Rallo G started his entertainment career as an eager-beaver actor at the affectionate age of 9 years old.
The kid was a natural who showed promise of being the next thespian ready to hit Hollywood, so Rallo’s mother decided to enroll him into the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta (GA), and that’s where he spent much of his time for the next few years. While there, he and a group of students would submerge into rap battles on sight.
He continued to do these unique odes until mastering the art of hip hop.
“I attended North Atlanta High School. I freestyled with other students while there. I formed a group called The Warriors, and then from 10th grade to 11th grade, we were "The "Unknown (MC's). I’ve been in love with it [hip hop] ever since,” he shared.
Clearly, music was his aphrodisiac. Occasionally, Rallo would perform a 10-minute set during lunch, where he’d stand on the table in front of his peers and reel off metaphors, bar-for-bar, with his classmates cheering him on. It was a scene straight out of the movie 8 Mile.
Unfortunately, Rallo ran into some trouble and left school. He transferred to Riverdale and then again to Tri-City High School.
“That’s the place where I met my man Tony Slayton. He took me to meet the Dungeon Family. I met Rico Wade. They were working on a record with Cool Breeze at the time. I got to chill with him and Kurupt. I got to see their creative process.
Although the meet and greet with the Dungeon Family seemed exciting, it was short lived. They didn’t have a whole lot time to nurture Rallo in the capacity that he needed, because they were still popular lyricist that were touring and hashing out music; however, they introduced him to Jimmy Swagger, who rapped with group, The Fourth Generation.
“That’s when it got serious. I started recording, doing mix-tape, and albums, right out of school. It had to be about 2001,” said Rallo.
Rallo met more strong influences like Bone Crusher, Killer Mike and T.I.
“We met a lot of people. Anybody in Atlanta that was doing something, we could rub elbows with them because of the situation I was put in. I started meeting people and my name started ringing bells. I had a group called Mamas Son, but we called it MaSon for short. We had a single out called, Still Riding Chevy’s. We were actually beating up the underground circuit in Atlanta before it was a lot of Open Mics and showcases.”
The group eventually dismantled and Rallo continued doing music as a solo artist. He flew on the radar and collaborated with other rappers form ATL.
“I never stopped. I’ve always loved hip hop. The culture is in me. I never took a break. I’m always on someone’s album, doing my own songs or working on a summer show somewhere.
It’s just the consistency and perseverance of being able to stay working no matter what I was going through. People respect it. Even, now, I’ve been in the game 12-years. I’ve been working with Mixx Mafia Radio and Celebrity DJ Cat X. I’ve been under management for a while.
Being with Mixx Mafia Radio and Celebrity DJ Cat X, as well as Angela Covington, has put fuel to the campaign. I really learned a lot while being under his guidance. They revived my whole career. That’s what gave me my second breath after the first run of doing music so long. Now, I can continue—They have a lot to do with that.”
As Rallo verbalized, he’s part of Mixx Mafia Radio, an internet based forum for independent artist.
“I’m the host now. It’s a great platform for artist. We have a lot of legendary people on there. We had Suga T on the show, and Kingpin Skinny Pimp recently. It’s real crazy because I’m able to learn so much from people who’ve been in the game for years; and have done this for years, while still being able to rub elbows and give knowledge that I’ve gotten along the years, to the younger guys that’s coming up. It’s a great situation for me because I’m in the middle of it; and by hosting, I’m able to chop it up with a lot of legends like Curtis Blow and Big Sam and the East Side boys. I’m constantly talking to someone and I’m always learning. I’m a sponge who’s able to soak up information in that situation. It just helps prepare me for my career… It gives me something else to do besides being an MC and rapping. I can focus on hosting and building my brand.”
The Atlanta native said that if he wasn’t rapping, he’d get his head-shots together, and start acting since Atlanta is the byproduct as well as the Metropolitan for film makers.
He said that he would love to work with Cool Breeze from the Dungeon Family because of the vision that they gave him as young guy coming up in the rap game.
“I actually got him on my first album. By him creating the words, “Dirty South,” and putting the whole project out there with Goodie Mob and OutKast, and me being able to connect to someone that’s tied to them, it’s just a good thing for me... especially, on the first record. I love it, and that’s one of my best collaborations. I would love to collaborate with Bob Marley and Tupac Shakur, but obviously, they have passed on. There’s a lot of talented people in the market. I would like to work with the people who were out when I was coming up in the rap game, people like Pimp C.”
Interestingly enough, when you think about Rallo's flow, it's much like predecessor Bun B from rap group UGK. Willing to bet that If opportunity presented itself, and he did get a chance to perform with Pimp C, the collaboration would be as fascinating as the Greatest American Eclipse of 2017.
Rallo revealed that he was signed to his own record label, MaSon Inc. Entertainment.
“I’ve been learning the business, learning contracts and paperwork, just being more professional with how I conduct myself. I call myself Da Ambassador 2 Da Streetz—I was given that name because I’m able to connect with so many artist, networking, and putting artist on [in the music industry]. If I find a situation that they can benefit from, I’m open to help. I give information to up-and-coming artist like the ascap and BMI, the business side of the game."
