Apollo?
RA: Iâm putting out this turnup single, but my next project is sad. Like lowkey depressing, bad mood music. Very quality though - cleaner sound quality and production than ever before. But, even more than music. Expect much more art / projects from my âThe Bleeding Hearts Clubâ. Itâs my friends and me making art together, and weâve got some dope shit coming soon.
LISTEN TO ROB APOLLO:
SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.com/robapollo
FREE KWAME EP: soundcloud.com/localzonly/sets/free-kwame-ep
TWITTER:Â twitter.com/RobApollo_
INSTAGRAM: @robapollo_Â