Solo for Dolo has been making noise in NJ’s underground Hip-Hop scene since you were telling people to hit you on your two way pager and arguing with your boys if Ja Rule was better than Nelly. After over a decade in the game Solo is hitting 2018 extra hard with a few new projects and Asbury Park Hip-Hop Fest, which will bring some of the best just-below-the-radar talent to Wonder Bar on August 6th.
The Pop Break’s Angelo Gingerelli caught up with Solo to talk about the show, his new music and a few other topics. Sit back, relax and get ready for possibly the most entertaining “NJ Next” interview yet…
How do you get into Hip-Hop and when do you become an artist?
I was into Hip Hop since childhood. By 4th grade I had a FUBU Collection that would make LL Cool J jealous. I was always into music and taught myself how to play keyboards by ear after watching Halloween 2 on TV as a super young kid and it went on from there.
I started writing, but was way better at just free styling insults to people, so I did that all around NJ from 1999 – 2002. Finally did real studio recording in 2002 and had a seven-track EP demo by freshman year in high school and kept it going from there.
First show I ever rocked, I ended up getting involved and getting Tonedeff, PackFM, Substantial & Session (as the group Extended F@mm) down from NYC, with some older NJ artists and it was pretty much on. There’s an interview with Night & Day Magazine floating around with an embarrassing early interview.
What did your early recordings sound like and can we find them anywhere?
Super early era ’02-’04 sounded like I needed to learn how to record, Then I linked up with this older kid Sneed who signed me to his label “Adapted” and I learned a lot from him. I did a mix tape that got really good feedback called Randomsh*tithrew2gether, but it’s not available. Mostly shit talking and similar stuff to what I rap about now.
I have a lost group album with Sneed as well under name “The Braves” (you can’t find the full album, but songs “War Paint” & “Reporting Live featuring Canibus” are out on YouTube). That album was me getting into some more political topics. We made some noise and signed to a label that was supposed to put the album out. I was still in high school at the time I signed the contract, but I graduated and was living in Brooklyn by the time the project was pressed. Shortly after I made a small five-track EP that was intended to be a tour-only EP with only 500 copies pressed and no barcode. It sold out pretty quick and they had me back in the studio converting it into an album that would become The Truth For The Youth. That came out in 2009 and is the earliest material I have distributed digitally.
It’s not my favorite body of work but “Aint No Love” and “Highlife” have some good rapping. The song “Babycakes” off that album went somewhat viral on YouTube. So, I got some attention off that although I never even so much as performed the song live or promoted it myself.
You have a song called “Asbury Rising” and the area comes up a lot in your music (including the new single “Get Up”), what’s the Hip-Hop scene like in that area and how have you seen it change in the last 10 years?
“Asbury Rising” was written around a time the city was really changing its vibe. I wanted to keep a snapshot of the one I grew up with to rap about on tour. I’ve played that song in every set since 2011. When I first started doing shows in ’03 I couldn’t even throw a show in Asbury Park because Hip-Hop was banned. By the time I had moved back from Brooklyn I had a nice resume of playing well respected venues from Knitting Factory to CBGBs so they knew I had something going on.
My comeback show to Asbury Park was at The Saint before two instrumental bands. I got in with The Stone Pony and Asbury Lanes around that early time as well. Kyle over at The Stone Pony always kept me in the loop with good hip hop shows going through the city. I got to rock [The Pony] stage many times, but to be able to have opened for Cypress Hill, Matisyahu and Jedi Mind Tricks was a good look.
[I went back to The Saint after a self-imposed boycott when] Rodney Coursey from GardenStateHipHop.com put together the New Jersey Live 2 show. One of my greatest joys was watching a packed house on Wednesday night and walking out to just as many people waiting to come in. It was a legendary night. I love that artists are starting to make some buzz out of Asbury. Salute to everybody making moves to shine some light on the city.
You released “Last Call for Apathy” last year, what does that title mean?
It means I ran out of titles and went back to the title [I was going to use] for the EP that I was working on when I was 15. Around that time it was a way to say “pay attention to me rapping!” Now it’s a way to say pay attention to me rapping because under all the shit talking I hid cryptic doomsday messages.
What music or other projects do you have coming up for the rest of 2018?
I’m cooking up a little EP with this dope producer named Grungy Boguez. I’m also cooking up another project with myself on the boards. I’m behind the boards for other artists. Maybe I’ll make a movie and write a book.
Tell people about the Asbury Hip-Hop Fest…
The Asbury Park Hip Hop Fest is a celebration of HIP-HOP. It is August 6 at 7 p.m. at The Wonder Bar. It’s free, there’s no tickets — just come! I’m taking some of my friends in the underground rap scene and putting them on the same stage with some local artists who I think deserve attention.
I have some dope blogs and radio programmers involved in the show, performances from Pacewon of the legendary Outsidaz, Ren Thomas (VH1 singed/team backpack), Solo For Dolo (never heard of him), Joe College (multiple NJ Next mentions), Nujericans, Dane the Beautiful Monster, Age of Extinction, Drea, Shoreshot (Multiple NJ Next mentions), Redline, and Dro Pesci and The Good People. It’ll be hosted by Ghetto MC and Sun Lo with Flip The Script Radios C-Reality on the wheels. This is just what I can do with a free show. Asbury Park has a lot of people who are known in the industry that I know that want to come through. Let’s make it happen and cut the red tape.
Five Questions…
5: Top 5 MC’s of all time:
Nas / KRS-ONE / Rakim / Redman / Raekwon & Ghostface (Do they count as a duo?)
4: Solo for Dolo songs new fans should check out:
“Powdered Toazt Man,” “Another Fxxxin Day,” “Lite It Up,” “Golden,” “Quarter Water Kids,” and “Asbury Rising.”
3: Favorite Producers:
DJ Premier in the “Moment of Truth” era. Lord Finesse, 9th Wonder, Nottz, Erick Sermon, and Redman
2: Best live shows you’ve ever seen:
Redman and Method Man are amazing every time, all the time.
1: Reason everybody should check out AP Hip-Hop Fest
It’s not for everybody, but if you like really raw hip hop music you should be here. It’s free!
Just Dropped
Matty Carlock – “Veins” music video
Matty Carlock was featured in “NJ Next” in May 2017 and returns just a few months later with a video for his track “Veins” featuring a verse from underground Hip-Hop legend Cage and a cameo appearance from the lead singer of Lex Rex & The Dragons.
