Groovy Druuu: The Bay Area's Newest Artist

In Honor of Groovy's Druuu Newest LP Here Is The Archived Interview from KILJOY Magazine's No. 2 Issue..

What's going on bro, I appreciate you doing this little interview with me I am grateful as fuck. We have known each for a cool minute, so I’m aware of what you got going on. But for the people who need to be put on game. So who are you?

What’s going on y’all it’s Groovy Druuu I’m an artist from the Bay Area. Richmond, CA to be exact. 

Thank you for doing this with me, I've been very impressed with your career.  Before we get into where is your head is at today?

It’s going good bro, excited to be here and get this interview in I appreciate you opening up your platform. Today, shit my head is in a good space I’ve had some time to myself chill out a little and got some work done before heading over here.

What does a typical morning from you look like? When you wake up what is your daily regiment?

A typical morning for me? I wake up about 6:45 am and run through my day and what I have to get done for the day. Then I’m straight to the shower cause we gotta be clean when we step out aha. Brush the teeth and hair get dressed. I might buss-down a lil egg and bagel or something for breakfast then we off to work. That’s typically everyday for me.

In the world we live in some people like to look themselves in the mirror and go over daily confirmations and manifestations. Is this something that you practice at all?  If so what are some of those confirmations.

For sure maybe not in that exact way but I do things to keep myself motivated and to stay on track. I’m a big Larry June fan and he probably is one of the most positive rappers I know and he always says “Keep Going” or “Good Job Larry” so that’s what I tell myself everyday or when it get rough “Keep Going Druuu”. No matter the circumstance good or bad you have to “Keep Going”.

So now that we kind of have a measure of where your head is at let’s get into the interview. It was not until recently that I found out that you made music. When I found out, naturally I was curious and peeped and it’s good. I have always been a fan of hip hop I remember listening to “Drop It Like Its Hot” and instantly becoming a fan of rap music, so when I run into a situation where someone I know decides to contribute to rap culture I immediately tune in.

I didn't become a fan of hip hop until the 6th grade, a lot later than most people. I quickly learned that everyone has a different relationship with the genre based on how they were introduced. What is your relationship with hip hop? What is the first song you remember listening to that made you a fan?

Man bro I been around Hip Hop since I was a young kid maybe like 5 is when I was able to remember songs word for word. My moms actually told me a story about how Tupac held me as a baby and I couldn’t believe it especially knowing who he is and was to the culture that was crazy. But you know growing up in a black house hold on the weekends we’re cleaning lol moms didn’t play. My oldest brother use to play CD’s and I would bob my head not knowing what was going on but one time I remember he put on a CD and I heard “Hot Shit…I’m going down down baby yo street in a Range Rover!” I was like what is this? The song, flow and beat just caught my attention and was hella fun I think that’s when I became a fan of Nelly and more so Hip Hop.

Did that spark your interest in wanting to become an artist?

Not quite I just really liked the music and would rap along to the songs if you asked me at the time I’d tell you my favorite artist were Nelly and Usher, but I didn’t want to rap myself yet. I just wanted to be cool like Nelly so I was rocking the band aid under the eye and trying to dress like him.

Do you remember the first instrumental you heard that made you want to rap over it? What was it?

It wasn’t an instrumental. It was the song  “Wanksta” by 50 Cent. He was the rapper that actually made me want to rap. 50 was that nigga!!! 50 came out in ’02/ ’03 I’m 7/8 years old so I got a better understanding of what’s going on.

I know this is a generic ass question but who are you influences when it comes to making music?

When it comes to making music I draw inspiration from a lot of artist. I’m a real music head. I listen to EVERYTHING but for me making music right now I will say Larry June, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Kevin Gates, and Kid Cudi. I know that’s a crazy list but they all serve a purpose and have one thing in common. They’ve all mastered their sound.

Alright now I want to talk about the elephant in the room. By now I'm sure most people are aware that you  recently dropped your first tape, “Take a Risk”. Congratulations by the way. I want to talk about the process and the concepts for the tape.What was the process like in bringing that concept to life?

Thank you bro I appreciate it, truthfully bro it happened on an accident believe it or not. I was only releasing singles for a little while, then I took some time off of work and in that time I was just knowing out records. I looked up and listened to what I had and figured I had enough to put out a solid EP. So I ran with that

The music that's coming out of the bay right now has a very distinct sound, so much that you can almost tell when an artist is out of the bay. It seems like “take a risk” is very bay esque. Did you have any specific influences in mind when creating the tape?

Man it was everything, fun/sad/frustrating/relieving I was dealing with a lot of personal stuff at the time so that with trying to put together a project was a task in itself but I got it done. Like I said before “Keep Going”. it was a lot honestly a big part of that was my producer Teris Jay he laced me with some fire beats and I just went with how I felt when I heard em. So you’ll hear some Bay style on the tape and some LA style too. If you listen to “Waited Patiently” you hear those Synths that pierce through that reminds me of old LA music right there then Boom we got that Bay Bass kicking in. Perfect marriage.

Can you speak on the process of picking which songs went on the tape? I am sure there I music that didn't make the cut that you are probably going to use sometime in the future right?

There’s hella songs that didn’t make it be it my first project I wasn’t trying to put a gang of songs out, nobody knows who I am you feel me? BUT I wanted to make a strong entrance and put nigaas on notice that Groovy Druuu is here and I can get busy with the best of them. So I tried to cover all bases with some rap records some laid back and some softer records for the ladies.

You posted some feedback that you received from listeners on instagram a while back, which songs were people fucking with the most and are any of those songs your personal favorite?

Yeah bro I got a lot of good Feedback on IG people are really messing with Daygo and Intro/Waited Patiently they are going crazy over those. Daygo is a flawless record to me and one of my favorite but my ultimate favorite is Take 30 and Outro.

Most rappers have that one song that they know is essentially their “radio hit” and most times they hate the song.Do you have that one song you know is going to blow that you aren't interested in listening anymore.

From what I have released I would say “Daygo” it for sure screams radio to me I’ve heard that song at least 1000 times. Once I get the video out for it I think it’ll go even crazier but I have a few in the tuck that I think have the ability to surpass anything I’ve put out.

Has your life changed at all since the release? speak on that for a bit.

Yes and No, like I’m not signed and have millions of dollars and followers but I’m appreciating the art and the process that you have to follow if you want good product. I’ve learned a lot of new things in the studio. I recorded all my own sessions for this project so it’s small things that have changed my life but I’m still waiting for that home run.

I am sure you are working on a follow up to the tape, any information you can give as to when people can expect another project from you.

You know it I’m working on new music everyday damn near. I think I’m going to go back to the single format for a little bit drop a few more then hit it with a new project and when I do I’ll be sure Kiljoy Magazine gets the first listen.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I am excited to see how you career unfolds. Keep doing yo shit.