Drew32, is a Greek-American rapper, record producer, and songwriter. Widely reported as an emerging influence in Hip hop, Drew32 began producing, rapping, writing, and recording music at age 13, and first gained national notoriety when his music video "Beyond Me" was added to FuseTV and Comcast OnDemand in early 2010. He is also known for performances at various concerts in Michigan and at national events including the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, Texas. In 2012, Drew32 was one of 18 artists in the United States selected by Billboard magazine to compete in the 2012 Billboard Music Awards Battle of the Bands competition.
Several sources have identified Drew32 as an up-and-coming artist including an August 2011 feature article on MTV Rapfix that indicated "Detroit rapper and producer Drew32 is up next". In a fall 2012 article, Ambassador Magazine called Drew32 "Detroit's next big thing".
OK-Tho:
You started making and recording music at 13 yrs old, when did you realize you wanted to make a career out of it?
Drew32:
I always loved making music and dreamed of doing it professionally ever since I was young - I would say even when I was around 14 years old. That being said, however, I don't think I really got extremely serious with it until around senior year of high school, when I really put everything else aside and wanted to focus on making music. That was a big turning point for me.
OK-Tho:
Were there any other names you had?
Drew32:
I've been rockin' number 32 since I was about 5 years old playing basketball. So when I started rapping I just decided to make it a part of my rap name. So to answer your question, no - I've never went by another name, because I've had the name Drew32 forever!
OK-Tho:
In Detroit were there any other friends or kids you knew that was into music like yourself?
Drew32:
Yeah of course - Detroit has a ton of great musicians and artists, and I'm friends with many of them. When I was going to school, there were a few of my friends that started bands and stuff, and I knew a few kids who rapped as well. Actually, when I perform live, I usually do so with a live band which includes my drummer, Steve, my keyboardist, James, and my hype-man/singer/partner-in-crime, B-Smooth. All of us went to Avondale High School.
OK-Tho:
Your produce as well, was it hard to try and work on both writing and producing when developing your music?
Drew32:
I think that because I've been producing and writing so long, that I've gotten used to doing both, so I'd say that it comes pretty easy for me. Sometimes it just takes longer though. I usually have to make a beat, then decide if I like the beat enough to write to it, then write to it, then record. So that definitely adds a few steps to the process, but I think it's worth it. I really love being able to take an idea from start to finish.
OK-Tho:
What artists inspired you to get into hip hop growing up?
Drew32:
So many artists - I don't even know where to start. First of all, I'm not ashamed to admit then in 1996 (when I was 5 years old) a movie we all know of called "Space Jam" came out, which featured a song called "Hit Em High" on the soundtrack, which had Method Man, Coolio, LL Cool J, B-Real, and Busta Rhymes on it. I had no idea who they were at the time because I was so young, but that was highly influential to me. I also got into hip-hop listening to 2Pac, Eminem, Jay-Z, Royce Da 5'9", Kanye West, Dr. Dre, and more. More than just hip-hop though, my love for music also came from artists like Bob Marley, Sergio Mendes, Nana Vasconcelos, Milton Nascimento, Jorge Ben, and more.
OK-Tho:
Did you feel like you had to make certain music in order to make a name for yourself?
Drew32:
When I was really first getting into recording, the only pressure I felt was from my peers. I remember in like freshman year of high school, some of my friends were urging me to swear more in my songs. I remember that being so funny to me at the time. Obviously my language has expanded for better (and worse, ha) since then, but that's something I definitely remember being pressured about, which doesn't even really count because it was just some kids being kids.
OK-Tho:
Whats your relationship with DJ Mo Beatz, did he help you get noticed?
Drew32:
I met DJ Mo Beatz though my manager Mark back around 2009 and we've always been cool. He's a really dope DJ and super big around Detroit and he's definitely putting on for the city. We did two mixtapes together back then, "Quarter to Infinity" and "Twittermania" which were two short and fun projects. Mo Beatz is definitely somebody I've always had respect for and I actually want to get back working with him on something again. Maybe we can trade Ableton tricks or somethin.
OK-Tho:
Since 2009 you've put out about 8 projects, at what one would you say got you the most notoriety that jumped started your career?
