Haastattelussa Kalifornian Riversidesta kotoisin oleva räppäri Bossolo. Hän on julkaissut urallaan useita albumeita, kuten “Thug Therapy w/ Spice 1” (2015), “Thug Therapy II” (2021), “Boss Status” (2021). Bossolo on tehnyt urallaan yhteistyötä useiden tunnettujen räppäreiden, kuten Spice 1:n, WC:n, CJ Macin, Daz Dillingerin, MC Eihtin,
- What’s up, Bossolo? How are you today?
I’m blessed and highly favored on this beautiful day. I’m chilling in my studio laying some verses down.
- Where are you from?
To be specific, I’m from Riverside, California, Southern California, West Coast. That’s 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
- What drew you to music? Where does your influence come from?
I have always been a fan of music since I was a kid. I used to hustle by standing in front of stores collecting donations, or sometimes I sold lemonade on the sidewalk to fund my music collection. I started collecting vinyl at a very young age, buying albums like George Duke, Midnight Star, Atlantic Star, Prince, Bar Kays, The Commodores, and 12-inch records like Chic, Funkadelic, Ohio Players, Isley Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band. It wasn’t until I moved away from my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, to Southern California in the 80s that I decided to try to get into rapping. MTV Raps was a huge influence on me, and it made me want to become a rap artist.
- How would you describe your rapping style?
I would describe it as hardcore gangsta West Coast reality rap, not so much gangsta-oriented talking about murdering other young Black males, doing drive-bys, and killing innocent kids. Gangsta as in gangsta West Coast hardcore, using that authentic original sound from the 90s. It’s gangsta but godly, with morals. It’s about the ghetto lifestyle, police brutality, and how to stay out of jail. That’s my style, straight West Coast, but not condoning or glorifying the gangsta street life. I’m not praising Old English and drinking Hennessy because that way of living is dead.
- Tell us about the new album Thug Therapy 2.
Thug Therapy II – I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen after the first Thug Therapy I released back in 2015. After I released Spice 1’s album Haterz Nightmare in 2015, things started looking grim for us to ever do a collaboration album again. I experienced a lot of hate for my hard work, and other artists on the Thug World Music Group label started spreading rumors. Jealousy accumulated quickly, and after the small beef with Spice 1, I didn’t think it was suitable to pay $10,000 to do a Thug Therapy II album. So, I just got in touch with all my West Coast homies I function with daily, like WC, Kokane, MC Eiht, Glasses Malone, CJ Mac, San Quinn, and Sly Boogy. I came up with a cool budget from the label to get beats from Steve Vicious and features from all my West Coast homies. Now, six years later, you got Thug Therapy II.
- What’s your favorite song from the album and why?
I have a lot of favorites from the album. The whole record is banging, but I would say I really cherish the song “Bonafide” because WC really loves this record. As a matter of fact, Dub encouraged me to release “Bonafide” first on Thug Therapy II instead of our other song. I cherish the song the most because some years back, Dub was upset about me using a verse I paid for, allowing Spice 1 to put the same verse we did on a Spice 1 album called Haterz Nightmare. It was a song called “Can’t Hold Us,” but on my album, the song was called “One West.” WC wasn’t too happy with that, but years later, here we are, reconciling our business relations and putting out bangers like “Bonafide” with no more recycled verses.
- What’s your next project?
I’m working on another project as we speak. I’m currently in my studio in Val Vista Hills, CA, recording an album called Boss Status. So far, I’ve got WC on the album again on a song called “Legendary Gee Shid.”
- How did you connect with JL Ortega?
I connected with my good friend on Facebook. He is one of a kind, an awesome producer, and an incredible person to work with. I’m excited about the record he’s about to release called Killa California West.
- What do you hope to accomplish this year?
I’ve already accomplished a lot – a new home, cars, studio, and a new album. I’m straight. I’d rather have patience than all the things I’ve gained.
- What do you want your supporters to know about you?
I’m an independent artist. No major label. Self-made. So don’t be surprised if you hit me in the DM and I actually talk back. It’s really me. I ain’t Hollywood!
- Any final comments?
Before you judge an artist and look down upon any independent artist, ask yourself: Are you rich? Are you famous? Why do you idolize mainstream artists so much? Why do you break your neck to try to talk to artists that are rich? They give you no time; they say no words to you. But remember, once upon a time, they were just like me, and some of their fans doubted them and talked bullshit about them. This is why artists don’t talk to fans. Evaluate yourself and how you treat others. Reality check.
Bossolo:
https://www.instagram.com/only1bossolo/
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
