Critical Praise
“Kid Dop3’s Busted Chucks [is] a polished stoner jam session full of summertime cuts perfect for your stress-free day off” – Q. Narcisse
“One of our favorite artists in Connecticut” – StraightFresh.Net
The Song/Video
Over simmering production from Donato, Connecticut’s own Kid Dop3 celebrates the finer things on his latest single “Drummer Boy”. Strutting with a justified confidence, the New Britian rapper shares the fruits of his labor over a menacing beat with an infectious chorus that transitions into a soft-piano driven number, culminating with Dop3’s reflective second verse. ‘Drummer Boy’ is the first video release from his upcoming EP ‘Til Leaf Fall’, due to drop August 25th. Kid Dop3 has released multiple songs from the project thus far, such as Discrete’ featuring Brockhampton’s own Dom McLennon, and ‘Too Fake’ featuring Lonny X. Til Leaf Fall is the successor to his 2014 project The Introvert and 2013’s Busted Chucks. Directed by Aro, the ‘Drummer Boy’ video was released on YouTube via Gold Club Records.
Kid Dop3 embodies Connecticut with every release. Prior to ‘Drummer Boy’, Kid Dop3 dropped ‘Cocaine 80’s’, a loose single served as an ode to the hustling and drug culture in the 1980’s. Shortly after, he released ‘Ride’, a smooth stoner jam featuring Dutch the Dreamer and AETI. As an up and coming artist in an emerging culture, Dop3 provides a charismatic synopsis atop luminous production that listeners from all backgrounds can embrace – work hard, stay focused and never settle for anything less than greatness.
What is your background? Tell us where you grew up and some information about your upbringing/experiences as a youth:
I grew up in Connecticut; I was raised in the capitol but did a lot of moving around Connecticut. I’m a first generation American too. My moms a mad strict Nigerian and my pops is Jamaican. I got like four sisters and I was the only boy so that was a lot to deal with, but my family’s cool. I just had to do a lot because that’s a mans job..
I talked a lot as a kid and my mom hated that shit, so I was pretty quiet after that; all the way through to like senior year high school.. even now to be honest.
As a kid, my mom was never one to just hand me something I wanted either but I guess it made me craftier. She would offer me suggestion at times, but wouldn’t offer handouts. Like I use to sell kids drawings in middle school for 5 bucks a piece. I did em up tho; fire ass color pencil collages and shyt. As I got older I sold other stuff, but anyway.. She definitely made me the hustler I am now. I apply it to everything.
At what moment did you know that music was part of your life and what feelings did you have towards making an active impact with your music?
I knew music was apart of my life pretty late in life. Like age 17. I didn’t really care for music at a young age. I’d rather watch cartoons than 106 & Park. But music became a big part of my life when I was in senior year of high school. My boy at the time was in the process of building a studio and I was pretty good at freestyling so I was the only one really using the set up. I dropped a mixtape full of remixes and my classmates went wild. I knew I was pretty good so I just went a little harder with it every day. I don’t think my music was that impactful growing up because I still had to live a lot. But over time I feel like I’ve had to create my music from a more internal place, but people end up really understanding it. It became one of the only ways I could even verbalize emotion. I didn’t talk much after childhood, about anything; so music ended up being a good avenue to express those thoughts and emotion over time.
What artists inspired/influences you and if you could collaborate with any artist (alive or passed) who would it be and why?
The artists that inspire me are only people whose motives I respected. I use to not like Curren$y. His drawl was way to strong back in the lil wayne days for my enjoyment, but I saw him leave 3 of the strongest record labels in Louisiana at that time just to start his own label. Like people really forget this man was signed to Master P, Birdman, and Wayne; and still left because he wanted to do shyt his own way. And now Jet Life is what it is.
Nipsey Hussle inspires me crazy.. that mans been preaching the same message for about 10 years. I’ve witnessed his growth, in and out of trouble and trying to regain focus. But not only did he say it, he’s accomplished it. His music tells that story.
I’m influenced by Kid Cudi’s earlier music. He really coached a lot of young kids who may have been going through a lot of similar emotions, but he was genuine enough to address them without sounding corny. I appreciated that a lot; still do to this day. I’d work with all these guys.
What do you think about the current state of hip hop/mainstream music?
It’s whatever man. There are some gems in there but I feel like the mainstream is pretty watery. Like I haven’t listened to the radio in about a year because I always end up hearing most of it anyway. I was in my boys car yesterday like “what the fuck is this?” because some wild wack shyt was coming out his speakers and I dead ass turned that shyt off. I think some of its cool but a lot of its just not for me. I wont even speak on it like an old head or anything because I wasn’t even into all the old school hip-hop like some of my older boys. Only rap I really liked was Tribe. I have 4 sisters man; they would play mad R&B all day. I listened to more Brandy and Brian McKnight.. like to this day I still think Carl Thomas is the coldest musician of all time. I don’t care.