Drew32:
Definitely "Label Me" with DJ Skee got me the most notoriety. That mixtape is like a classic in the Drew32 fan-base community. DJ Skee did a great job with it, and It just had everything you could ask for in a mixtape. The only thing we didn't do is come out with a bunch of music videos for it. The video for "I Am King" with Jon Connor, though, got picked up by MTV and mtvU and the song was on ESPN's "First Take". So that was definitely cool. I think that my next project is going to make "Label Me" look like child's-play in comparison.
OK:
I can notice a growth in your music from when you first released 'Quarter Till Infinity". Do you believe you've found your sound and niche?
Drew32:
Yeah I think I have for sure found my sound, but I always like trying new things and testing the waters with new ideas. I think that it gets boring sometimes when artists to keep re-capturing the same energy from certain songs. I'm a fan of multiple genres of music, so I think that expanding horizons and trying new things is very important and makes the creation process more fun.
OK:
Do you think its important to change with the music and its times or should people stay in their own lanes?
Drew32:
I think that its always cool to stay current, and hopefully even set trends rather than follow them, but at the same time I do believe that it's very important to always stay true to yourself and stay in your own lane, so to speak.
OK:
Have you produced for anyone besides yourself?
Drew32:
Yeah, I've produced tracks for quite a few local artists from around the Detroit area, but I haven't spent any time marketing my beats. My main energy and focus has been towards my career as an artist.
OK:
What was it like to have your video "Beyond Me" on FuseTV and Comcast?
Drew32:
That was really dope for me back then, because it was my first true national exposure, which was very exciting. It's kind of like hearing your song on the radio for the first time - it never gets old. It's just a really good feeling.
OK:
Your Greek so your pretty much type casted as a "white" rapper. What was it like being from Detroit and seeing an artist like Eminem emerge and changing the game up?
Drew32:
I mean, Eminem's a living legend, and one of the greatest of all time. He's definitely influenced my own style in some ways, but I don't necessarily think that me looking the way that I do, or coming from Detroit have TOO much to do with that. When I was in my prime ages of falling in love with hip-hop music, Eminem had just had two albums released that would be certified DIAMOND. He was everywhere. So I mean it was kind of inevitable that I would hear his music and soak it in.
OK:
You've worked with big artists like Royce Da 5'9 and Jon Connor, name some more artists that you would like to work with?
Drew32:
I'd like to work with Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, Akon, Andre 3000, Lil Wayne, Drake, J. Cole, Alicia Keys, and a ton more. I don't even know if I can answer that question properly because there's so many dope musicians and artists that I'd love to work with.
OK:
Being 8 projects deep, do you find it hard to keep coming up with new music and topics?
Drew32:
Not really. I think that there will always be something new to say, and some new topics to address. Every day is different - I'm constantly dealing with different things day-to-day than I was in my earlier projects, so I think that I'll be fine.
OK:
What producers would you like to work with?
Drew32:
Timbaland, Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Black Milk, and 1500 or Nuthin just to name a few. I love all their production styles.
OK:
From the progression that Hip Hop has been through since the beginning, do you feel that it is at its best right now?
Drew32:
I think that hip-hop is definitely the biggest that its ever been before, but I don't know if its even fair to compare today's hip-hop to what it was in the 80s and 90s. There wouldn't be rap artists today if it weren't for the artists back then who started it all.
OK:
What was it like to open up for artists like J Cole and Kendrick?
Drew32:
Opening up for J Cole and Kendrick were both awesome experiences. They are two of the dopest rappers in the game right now, so to be able to share the stage with them was an honor.
OK:
If there was ever a song you wish you could of made, what would it be?
Drew32:
Haha I wish I could have made "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" cuz that song is amazing! The sample is so perfect too. Forever ever!? Ever ever?!!
OK:
What up and coming artists do you feel will make a lot of noise in the future?
Drew32:
Of the artists who haven't like fully "blown up" all the way yet… I've been checkin' for Chance the Rapper, Danny Brown, Jon Connor, and G-Eazy.
OK:
What can fans expect from you in 2014 and beyond?
Drew32:
Definitely some new music and new videos, bigger and better shows! I'm really trying to travel a lot too, and hit the road. I'm excited for what's to come.
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