Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Yo, what's effective immediately? I'm DJ head.
[00:00:02] Speaker B: What up? World is your favorite homegirl. Gina views.
[00:00:04] Speaker C: All right.
[00:00:04] Speaker A: We got a special guest on the show today, man. I've been waiting to get you back on the show for a long time. Mister Polo G is here with us. Yo, what's the word, man? I appreciate you. I know you've been on a crazy run right now, but I appreciate you taking the time. Appreciate it. The album is. Well, by the time people see the. Well, the album's on the way. Okay. Why? Like, first of all, congratulations. I know, like, it's a big deal to put an album out, especially after what I think it's four years, three years have changed or whatever. Why now? Is it just timing? Is it done? Like, you had to work on, you had to go through. I want to get into some records, too, but you had to go through some shit. Like, what is it?
[00:00:41] Speaker C: I definitely think it was a timing thing. It was perfect timing.
I got all of the records to perfection, down to the last.
[00:00:50] Speaker A: You know, you work right up until it's due.
[00:00:52] Speaker C: Yeah, that's just the type of person I am, though. I'm a perfectionist.
And, yeah, of course, I went through a couple of things that probably derailed my process a little bit, but, like, I always got back on track and shit. We here now.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: Yeah, we got a little taste of the album.
I actually, to be honest with you. I'm gonna be honest. Like, your music, to me, is not. I don't consider it hip hop. It's more like spiritual, like rap. Does that make sense?
[00:01:21] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure.
[00:01:22] Speaker A: I don't know. I wanna be offensive, but it just. It's. It's real shit, but it's, like, melodic. It's over the hip hop beats and stuff like that. But it speak to me differently than, like, hip hop. Is that intentional or when you was coming up with the way you do your music, is that, like, something you thought about?
[00:01:37] Speaker C: Yes, it's definitely intentional.
I just try to have a different approach, and, like, I always try to highlight the problems that we face coming from, like, the type of areas that we come from instead of just glorifying it, you know?
[00:01:56] Speaker B: Well, the project is called Hood Poet, so that aligns perfectly with the sound of it. Can you define Hood poet?
[00:02:02] Speaker C: Hood poet is just, like, a spokesperson for the community, for the neighborhood. Like, it's actually, like, an acronym breakdown to it. He overcame obstacles during pain or emotional trauma.
[00:02:14] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. And when you get the chain.
[00:02:17] Speaker C: I got the chain last year, like, two years ago, before the album came. Cause I been was supposed to drop, but everything kept on happening.
[00:02:23] Speaker B: So can you describe. Is that, like, a goat on there? What's on the chain? And a pen?
[00:02:28] Speaker C: It's a goat.
Like somebody writing, like, that's supposed to be my hand writing a poem.
[00:02:35] Speaker A: You look darker than that, though, polo.
It's just a little rose gold.
[00:02:41] Speaker C: The closest you can get to my complexion.
[00:02:44] Speaker A: Right, right.
[00:02:44] Speaker C: I.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: Are you into poetry at all?
[00:02:46] Speaker C: I actually did poetry once before.
A few times before, like, my senior year in high school, I did louder than a bomb.
It's a popular poetry slam type platform that they got in the city. Chance the rapper was a part of it. I think he's still a part of it now.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:03:05] Speaker B: You wore the hat? Like, was y'all snapping and shit?
[00:03:08] Speaker C: We was snapping, but I ain't wearing no hat. Ain't gonna lie.
[00:03:12] Speaker A: You ain't fucking with the hat.
[00:03:13] Speaker C: I had a big afro in high school. It wasn't gonna work.
[00:03:16] Speaker A: You had an afro?
[00:03:17] Speaker C: Yeah. You know how everybody had that, though? Like it's called. They used to call it a thought. Boy, I don't know what you.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:03:26] Speaker C: It's either that or it was called that or the Chicago.
That was universal.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: Nah, nah, we didn't say that out here.
Nah, bro. Well, maybe.
[00:03:36] Speaker C: I don't know. Maybe that was. I don't know.
[00:03:38] Speaker A: I ain't never had a thought, Bullae. I don't know what you probably 15, man.
[00:03:44] Speaker C: That's what we was calling it.
[00:03:46] Speaker A: Is there a reason for it? Like, it was just, like, there's a reason for that to be the name of it, or it's just that's what it.
