1) Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m Dez Frio also known as D’shawn Robertson, and I attend University Of Central Arkansas. 220Empire is my family it’s tatted on us we’re Second 2 Nobody and when it comes to family we take everything serious. All around though we just some young dudes who like to turn up at smoke sessions.
2) Who were some of your musical influences coming up?
A lot of southern artist, Kevin Gates for sure he’s a philosopher if you ask me, someone with morals. Red Hot Chili Peppers I remember waking up for school every morning staring at MTV like man who are these dudes and how can I party like them.
Future and Kanye West for sure the media tries to play these guys for people who don’t know a lot or can’t control themselves but I see them as Geniuses.
3) How would you describe yourself as an artist? Has your style changed much over the years?
Current but progressive, I feel like I make a lot of music for people to flow and rock to, but I’m nothing like other artist I see myself steady taking steps ahead of them while pulling others with me.
I’ve always been an artist who aspires to be greater than what I am now a month from now, growing up in high school I was DroughtBoii I was never nothing big but people in school knew who I was.
4) What’s your process like for making music? Do you have a set routine or does it vary track by track?
I write a lot of music off of emotion so most of them not all but most are written in random places like class, the library, or I can be watching a movie with my girlfriend you never know.
When recording I turn on the beat and record everything that I have written and then sit around and mess with the track throwing in adlibs and changing words with my little brother Drexx The Moon God.
5) Can you run me through the making of your latest project? Where were the studio vibes like?
My latest project is coming from me and other #220Empire artist J Juan, I’ve been recording with dude since high school him and HBK Mac are just as much of my brother as DTMG. Me and J Juan dropping #90’sBabies which going to be hosted by DJKINGFLOW, this mix tape was a smoke session idea that came from our track “Nightmares” which we made in 2013.
6) What sort of independent hip-hop promotion and marketing are you doing to differentiate yourself from other artists?
Right now we’ve just been taking over as a whole we featured in DJKINGFLOW recent mixtapes “Coke Boys Radio 3” and “Corner Musik 2” after that everything went crazy just from being on Spinrilla, we’ll also be on 2 more of his upcoming mixtapes in addition to the one he’s hosting for us.
7) What are your thoughts on the current state of hip-hop music today?
It’s too many artists who do it for the fame, we love to do this, we love to smoke and freestyle, making songs off the top of our heads when there are artist in the industry who sit and take 3-4 days to make the song.
The beat drops and I’m going in every time, no I’m not better than anyone and I don’t live out every lyric but its pretty damn close and I feel like that’s what artist have to get back to doing, rap about your life and show some creativity.
8) What music are you listening to these days? Anyone in hip-hop really blowing your mind?
Kanye West he’s been doing it since “College Drop out,” Lil Wayne will always be a favorite I don’t care what he’s on you have to see a mastermind for what it is this man has did Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, and pop. Kevin Gates would be another he’s a realest you can tell every line that comes out of his mouth has happened at some point.
9) If you could work with any artist you wanted, what would be your dream collaboration?
Honestly it’ll be Future, Mike WiLL Made It, or Kanye. They’ll forever make Cash music, and only real music’s gonna last in the end. I want to be a Legend.. I Come From Nothing.
10) What has been the best moment in your music career so far?
Every moment that one of my brothers aren’t in jail, I’m not in jail and we can meet up smoke , play beats and vibe, And my first time signing autographs.
11) So what’s next for you?
Shows, we’re trying to get few set up through Arkansas, Atlanta, Texas, Florida, wherever you want us really if the money’s right. With that comes music videos, and vlogs it all just falls into place.
Me and HBK Mac go by HB Frio we just dropped “Writing on the walls”, “Cloudy Brains Cool Systems” is next, the heartbreak continues. Also me and Drexx The Moon God also will drop a mixtape titled “ColdMoon”.
