Hip Hop Is Eternal: Rowston, thanks for speaking with us today. You have a new single that’s just been released called “History” feat K-Rino, could you tell us a bit about the song and the message you were trying to convey?
Rowston: The concept of the song is myself and K-Rino speaking about our early days in Hip Hop, such as our influences. K-Rino told a great story in his verse about meeting KRS-One who was his favourite rapper and how when he met KRS he was really cool and humble to him and that inspired him to be like that and treat others that way when he became an established and then legendary artist himself.
Then the sample that follows was actually from a KRS-One show, it says…
“Always remember that, everything we do becomes history, you can make your own history if you know where you came from”
So what we were trying to get across is how important it is to know your history, in Hip Hop, and in life in general. You can take lessons and knowledge from the history and apply it to yourself and the present. You can learn from the pitfalls or successes of others.
K-Rino spoke about hearing Poetry from Criminal Minded and being inspired that there was another level he wanted to reach, if you know your history of MC’s from all eras you become better because you can gain knowledge from them and their skillset.
My verse is a story of my journey from where I was to where I am now, to where I'm going musically. Growing up with 2 older brothers, Hip Hop was all that was playing in my household. My brother used to watch Yo MTV Raps all the time and record it on video so myself and my other brother could watch it the next day. From there I took various periods in my life, particularly musically, and incorporated them into the verse.
Then the outro to the song is at the same show but this time it’s actually a sample of KRS-One himself speaking about how we should observe the unity and love between MC’s, DJ’s and producers so we wanted to highlight those positive elements of Hip Hop in the song with what we are doing by collaborating with myself/Raskil, K-Rino and the producer Sensei Walingh. We came together to do this in unity and feel like more positivity should be promoted that exists within the culture.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What does it mean to you to work with a legend such as K-Rino?
Rowston: It's crazy to work with someone of that calibre. K-Rino’s been around a long time and considered by many a legend. Any aspiring rapper/MC dreams of working with their favourite rapper or legends in Hip Hop. Some get the opportunity and others are not so fortunate, so for me to be able to work with someone like that, especially considering that this is the 1st track of mine to be released ever is a proud moment for me.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What future projects are you working on?
Rowston: I’m working on a mixtape called Going The Distance which is a similar sentiment to the Rocky films, about overcoming adversity and going the full way on your journey, in my case in music.
That’s a common theme that runs through the mixtape and it does have some parallels with the Rocky story but there’s a lot of other elements incorporated in there too, such as different rhyme styles, beats and a variety of topics.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What are your ambitions in music? And how would you describe yourself as an artist?
Rowston: To be heard and known worldwide for delivering high quality music to the people. As an artist I try not to box myself into a certain style. I feel as though I can do anything stylistically so I'm always open to trying something new.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Just from your verse on History can tell you’re passionate about Hip Hop, what does Hip Hop mean to you?
Rowston: Hip Hop is everything to me. Like I said it was all that was played around me growing up. It's a culture. It's how I walk, it's how I talk, it's how i dress, it's how I live, it's my life. My first love. Everything.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What’s the feedback been like for the song?
Rowston: The feedback has been very positive. The people have enjoyed it, have had a lot of people reaching out and showing support. I was quietly confident because listening to the track I'd be a fan of it if I wasn't a part of it but it’s still encouraging and motivating to receive such a great response. I'm really happy with how the song came out.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Where can people buy the single?
Rowston: It can be bought everywhere, directly from us on the Raskil website under shop at www.raskilrecords.com, , iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp, pretty much every major online outlet.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Good luck with the single and everything you have going on in the future, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Rowston: Thanks to all involved, to everybody who listens to and supports my music. Thanks to K-Rino for blessing the track and Sensei Walingh for the dope beat and his support over the years.
Thanks to those who showed love through thick and thin. To all my family and friends who genuinely support what I'm doing. Thanks to my brothers for playing Yo MTV Raps all those years ago. Thanks to Ras and Raskil for the support and opportunity to do this. Raskilla General!!!!
Rowston: The concept of the song is myself and K-Rino speaking about our early days in Hip Hop, such as our influences. K-Rino told a great story in his verse about meeting KRS-One who was his favourite rapper and how when he met KRS he was really cool and humble to him and that inspired him to be like that and treat others that way when he became an established and then legendary artist himself.
