CROSSING CULTURES: ROHAN DA GREAT
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK | ROHAN DA GREAT
INTERVIEW KB TINDAL
ROHAN DA GREAT IS A VERSATILE REGGAE ARTIST AND RAPPER BORN IN BROOKLYN NY WHO NOW RESIDES IN NORTH CAROLINA. HIS MUSICAL TASTES COME FROM HIS FATHER AND LEGENDARY REGGAE ARTIST CURRY DON. ROHAN HAS HAD SUCCESS AS A RAPPER WITH HIS FIRST EP “THE REAL”, AS AN EDM ARTIST AND NOW WITH THE RELEASE OF HIS EP “6 LOVE” AS A DANCEHALL ARTIST. ROHAN’S ART TRULY CROSSES MULTIPLE CULTURES AND GENRES.
“6 LOVE” DEBUTED AT #5 ON THE U.S REGGAE CHARTS, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT FOR AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST. BUT ROHAN IS NO STRANGER TO SUCCESS. WITH 2 INDEPENDENT TOURS UNDER HIS BELT, TELEVISION PLACEMENTS FOR HIS WORK AS WELL AS BEING THE BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR URBAN RASTAMAN APPAREL AND TEARING UP INTERNATIONAL AIRWAVES WITH HIS CURRENT SINGLE “CRAZY,” ROHAN IS ONCE AGAIN POISED TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT HIS TALENT KNOWS NO LIMITS. VALIDATED MAGAZINE GOT THE CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH ROHAN DURING HIS BUSY SCHEDULE AND HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HIM. CHECK OUT WHAT DANCEHALL’S NEWEST SENSATION HAD TO SAY.
VALIDATED: WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR STAGE NAME?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I’M ORIGINALLY FROM EAST FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN BUT NOW I’M LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. AS FAR AS MY RAP NAMES, I WENT THROUGH A FEW. FIRST I WAS RATTY DON, IT WAS A NICKNAME GIVEN TO ME BY MY FATHER CURRY DON. AFTER THAT, I WANTED TO BE THE GENIUS. IT’S WEIRD IT WAS A TAG NAME I’D SEEN SUPA DANE USE A FEW TIMES, SO I JACKED IT. THEN I NOTICED MY COUSIN COLLIN WAS USING A SCREEN NAME REFERENCE IN MUHAMED ALI, I LIKED IT AND FLIPPED IT TO CASHSUS. BUT IT WAS TOO GENERIC AND OTHER RAPPERS WERE USING IT. AT THAT POINT, I JUST WANTED A NAME TRUE TO ME SO I JUST STARTED RAPPING UNDER THE NAME ROHAN. I STARTED CALLING MYSELF “ROHAN THE HOTTEST RAPPER UNDER 25”. AFTER REALIZING I WOULD EVENTUALLY TURN 26, I REMEMBERED READING ABOUT ALEXANDER THE GREAT. I WANTED TO CONQUER THE RAP GAME THE WAY HE CONQUERED, SO THAT’S HOW ROHAN DA GREAT WAS BORN.
VALIDATED: GROWING UP, WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WAS PLAYED IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND HOW HAS IT INFLUENCED THE MUSIC YOU CREATE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: GROWING UP IT WAS MOSTLY REGGAE AND DANCEHALL PLAYING IN MY HOUSEHOLD. I GREW UP IN A CARIBBEAN HOUSEHOLD IN A PREDOMINATELY CARIBBEAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
VALIDATED: TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROWING UP AND HOW IT INFLUENCED YOU?
ROHAN DA GREAT: FLATBUSH AND EAST FLATBUSH ARE MELTING POTS OF CULTURE. LOT’S OF CARIBBEAN PEOPLE. WE WERE RAISED WITH CARIBBEAN VALUES AND IT WAS A FUN PLACE TO LIVE. MY FAMILY WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED AND ALWAYS GAVE ME A SENSE OF PRIDE. NOTHING LIKE BROOKLYN!
VALIDATED: WHO ARE YOUR TOP TWO FAVORITE ARTISTS IN HIP HOP AND REGGAE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: FOR RAP, IT WOULD BE JAY-Z AND DRAKE. FOR REGGAE I WOULD SAY VYBZ KARTEL AND A TIE BETWEEN KRANIUM AND DEXTA DAPS.
