One of my favorite up and comers was nice enough to do an interview with us, and he gives his insight on some of his music, the state of the music industry, who to look for in 2010, and who are the next big emcee’s from the Detroit area! Ro Spit knows what’s up, and I am sure that after reading the interview, checking out the mixtape, and stopping by Burn Rubber, you too will see that Ro Spit is the next big thing!
TGLR: Hey Ro Spit, what’s good?
Ro Spit: Ain’t nothing, just tryin to get to the top.
TGLR: You recently dropped The Oh S#!t Project, can you tell everyone out there about the idea of this tape?
Ro Spit: The whole idea behind this project was to show my skill as an emcee. It was one of those things where I wanted to draw people in. Nothing too deep as far as my life goes, just fly shit & smooth flow. Bars!!!
TGLR: How long did it take you to make the tape and put that whole thing together?
Ro Spit: It may have taken about 3 months once I made the decision to drop it. About 40% of it was songs that I had been sitting on, that I just needed to finish.
TGLR: It’s good to see more and more Detroit based musicians getting their stuff out there, who do you think are the top Detroit MC’s in the music game right now?
Ro Spit: Guilty Simpson, Royce 5’9″, Stretch Money, Big Sean, Marvwon, Black Milk, Elzhi… I can go on for days. It’s a lot of great Emcees in & around the city.
TGLR: I have heard some rumors swirling around that you may be putting a college tour together. If this is the case, what universities would you hit up?
Ro Spit: We’re working on something. Definitely all of the Michigan schools. It just depends on if the school jumps on board. We also are looking to hit some Ohio, Indiana, & Illinois schools.
TGLR: One of my favorite tracks off your mixtape is “Renaissance State of Mind,” what inspired that track and why haven’t people heard of Monica Balire?
Ro Spit: Empire State of Mind definitely inspired the track. It was more of a “Mixtape” thing that just became bigger than I could have ever imagined. I just wanted to Rep where I’m from & do it in a clever way. People haven’t heard of Monica Blaire because they are stupid. Lol. Nah, I don’t know really. I think it’s just a matter of time. She’s a Mega Star. I’m just happy to be fam, & be around people so talented.
TGLR: Do you have any plans to release another mixtape?
Ro Spit: Nah, I don’t do mixtapes. I hate the stigma of that word. Plus all of my songs are done on original beats. Even RSOM was re-made. I had my man Dbit find the original samples & drums & put everything together. Also, that wasn’t supposed to be on there, it just became it’s own monster. I have an EP & an album that will drop this year. Other than that, I may host
a mixtape or something, but that’s probably it. But I have a lot of music, so you never know what I may do, Lol.
TGLR: Big Sean is the most recent person to get big from Detroit. Who’s next?
Ro Spit: Me.
TGLR: XXL hasn’t released the full list of who will be on their Freshman 10 list, as of right now, Pill, Nipsey Hu$$le, Fashawn, and J. Cole. Who do you think will be on the rest of the list?
Ro Spit: Big Sean, Wiz Kalifah, Currensy, Curtains, Mike Posner, & Diz Gibran
TGLR: Which do you enjoy to do more of, record in the studio or perform live?
Ro Spit: Definitely performing. It’s a “high” that you get when you stand in front of a room full of people & you have them in the palm of your hands. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
TGLR: Where do you see the music game in 5 years from now?
Ro Spit: Hopefully in a more creative state. Everybody gets to sounding like everybody else & that’s wack.
TGLR: If you could collaborate with any musician on a track, who would it be and why?
Ro Spit: Pharrell Williams. I think the man is a genius & he brings things to out of artists that they don’t even know they have in them. I think that track would be life changing. For me as well as the listener, Lol.
TGLR: What do you try and express through your music?
Ro Spit: My lifestyle & cleverness/wittiness. Nothing will ever be given to you at face value, but I still try to put it out there in a way that you can latch on & relate to it.
TGLR: 2Pac or Biggie?
Ro Spit: Jay-Z
TGLR: Where do you see your music career in five years from now?
Ro Spit: Making a lot more money, & getting my music heard & respected by millions of people.
TGLR: Who are the top five producers in the music industry right now?
Ro Spit: Pharrell, DJ Khalil, Kanye West, Timbaland, Denaun Porter
TGLR: What are your expectations for the albums coming out in 2010? Will we be seeing new styles and new forms of rap, or should we expect a lot of the same old stuff?
Ro Spit: I think some new stuff. It’s a whole new wave of dope artists in the game right now. I can’t wait to hear Drake’s album & Sean’s album. I’m excited.
TGLR: Tell everyone out there about the Burn Rubber movement and what Burn Rubber is!
Ro Spit: The dopest sneaker boutique this side of Nebulon 5. Yeah I said it. www.burnrubberdetroit.com like whatupdoe!!!
TGLR: Even though Lil’ Wayne’s Rebirth album hasn’t come out yet, what is your opinion of this “rock” themed album, and should more musicians in the Hip-Hop industry explore other genre’s like Weezy has?
Ro Spit: If he likes it, I love it. The dope thing about Weezy is that he does him regardless of what anybody thinks. If he got that itch to make a rock album, do it. Ain’t nobody else pushing no boundaries like that.
TGLR: I think there is a lot of talented Detroit musicians out there that haven’t really been exposed yet. Have you ever thought about teaming up with other companies in the Detroit area and possibly putting on a Detroit
Hip-Hop Festival?
Ro Spit: Kind of, but people don’t know how to play there position when it comes to stuff like that around here. People either want to be the decision maker, or do absolutely nothing but perform. Also, if they’re not performing, they probably won’t show. I think the idea is amazing though. I would love to see it.
TGLR: Thanks for taking the time and answering our questions! We’re looking forward to your future releases and some more heat coming from you in the near future!
Ro Spit: Anytime. Thanks for having me, I appreciate the love & support. For real for real!!