Rallo received an award from the second annual Hip Hop honors for “Slept on Artist of the Year.”
“That means a lot to me as well. It’s been a long time coming, to see someone acknowledge my contributions to hip hop. That just motivates me to put more into the artist, who can wake people up, to what they’ve been missing.
I also have the 2012 Hustle Entertainment of the Year Award, which was is Savannah, Georgia. I received the 2015 Hot Block Magazine Artist of the Year, as well.”
The rapper said that he loves the up-tempo music that’s out today.
“The only problem that I have is that we need a little bit more originality and more substance. We need organic movement, and not the stuff that’s based off what someone else is doing. It’s not just rappers, it’s producers. People shouldn’t go to YouTube to buy their sound. They should create their own sound. DJ’s need to be more original, and open themselves up to artist. DJ’s are upset because of the place that the MC’s put them in. In the beginning it was all about the DJ’s and the MC’s were lyricist. Now, it’s reversed. The MC is out in the front and now the DJ is trying to make a name for himself. I just want originality across the board.” I believe we need to come up with another genre.”
Rallo believes that as far as legacies go, there isn’t any room for error in the eyes of media, especially for black men in entertainment.
“Everybody has to have a label. Nobody is leaving this game clean. They put a label on Michael Jackson. I saw something about Prince. It’s a sad situation. That’s my problem with the young guys. The artist back in the day were quieter with how they took care of their business. Now, the newer generation is out in the open. That’s dangerous because whatever problems that a person has going on, they can do something to you because you’ve opened Pandora’s box. They are giving you all the tools you need to destroy yourself. You’re doing the negative work, and they don’t have to do anything.”
If he wanted his legacy to be something worthwhile, he said, “I want to be known as the person that didn’t quit. I want people to know that I kept going, and I was persistent. If they told me, “No,” I still made my own way. I never stopped. If I’m three feet away from gold, I’m going to keep digging until I strike it. It’s going to be nonstop, and that’s what I want my legacy to be. I may try something differently. I might switch it up a little, but the consistency… I want to be known as someone who stayed true to real organic hip hop, and the five elements of hip hop. I want to be known as someone who is real.”
In order to stay indigenous and push music sales, Rallo made a few suggestions that makes perfect sense.
“If you are being original, putting out the best music you can have, along with the other components that goes behind the record like sound, the look of the record and the feel of the record, you won’t have a problem in staying consistent with what you’re doing. Once you capture the people’s hearts, it’s downhill from there.
If you’ve been following along with this article, then you’ve probably picked up on our subtle hints that Rallo G is the type of lyricist, who initiated his talents during the days when hip hop positioned itself around resounding fables that were brusque and clear. So, yeah, he has room to talk.
He stays true to who he is an artist, and that's how he's able to consort with all musicians regardless of their rapping style, by creating dope music.
His popular singles are Dope Money and Private Luv Affair.
"Dope Money is hip hop. Being dope at something means to be good. Like, you’re a dope blogger. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you must sell dope to make a living or doing something reckless. Dope, that’s what hip hop is. If you were a mechanic and you worked on cars, then you’re good and that’s dope. Dope Money is a prime capital of wealth based on being good at something that you enjoy, and that people can respect.
'Private Luv Affair is produced by Redman along with Yung Joc. That's a dope record for me as well, because it shows my range. It's for the women. It talks about being in a relationship with someone and keeping the relationship between you and that person. It's how we talked about not getting on social media and showing everyone your beau. What you do is your business... That's the description of this grownup record. I'm proud of it.
PRIVATE LUV AFFAIR/RALLO GESUS / "LO LIFE" ALBUM
Rallo said that Jimmy Swagger was one of his mentors coming into the industry... “He molded me and taught me what 16 bars was. He taught me how to rap on the beat and how to pick a beat. In the beginning I was freestyling. Freestyling and getting into the studio, recording, and making a record are two different situations. I had to learn that process. He was there to assist me and guide me through that. After that, it would have to be DJ Celebrity Cat X. He taught me the business. He taught me the art of making strategic moves as well as positive brand affiliations. He taught me the art of being productive, and not just doing one thing. I’m brand building, hosting, and I’m consulting other artist. My repute is opening. Like, I said, they have given me my second energy. I run a marathon, and it’s like you’re at the home stretch. The crowds are pumping me on, trying to get me across that finish line. That’s exactly what he, and Angela Covington, from Mixx Mafia Radio, did for me.”
Mentorship was an important phenomenon in Rallo’s career. Through each phase, there was always someone there, pulling him up and helping to sustain him respectively. The rhymer agrees that it’s important to have mentorship while doing this type of music.
“Hip hop is black male driven. By us already being behind the curve a little, just in certain aspects of life and music, they are taking advantage of that. We must be ahead of the game. We need to know about the 360 deals. We need to know as independent artist, the best deals that are out there. We need to know how to speak intelligently and appropriately without offending others.”
Rallo G/ Do it Like a Gangsta
Rallo G challenges the younger generation of artist to become more informed and vigilant with their success. As the saying goes, anything thing that goes up, it must come down—so be careful out there.
The rhymester also encourages our readers to be on the lookout for his latest sounds and definitely check him out on social media by clicking links below.