[00:03:51] Speaker C: They were saying. Like, the. The boys who get a lot of girls. That's what they.
[00:03:55] Speaker B: Oh, mister bitches.
[00:03:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: Okay, okay, okay. One of the tracks on the project is called God's favorite. So I think in life, you know, we all experience these moments where God's presence is shown. Have you had any moments like that in life?
[00:04:10] Speaker C: Oh, a million times. I can't thank God enough for pulling me out of certain situations.
I definitely experienced a lot of moments where I was wanting to panic and, like, he was just there to hold me up. So, yeah.
[00:04:26] Speaker B: What's one of the most defiant moments where you, like, I know God just pulled me up out of this situation.
[00:04:37] Speaker C: Hold on, let me think.
[00:04:39] Speaker A: I could think of a couple. If you need help.
Go ahead. Go ahead.
[00:04:43] Speaker C: I don't know. I can't really pinpoint one specifically. I just say my life as a whole though, like, even me being at this point right now where I'm able to drop my fourth album and really enjoy the fruits of my labor and just being able to see the world the way I see it now, I.
[00:05:02] Speaker A: Like the guys favorite on there, one that really stood. I mean, obviously we ashoot. Like, that's one where you now also, I'm gonna call you out and you said the spin on it is to not glorify that. But then you got the we a shoot single and we playing it. It's good.
But then the other one that stood out to me was Father's Day.
I thought it was dope. I actually have, I knew you was coming. I actually have a Reddit thread from like two years ago. And these are your fans that be going crazy in the Reddit thread, right? So the whole, the thread is called. The thread is Polo G, and it says Polo should make a song about his son. Does anyone have any updates on that? Then two years ago, somebody said, I'd love to hear some storytelling about being a father. This is two years ago.
[00:05:51] Speaker C: Dang, that's crazy.
[00:05:52] Speaker A: Shout out to bio Dom 77, big Polo G fan on your Reddit thread. Do you ever go on your Reddit and look at it?
[00:05:59] Speaker C: No, I never paid attention to. I really started to learn that Reddit, like a big thing or like a.
[00:06:05] Speaker A: Social media, the fans be on there going crazy. It's insane.
[00:06:10] Speaker C: But I'm always hip to them posting little insider stuff about my album or my process.
[00:06:17] Speaker A: The Father's Day record to me after. Well, shout out to the Reddit thread because that's a whole nother fan base. But the Father's day record stood out for a couple of reasons. One, because it showed like, you are vulnerable in your music. I feel like this one was another level. And I don't know if I'm mistaken in assuming that, but to me it was like, you got real. I don't know. Were you uncomfortable making the record? Cause it seemed like it was one of them songs that took you a while to make.
[00:06:44] Speaker C: I wasn't uncomfortable. It was. If anything, I was, like, more comfortable with making a record like that. Cause what I was going through at the time with my father, like, I was like, we just wasn't seeing eye to eye at the time. And that was my way of, like, letting out my frustration in a positive way and just bringing myself back down to earth, like, knowing that I appreciate him no matter what it is that we going through, you know? Cause like, a lot of people don't really have that father figure in their life. And my pop's been with me since birth.
[00:07:18] Speaker A: And does that impact your decision on becoming a dada, like, your relationship with your pops?
[00:07:22] Speaker C: Definitely. Like, I always try to be there for my son just as much, if not even more than my pops was there for me. So he definitely set a good example.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: For me on that song you mentioned, like, his battle, like, with addiction, alcohol and things like that. But you also mentioned you doing your own vices with drugs and things like that. Has that your experience with him shaped at all how you. Parenthood?
[00:07:49] Speaker C: Yeah. Cause I don't never want my son to see the same thing, you know? Like, I had to deal with my pops having an alcohol issue most of my life. Really? All my life up until now. My pops like three years old, but now.
[00:08:03] Speaker A: So congratulations, Dan.
[00:08:05] Speaker B: 8000 pops.
[00:08:05] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a big deal.
[00:08:07] Speaker C: Yeah. And yeah, I just try to make sure I set a better example for my son.
[00:08:13] Speaker B: Did you and him have to have a conversation about you being so transparent on that track?
[00:08:18] Speaker C: He didn't hit her yet. I'm a play this song still. No, no, he didn't. He never heard it first.
