Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster. Below, we get into our third episode with member Pope Loud
Like every group made up of a number of members each member plays an important role by bringing individual talents that help the team collectively. A member of the DKTM Collective Pope Loud’s lyricism has shown his ability to craft a song that not only resonates with the audience, but allows him to stay true to his self. Being sure to never compromise his work ethic by settling for anything less than perfect Pope Loud brings a work ethic to the table that helps propel DKTM forward as overall collective.
So my first questions is, what is your favorite form of art specifically what is a form of art you like more than all of the others.
Pope: Personally i feel as if the best way to convey art would be something through like movies, or visual media with music put to it. But my favorite would be, honestly drawing its something i have always done whether I was in school or anywhere else. Although I don’t really do it as much as I used to but it still something i enjoy to do. But music is the most primal way to release energy which i feel is what art really is.
Yeah! Basically being able to vocalize it. Is there an illustrative style that you like the most? Like anime, or 3D animation.
Pope: Um… I wouldn’t say I have favorite art style as far as visual art because I really like a lot of different things, so it's hard to pick a personal favorite. But I don’t know ive always been drawn to tattoo style. I don’t really have a lot yet but i really wanna get more down the road.
Yeah that makes sense, The ones you have are really cool though! So the next question is, the majority of your pictures on instagram have a retro feel to them. If you could go back in time what song of yours or someone else’s would you perform to show what music is like in 2019
Pope: That’s a hard question! Well the thing is i don’t have to much solo stuff out yet I have an EP that I’ve been working on but i had to scrap it a few times because I wasn't really feeling it. So I had to start over a few times, but im finalyl starting to hone in on making an actual project that's called “GRIN” which should be out by the end of this year. But to just pick one song i guess my single “Sides”, its featuring members of DKTM with some others on there as well. The overall sound of it is not what you would expect only because i feel like a lot of music these days is monotonous, it all kinda sounds the same. Not to say that there isn't a lot of good artists out now because there is, but for the most part people are used to hearing the same cookie cutter sounds. An i feel like my songs sound nothing like the usual songs of today. You could love it or hate it but at the end of the day they sound unique.
Yeah i get it, so last week Mouse I listened to this song that you guys were working on can you tell me more about it?
Pope: Yeah so we’re working on a song that i’m doing the hook for. Mouse did the production on it. It’s actually heat.
Yeah i heard it and loved it, and if what i’ve heard is what I think you guys are working on i love that vibe. Its sounds like psychedelic music with a nice beat. Easy to listen to but also the words have meaning behind them.
Pope: Yeah when i write actual lyrics I have to take my time and write them out. I’m not good at freestyling necessarily I try to write it poetically. I approach my music with a lot of thoughts in what i’m saying and I try not to exaggerate too much. I try to be as ambiguous as possible so i don't really describe a lot of things in my life And for the rare chance I do i use it to paint a character behind what my art is.
Yeah that makes sense, it's very important that art of substance comes out or else where all just saying random shit and it doesn't really matter for anything.
Pope: Right! And it’s not like i just say whatever i just paint a picture of my character within the lyrics. It's not necessarily maybe truthly what is my life but it is my expression about how I feel about my life.
Makes sense! So which artist has the most influence on how you make music? Doesn't have to be favorite but what artist have you studied or has been your goal post.
Pope: There’s definitely a lot of artist that have made me want to create music similar to theirs. But what really got me into making hip-hop was my group mates introducing me to Danny Brown. I’ve listened to hip-hop my whole life but I really didn’t start paying attention to it until 2014. Danny Brown really got me into experimental type beats, and then I started listening to lil ugly mane, and more punk type sounds. It’s like hardcore but its also alternative. Like they’re weird sounding stuff you wouldn't hear on the mainstream radios. That pretty much shaped my entire sound. So like interesting phrased music that kinda stutters and has a lot of dark vibes so it almost sounds like a horror movie. I’ve been trying to replicate this but in a way that not talking about violence shit all the time.
So keeping it true to your character but without glorifying violence?
Pope: Right! I’m not a violent person i don’t hurt people so why would I make music thats about that or even something that i can resonate with. So like i try my best to approach it with my experiences, the music I listened to as a kid which was a lot of metal and punk. This influences the overall sound of my music.
So have you ever found it hard to express yourself, or are you naturally just like an open book?
Pope: Oh No i’m definitely not an open book at all, expressing myself is hard. I’m not very good at expressing how I feel that's why it takes me a long time to create things because i feel like i am so meticulous about what I put out. Like I just won’t make a beat and throw it on soundcloud i have to work on it and make sure its exactly how I want it to be. I’m kinda a perfectionist but i feel like i’m also never good enough. So I am working on the same things so that they come out as good as possible. The biggest downside with that is sometimes it can be hard for me to move on and do new things so I feel like I’m stuck in a loop sometimes. Even though i am not, like iof you look back you can see i am not the same person and I have changed. So it’s not like I’m actually stuck in a loop, but that just has to be human nature. You always wanna keep moving.
Yeah I agree it the worst when you out your self in that box cause its like you’re doing really well but youre saying to yourself; “nah this isn't it i could be doing so much better right now”. Like everyone can say you’re doing well.
Pope: Yeah it can be enough but it’s also not enough so you feel like you have to be getting better you have to stay moving.
So last question what do you hope DKTM contributes to the community.
Pope: Well i feel like DKTM has welcomes so many different people and it goes to show that you don’t have to be a certain type of person to connect with somebody. That’s honestly what the collective really is. It’s a way to connect with people that you’re not from the same place as. You can learn a lot about everybody and it helps you grow. Like people from outside the group come here because they feel like it’s a safe space for people to make music and just express themselves. Humans have always made music but i feel like in this society its kinda frowned upon. There’s this kinda niche person that create something. And now people are just so focused on making so much money so they don’t express their selves authentically whether it be through dance, music, or art.
Makes sense, so DKTM contributes authenticity?
Pope: Yeah Exactly
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Pope Loud you can find his SoundCloud above, and you can also follow him on Instagram. While you there you can also check out DKTM on Instagram and check out our previous interviews with baatchoy, and Morgan Marsh.
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