VALIDATED: WHAT, IF ANYTHING DO YOU BORROW FROM THOSE ARTISTS?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I’M NOT SURE IF I BORROW ANYTHING FROM THEM BUT I DO HEAR WHERE CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN MY MUSIC COULD HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THEM.
VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP-HOP, THE CULTURE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: MY EARLIEST MEMORIES OF HIP HOP WOULD BE STAYING UP AND LISTENING TO UNDERGROUND RADIO WITH MY UNCLE SUPA DANE. I USED TO CLOSE MY EYES AND PRETEND THAT I WAS SLEEPING. I ALSO REMEMBERED SEEING LOTS OF TRAINS AND WALLS WITH GRAFFITI ALL OVER THEM. I USED TO TAG TOO, MY TAG WAS “RATZ”.
VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUR CITY'S CURRENT HIP-HOP SCENE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I LIKE THE VERSATILITY OF WHAT’S GOING ON IN HIP HOP. I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA MADE IT EASY FOR ARTISTS TO JUST FOCUS ON BEING TRUE TO THEM. WITH THE RIGHT MARKETING, YOU CAN EASILY REACH YOUR NICHE AUDIENCE.
VALIDATED: WHAT SACRIFICES HAVE YOU MADE OR THINGS THAT YOU HAD TO GO WITHOUT BECAUSE YOU'VE INVESTED IN YOUR ARTISTRY?
ROHAN DA GREAT: MAN, I’VE SACRIFICED SO MUCH. WE’D BE HERE ALL DAY. ONE SACRIFICE IN PARTICULAR WAS REALLY ROUGH FOR ME, WHEN I WAS RELEASING “THE REAL” I SOLD ALL MY EQUIPMENT SO I CAN MIX AND MASTER AND PROMOTE THE PROJECT. I WISH I HAD SOME OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU ARE INDIE YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE SO MUCH. I’VE PUT THOUSANDS INTO THIS NEW RELEASE AND IT’S PAYING OFF.
VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE HIP-HOP AND DANCEHALL CULTURE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I FEEL MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE TRUE TO MYSELF, MAKE THE BEST MUSIC I CAN AND PROVIDE INSPIRATION FOR FUTURE ARTISTS TO COME. I ALSO FEEL I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY IT FORWARD AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS THAT WERE ONCE IN MY SHOES.
VALIDATED: HIP-HOP HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY OVER THE YEARS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIP-HOP BECOMING THE MOST POPULAR MUSIC GENRE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: IT’S OVERDUE, WE’VE INFLUENCED POP CULTURE IN GENERAL FOR YEARS! IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT WE REAP THE BENEFITS.
VALIDATED: YOUR LATEST SINGLE IS "CRAZY” WHAT’S THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE RECORD?
ROHAN DA GREAT: WELL, WHEN I STARTED MAKING THIS PROJECT I HAD A PARTICULAR SOUND IN MIND. I KNEW I WANTED TO MAKE A REGGAE SOUNDING PROJECT WITH REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES. WHEN I HEAR THE BEAT I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A REFLECTION ON AN OLD RELATIONSHIP THAT HAD ME TRIPPING A LITTLE. I PUT ALL THE EMOTION AND MEMORY INTO WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS “CRAZY.”
VALIDATED: WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE "CRAZY" AS THE LEAD SINGLE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: WHEN I RECORDED IT, I JUST KNEW IT WAS THE PERFECT FOLLOW UP TO “ONE MORE”. IT JUST FELT PERFECT… I GOT CHILLS AND EVERYTHING.
VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE RESPONSE TO THE RECORD?
ROHAN DA GREAT: MAN, I’M SO HYPED. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN SOMETHING SO STRONGLY IT’S GREAT SEEING IT PROSPER. IT PROVIDED THE PERFECT FOUNDATION FOR THE RELEASE OF MY EP “6 LOVE”.
VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU WANT LISTENERS TO GET FROM YOUR EP 6 LOVE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I WANT THEM TO PUT IT OUT AND VIBE OUT. MAYBE REMINISCE ON A FEW RELATIONSHIPS AND USE IT AS A GUIDE OF WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO IN RELATIONSHIPS.
VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK OFF THE PROJECT AND WHY?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I THINK MY FAVORITE TRACK OUTSIDE OF “CRAZY” IS “UNFAIR GAMES.” I JUST LOVE THE WAY THE LYRICS FLOW, THE MELODIES, THE CATCHINESS AND SUBJECT MATTER.
VALIDATED: HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE GROWN AS AN ARTIST SINCE YOU’VE COME INTO THE GAME?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I THINK I’VE GROWN A LOT. I LISTEN BACK TO MY OLDER WORKS AND SEE AREAS WHERE I NEEDED WORK. MY SUBJECT MATTER HAS GROWN. OVER THE YEARS MY REAL GROWTH HAS BEEN MY BUSINESS ACUMEN. I’M REALLY PROUD OF HOW MUCH I’VE DONE INDEPENDENTLY.
VALIDATED: WHAT DOES HIP-HOP MEAN TO YOU?
ROHAN DA GREAT: HIP HOP MEANS EXPRESSION! MUSIC IS LIFE IN GENERAL FOR ME.
VALIDATED: DO YOU FEEL MAINSTREAM HIP-HOP ARTISTS ARE DOING JUSTICE WITH RAP?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I CAN’T CALL IT. MAINSTREAM HAS A LOT OF POLITICS BEHIND IT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. WHEN PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR MONEY UP THEY WANT THE HIGHEST ROI. WITH THAT BEING SAID I DON’T THINK WE CAN HOLD SOME OF THESE ARTISTS AT A REALLY HIGH STANDARD WHEN FOR THEM IT’S JUST BUSINESS. BUT FOR THE ONES WHO ARE THERE TO PUSH THE CULTURE THEY ARE DOING MORE, EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LIKE THE KENDRICK’S, COLES, AND OTHER CONSCIOUS ARTISTS.
VALIDATED: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN NIPSEY HUSSLE PASSED AWAY?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE NIP. THE THE KNOWLEDGE HE WAS GIVING OUT, THE HOPE, AND WHAT HE WAS PLANNING, IT REMINDED ME THAT WE HAVE TO BE AWARE AND EXPECT THINGS LIKE THIS FROM ALL ANGLES. BUT THERE WAS NO WAY ONE OF US SHOULD HAVE KILLED NIP, BUT I BELIEVE IT’S SOMETHING DEEPER.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR WAY OF GIVING BACK NOW AT THIS STAGE IN YOUR CAREER AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO GIVE BACK IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE ON A BIGGER SCALE?
ROHAN DA GREAT: I GIVE BACK AS MUCH AS I CAN. I HAVE A NON-PROFIT CALLED “BE GREAT AND INSPIRE” WHICH BACKS MY “BE GREAT ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM”. WE HELP YOUNG TEENS WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT AND BE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. “BE GREAT” ALSO GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SEVERAL EFFORTS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROVIDING COVID -19 RELIEF FOR 50 FAMILIES IN JAMAICA. JAMAICA HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WORLD. HIP HOP’S FOUNDING FATHER IS JAMAICAN AND I’VE GAINED FROM BOTH HIP HOP AND REGGAE SO IT’S ONLY RIGHT I GIVE BACK.
VALIDATED: TELL US ABOUT OTHER VENTURES YOU'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
ROHAN DA GREAT: I’M CURRENTLY THE BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR “URBAN RASTAMAN”. IT’S A LIFESTYLE BRAND BASED ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IDEOLOGY BEHIND RASTAFARIAN BUT WITH AN URBAN TWIST. I’M WORKING ON A PLATFORM CALLED “INDIE BY CHOICE” IN WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE CONSULTATIONS AND SERVICES FOR UP AND COMING ARTISTS. I’VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AND I’D LIKE TO SHARE WHAT I’VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.
VALIDATED: WHERE CAN THE READERS SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR MUSIC ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
ROHAN DA GREAT: INSTAGRAM @ROHANDAGREATMC