HYPE FILES - The Lil Blood Interview
If you're a lover of the sounds of the Bay Area, then you should be familiar with Lil Blood. For well over a decade he has become one of the more influential figures, contributing greatly to the expansion of the Bay Area music movement. He grew his brand being a part of the collectives 3rd World and One Mob with Mozzy, Lil AJ, Joe Blow, and Philthy Rich, and has since expanded with a Podcast called "Lil Blood TV", which helps give emerging talent a platform.
With the release of his new album, "The Book Of Dawa", we got a chance to speak with Lil Blood about his come up, the lessons he's learned in his lengthy career, his sound, Oakland being an influential hotspot, the new album, and more!
Check out the interview below.
Thanks for coming thru! How’s 2022 been treating you?
Better than some, worse than others.
What was your vision for your new project, “The Book Of Dawa”?
The Book Of Dawa, my vision for The Book of Dawa was to keep it all the way as raw and uncut as possible meaning not too much flexin' not too much flossing, just getting back to the art of music. Just the real, what you call that? Life time music, you know? Music that's going to last for a lifetime. Music that's gon' get you through the up's the downs, the smiles and the frowns, good music.
The album goes hard! Plus, you have plenty of dope features from other Bay Area heavyweights. How would you describe the Hip Hop scene in Oakland?
The Hip Hop scene of Oakland is getting back to it's original format. We got a lot of great kings. We got a lot of great artists that came out of Oakland, such as Too $hort, J. Stalin, even with Digital Underground to go back some generations, and I'm glad it's getting back to Oakland. It's getting back to its original self. It's getting back to being pioneers and leaders of this new generation.
I just speak for those who don't have a voice
How has being an Oakland native shaped your sound and approach to music?
Everything about my music is Oakland. I feel that there is no place in the world like Oakland. I feel we got the best game, the best looking women, everything about Oakland is just dope. And without Oakland there wouldn't be a Lil Blood.
What do you love most about being from the Bay area?
The game, the game. You can put, you can put a n---- from Oakland anywhere and he's gon' adapt he's gonna come out swingin'. You can send an Oakland n---- to Hell with gasoline draws he gon' put the fire out and sell the devil ice water.
Although some might not be familiar, you’re a 10 year veteran in the game. What lessons have you learned over the course of your career?
The biggest lesson really to me is to stay solid. People change. And people change like the weather, and as long as you stand firm and stay solid, and stick to what you believe in, it's gon' be alright, as long as you don't do no floss sh*t no, janky sh*t , you don't switch it. And in that nature. It's gon' be alright, everything gon' turn out alright. Definitely that's one of the best things I can say. Just do you, dare to be different.
How did you get your career off the ground in the first place?
Shout out to J. Stalin, again roses, to J. Stalin. J. Stalin seen something in me I didn't see in myself. He saw potential. Ya! J. Stalin he saw potential in me, and I stuck with it, I didn't quit. I didn't give up on myself. And here we are now. Over 10 years and I'm still relevant. It's just getting better, and better, and better.
“The Book Of Dawa” is your first release through EMPIRE, which is huge. How did that deal come about?
Honestly, It's been a long time coming, really. But I had recorded a record called "Temper Tantrum", and in that record I said why the f*ck Ghazi aint give me no check yet? Why the fuck Nima ain't throw me no check yet? And it grabbed Ghazi's attention, and from that I had a sit down with him, and we went over some things, and here I am talking to Olivia at f*cking 12 o'clock at night.
What is something you think people get wrong when it comes to success?
A lot of people value success about how much money you got, and [to] me that's not successful. Successful to me is a happy home, a happy child, a happy wife. Healthy, being healthy. Ya that's success to me. Money of course, don't nobody want to be broke of course. But, if the people around you happy, and everybody is flourishing then I'm cool with that, I'm good with that. Of course I don't want to be broke, but I don't value success on money.
Why do you feel it’s important for artists to stay true to themselves?
That's easy sh*t. Don't nobody want to follow, or listen to no fake sh*t. You gotta be real with yourself before you can be real to anybody else. So ,on an airplane when you take flight. when they telling you about the oxygen situation they always say put the mask on yourself first before you put it on your child. And [I'm] saying that to say this you got to make sure you're being real with yourself if you want a following and you want people to really feel you.
My music people tell me all the time like "man I was in a dark ass place, but I listened to..." lets say a song like "Stressed out" and it got me through some sh*t, or you get what I'm saying? 'Cause I put my truths out there I wear my heart on my sleeve so when I get deep and I talk about things like that its a lot pe - Its a, Listen, Listen Listen! Let me put it like this it's more broke people than there is rich people. So, it's a lot of people that [are] stressing more than is happy. So, I just speak for those who don't have a voice, basically.
We're not promoting goofy shit. We're definitely not promoting messy shit were not promoting violence ...
Rewind to 2012. What advice would you give yourself?
Man, uh... be patient you gon' be alright you gon' be okay. Be patient. Just have faith in the process. I tell myself to be a little bit more stingy. I tell myself it's gon' be okay. I tell myself don't be afraid to grow, don't be afraid of growth. I tell myself... ya just to be patient, just to be patient. Like it's going to happen, don't give up.
Fast forward to 10 years from today. What do you see yourself doing?
10 years from today I see myself walking my son across the stage at his graduation. I see myself enjoying money and enjoying the fruits of my labor. I've kinda started late in my career. I took my career serious late and 10 years from now I would be benefiting from the seeds I planted today.
Anything else we should know?
Lil Blood TV - podcast - dopest sh*t going right now. Running those subscribers up: like, and subscribe. It's for the culture, by the culture. It's not messy we don't we don't deal with - we're not culture vultures over here. We're not promoting goofy shit we're definitely not promoting messy shit were not promoting violence. Good vibes over here, so fuck with that Lil Blood podcast.
Keep in touch with @3rdworldlilblood & Follow @HypeOffLife for more dope content 🚀
