Come December, Australian fans will be welcoming Hopsin to our shores along with a solid line up of rap artists in Jarren Benton, DJ Hoppa and Dizzy Wright. The Funk Volume Tour is a surefire hit of a concept; having these artists come together for a tour that only takes place once every few years is an opportunity for fans to get around some electrifying live sets.
For Hopsin, widely regarded as one of the best in the game, 2015 has seen him taking his latest record Pound Syndrome to more fans than before and it’s been a ride he’s been enjoying every minute of.
“It’s been cool, you know?” the rapper says. “It’s been exciting. It’s like with every other album; you release it and then if the buzz is hot, you go out and tour it and give the fans what they want! For the past month I’ve been on tour and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s been cool to be giving fans the Hopsin that they want to see.”
The release of Pound Syndrome brought more attention to Hopsin; people were praising his rhymes and moreover, the way he wrangled an eccentric and wild flow on the album. It stood him apart and it’s an effect Hopsin has continued to have on fans of his and rap fans in general who might be looking for an excuse to discover something new or stumble on a vibe they’ve been longing for.
It’s not all smooth though, when it comes to firing up in the studio, as Hopsin explains. When he experiences a creative block or the words just aren’t coming, he knows he has to switch up his game or progress just does not avail itself.
“I usually have to listen to other music at those times,” he mentions. “I have to listen to other music and get motivated and inspired. I’ll have to go outside and live life a little bit and then I have to find a situation in my life or a story, something that I’m feeling and that I’m really passionate about. It can be positive or negative, but something that’s just on my mind and when it’s happening in my mind, I just want to talk about it. I just find whatever that is and then I go into my studio and make the beat and I’ll keep making beats until I find the right one that fits the story that I have to tell, and then I just start writing the lyrics. That’s the process.”
On touring with Benton, Wright and DJ Hoppa, Hopsin hasn’t taken the opportunity to connect with these three for granted. While he himself is talented lyricist and a deft performer on stage, Hopsin comments on the highlights of being able to get to know more about the crew he’s been able to perform alongside and what they’ve brought to the table.
“They all have their own individual buzz, which keeps my buzz alive as well.” he says. “On top of that, it’s cool because they all have their own personal experiences of their walk through the rap game and we can all share stories. If one of us is down about something, the other one can shed some light on the situation and help the other out. With Jarren Benton and Dizzy Wright, they give me advice all the time on things they they’ve been through that I haven’t as an artist, they help me out. They keep the positive vibes up! It’s cool having them around because we’re always joking and laughing and there’s a positive energy all the time.”
Hopsin chuckles almost coyly when we turn focus to the success of Pound Syndrome and how it’s affected his year as a performer and music fan, even. With these tour dates coming up, it’s clear that he’s excited to reconnect with his fans in both Australia and New Zealand and that this ride is long from over.
“I’m doing everything the right way, I guess that what it means!” he laughs, commenting on recent praise. “That I should not stop doing what I’m doing because my method is definitely working! I’ve failed a bunch of times prior to me having people everywhere knowing who I was, and now I’m doing it right. It means that this is the formula to grandma’s delicious soup! I’ve found the formula.”
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The Funk Volume Tour hits venues in New Zealand and Australia this December! Tickets are on sale via Metropolis Touring!
December 10th | The Bedford, Christchurch
December 11th | The Studio, Auckland
December 16th | 170 Russell, Melbourne
December 17th | Eaton’s Hill, Brisbane
December 18th | Enmore Theatre, Sydney
December 20th | The Gov, Adelaide
December 21st | Amplifier Bar, Perth
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