A refreshing new face in the hip-hop scene, Brodi White is a passionate business owner, songwriter and rapper from Ukiah, California. He currently spends his days operating a hemp infusion lab for his company Hempvada, and making music in his Colorado studio. Though not widely known yet, it’s just a matter of time before Brodi White becomes a recognizable name for hip-hop fans all over the nation. If you don’t believe us, take Dave East and The Game’s recent support as proof.
In March, Brodi competed in Zaplife’s virtual artist showcase. Dave East and DJ Blue Diamond were in awe at his charismatic performance and crowned him as winner of that round. This win locked him in for a feature on one of Dave East’s future projects and garnered attention from other major figures in the industry including The Game and Jim Jones.
Pairing his music success with Hempvada’s growth, Brodi White decided that the COVID-19 pandemic was the perfect time to really invest in himself and double-down on building out his music career.
Brodi’s first EP ‘I’m Really Not a Rapper’ released on the 1st of June. On the 17th, he performed at his first artist showcase event at the Walnut Room in Denver, Colorado.
Brodi has already released three singles leading up to his debut project including ‘Envy’, ‘Whoah’, and ‘Go!’ His first release ‘Envy’ takes a laid back and honest approach introducing himself to the world as a true lyricist.
His recent release ‘Whoah’ eases us in with a vibey guitar riff, quickly changing the tone to a slightly aggressive anthem-like delivery.
The last single of this EP is ‘Go!’ featuring V.I. Muzik. This track has proven his most popular, certainly due to the vivid lyricism and powerful delivery producing an unforgettable sound.
Though each song has a slightly different sound, one thing is consistent throughout. Brodi exercises conscious artistry by sharing stories about his experiences in hopes to help others through their own struggles.
We spoke with Brodi about his come up and asked him a few questions about music and the grind. While he may spend his days living a simple life working on his family farm, he has an intricate story to tell.
His life was not always as stable as it is now, and rap has become his form of therapy.
“I started rapping in my free time and in the off season really to relieve stress and anxiety. Weed helped but there’s a basis to the issues. Weed fixes it, but it’s only a temporary fix. CBD is a temporary fix. But rapping really allows me to be me. I put it all into my music, I put my anger, my frustration into the music. I lost my mother when I was 12, I lost countless friends. So the struggle is there and to really get it out, rap music has been my best outlet.”
When it comes to your sound, who are your influences?
“My first rap album was the Beastie Boys. If you want to call that rap, I call it rap. Some people like to call that like a rock kind of deal, but I call that rap. I had gotten my hands on 50 Cents ‘Get Rich or Die Trying.’ Mendo Dope is a group I grab a lot of influence from and also just other real legends like T.I., Young Buck, and even some current artists like G Eazy.
Even some country artists like Luke Combs. I pull a little bit of inspiration from rock music. It really depends because I have a well-rounded taste in music so inspiration can really come from anywhere. (Combs) showed me that music can be a thing for white kids from Mendo and that there is a niche for us.”
Tell us a little about your debut project and why you decided to title it ‘I’m Really Not a Rapper’?
“I went with the ‘I’m Really Not a Rapper’ title because at the end of the day, I’m really not a rapper. You know what I mean? I’m nearly 30 years old. I haven’t called myself a rapper up to this point. I still don’t call myself a rapper. If you go to any of my personal profiles it says I’m a Southern Colorado Hemp CBD manufacturer because that’s what pays me. That’s what pays for tours. That’s what pays for beats. That’s what pays for merch and CDs. I just started early this year and already have really cool stuff coming.”
What advice do you have for other independent artists that are just getting their career started?
“Stop, work hard. Get your money right so you don’t spin your wheels. You can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t get some money to help put your face in front of the world then it won’t even matter.”
Knowing when and where to spend money, and also being willing to invest in yourself, is an important factor in any artist’s career. Oftentimes these are crucial factors that helps prove who is serious.
This type of mindset mixed with his musical talent is one of many things that sets Brodi White up for success in the long term. His conscious artistry and slightly aggressive delivery portrays his inner struggles in hopes that others can find solace in his honesty.
While many rappers are pursuing it for all of the wrong reasons, whether it be clout or to flex, White uses this unique form of art to help heal himself and those around him.
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