Sprado on "Magic", Jeremih's Mentorship, & Becoming Chicago's Next Great Artist (Interview)

As Hype Off Life continues to come with the heat in our 2020 interview series, we catch up with Chicago-based Hip Hop artist Sprado, who just released his newest single “Magic.” Following in the footsteps of his mentor Jeremih, Sprado's music catalog has quickly earned co-signs from multi-platinum producer Hitmaka, rapper O.T. Genasis and others.

The Chicago native has quickly been establishing himself as one of the most versatile rising rappers in Chicago, releasing songs such as “Cut The Grass” and “They Know” and “Authentic.” Coming with creative visuals and introspective lyricism, Sprado is the one to watch for, in and outside of Chicago. Tune into his exclusive interview below where Sprado gets into Jeremih's mentorship, new music, Chicago's ever-evolving Hip Hop scene and keeping it creative through his music. Right now and only on Hype Off Life 👊🏾

Follow: @sprado__

Your music is a total vibe, hard hitting and authentic. What is your creative process like when it comes to making music? 

I just try to let my mind go wherever the beat takes me. Let my mind freely flow on top of the beat I choose.

How has Jeremih’s mentorship helped shape the direction of your career? 

It helped my career a lot and I’ve actually learned a lot from Jeremih. As soon as we met, he gave me the game. I asked as many questions as I could because I know he’s a big dog in the game right now. But he taught me a lot about being creative with my music and to not let anyone put me into a box and that the whole point of being an artist is to let your creativity flow, to have fun with it and really become the artist that you want to be.

Aside from racking up over 1 Million collective streams and views, you’ve also had co-signs from Hitmaka and O.T. Genasis. How does that feel? 

It’s big for me. When I started music, I felt confident in myself, like I can really do this. But to see that other people feel the same, especially of the caliber of an O.T. Genasis or a Hitmaka, it just makes me more confident in myself and my music. It makes me want to go ten times harder. 

Your new single, “Magic” is currently going up on streaming and in the streets. What type of vibe were you going for when making the song? 

It was a feel-good vibe. When I made the song “Magic” I was in the studio, I had just dropped my first EP, 'Bases Loaded'. During that time of dropping the project, celebrating and creating more music, I had come up with “Magic.”  

I was already feeling good at the time – I was just talking about girls and it was just a lot of fun in the studio. I started talking about a everything that was going on around me. I just want people to get a feel-good vibe from “Magic.”

You get one life, so you want to live it to the best of your abilities.

- Sprado

Did you know it would be such a big hit? 

When I was in the studio and made the song, everybody with me was all excited about the song. They were like ‘Oh man, you just dropped a project and you’re following up with this?’ We were all excited.  

But when you’re in the moment, you’re excited and you know that it’s a hit song, you still don’t know what that song is gonna do until it reaches other people and you actually put it out and see that everybody else feels that same and is rocking with the song too.  

So I would say yes and no. Like I kind of knew, but I didn’t at the same time. It was just amazing. 

How have people from your city, Chicago been treating you since you’ve been making waves? 

They’ve been excited and everybody in the city been rooting for me. It’s good vibes every time I see somebody that knew me before the music. They’re always telling me that they’re proud of me. People are noticing and picking up on it and they want to continue to see the journey happen. I’m blessed. 

Speaking of Chicago, what is the Hip Hop scene like out there? 

I would say the music scene of Chicago is actually changing for the better. It’s changing in sound – like people are getting more melodic with their sound in Chicago. People are starting to tell their stories more now in music. The culture around Chicago is story-based – like whatever that person is going through, people look to the artists in Chicago and wonder ‘How is life in Chicago? How is life for this artist coming out of Chicago?” I think it’s turning for the better. I think we’re getting some real good content out of Chicago.  

You’re definitely at forefront of next new wave of artists to come out of the city. What is your plan to be the next greatest rapper from Chicago? 

My plan is to continue to inspire. I want to show people in Chicago – and the people who’ve seen me grow up – I want them to see me and know that there’s a way out. You can do it. Whatever it is that you’re passionate about, whatever it is that you want to do – take it, go with it, run with it and don’t look back. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. I want to be that example of someone who took their dreams and goals by the horns and went with it.  

You also have a new project in the works. What type of sound and content can we expect to hear? 

I’ve been getting real creative with my next two singles and my next project. I've just been really trying to play with my flows. I’m telling my story, like I always do, but I’ve been getting more creative on my flow game on this one. I’m playing with different tones in my voice, different octaves, different frequencies and things like that. People are gonna love it – it’s a switch-up for Sprado.  

I want to use the end of 2020 as a lob to Sprado coming through 2021 doing an in-between- the-legs, windmill slam dunk 360 off the backboard.

- Sprado

Aside from Roddy Ricch’s producer, Sonic, who else is involved with the project? 

As far as the project, another producer that I rock with is Ozzy – he goes by Kwamé. He produced my song “American Dream” featuring Jeremih, so we have worked a lot and we have a vibe. We’ll be in the studio and we’ll work from scratch. Like he’ll start off the beat and start off with the melody, then come with the bass and the snares and we’ll make another hit.  

Some beats just came from Da Baby’s producer JetsonMade - I haven’t worked on them yet, but coming soon. Be on the lookout for more collaborations with producers. It’s been hard to link with producers and artists right now because of quarantine and during COVID, but there’s a lot more work coming soon.  

Although 2020 flew by and COVID messed up a lot of plans, we still have some time left in the year. What goals do you want to accomplish before the year is up? 

A goal that I want to accomplish before 2020 is over with is to set up my success story in 2021. I want the end of 2020 to be like, ‘We see Sprado. He’s blowing up, he’s doing his thing. The city loves him and everybody is picking up on him.’  

By the time 2021 comes, I want to be a household name, established and people know who Sprado is. 

I want to use the end of 2020 as a lob to Sprado coming through 2021 doing an in-between- the-legs, windmill slam dunk 360 off the backboard. That’s what we need. 

Anything else we should know? 

My official music video for “Magic” featuring NLE Choppa is out now – everyone go watch that on YouTube. It’s out on all platforms too. 

If there’s anything that I can leave ya’ll with right now, for anybody who’s trying to be an artist, starting out as an artist – keep going. If that’s something that you believe in yourself and know that’s something you’re supposed to do – keep going. Whatever it is, you can be a videographer, a model, whatever it is – just push it. You get one life, so you want to live it to the best of your abilities.