Rossi

For me, writing music became an addiction. My solution? Do what any addict in this industry would do: I had to record it.

Being so heavily influenced by U.S. hip hop, when I first began rapping over my instrumentals, I naturally spat with a mixed Aussie and American accent. I stuck with it, and I believe it gives me a distinctive edge. You should always use your roots to your advantage. Where you come from, the people you surround yourself with and the situations you find yourself in all make up who you are. Each component of what you believe to be ordinary day-to-day life is what makes you and your music distinctively authentic. It’s what sets you apart.

When I first got into music, I started slowly, with amateur equipment that I paid for by saving up from my retail job. I put every bit of money aside to buy a professional microphone with portable studio and to also purchase Pro Tools and an MBox. If there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s to be patient.

So many times I’d wanna drop a new video one straight after the other. But in the words of Eminem, “Timing is everything and it seems to be the key,” and he’s 100% right. Once I released a video 3 weeks after another, and it didn’t give people around my city enough time to even take in the one that I had just released. Now, I pace myself. I don’t give out too much at a time, and I try to build hype before I release a new song or video. Anticipation is everything.

I really wanted to get some music out there when I first started, so I took advice from someone who I believe to be one of the smartest artists in the world: Jay-Z. After struggling to get labels to notice him, he developed a theory of  “cut out the middle man” and started distributing his own music. So, I hit up every urban and skate store in my city centre handing out CDs. Obviously, I was a nobody to them, but instead of just leaving it to Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, I tried to bring back the timeless feeling of listening to a CD, and I took to the streets for some grassroots promotion.

I took photos with store owners holding my CD and chucked ‘em up online to connect with my followers. I figured if people saw influential community members interested in my CD, then more interest would follow. I then teamed up with a long time friend, Mr. Cotter, and he began producing with me, even dropping a verse or two on some of my projects! Together, our movement/crew is called OZR meaning OZ-Riginal, morphing Oz Hip Hop with Original Hip Hop.

We took one whole year to create our full in-house produced digital album Our Zones Reality. We worked hard to promote ourselves, and it paid off. Soon, we were securing interviews with radio stations, pushing our CDs into more clothing stores, and getting buzz around Adelaide. It was an amazing first step, and now we’re looking to release the album in the U.S. and Canada.

The main advice I can give is just go for it, I’m not saying to dig yourself into a financial hole but set goals and stick to them. Prioritize on equipment, promotion, etc. and make sure you keep upgrading each area of your game, whether it’s mentally, physically or financially. Good luck and stay chilled.

Rossi
http://onesheet.com/rossimusic/profile/
http://theozrstore.bigcartel.com/
@Rossi_OZR
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Rossi is a hip-hop artist from Adelaide, Australia who recently re-released his full length ‘Our Zones Reality.’ He also runs a streetwear line called Ozriginal Streetwear. Catch up with Rossi by liking him on Facebook, following him on Twitter and Youtube, and checking out his streetwear line right here.