Then the sample that follows was actually from a KRS-One show, it says…
“Always remember that, everything we do becomes history, you can make your own history if you know where you came from”
So what we were trying to get across is how important it is to know your history, in Hip Hop, and in life in general. You can take lessons and knowledge from the history and apply it to yourself and the present. You can learn from the pitfalls or successes of others.
K-Rino spoke about hearing Poetry from Criminal Minded and being inspired that there was another level he wanted to reach, if you know your history of MC’s from all eras you become better because you can gain knowledge from them and their skillset.
My verse is a story of my journey from where I was to where I am now, to where I'm going musically. Growing up with 2 older brothers, Hip Hop was all that was playing in my household. My brother used to watch Yo MTV Raps all the time and record it on video so myself and my other brother could watch it the next day. From there I took various periods in my life, particularly musically, and incorporated them into the verse.
Then the outro to the song is at the same show but this time it’s actually a sample of KRS-One himself speaking about how we should observe the unity and love between MC’s, DJ’s and producers so we wanted to highlight those positive elements of Hip Hop in the song with what we are doing by collaborating with myself/Raskil, K-Rino and the producer Sensei Walingh. We came together to do this in unity and feel like more positivity should be promoted that exists within the culture.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What does it mean to you to work with a legend such as K-Rino?
Rowston: It's crazy to work with someone of that calibre. K-Rino’s been around a long time and considered by many a legend. Any aspiring rapper/MC dreams of working with their favourite rapper or legends in Hip Hop. Some get the opportunity and others are not so fortunate, so for me to be able to work with someone like that, especially considering that this is the 1st track of mine to be released ever is a proud moment for me.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What future projects are you working on?
Rowston: I’m working on a mixtape called Going The Distance which is a similar sentiment to the Rocky films, about overcoming adversity and going the full way on your journey, in my case in music.
That’s a common theme that runs through the mixtape and it does have some parallels with the Rocky story but there’s a lot of other elements incorporated in there too, such as different rhyme styles, beats and a variety of topics.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What are your ambitions in music? And how would you describe yourself as an artist?
Rowston: To be heard and known worldwide for delivering high quality music to the people. As an artist I try not to box myself into a certain style. I feel as though I can do anything stylistically so I'm always open to trying something new.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Just from your verse on History can tell you’re passionate about Hip Hop, what does Hip Hop mean to you?
Rowston: Hip Hop is everything to me. Like I said it was all that was played around me growing up. It's a culture. It's how I walk, it's how I talk, it's how i dress, it's how I live, it's my life. My first love. Everything.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: What’s the feedback been like for the song?
Rowston: The feedback has been very positive. The people have enjoyed it, have had a lot of people reaching out and showing support. I was quietly confident because listening to the track I'd be a fan of it if I wasn't a part of it but it’s still encouraging and motivating to receive such a great response. I'm really happy with how the song came out.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Where can people buy the single?
Rowston: It can be bought everywhere, directly from us on the Raskil website under shop at www.raskilrecords.com, , iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp, pretty much every major online outlet.
Hip Hop Is Eternal: Good luck with the single and everything you have going on in the future, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Rowston: Thanks to all involved, to everybody who listens to and supports my music. Thanks to K-Rino for blessing the track and Sensei Walingh for the dope beat and his support over the years.
Thanks to those who showed love through thick and thin. To all my family and friends who genuinely support what I'm doing. Thanks to my brothers for playing Yo MTV Raps all those years ago. Thanks to Ras and Raskil for the support and opportunity to do this. Raskilla General!!!!
Buy History – Rowston feat K-Rino
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/history-feat-k-rino-single/id1229497727
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Rowston_History?id=Bl2e3vr7dvloujudxlozuc6jaiq&hl=en
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Explicit-x/dp/B0724Z2TZ3/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493627089&sr=8-4&keywords=rowston
Rowston:
Website: http://www.raskilrecords.com/rowston
Twitter: https://twitter.com/therowston
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therowston
Bandcamp: https://rowston.bandcamp.com/releases
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rowston_rr
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/history-feat-k-rino-single/id1229497727
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Rowston_History?id=Bl2e3vr7dvloujudxlozuc6jaiq&hl=en
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Explicit-x/dp/B0724Z2TZ3/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493627089&sr=8-4&keywords=rowston
Rowston:
Website: http://www.raskilrecords.com/rowston
Twitter: https://twitter.com/therowston
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therowston
Bandcamp: https://rowston.bandcamp.com/releases
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rowston_rr
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