Hip hop rap superstar Russian Roulette, has taken some time to talk with his about his career choice with music. Why he got into his career, achievements, mistakes, advice, plans for the future, to everything else in-between!
1. How did I achieve this career?
This journey started about 5 or 6 years ago. I was trash at rapping and writing, but people always saw something in the music and me. They could feel the music. I wasn’t rapping about gangbanging or women etc. I was rapping about I’m 3 days sober kicking heroin type shit.
2. What personal advice would I give someone wanting to peruse music?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Overnight success doesn’t happen, it takes years of blood sweat and tears to be where you dream of being. Also embrace the small wins, like being in a magazine, getting a encore from a crowd, shooting your first music video, having your music on iTunes, taking pictures with fans etc. Those moments are what makes this journey worth it.
3. What are typical mistakes people make trying to pursue this career?
I’d say they think it will happen overnight. They don’t realize the sacrifice you have to make. It was very hard for some people to see me go away for two weeks to NYC and London. It wasn’t easy. I was very lonely touring London, I got sick and was half way around the world and my publicist Brad sure wasn’t going to take care of me haha.
4. If I had to do it all over again would I do it any differently?
Absolutely not, everything has happened for a reason for me to be where I am now, and I’m very happy with my recent success.
5. It’s common for musicians to be out of work for long periods of time. How can you supplement this time without work? How can you transition out of this period as quickly as possible?
I’ve always kept a day job being a musician. One day I hope I won’t have to but I have no problem working and being a musician. I work in a detox and get it help very newly sober men and women get there lives back on track!
6. How do you get people to take you seriously as a musician?
WORK ETHIC! Under promise and over achieve. I’m telling you I used to go to the studio and mess around for hours and get no work done. The studio is my office, I go there to work and leave when I’m finished. Now I enjoy being in the studio but I have to respect my work space.
7. Is there growth in this field? How do things generally look for new musicians entering the field?
Yes of course there is growth. Music is about piggy backing off of an artist you like and making it into something that’s original. I’m always learning new things everyday when I’m working around music.
8. How do I describe my music to people?
It’s about overcoming obstacles. I almost have 2 and a half years of sobriety. I’ve been homeless in the winters of Minnesota, a lot of my brothers have been affiliated with gangs and the streets. I know how life gets when it gets real. Not to jock NF and no disrespect because he’s an amazing musician but I make real music. I want you to FEEL my music.
9. What imagine does my music convey?
I’d like to say triumph. I want to give hopeless people hope. I’ve been in a lot of your shoes, homeless, addicted, broke, hungry etc. I want to inspire others to follow there passion. The road only gets tougher but it’s about personal growth and success.
10. How important is image?
Look, whatever...the media is so quick to judge. Say I kick a fan out of my show because he’s being absurdly obnoxious because he’s drunk. Next thing you know I’m a dick. Now of course I have values I will uphold and I’ll stay true to myself. Now my physical imagine is cool. I’m into fashion. I did NYC and London fashion week this past February.
11. What are my songs about?
Overcoming. Talk about about being adopted, feeling alone, being homeless, feeling helpless, watching addiction kill my friends, feeling anger and much more.
12. Do I write my own songs?
Yes 100% I don’t think I could rap someone else’s lyrics. I’d love to one day maybe write a song for another artist.
13. Who are my musical influences?
Well I have Nirvana, Ace Frehley, Marilyn Manson, Led Zeppelin, Blue October, Red Hot Chillin Peppers, Early Morning Rebel, Sun Record logo, and Johnny Cash tattooed on me so far. They inspire me. Now hip hop artists, of course Eminem, Rakim, my high Scholl teacher Niles (he’s pretty dope and always believed in me), The Gunna, Bone Thugs, Outkast, and a bunch more.
14. How would I describe the overall sound of the album?
It sounds fucking awesome! Haha I’m joking. It’s intense and real. I have club bangers and I have super sad songs haha. I’ve learned a lot from this album! I can’t wait to put out my sophomore album. There’s going to be a lot of growth and maturity in my lyrics and content.
15. Can you go into one or two tracks on the new album? If so, can you give us the track title and brief description of how the track sounds and how it came about?
Russian Roulette Feat. Layzie Bone - "Fight This Addiction". I picked Layzie Bone for the song bc he grew up in a house with an active drug user. His environment was filled with junkies. He gets it, he’s also seen people very important to him sober up. He believes drug addiction/ alcoholism is a disease and I’ll back the up 100% myself.
16. When can we expect this album to drop?
We are shooting one more music video very soon then the album will drop! I have no expectations, I’m just excited for the responses I do get (which I know I will get).
17. What about plans ahead for 2018, what do you have lined-up?
Well I’m starting to record my 2nd studio album. My manager just partnered up with a very talented man in this industry so I hope soon I’ll be able to work with him. Might tour in the fall, hope on as an opening act. Hit fashion week in the fall maybe.
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