What’s your stage name and where are you from?
SMOKEE-O. I’m from North Carolina.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
“Smokee-O” is derived from “Soul” singers Smokey Robinson and Otis Redding. Me bringing the “Soul” back to rap.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I started my musical journey honing my craft in the studio, blending raw talent with relentless dedication to create a unique sound. Over the years, I’ve built my name through hard work, collaborations, and performances that connect with real people. Now, I’m focused on pushing boundaries, evolving my artistry, and making an impact with every track I drop.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I pitched a track to GFK some years back; as I was working on my own project. I asked for a feature and he was down and offered it for the low price of 30k. I couldn’t afford it at the time. He was just like hit me when the money right. Years later we got it done on “Miasma”.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
Life, outside of the normal get money; get b%^$h’s; bust ya gun; get high; get wasted; etc etc etc. Life is happening in-between these moments. I want to highlight those areas in my music.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
The biggest challenge is always features. I’m not the biggest fan of emailing the verse(s). I’m from the era of artist in the studio where the energy is shared while the beat is on loop. Honestly I just had to get over it and get it done.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Joe Budden. He’s a Virgo. I’m a Virgo. We are the same age. I know that session/track would be fire. He’s retired from rapping; but I know he still writing in a black and white composition notebook.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
In 2025 I’m releasing my debut album “Life in the key of D” on REIGN MUSIC GROUP on Valentine’s Day. It’s a real personal project that I needed to do and wanted to share with the people going thru the similar if not the same experience of divorce. The recording of this project was therapy. So with this body of work- the music is getting me back to me.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
We (the label) are releasing videos for the singles thru out the year. There are sync deals on the table; some up and coming features on some projects; getting the merchandise popping and gearing up for a tour at the top of 2026.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
On the website www.reignmusicgrp.com