Q&A With San Diego Based Hip Hop Artist Collarossi
Hey Collarossi!! Please tell me how long have you been rapping? Where are you from? Give us some background on your MC name.
I started rapping as a young teen, probably 13 or 14 years old. I’m from the Clairemont neighborhood of west San Diego. My day one producer turned to me during a session and said “look at Collarossi!” and the name just stuck.
Dope to know your are reppin San Diego hard!! How important is it for you to rep the true SoCal area! As I always say, “You have to blow up form your city first then anywhere else”!!
Very true. I represent SD to the fullest, and I’ll do that no matter where I am. I’ve been fortunate to travel to different parts of the world as an artist, and I always try to leave whatever city I’m in with some San Diego game and let people know that San Diego has some real serious artists working right now.
Tell us about your Hip Hop and/or music influences? Any SD influences? Was there anyone in your life that motivated your to STEP IT UP when it comes to making dope Hip Hop?
Too many to name. Growing up, it came naturally to listen to everybody, but I’ve never felt that my style or taste was influenced by any one or two artists. I do listen to a lot of Bob Marley. The streets are dirty and his music cleanses me.
J-Irie, a local artist from the streets who went through some hard times and began to express himself through reggae. He did a lot of things for the city that I appreciate, and I relate to his music in a major way.
My family and fans are the biggest motivation, specifically my immediate family and family I’ve made over the years. Also motivated by people who doubt me or don’t show support even though we’re in the same city or part of the same circles.
Please breakdown the creative process of your latest single ““Macchiato”. How did you hook up with Cartelsons?
I’ve known Cartelsons for years, he’s from France and we’ve been on each other’s projects here on the west coast and internationally. He keeps me well stacked with bangers and one day I had this idea for “Macchiato” as slang for my grind and he had the perfect beat to match.
Rappers nowadays think by throwing up a few videos up on social media and pushing quick projects, they can blow up overnight! Give us your view on how over saturated the market is right now with so many MC’s/Producers but not to many quality music.
Ouch, the truth hurts! In reality there are a lot of wack artists with big placement or a big platform and there are a lot of good artists getting backburned, so you have to search harder for quality music. For a true underground emcee, the lane can get clogged because equal access allows anyone to put up videos or flood your timeline.
If it came down to 1 ALBUM only, what underground Hip Hop album would you consider THE BEST OF ALL TIME!!!???……One 1 album you can choose.
Richie Rich – Seasoned Veteran – not underground but not super well-known, and a straight up classic!
Here it is! Our most popular question! What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
An underground artist is true to himself/herself and is true to the craft. An underground artist creates his/her own lane.
Where can people find you on the web? Drop all the vital links.
MAIN WEB LINK: Collarossi.com (website)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnHdpesAve_bqsWaamP8EKg
IG: https://www.instagram.com/collarossi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Collarossi
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/johnnycollarossi
Lastly, and shout out?
Thanks to my family, friends, and fans.
