DIY rap: That’s how Hopsin likes it
Hopsin is more of a do-it-yourself type of musician.
In fact, it’s what he prefers. The 30-year-old rapper has always been in control of his music and with his latest album, “Pound Syndrome,” he says he’s put out some of his best music.
“It’s been a journey,” he says during a recent phone interview. “The tour now has been pretty fun and things are good.”
Hopsin likes to keep himself busy making music, which he’s done since he was about 17 years old. He’s released four full-length albums, and in 2007 he started his own record label, Funk Volume.
In developing “Pound Syndrome,” Hopsin spent two to three months building the album and putting everything together. Then another couple months were spent mixing the albums, which he had a heavy hand in.
“There’s a specific way I wanted all the instruments to stand out,” he says. “I’m learning the art form of mixing and I had a vision for the entire album. Being involved, I was able to get it the way I wanted.”
Over the course of four full-length albums, Hopsin’s writing process has remained the same. He usually comes up with ideas and begins to work on beats for the songs.
“I make all my own beats and create it off the idea that I had,” he says. “I’ve been producing for 15 years and I can pinpoint what’s in my brain when it comes to beats. The beats that make it into a song are the ones that excite me and lend itself to the idea that was created.”
Although he produced this album on his own, Hopsin says he’d work with another producer in the future.
“The only factor is that we’d have to be in the studio at the same time,” he says. “That’s the only way I’d work with another producer. We’d be together working at the same time so we can put together all of our ideas.”
