Rillz is a rapper repping Yuba City that hopes to prove to his competition that he deserves to be mentioned with the greats. In conversation, Rillz is casual in saying he’s a humble human, and conversely admitting that he doesn’t believe that many rappers can compete with his skill and talent. Today he delivers his new single “I’m Cool”, an Akomoshun produced slap that finds the Yuba City artist stepping up in an attempt to claim the crown he believes is rightfully his. We had a chance to chop it up with Rillz about his music and career. Check it out below.
Thizzler: How did you get started and how long have you been making music?
Rillz: How I got started is by freestyling. I was freestyling from 2000 to 2003 or 2004. From there I went off to making music. I’ve been doing it for 13+ years.
T: How did you go from freestyling to recording?
R: It’s a long story. It was more like a spiritual kind of thing. I just felt something inside that was like, “you need to make this music”. At that time around 2005, I just felt like “you need to do this now before it’s too late”.
T: Who were your musical influences?
R: There are a couple of them, but the dopest ones are Jay-Z and Mac Dre.
T: Wow the how would you describe your musical style?
R: To be honest I can’t even. My style’s a little different from everybody else’s. I’m just trying to bring something different to the table. Seems like everyone’s bringing steak and all that good stuff to the table. I’m trying to bring some soda, chips and dip, or some potato salad. I want to bring something different to the table. But maybe like G-Eazy and Eminem or something.
T: Who is Rillz as an artist and person?
R: I just want to be known as one of the greatest that ever touched a mic. I just want to be looked at as a legend later on in life. As a person, I’m just a laid back guy. I try to stay humble as much as I can, but if I see someone with the same swag as me I have to look a little different. I have to be the better guy.
T: What can you say about your song “I’m Cool”?
R: I really wanted to do something different. I want people to know that they’re not on my level when it comes to this music shit. It doesn’t sound humble, but I have to be where I have to be. If I want to be in that number 1 spot, I have to take action. I’m going to the next level and I’m going to be number one. You have to have that mentality.
T: Yeah, especially in hip-hop.
R: And also for certain rappers who may not like me, I’m letting them know too. There are some up and coming rappers who don’t like me, but I don’t care. I’m not here for their pleasure.
T: How do you see “I’m Cool’ impacting your career?
R: I see it bubbling. Before I even wrote the song, when I heard the beat I could see the vision. I was like, “This is going to be my breakthrough”. When I first bought the beat, it touched me in a different way.
T: Will “I’m Cool” be on a project?
R: I’m working on a mixtape and an EP right now. The EP is going to be self-titled, and my mixtape will be a trilogy, Bravo 3. I have 1 and 2 out already. Bravo 3 is going to be dope.
T: What are your hopes for those projects?
R: I pretty much just want to increase my fan reach. If they don’t want to buy it that’s fine. Everything I do, I’d do it for free. I don’t really want their money. What I want is for them to know that this is good, quality music.
T: What’s your plan for after your projects drop?
R: I want to go on tour! I want to travel. I want to go to the next state, and the next state and the next city and the next town to wake everyone up.
T: What’s a message you want to give your fans?
R: Don’t give up. Keep striving. Don’t stop going for the goal that you’re trying to reach. Don’t listen to what other people are trying to tell you. Believe in yourself.
T: Have there been people who have tried to discourage you from making music?
R: Yeah. People told me “no rapper wants to fuck with you” and this and that. And I was like I don’t care. If they don’t want to fuck with me, fine. That’s why every song I do, I’m going to shit on them. I’m going to keep coming with music, keep staying relevant, so that they have no choice but to fuck with me.
Check out everything from Rillz right here on Thizzler. You can follow Rillz on Twitter at @itsRillz.
