Haastattelussa Pennsylvanian Harrisburgista kotoisin oleva räppäri Loebadgett. Hän on tehnyt urallaan yhteistyötä muun muassa Dark Lon ja Reef Hustlen kanssa. Hänen uusin studioalbuminsa ‘Since Graduation 2’ ilmestyi vuonna 2021.
- What’s up, Loebadgett? How are you today?
What’s good, fam? I’m cooling and staying focused. Blessed to be alive.
- Take us back to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Tell us a bit about your hometown.
My city is a small town with a lot of heart and fight. Typical things going on that you get anywhere else in the country. We get overshadowed by Philly and Pittsburgh, but that will change soon. The only difference is we have staples in our city you can’t get anywhere else in the world: Middleswarth Chips and Swiss Premium drinks (haha). Two things everyone must try when they stop through here. I guarantee they will be having orders shipped out (haha). But yeah, we are a city on the come up.
- How long have you been rapping?
I’ve been rapping since age 12. I’m 28 now, so it’s been a long journey. I didn’t really take my music career seriously until 2 or 3 years ago, though. As in actually making plays and trying to break into the game.
- When did you start making music?
I started making music, as in recording it, at the age of 17. My first mixtape is titled “Cloud City,” and that’s with my brothers Tim J, Brizz, and Loe Vurses. We actually gained some exposure with a few records from the album, but nothing panned out the way we wanted. Upset from the letdown in the situation, I fell back from recording and just focused on working and my writing. The group LOE also kind of fell apart.
- Who are your main influences in the music world?
My main influences are definitely three giants. I give Nas, Ice Cube, and 50 Cent credit for how my music sounds. Since I was young, I tried to craft my art in such a way that I could kind of mix all of their talents. Nas for his lyrical ability and smooth delivery. Cube for his storytelling and aggression. 50 Cent for his melodies and great songwriting ability, also his story. He taught me how important it is to not only be talented but to have a story. My pops, LumberJack Blackston, is also a great influence on me.
- Name your top five rappers in the game right now.
Benny The Butcher, 38 Spesh, Lumberjack Blackston, Reef Hustle, and Kendrick Lamar. 50 Cent gets an honorable mention when he’s dropping singles. He can’t be touched when he locks in (haha).
- You just released a brand new song called “Survived Everything.” What’s the story behind that song?
Yeah, “Survived Everything” is the second single from my upcoming album “Facts Over Feelings,” dropping in January. It’s produced by Aganee Jenkins and features Dark Lo and Reef Hustle. I basically wanted to set the tone for the album and let people know the direction the tape is going in. It’s a story of redemption and overcoming when people said we couldn’t. Each one of us painted a vivid picture of our reality, bouncing back and pushing forward. The song is available on all streaming platforms and is almost at 10k on YouTube in 3 weeks.
- Music aside, how’s life been for you throughout the pandemic?
Music aside, life has been a roller coaster. I’m an owner-operator (I own a trucking company), so I never stopped moving. I didn’t really get affected by the pandemic in terms of working, so I thank God for that. But you know, my wife worked from home, so I saw us butting heads a little more than usual since she was always home with the kids. I also ran into a few health issues I had to shake off. But I’m happy to say I was able to stay busy, and we were able to take care of our family through such a serious time in the world. Also, we remained healthy and alive. We had some major accomplishments in the last year.
- Tell us a bit about you as a person that people don’t know.
I’m an underdog. A lot of people see me and think my road was easy or that I just magically figured it out. That’s not the case. I worked extremely hard and paid attention to a lot of the pitfalls others fell into. I seriously believe in the comeback story and love ’80s and ’90s movies because that’s all it was. Rocky, for example. The man with no hope, set to live an average life, gets hit with a little luck and, most importantly, has the willpower to accomplish the task at hand and change his life. That’s how I view life (haha). Get up and keep swinging.
- What encouragement would you give to new artists wanting to do what you’re doing?
I would tell them age doesn’t matter. Quitting is the only thing that holds you back from fulfilling your dreams. Keep dropping music and making connections. Don’t think you can do this alone because it takes a serious team to break pavement. The biggest thing would probably be to aim for a movement and not a moment. A moment in hip-hop is cool, but a movement lasts forever. Get money and dodge the scams people try to run on you. Oh yeah, don’t buy followers and plays (haha), that doesn’t do anything but give you temporary enjoyment.
- What can you tell us about your future plans?
Everything I do will continue to get bigger. I plan on dropping a lot more albums in shorter periods. Getting more creative with my music and expanding my business. Right now, it’s trucking, music, and merchandise. But I have a few things up my sleeve to continue the growth and brand expansion. The future is looking beautiful. “Facts Over Feelings” drops in January!
- Any last thoughts?
Yeah, shoutout to my team The Loyals: D Drizz, Lumberjack Blackston, Cbr Coop, LOE Vurses, Millio, Dally Boy, and everyone else affiliated with the movement. Nyrees Restaurant and Club just opened up in Harrisburg, PA, owned by Joe Hobbs and D Drizz, so stop by if you’re ever in town. Peace, Big Wolf.
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