I wanted it to be a surprise.
[00:08:26] Speaker A: You hear this shit on the radio and be like.
[00:08:31] Speaker C: Yeah, I wanted it to be a surprise to him. I think he appreciated more than anything.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Do you allow your son to be around your music and listen to your music be a part of the process?
I know a lot different artists, different. They feel different ways about that. Like, let them come to the show or, you know.
[00:08:49] Speaker C: Yeah, I really don't bring my son. Like, I'm real over protective about my son. Like, I don't really like bringing him certain places or taking him too many places with me, though. I done brought him around to a show here and there, though. But like, for the most part, I really keep him just like doing kids stuff.
[00:09:07] Speaker A: Yeah, a lot of people say they just want their kids to just be kids.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: You still walking around La without security?
What the hell is your problem?
[00:09:21] Speaker C: Yeah, no, I keep a scroll.
[00:09:22] Speaker A: You was trolling.
[00:09:23] Speaker C: I was trolling, okay. I was trolling.
[00:09:25] Speaker B: I said he probably left that location about 4 hours ago for sure.
[00:09:29] Speaker A: Day before yesterday for sure. Do you take that into consideration too? Not just for LA. I mean, you from Chicago, that's different. You know what I'm saying? Same thing.
[00:09:38] Speaker B: LA gotta be a cakewalk though.
[00:09:39] Speaker A: Yeah, or Chicago. But like, do you take that into consideration the way you move? Like a lot of rappers say, being a rapper is one of the most dangerous occupations you could have in this country. Do you take that into consideration in the way you move now versus how you used to move when you first started?
Yeah, I think people take it more serious.
[00:09:58] Speaker C: Yeah. Cause I had to really learn who I was a lot of times. Like, I was like, I be far removed from all the rapper stuff. So, like, my friends had to tell me, like, you can't just be going places by your target. Yeah. At least call one of us to go with you, like, and the bigger that I got, the more I noticed it and start moving different.
[00:10:19] Speaker A: Yeah. Do you still do, like, regular stuff? You still, like, go to Walmart or.
[00:10:24] Speaker C: Yeah, I still go to, like, I ain't finna take a security guard with me. Yeah, well, my life, though, I'm still a regular person. Those two, like, outside of the rapper, so I go to the bank by myself to, like, a local grocery store or something. I feel like that's just regular stuff. The people who live around where I'm at, you ain't finna see nobody that's on something that they ain't supposed to be on.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: Yeah, right, right. But I mean, I agree with you, but, you know, just, you never know. You know what I'm saying? It's better to just move, like, with intention in that way. Yeah, I feel now, speaking of which, Chicago is, like, one of them places where, like, obviously got the Chirac moniker and all that kind of stuff like that. We saw the movies and tv shows, all of that.
What's the misconception about Chicago that people don't really get to tap into? Like, I know it's that, but what's the misconception about it?
[00:11:16] Speaker C: Well, one thing that ain't really highlighted, it's a beautiful city. I think we, I personally think we got one of the best downtowns in the world.
We really family oriented, and a lot of people in the city, they really just mind they business. Like, you ain't gonna find trouble unless you looking for it, though. In the city, like, everybody really be on their own thing.
That's really it, though.
[00:11:40] Speaker B: Why do you think it's so highlighted? Cause that's even the issue that we have out here. People think that LA is just so bad. You come to LA, you gonna get shot, you gonna get robbed. Why do you think that people only focus on that? Being with all those positive things you just said about Chicago?
[00:11:52] Speaker C: I think the way that I think it really. I don't know, like, I think it's the culture, like that culture, like, the badder side and that culture being so strong and biggest that a lot, it influences a lot of other cities, so that's probably why it's highlighted. I really can't tell you, though, for real.
[00:12:13] Speaker B: With all the success from your past projects, did you have any pressure creating.
[00:12:17] Speaker C: This one in the beginning? I did. Like, coming straight off of my wins, I have a number one album and song on the same project.
Like, if I were to drop my hood port in 2022, it would have been a lot more pressure to have those same type of numbers or just accomplishments in general. But with that being like, three years ago now, it's like I'm really just more so focused on getting the music out like that been left my mind.
