Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate this persona or identity of yours?
Innovative, versatile, dedicated, and a workhorse. I noticed from an early age that for you to be successful; your work ethic must be impeccable, and you must stand out. From day one I’ve done everything I could do to further my career. I started off recording myself on GarageBand and mastering it with Bandlab. I made my own cover art, paid for promo, studio time, beats, features, bought studio residencies, you name it! I always have been the type of artist to push boundaries.
Me and my friend, After Fame, are the first “DMV” rappers to merge our sounds with Pop and HyperPop music, but I don’t just do it so I can stand out I actively listen to those genres heavily. Ellie Goulding, Natasha Bedingfield, Prince, and Glaive have more influence on my music than the big-name rappers. I don’t listen to a lot of people in the DMV.
I really don’t like the sound of the current music scene (heavy cheecho-influenced slide music). To be completely honest, I only listen to music that I grew up on like: Chief Keef, Young Thug, Lil Uzi, Lil Dude, Tae Dawg, and Soulja Boy. I’m a Muslim, Half Black-Half Cuban, former Division 1 athlete from PG County, Maryland... how many of those do you know? Lol!
My parents raised me to be well-rounded in all aspects; I’ve been through the most ghetto & down bad situations to the posh and bougie. My music taste, life experiences, and geographical location allow me to be the artist I am today.
How has your experience in the industry been thus far?
My experience has been life-changing and eye-opening. Once I started taking music seriously; in terms of sound quality, the structure of my songs, marketing, etc., I’ve noticed a massive increase in traction to my art, monetary gains, valuable opportunities, and the ability to work with people that I used to listen to coming up.
On the other end of the spectrum, the industry has shown me people's true colors; as well as how people will try to associate with you the moment that they sense you are a person of interest to the general public. People from high school have called me “Hollywood’ because I didn’t follow them back on social media.. .when they’re the same people who didn’t support my come up. Then that crowd is the same ones to spam my posts when I drop a video with a big-name feature.
Crazy right?!?!
I know hate comes with it, but I LOVE IT, it shows me that I’m doing something good… no one hates on a person with no motion.
Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so, what would that be?
Yes! I have two and they ironically happened in the same exact location, the studio. In the summer of 2020 I took the leap and locked into the studio with known DMV producer, Johnny Caravaggio, almost every single day. It got to the point where I would just go over there to hang out and sit into other creator’s studio sessions just because (from Lil Dude, Cruddy Murda, Sparkheem, Lil Mill, Etc.).
One day I was just in there cooling with Johnny and BetSheWillz sparking (back when I used to smoke). I look up from a weed coma and I see Tae Dawg. Anyone that truly knows me knows that Tae is one of my favorite rappers of all time and one of the main reasons I rap and wear the clothes I wear. He saw Willz and said “AYYYY Willz! How you been my boy!” (They knew each other from high school).
He turned and extended his hand to dap me up and said:
“Aye I know you... Glo right?? Yeah, you the nigga that sound like Lil Flash (GloGang Associate) I f*ck with you! When you gonna come join Ooze Gang?”
About 7/8 months later I was scrolling on IG, and I saw Tae said that he’s doing feature deals that week. I had to get my hands on a feature because it was on my bucket list. I planned on doing it with my brother, HK, before he passed away. I hit him instantly asking the price… $600, that was nothing. Only to realize that he said I had to send him the money then he’ll record the song and send it back. Me being a former janky person I felt skeptical, and I also would much rather work in person in the studio.
That’s how the best music Is made.
He said the ticket was $1000. That’s nothing to complete a life goal. I paid him then waited for him to come back from LA. We locked in that same week. While we’re listening to beats, he tells me
“Aye Glo, you know I been watching you for a while now. That’s the main reason I even let you slide to the stu with me. I like how you be flowing on the beats... you different.”
That felt amazing to hear coming from one of my inspirations.
We then went on to make a great song “Off the Backboard” and that’s not the only one!
What do you think personally sets you apart from the rest of your peers in the music industry? What do you bring to the industry that you believe no one else has the ability to bring?
