Let me ask you Artille, how long have you been a Hip Hop artist?
About 15 years. I’ve been writing raps since 2005, but started recording in 2010. I dropped my first mixtape in 2015.
What specific area are you from?
I currently live in Pinellas Park, Florida, which is part of the Tampa Bay area. I was born and raised here.
Also, how did you get your emcee name?
My name is Ronald Jean Artille
We notice your style is super original and more on the modern boombap/trap twist! Let us know how your style if different than all the rap artists out there!
I think my music is different from other artists because I offer a mix of hard bars and melodic flows without autotune.
Bro, your new album “Highs & Lows” is absolute FIRE!!! Please breakdown the creative process behind this album.
Thank you! I put a lot of time, pain, and tears into the album. I wrote and recorded this album in November 2018, during the worst of my cocaine addiction. I was very depressed at the time. The album took me about a month to write and was mostly recorded in one session at my house. The mixing process was delayed for months due to my bad habits, unstable living situation, and failing relationship. I wasn’t able to break the negative cycle until I lost my job and my fiancée left me. This allowed me to put my full focus on my music career. I finished mixing the album in September. The concept behind Highs & Lows is to showcase my battle with addiction by discussing the good and bad times I experienced. The instrumentals range from joyful to dark to help depict the ups and downs of substance abuse.
If you were not a rapper, what career path would you have taken?
I have an A.S. degree in Information Technology. My last job was at a dental marketing agency as a system administrator.
Do you remember the day/time when you realized you wanted to become an Hip Hop artist? Was there and special person in your life that influenced you to become an Hip Hop artist?
I don’t remember the specific day or time, but when I started in 8th grade I was writing songs similar to Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins. Nobody in my life influenced me to rap, I pretty much picked it up on my own. My biggest influence and favorite artist of all time is Lil Wayne. He inspires me to work hard and push myself lyrically while still being catchy.
How is social media playing a role in your success? How are fans/supporters helping your movement?
I just recently started marketing my music on social media. I’m putting most of my focus on Instagram at the moment. In the last two months I gained over 1,000 followers which is my first real fan base other than my local friends. My local audience and many IG supporters have supported my movement by sharing my posts and playing my music for others. I also have quite a few people in my corner encouraging me to continue taking my music career serious because they see the potential.
Your TOP 5 in Hip Hop….Dead or Alive?
This is a tough one and is likely to switch as time goes on, but for now here is my top 5:
1. Lil Wayne
2. Drake
3. J. Cole
4. Eminem
5. The Notorious B.I.G.
With this being an underground hip hop site, we always ask this important question. What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
To me, underground hip hop is any hip-hop music that isn’t known by the masses. Non-mainstream.
Where can people find you on the Internet? Drop all the vital links.
https://www.artillemusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/artillemusic
https://www.instagram.com/artille/
https://www.twitter.com/artille
https://soundcloud.com/artille
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Onc91BUakIiGYk4DaB9Ng
https://open.spotify.com/artist/59gk4KqRO3T29i6NE2Vol5?si=B-4URKWYTtO9N2yQ85Tohg
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com