We were lucky to catch up with Supreme Sol recently and have shared our conversation below.

Supreme, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

It all started with the overall fascination with the craft. I was always interested in and obsessed with the technical aspect of rap, so as a teenager I studied the greats like Eyedea, Ras Kass, Canibus, Big L, Royce Da 5’9″, Tech N9ne, MF DOOM, and many many others in order to help learn and hone my skills. Not too long after, I started to develop my own way in terms of expressing and utilizing what was learned. I think the skills that were the most essential were story telling, keeping the listener guessing as far as where I place each rhyme throughout a verse, and not being afraid to experiment with different sounds and styles in your own way while not compromising who you are. I think the only obstacle that stood in the way of learning more is the mental block of being afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. That can be immensely difficult sometimes haha

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was always in love with music ever since I was a child. My mother pretty much surrounded me with artists like Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Lenny Kravitz, Bob Marley and many more. I was always a huge gamer and anime head when growing up. Soundtracks in games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater helped introduce me to my love for Punk and Rock. My grandparents would also spin old Motown vinyl records from time to time whenever I’d go to their place. I think the exposure to those kinds of sounds helped shape the soundscapes that I seek today for my own music. I was never really a fan of the business side of the music industry, but I later on realized that it’s a necessary evil if you choose to go into this profession. The music and overall integrity of my music will always come first though no matter what. When people listen to me, I always want to keep them guessing in terms of what I’ll come with next. I was and always will be a lyrically driven artist, so that will always shine through and through in no matter what I release. I don’t believe that we have to be stuck in a box or a one tracked way of approaching the craft. For example, back when I was a kid, I only wanted to do “boom-bap’ because I thought that was the “purest” form of Hip-Hop that could ever be created haha. As I got older though, I started to dabble in other vibes that influenced me like Memphis style production from the likes of legendary artists DJ Squeeky, Three 6 Mafia, DJ Zirk, Tommy Wright III and many others. I also started to learn more about other ways to use my vocals. Singing and screaming for example (you can hear that in my more recent material with my group ROTN), which had seeds planted from inspirational bands I listened like Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat, Linkin Park, Slipknot, and many more. I feel in order to be a true artist you have to be formless and never be afraid to experiment or try something new. You just might surprise yourself in terms what you end up creating.

I think what sets me apart from others is the overall way in which I approach, execute, and perform my music as a whole. I feel no one else can created music the exact way that I do, and I think that’s key if you want to make yourself stand out within an oversaturated realm full of other artists. Just be yourself uncompromisingly regardless of what others may think about you. I learned that if you have people talking about you and the way that you create your art whether positive or negative, you’re doing something right. I guarantee those same people talking shit couldn’t emulate you even if they tried to. My mission as a creative is to inspire others to never be afraid to go against the grain, to stay true to who you are, and to bring people together.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel society can best support artists by going to shows, buying merch, and just simply showing love even if it’s sharing a link. Successful musicians are nothing without the supporters!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist has to be the connection that you make with so many different and like minded people who love music just as much as you do. If I had a religion, music would be exactly that due to how it brings people from all walks of life together and helps us all bond over it. It’s so dope!     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZL96KckBSsDPgkxVRfuTS?si=tGniDJz1SF6ygh2QD7Ypsw
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supremesol/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SupremexSol/
• Twitter: Twitter.com/SupremeSol
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SupremeSol
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/supreme-sol https://breakfastmusicgroup.com/rotn

Image Credits
Jonezy Lewa French Imagineyoumedia