I bring a sound and energy that few people can mimic. I can morph the DMV-inspired flow with any tempo or genre. 95% of the DMV top-dogs and even underground rappers can never hop on a hyperpop beat, house beat, or melodic pop beat, let alone sound good on it. I bring genuine artistry and professionalism which is lacking tremendously in this area. I’m a perfectionist in my music.
If a bar sounds a millisecond off, I work with my engineer to fix it or rerecord it until it sounds perfect. Raw talent, an ear for music, and the fact that I NEVER have lied in a single bar and will continue to uphold that standard. Is there any one song that you’ve made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?
If I had to pick one song that stands out from the rest of my music it would be “Cut My Drank”. It’s one of my biggest unreleased hits according to my analytics. I remixed a KanKan beat and put my swag on it. The melody of the beat mixed with my trap/scam-influenced bars and great flow make it stand out from the other works. It’s one of my highly anticipated songs and I have a special surprise for everyone when it drops.If I were to pick a few songs to hook people (that were currently released) they would be: Free Pizza, Murder She Wrote w/ BetSheWillz, Punching the Fashion, ATM, Ricky Bobby, and Stuck in My Glo. My best songs are still unreleased but those give listeners a nice preview of my catalog’s range.
What keeps your current audience listening and why should people start listening?
Consistency and honesty have been the keys to my listening success. I’m always active on social media and will have something to entertain my supporters even if it’s not full songs. At one point in time, I was dropping a triller every day for months straight. My listeners also know that when they hear something in my music it’s 100% true.
People should start listening because I bring a refreshing sound to their ears. I’ve sat in studios with a lot of artists that people geek over. A lot of these rappers lie in their raps. A lot of the music coming out sounds like carbon copies of the next. If you listen to me, your brain and ears will thank you.
Who do you listen to on a regular basis?
Chief Keef, Young Thug, Tae Dawg, Lil Dude, Shawny BinLaden, and the whole 950 crew, After.Fame, BetSheWillz, Natasha Bedingfield, Duwap Kaine, SlimeSito, NeedNoName, Rio Da Yung OG (#FreeRio), Prince, LWithTheStick, Cam’ron, and Lil Gray.
Are these the same people who inspire your sound? Or are there other factors that come into play?
Hell Yeah! Most of the artists I mentioned are a heavy influence on me. Stylistically, lyrically, or fashion-wise. Mainly Sosa, Thug, and Tae.
What do you think is the most important aspect of music as a concept, personally and objectively?
Honesty. If no one can relate to your music, then it’s pointless. Music is my escape and diary. I’m very reserved with my feelings and thoughts so if you want to know anything about me just listen closely to my bars; You can learn a whole lot.
That’s why I never lie in my music because I’m literally only speaking on factual events. If people don’t relate to you or even the general message, then you’re just making nonsense. It’s too much of that going on already.
Lastly, what advice or experiences would you like to share with your peers or anyone else who is up and coming in this industry?
The crazy part is, I just said this on an Instagram post today. “Don’t let ANYONE try to knock you out your Glo! Put that footwork in, NEVER LIE IN YOUR RAPS, keep your face card clean and PAY TO PLAY!” Those are the keys to my success. If you do all of those as well as make proper connections. You should have to problem gaining motion. The music business is 90% business and work, 10% talent.
Also, is there anything you’d like for us to promote?
I run a creative hub called FreeMoney Nation. We’re a one-stop-shop for upcoming creatives to have everything they need to be successful: videography, photography, social media branding, studios, etc. I also have a high-quality streetwear brand: FreeMoney. Tap in at @1freemoneynation!! My song “Cut My Drank” as well as my songs with Lil Dude, Tae Dawg, and BigSmokeChapo all drop this summer 2021 season. I’m doing features deals (working with all budgets) until 2022. Tap in with our main FreeMoney artist: OG Glee. Get his video “Hot Ass Whip” to 20k on YouTube and Stream his newest project “Me, Myself, and I” Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my life with yall.
FREE FREE!
Big shout out to Lil Glo for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply as well as helping us out with our launch of SZN 3. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him you can follow him on Instagram!
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