Exclusive Interview With Hoodie Allen

Meet Hoodie Allen! This New York based rapper and songwriter is currently blowing up and if you haven’t heard him yet it’s just a matter of time before you do. Providing catchy beats and witty lyrics, Hoodie is a force to be reckoned with. His exciting genre-bending style is new and refreshing and the young rapper shows tremendous potential.

Recently we had a chance to sit down with Hoodie and talk to him about his music, his career, his latest mixtape and more! Check out the interview below.

We Got This Covered: How did you get your start in the music industry?

Hoodie Allen: I don’t know if I’m in any music industry [laughs]. I love making music, it’s my complete passion and it’s awesome that people have taken well to it.

WGTC: What led you to music though? Did you always want to work in some way with it?

HA: Absolutely, I’ve been writing since I was very little…before I could really comprehend why I was doing so.

WGTC: Out of all your songs do you have a personal favorite?

HA: Very hard to pick, it definitely changes based on my mood [laughs].

WGTC: Fair enough, what about inspirations? Who would you say inspired you musically? Any artists in particular?

HA: Outkast, De La Soul, David Bowie, Queen and A Tribe Called Quest.

WGTC: And were these guys the ones who inspired you to start writing in the first place?

HA: No, I can’t really tell you why I liked the idea of rhyming and telling these stories at a real young age. Definitely something innate but as I really started listening to music and hip hop in particular then those artists were huge influencers and teachers for me.

WGTC: And what about your samples? How do you choose them?

HA: I pick music that I love and that I want to pay homage to and think is cool. I try to make something different out of it.

WGTC:  You’ve been known for being so accessible to your fans, which is a great thing by the way. Why have you decided to go this route, because as we know, so many artists are the complete opposite.

HA: I want to have a special relationship with my fans, I want them to really grow with me and see what it takes and for them to be there for a lifetime.

WGTC: And as you get bigger and more popular, do you hope to keep as accessible to your fans?

HA: Absolutely, it doesn’t get easier but it’s the least I can do to show them how much their support means to me.

WGTC: Well we definitley appreciate you being so accessible….Let’s talk about Pep Rally for a bit, where’d the name come from?

HA: I thought it captured the energy of the record. Something new and exciting.

WGTC: Were you surprised at the very positive response it has been received with or did you know you had a hit on your hands?

HA: I was truly am proud of Pep Rally and thought it was a project that totally had the potential to blow up. I had really lofty goals for it and those goals were exceeded.

WGTC: Now I have to ask about the track January Jones, is that named after the actress?

HA: Yes it is.

WGTC: Are you a Mad Men fan?

HA: I am though I gotta admit I’m totally slacking on it.

WGTC: What season are you up to?

HA: I’ve seen episodes from every season and yet I still totally fuck up by not being able to sit down and watch it through. #lifeontheroad

WGTC: Hopefully you’ll get caught up soon. Can we talk about RJF for a minute, how did you start working with him?

HA: We went to college together. Met there.

WGTC: Why do you think you guys work so well together?

HA: We just bring out the best in each other I think and have very similar tastes musically.

WGTC: Did you have to cut any songs off Pep Rally and if so, is there any chance we’ll ever hear them?

HA: Yeah we cut quite a few but kind of before they got to a place where we would show anyone.

WGTC:  Alright, well I’ll let you go but before I do, can you tell fans what’s next for Hoodie allen? Album or mixtape? And when can we expect to hear more from you?

HA: I think you’ll have another free mixtape and a proper album in 2011 from me. Just stay tuned, I want to constantly be putting out so much different content and build the Hoodie Mob!

WGTC:  Perfect, sounds great, we can’t wait! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, we really appreciate it, and good luck with everything.