Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Undiscovered Talent: Vello The God (Interview)

Written by “N-Riz” of RealRadioBlog.com
Twitter: @RealRadioBlog


When I started blogging, one of my visions for the future was to create a medium where hip hop fans could discover new, talented artists who had not yet ‘made it’ in this industry. I set up a ‘contact us’ section of the blog where artists and fellow bloggers could email me samplings of their work, in hopes that I would have the opportunity to shine some light on undiscovered up and comers. That hope was nothing more than a pipe dream until last Thursday. On March 7th, I received an email from Darvell Goodwin, aka VELLO the GOD, a Chicago based emcee who has remained, in large part, deep underground. With an impressive combination of lyricism, flow, and a complex rhyme scheme, VELLO the GOD is living proof that Chicago can still provide us with well rounded, unique, and refreshing artists. We sat down with Darvell and asked him a few questions to better understand the man behind the music. Check out the full interview below, and be sure to download his most recent mixtape, entitled “The Emancipation,” in its entirety, free of charge.

How long have you been rapping?
I’ve been rapping for about six years and recording for about two.

What’s your take on the current state of hip hop? Do you like the direction it’s heading?

I think the new class of hip hop is slowly pulling the genre back to a good state. For what most people consider hip hop, is no longer a factor if you’re not bumping underground music. To me, what you hear on the radio and that are just two different things.

Do you think coming out of a hip hop mecca, like Chicago, helps or hurts your chances of making it in this increasingly competitive business?

As of right now, it’s hard to say, due to the fact that what’s coming out of Chicago is not exactly what I do. I think people will respect and recognize that I choose to pursue what I think Chicago hip hop truly is and innovate styles unheard of.

What, would you say, was your strongest influence to begin rapping? Was it an event in your past, a fellow artist, or what?
My biggest influence was just the drive to create and master a type of art in order to move a culture of people further into what it truly is. No real event or artist influenced me to start, but I was listening to artists like J. Cole in “The Come Up,” Kendrick Lamar in “Section 80,” and just a bunch of old school cats who became pioneers. I wanted to bring the Chicago essence back into it. Considering the state hip hop is in now, I just wanted to make room for the real.

Your music is very lyrical. While this approach often earns the respect and loyalty of underground fans, it usually hurts your chances at commercial success, given the type of rap that gets radio play. Are you ever tempted into dumbing down your lyrics to improve your popularity and financial situation?
As far as that goes, I’m definitely not opposed to making music for you to dance to, because I’ll just always feel like I’m doing me and doing what I love, which is making music. I’m not really worried about the money or things like that, but I know I’ll be able to do a lot more when it’s here and I feel like life, itself, is a big popularity contest.
What sort of plans do you have for the future?
I just plan on lasting a long time. I’m a true artist, so I’ll be looking into things like clothing design, fine arts, and things like that, and just build on a brand worth building on. In the end, I just want it all to be worth it and I’ll be working unsatisfied.

If you could give one message to your fans, or to those who haven’t heard of you before, what would that message be?
I would like to say that I’m just a KOOL dude, haha. I’m a competitive artist. Whether I’m in the studio writing lyrical pieces or making a real track for you to dance to, it’s always gonna be competitive to me; I’m coming for anyone, all in good faith.

Follow VELLO the GOD on twitter @VelloTheGod, and check out his music on Hot New Hip Hop:
Here and stream below.

1 comment:

  1. dope write-up. Music is dope as well, keep grindin'

    ReplyDelete

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