Get to Know Smino: A UU Exclusive
Article By Olivia Friess, University Union Editorial Board Director | Photo By Will Delgado
Missing Juice Jam? So are we. But the good news is, we’ve got one more article for you: a UU exclusive interview with the one and only Smino. We had the chance to sit down with the STL-born rapper before the show to get to know his influences, future aspirations, and learn a bit more about that St. Louis, MO magic that infuses every lyric and beat.
The Universe: As someone who came from an incredibly musical family, how do those early influences continue to inform the music you make today?
Smino: They kind of just creep up on me, in the way where I’m doing something in the middle of my day and I start singing a song that my dad used to play. Or any of my people: my mom, my pops. My pops used to play a lot of, like, jazz and funk shit, so I end up in the studio and shit just comes out of me.
Photo By Troy Conner
I can absolutely hear the funk and jazz elements come through in your music. Would you say that your relationship with those early influences has changed over time as you’ve been making music?
If anything, I like it more. Nowadays I find myself going back to stuff I was inspired by when I was a kid more than listening to what’s current, you know what I mean? It kind of puts me in this nostalgic, safe zone in my mind where I feel like I can just create whatever I want.
You often mention your hometown of St. Louis, Missouri in your lyrics. This city clearly has had a profound impact on you, and I know there are plenty of fans from St. Louis who will be in the crowd tonight. What does it mean to you to now be in a position that allows you to give back to this community, such as through Kribmas and the Homegrown program?
It’s cool, it’s dope. I always used to want shit like that for myself when I was [growing up in] St. Louis. I remember when I first moved to Chicago I was like eighteen and I got a glimpse of some crazy shit. They had this library with all these cool writers and authors–it was called YCA, Young Chicago Authors. They would just go to this library and practice writing together and performing and shit–sharing shit. Counseling with each other, you know, shit like that. I was just like damn, we never had nothing creative like that. To this day, [I'm still] working on an extended program in St. Louis where artists can feel like “Damn, I see myself in [these people].”
Photo By Katie Huang
How does it feel to have the opportunity to perform for a crowd of young people who are currently around the same age you were when you began to build your music career? What would you say to any of the aspiring artists out there tonight?
I would just say that shit ain’t easy, but it’s worth it. It’s not easy, but it’s for sure worth it. Especially when you’re doing what you really like, what you love.
What is a genre of music that you would love to experiment with in the future? Are there any particular artists you would love to work with or collaborate with?
I’d say rock music; I’m actually currently fucking with it. And Missy Elliott– if I could get Missy, I’m gold.
That would be so cool, hopefully we’ll hear that collab in the future at some point.
Hell yeah.
One last question: how would you describe your sound in five words?
I. Would. Not. Try. To.
Fair enough, Smino.