[00:12:47] Speaker A: I see you got, like, I went over the track list, right? I seen you had, like, lorilla, you had 42 Dugg. You got Friday, which is a surprise for me, but not really. Cause the type of music you make on the project offset. You know, the kid Leroy was a sleeper for me. A lot of people don't. Bless you. A lot of people don't really know about the kid Leroy like that. How do you choose who goes on the project and what songs do you. When you make the song, you be like, okay, I need to put this person on it. Is it business? Is it label shit? Is it personal relationships?
[00:13:17] Speaker C: Yeah. Like, one of my biggest things is to never force a feature. I don't got a feature wish list, like, sitting somewhere. It's always organic, or I'm going off the vibe of what the song telling me. And that's when I start looking for artists to get on it. And I. And I grew more open to collaborating with artists is the deeper that I got into my career.
[00:13:39] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't see a lot of polo G features. Like, I don't see as many. Like, it ain't you not oversaturated? Like, most art. Like, you don't just see a polo G feature coming out every other week, every other month, just like everybody else. Is that. Is there a reason for that? You just don't. You do. You do. People send you stuff and you just like, nah, I'm cool.
[00:13:57] Speaker C: Or it's a mixture of both.
[00:14:00] Speaker A: You picky?
[00:14:01] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm picky.
[00:14:02] Speaker A: You sometimey.
[00:14:03] Speaker C: And sometimes it's just hard for me to get into the studio. I know every artist experienced that. Like, it's hard to get into the studio and focus on somebody else stuff like, you probably working on an album or just promise somebody else a feature. It'd be hard to knock them all out at once.
[00:14:22] Speaker B: Your feature feet. Crazy.
[00:14:27] Speaker C: Yeah. I don't know. I don't know.
[00:14:29] Speaker A: No, you know?
[00:14:32] Speaker B: No.
Can you. Can you talk to us about the COVID art? What's the story behind the COVID art?
[00:14:38] Speaker C: The COVID art, I really drew up, like, a treatment for the COVID art, like, how I saw it in my head.
I use the Purple Heart for the soldiers, you know? And it's really supposed to be like, I'm speaking street poetry, so that's why. And, like, I'm speaking life into the mic. That's why the mic bus down with diamonds all over it. I got, like, two of my guys on the side of me, like, how I be in the street. It's really just trying to paint that.
[00:15:13] Speaker A: Picture I seen you do. So this is the first album since the Goat, right? No, this is. Yeah. Hood poet. Hood poet is gonna be we three years out or something like that from the last release. But then you had, like, hall of fame. You had die a legend. Do you think that there's a. So when you did. I wanna just talk about the titles. Right. How do you choose a title for the albums? Basically is what I'm trying to get at.
Obviously, you just explained Hood poet, but then, like, do you already have the next album title in your mind as far as what you gonna call that? Is that something that you just decide while you making the music, or is it conceptual?
[00:15:56] Speaker C: It's like, for my next album, like, I always have names that I'm probably playing with, but throughout the process, I always end up picking what I'm gonna do exactly. Like Hood poet, for instance, I got a inspired by that by looking through my comment section and somebody calling me that. And that's what made me run with that idea. So it's always something different, though, for real. Like, my die Legend album was more so, like, thinking about all of the people that I lost and, like, how I considered them legends, and I want to be remembered the same way. It was just a. It's always something different with every album.
[00:16:35] Speaker A: Do you think that it's a. It's. Do you think that there's any kind of, like, energetic output when forecasting that? Kind of, like, you know, Pac did that and Biggie did, like, ready to die, like those type of album titles. But then you did die a legend when you said you made reference to the people around you. Right. But then you also have songs like, eminem just put an album out where he was saying he wants this song to be played when he does die. It's like, do you think about that type of shit that deeply or it's not that deep for you?
[00:17:04] Speaker C: No, it's not that deep. It's not that deep. Cause I ain't gonna lie like, no, I got like, mama's grandma and they teach about the power of the tongues. I don't never say nothing like alluding to death. I know death is inevitable, so everybody would want to die a legend. I don't think I ever, like, try to put that on myself.
[00:17:23] Speaker B: You speak a lot about losing homies, friends and things like that. Do you ever experience survivors remorse?
[00:17:30] Speaker C: Yeah, I feel like I do sometimes. I feel like that's what keep me so attached to just wanting to do stuff for people. A lot of times.
[00:17:42] Speaker B: How does Polo G stay motivated?
