An Interview With Rapper HEERO

What’s up Heero! How are you?

“Doing well! Excited for this interview, thank you for asking.

1) How did you come by your stage name?

I am a huge anime and my favorite anime is Gundam Wing. The main character’s name is Heero Yuy who is a 15-year-old assassin who is on a mission to destroy this organization called OZ. He was extremely proficient at his job and had a laser focus on his mission, nothing would stop him from achieving his goal, not even death. I related to that plus he was kind of a loner, so I took the name and made an acronym of it; “Having every Effort reaching opportunities”.

2) When did you discover your love for music and what made you realize?

I grew up in a household where music was played every day. My Dad and Mom played R&B, Soul, and Gospel around me a lot. When I would go to my Grandparent’s house my grandfather would play Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, etc. My grandmother played Sounds of Blackness and Gospel. My uncles had me listening to Digital Underground, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Geto Boys, etc. My brothers and I liked Video Game music and watching Looney Tunes because of the orchestrated music. I also had friends who put me on to Metal Bands like Metallica and Nirvana. So music has always been around me, my father also used to manage a group back in the day so I would take trips with him to the studio as a kid. Seeing that process as a kid was interesting, I enjoyed the creative part of it.

3) To whom or what do you accredit your style of music creation to?

I credit my current style of music to Battle Rap, watching and studying those artists helped me understand how to write deeper than before. As far as my production, I credit that to video game and anime music. That type of music builds a soundscape that gives the listener an experience and keeps them drawn in. So I blended it with my various musical influences such as metal/rock, classical, electronic, funk, and hip-hop which kind of made it a hybrid style of music, and now here we are.

4) On your current single, how did you come up with the concept? 

“24” was therapy for me due to the untimely passing of Kobe Bryant. When I got the news that he and his daughter were together at that time, it broke my soul in ways I still can’t understand. We are huge Laker fans on my dad’s side of the family so it truly hit hard. That incident made the entire world cry, I haven’t seen that many people hurt like this since the passing of Micheal Jackson. I decided I wanted to mend the healing by honoring his life and what he meant to me, hopefully, this song helps others the way it has helped me.

5)What are some of your greatest challenges and your greatest attributes when it comes to making music?

Writing can be the biggest challenge for me due to me digging deep to relay the proper emotions for that song, it can be draining and mentally exhausting. However, it’s one of my greatest attributes along with composing the music to fit the emotion of the song. Everything must match, and reflect 100% quality, I hold myself to a certain standard when it comes to the music.

6) Are you the best at what you do?

I know I am great at what I do and I know others claim the same. However, I won’t be outworked in any form. I’m constantly trying to figure out new flow patterns, new bars, new concepts, new ideas altogether. Some want this for fame and fortune, yes the money is a plus but the love of creating and helping others is what I strive for. So, yes I am the best at what I do and will strive to be greater than the rest.

7) What are your plans in the near future as far as music goes after the release of this new single?

I plan on releasing a few more singles this year, but next year I will double my workload. I am also working on a documentary about my musical journey, which is self-contained. Pre-Season 2 is coming at the beginning of next year also, working on building my buzz is my main goal, I want to connect with the people. I wanna do features with different artists, I want to expand my reach creatively and sonically.

8) Is there anyone you’d like to thank or shout-out who may have helped you with completing the new single?

My father, brothers, and other Laker fans with whom I had countless conversations about Kobe. Those convo’s helped me understand the hurt that a lot of people were holding in, I hope this song eases everyone’s pain. Fly high Kobe Bryant aka King Vino, we miss you.

9) What music advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self “Don’t worry about people supporting or believing in your vision. It’s not their vision so don’t expect them to understand anything, take all of that energy that they give you and use it on executing your goals. Believe in yourself more, if you don’t then no one else will. Also, keep your head down, run through the obstacles, and do the work.”

10) What suggestions/advice do you have for other artists like yourself?

The 1st thing is to be yourself, no one can tell your story as you can. We have too many clones of other artists and no one is being true to themselves because everyone is trying to “make it”. My 2nd thing is Discipline is key in everything you do, motivation can last for so long but Discipline is what will get you over the hurdles. You will lose enthusiasm but having that Discipline will get the job done. And the final thing is don’t cut corners, do the work. Work hard and focus on your craft and study the business, take both seriously. When you are in the studio, focus on the art. And when the art is created, focus on the business to have a plan to give the people the art you created.

For more details about HEERO’s latest album, please visit Spotify.