Sty-Low AKA Mister D.O.P.E (Determination On Point Everyday) is a Canadian rapper, singer and producer from Toronto, Canada. By blending the grittyness of Hip-Hop and the melodies of R&B, Sty is all about making music with a meaning for his listeners. Influenced by 90’s West Coast Hip-Hop, especially by the likes of Bone Thugs N Harmony and 2Pac — and producers like Dr. Dre, DJ Quik and DJ U-Neek — he trademarked his sound called “whisper roar.” A low-toned, yet energetic, fast rap style over melodic beats.
With his innovative sound and undeniable work ethic, it was only right we got an exclusive interview done with Sty-Low. He speaks on his recent video “Dif’ren,” hit writing process, future plans and much more!
Check in full below and sure to get familiar with Sty-Low if you aren’t already!
Your most recent music video “Dif’ren” reached 1M views on YouTube. How does that feel?
Sty-Low: “Thank you for asking! It partly feels good because my hard work paid off.. but it also feels like pressure because [now] I have to keep up and, do as good [or better] for my next one. If I don’t, I failed myself!”
What was the inspiration behind the record?
Sty-Low: “To be honest, I feel like music nowadays is very repetitive.. everything sounds the same. From the beats to the flows, even the subject matter. I still believe in being unique and original and it’s what I express in the record. I created a beat that didn’t sound generic… like what’s out there. I also wrote the title in a unique way and, even though I mentioned my influences (Tupac, Bone Thugs and Dr. Dre).. I emphasized the fact that I don’t try to sound like them.. I’d rather sound like myself.”
Describe your writing process.
Sty-Low: “I picture myself as a mad scientist in the lab. I start by creating the instrumental. Once that’s done, I listen to it on repeat and that pretty much tells me what the song will be about. Once I come up with a title, the chorus line comes to mind, then I figure out how I start the song… from the first bar to the flow. I always make sure I switch up the flow every 4 bars to avoid being boring and repetitive. That’s pretty much how the magic is made!”
You describe your sound as “whisper roar” — elaborate on that.
Sty-Low: “I called myself Sty-Low because I never yell when I rap. I actually rap with a low toned voice. It’s almost like a whisper yet it has energy associated with it, hence why I call it the whisper roar. But that’s only when I rap because, when I sing, I can go either high or low with the vocals.”
What can fans expect from Sty-Low to close out 2023?
Sty-Low: “The fans can expect my next single titled “Kaptav8’n” … (captivating) set to drop this Halloween. I have an amazing music video to support it directed by BrownGuy MadeIt and edited by TK. I pride myself in shooting mini movies with these guys, not your regular rap video… so stay tuned!”
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