[00:17:45] Speaker C: I'm always trying to find, like, inspiration and motivation. I do a lot of traveling. Like when those times where I feel like a writer's block or I watch movies and tv shows a lot. Like, I've been catching up on a lot of movies.
[00:17:57] Speaker B: What you watch?
[00:17:58] Speaker C: I watch, I watch bad boys for the first time.
[00:18:03] Speaker A: Wait, which one?
[00:18:04] Speaker C: The first one.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:18:05] Speaker B: For the first time, like, ever in my life.
[00:18:07] Speaker C: Ever in my life.
[00:18:08] Speaker B: You watch all four of them yet?
[00:18:10] Speaker C: Yeah. Cause I wanted to watch it before I went to the movies to see the new one.
[00:18:14] Speaker B: Okay, okay.
[00:18:15] Speaker C: And then I watched fast and furious for the first time.
[00:18:18] Speaker A: The first one?
[00:18:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:18:19] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:18:20] Speaker C: And I watched, I watched a lot of stuff. I caught up on a lot of movies.
[00:18:23] Speaker A: A lot of these movies came out when he was like, you 25 or something like that. So it's like, yeah, I get it.
[00:18:28] Speaker C: Yeah. And, yeah, I just watch a lot of different movies. I travel. I do a lot of different stuff to just get myself inspired.
[00:18:35] Speaker B: What's your favorite place to travel?
[00:18:40] Speaker C: It depends. I like to go to Miami. I like to be anywhere where it's hot during the wintertime. So I like to go to Miami in the winter, travel first class and.
[00:18:51] Speaker B: Change a flight class.
[00:18:52] Speaker C: Yeah, I like Chicago too. I like to go back home a lot of times. Cause that's the only time I get that energy back.
[00:18:59] Speaker B: Mm hmm.
[00:18:59] Speaker A: No, I think we. Before we get out, what's your favorite bullshit food to eat?
[00:19:05] Speaker C: What that mean? Like fast food.
[00:19:07] Speaker A: Like she beating cup of noodles.
[00:19:08] Speaker B: Well, I like chili, some ghetto shit. Like, what's your favorite ghetto?
[00:19:14] Speaker A: Like, you know, we don't have to eat that no more type shit, you know what I'm saying? Like, you might bust the bag of Fritos open with the chips with cheese.
[00:19:21] Speaker C: I was just finna say that that's my favorite that's my favorite thing right there. Chips with cheese. Get some beef up on there. Yeah, from one of the local little stoves in the hood.
[00:19:30] Speaker B: Them nachos?
[00:19:31] Speaker C: Yup.
[00:19:32] Speaker B: Uh huh.
[00:19:33] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:19:33] Speaker B: Some ghetto shit. He act like he too good to eat like that.
[00:19:35] Speaker C: No, I just.
[00:19:36] Speaker A: I'm older now. I gotta think about health and shit. So I got, you know, gastritis and shit like that.
[00:19:42] Speaker B: Okay, tell us more.
[00:19:45] Speaker A: You know what I'm saying? Get the farting in this motherfucker.
[00:19:47] Speaker B: Uh uh. Let's wrap this shit up.
[00:19:52] Speaker A: Last thing I want to say too, is a lot of people, a lot of the young homies, they really look up to you. You know what I'm saying? Like, you like a role model. And so, like, when you do get that survivor's remorse or when you do think about, like, where you come from and then, like, all this stuff, you just talking about staying motivated, like, just think about that. Because at one point, you was the dude looking up to everybody else that was doing they thing. So just keep that in mind because I think you one of them ones that could really talk to them for real and get through to them. You know what I mean? Cause your messaging ain't hella preachy. It's just some real shit. And you young enough to still relate to them in that way. So I just wanna. I just wanna say that because I know a lot of my young homies, they really fuck with you. Like, they really fuck with your music. They swear you like you a nigga out here. Yeah, you one of them.
[00:20:38] Speaker B: I don't know if you knew, so.
[00:20:40] Speaker C: I appreciate it, though, but.
[00:20:42] Speaker A: Yeah, no, I appreciate you coming through. We gonna let you go. I know you got hella shit to do, but come back anytime.
[00:20:48] Speaker C: For sure.
[00:20:49] Speaker A: It's polo g. It's effective immediately. Thank you for listening.
