Craig ViLL is an amazing new musical talent who has a lot to offer the hip-hop world. You can check out his song, The Cry For Help, at the end of this interview – it’s a must listen for those into their rap and hip-hop!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a track titled The Cry For Help, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the song?
The Cry For Help, which is the last track on my most recent EP, was literally a plea to god for the people. I feel like the song was just a chance to speak my honest truth with personal battles, and talk about other peoples experiences all in the same breath. A lot of challenging themes to talk about were in these lyrics. Things like religion, death, drug abuse, failure, sadness, sacrifice, etc. I wanted this to be one of my most open and transparent songs. The choice of the simple piano melody was to put heavy emphasis on the lyrics and everything that I wanted to convey with them. I think in some ways, The Cry For Help is an important body of work in itself that stands alone in my discography.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
I think the pandemic was a blessing in disguise. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, I would probably not have recorded a single verse that is available on these streaming platforms. I wouldn’t be doing much creatively at all. There wouldn’t be over 1000 monthly listeners playing my music. Nobody would know the name Craig ViLL or even have a chance to know it. Before the pandemic I was known in my high school and college as a poet, and even though people would tell me to try my hand in rap I never thought about doing it. Until the pandemic hit and one of my friends hit me up about a poetic project that he wanted to create. We ended up finishing the project a little earlier and I said “bro throw a beat on and I’ll write a verse.” The reception that my Instagram followers showed me were great and the rest is history.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
The writing process for me is like putting a puzzle together just finding the right syllable counts or the right slant rhymes / internal rhyme schemes. I consider myself a wordsmith in a way, so I forge and craft these verses very precisely two convey the themes, imagery and the witty punchlines that people have enjoyed in past bodies of work. Recording is just as complicated as it involves finding where to put certain adlibs, what words should have certain emphasis and what melodies work for the track. It’s all fun though, as I enjoy putting the pieces together and figuring out what works and what doesn’t
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
Yes. When I’ve Had Enough. October 31st. It’s getting scary.
Have you started writing for an EP or an album?
I’ve written about 3 EPs (10 tracks each), all written recorded and released in less than a year. It’s safe to say I’ve been putting in some work but I really need to relax. Will I? Probably not.
Your music is based within the hip-hop genre. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
I feel like I get influences from all over. My favourite musicians ever are Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Kanye West. Each of them are just so multi-faceted in what they can do and what they have to offer as an artist. Recently I have been listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples, Nocap, Young Thug, Koda and Benny The Butcher. I don’t think I’m necessarily like the artists above butt they are each great in their own right.
Where are you based? What is the music scene like in your part of the world? Are you influenced by your surroundings?
I am based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the music scene over here is mainly just dance and drill music. I do feel as though I am influenced by my surroundings but I think that the perspective I take is different. I have some groovy songs but I wouldn’t classify myself as a dance artist, because I’m rapping a lot of meaningful things in the songs. I also have some songs where there is very descriptive violence depicted but I wouldn’t say that I’m a drill rapper, because I speak from a standpoint of the outside looking in or someone surrounded by violence not necessarily the one performing it.
Do you have any tour dates lined up? Any plans to tour the UK?
No tour dates right now. I wish I could but I’m just not on that level yet. I don’t even have a passport to go to the UK for vacation lol. (I’m working on it though).
What can people expect from one of your shows and why should people come and see you perform live?
Performing live you can expect to hear some great adaptations to my songs and some good visuals. I intend to actually convey something in these performances that I do live (even though I have done very few as a rapper. I am very decorated as a poet though, ask about me in Philly).
Any last words for the fans?
Rollin video coming soon, The Cry For Help video coming soon, When I’ve Had Enough .. Halloween. And the Village is coming. Stay tuned.