Currently, what projects do you have in the works that you are most excited about?
There’s a lot in the works right now. I just released a 7 track EP called “Til’ Leaf Fall” with a visual for the Single “Drummer Boy”. Its a lot of the cuts that didn’t make my album “Augusto: The Hero’s Journey” but it’s pretty dope. Augusto’s going to be a problem without a doubt though. I’m working on finishing it up right now. It’ll have a narrative from an amazing painter by name of Michael Hafftka. He inadvertently gave me the whole idea for the format of the album. He’s a great guy. But that should be out this fall.. hence the EP, Til’ Leaf Fall.
I’m also on The Gold Culture Tour this October with a few artists I fuck with. It’ll be cross-country, NY to LA and it’s my first headlining tour. My boy Dutch the Dreamer will be on it. He’s toured with Curren$y and Young Roddy a lot. I’m also bringing a neo soul act by the name of Tekowa Lakica.
What are your short term career goals within the next 6-10 months?
Sell out this tour, Go on another one. I want to go overseas. Ukraine looks like it might be my first visit. I don’t know why but they show mad love out there for my music.
I’m gonna keep dropping music. I wont bombard people with it though. I speak when I feel something needs to be said so Ill have another album or 2 by then.
What are your long term career goals within the next 2-5 years?
I really want to be able to grow my Gold Club Records label. I want to be like TDE in 5 years. If I don’t get the grammy then one of my niggas got it. I know with the brand we have growing right now, we could definitely breed that, and much more.
As long as my people are on position and my families good I’ll consider it a job well done.
If you had one song out of the catalogue you have created to show a person what song would it be and why?
There is one song I have off the album Augusto called “Anywhere but Here” but it’s not out yet. It embodies the environment I had to escape in order to make it to this point.
To the person who had never heard of you what is it about your music and story that you would tell them to entice them to be a supporter?
I feel like they should listen to it because it comes from a real place. I don’t fabricate anything in my music. If I said it, I meant it. I try to make it for people who want to make better of any given situation and share it. For the listeners who relate can recognize that.. I just want to learn and grow with the loyal fan base I’m giving my music to; and for new listeners to learn with me, because I’m still growing.
If your music could be described in five words what would those five words be?
Realistic, Honest, Motivational, Abstract and ever-changing
What do you bring to the game that is unique and different?
My story. It’s like sports to me; theirs always someone who could be faster, quicker, stronger than you. Same with life; same with music. Some guys will always be more lyrical, shiftier with the flows or super radio formulaic, especially in comparison with me. But my story isn’t anyone elses, and I tell my story better than anyone else because I actually lived it. It’s specific and authentic. My fans can see that and I’m sure that’s why they listen to my music.
To the aspiring artist who is considering a career as a musician what lessons or advice would you give them to inspire them or to uplift them in the journey?
Invest in yourself because the next man wont. Stand for something and stay true to that. Don’t cower when things get rough. If something breaks you, don’t let it leave you broken. You can learn from every failure so be afraid to fall on your face.. it’ll happen anyway, just don’t make those mistakes again.
What are your social media profiles and where can people purchase/download your music?
You can follow me on twitter, instagram, periscope and snapchat @KidDop3. You can stay current with my music on soundcloud. You can also go to my website, and purchase my G.O.L.D Club merchandise. Just look for Kid Dop3.
What are your final words you would like to say to people that you have left out?
Shout out Moe and Thisis50 for the interview. Shout out my team for all their hard work.. AETI, Zvlu, Esco Jerm, Brickman. Shout out Aro Media for pushing my content.
Go to KidDop3.com for updates about the Golden Culture Tour happening next month in October.
Thank you!
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Kid Dop3 – Drummer Boy (Official Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bubgDI1xP4U
Kid Dop3 – Cocaine 80s
https://soundcloud.com/kid-dop3/cocaine-80s-prod-menicebeatzremastered
Kid Dop3 – Ride (feat. Dutch the Dreamer and AETI)
https://soundcloud.com/sower-music/ride-kid-dop3-x-dutch-the-dreamer-x-ae-the-illusive
Kid Dop3 – Live at Toads Place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkl0aLZg6W4
Kid Dop3 – Drummer Boy (feat. CRSLYRC and Daz Merchant) https://soundcloud.com/kid-dop3/kid-dop3-drummer-boy-ft-crslyrc-daz-merchant-prod-by-donato