Exclusive Interview w/ Sty-Low

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Sty-Low, best known as Mister D.O.P.E (Determination On Point Everyday), is a celebrated rapper, singer, and music producer. Sty’s music, a stirring fusion of Hip-Hop’s rawness and the tuneful elements of R&B, seeks to convey profound meaning to his audience. His sound, called “whisper roar,” is a unique blend of low-toned yet dynamic fast rap, layered over rhythmically melodic beats. Sty’s music is heavily influenced by 90’s West Coast Hip-Hop, with artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Tupac Shakur, and producers such as Dr. Dre, DJ Quik, and DJ U-Neek shaping his musical style.

We recently got the chance to chop it up with Sty-Low for an exclusive interview. He spoke on his recent video, “Dif’ren,” the current state of Hip-Hop, his debut album, where he sees himself in 10 years and much more! Check in below.

What was the inspiration behind your recent video “Dif’ren?”

“Honestly, I find contemporary music quite monotonous – there’s a striking lack of variety. The rhythm, the lyrical patterns, even the themes all seem cloned. My belief in authenticity and originality is what reflects in my records. So for “Dif’ren,” I crafted a beat that breaks away from the generic mold that’s popular today. My title, too, is creatively distinct. While I do acknowledge the impact Tupac, Bone Thugs, and Dr. Dre have had on my work, I’ve always aimed for my sound to be uniquely mine rather than mirroring theirs.”

It has since reached 1M views. How does that feel?

“On one hand, it’s gratifying to see my efforts bearing fruit. However, it brings about a certain degree of stress since I now have the responsibility to maintain this standard or possibly excel in my subsequent endeavors. Should I falter, it would feel like I’ve let myself down.”

Your music videos tend to have dark concepts, is there a reason behind this?

“I’ve always been a fan of movies like Blade, Underworld, The Matrix, etc. And musically, most of my influences were signed to labels like Death Row,  Ruthless Records and they always had a darker image to them. I am also a Gemini so I embrace my bright and my dark side to the fullest. I don’t think I’ll ever shoot a daytime video.. [but] if I do I’ll definitely have to still include some dark elements.”

You’ve released incredible singles and videos so far, but when can fans expect your album?

“To be honest, I am more of a single driven artist. Every song I write, I envision a music video for it. So if I ever choose to drop an album it will be a visual one. Every song will have a music video to support it, like a Hip-Hop musical.. something epic!”

Where does Sty-Low see himself in 10 years?

“In 10 years, I’ll still be married to music. But I do want to break into other endeavors such as acting, investing, etc. But music will always be the stepping stone that allows me to diversify my portfolio. I believe it is important not to limit yourself!”

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