An Interview with Errol Allen
The South has brought us some of the greatest musical artists of all time, including the likes of OutKast, Three 6 Mafia, and Juicy J, along with newer artists such as DaBaby, Lil Nas X, Lil Baby, and the newest artist on the rise, Errol Allen. Allen hails from Gonzales, Louisiana, just an hour away from New Orleans, where Lil Wayne began his rise to stardom. Allen already has a debut album under his belt, and he has recently released a joint project with artist, Jude Barclay. I got the option to talk to Allen, and below is the interview we did. Time to dive into the man behind the music.
Alex Gravelle: First things first, tell me a bit about where you’re from and where you’re located now, along with a quick little intro about yourself (I’ll likely be using a lot of this for the intro to the interview.)
Errol Allen: Okay, well, first and foremost I just want to thank you for having me here and allowing me to be a part of this interview. It’s truly an honor man, seriously, thank you. Well, I’ll just get straight to the point about myself, my name is Errol Allen and I’m an artist from Gonzales, Louisiana. I have over 400,000 streams cumulatively across all streaming platforms and have been added to over 5,000 playlists on Spotify including the Spotify “Blessings’’ Curated playlist. I got re-added to that playlist about 3 times back to back to be honest, haha. Oh, and I was also featured on XTTRAWAVE, Rapzilla, and Trackstarz as well.
AG: I want to ask you probably my favorite question to ask an artist, and that is, how did you get started making music, and when did you have that “ah” moment where you knew you wanted to make music professionally?
EA: Well for me, I started making music when I was 8, but my parents didn’t really like rap music at the time because they thought it was more secular than anything, but you know, me being the rebel that I am, I always wanted to go against the odds because, like, why not? Haha, so what they would do to me is, they would just find my written raps, read them and just throw them away. All my work was literally going down the drain, haha. So, some years passed and I’m like 14 now, so you know, I think I’m grown now, but boy I was still getting whoopings man, haha. I used to ask my parents all the time why I was still getting whooped in high school and they would always say the ‘ole black family cliche quote, “You live in my house, if you don’t like it, then you could leave.” But thinking back on that, if I would’ve left man, they would’ve gone to jail, haha, I should’ve done it, haha. Nah man, but back to a more serious note that sparked something in me man, it made me realize how bad of a message my music used to portray. I was literally only talking about money, drugs, and sex and I had never had any of those things at the time. I was still a virgin, but society made it seem okay to downgrade women and talk about the things you don’t have, and that just wasn’t resonating with me. So I wanted to be something different. I wanted to change the narrative and be great at it. I was always raised in a church-like environment and God found me where I was at and told me that I was special and that I had a calling to be a light-bearer. At the time I had no idea what it meant, but looking back at how I used to be a man, I’m so grateful. It made me want to be better and go harder than anyone and anything. Making music for the kids to listen to without having to be scared of a curse word flying out while they’re with their parents is a flex for me man, that’s also another reason why I love to make the music that I make. I really started making music on a MacBook that one of my old highschools gave us for class and stuff like that. Okay, so what, I hacked it and took all of the software off of it and got caught playing games in class on it, so what, who wouldn’t? Haha. So, whenever I lost my computer privileges, I used an iPhone 4 with Garageband and made hits on it. You couldn’t tell at the time that I was making music on an iPhone because I had got just that good on it. I was literally recording in my grandmother’s closet because it was quieter than any other room in my entire house. Soon after making music on my iPhone 4 for about 2 years now, I was approached by my brothers in GotMusicGroup at a show I was performing in and they gave me a shot at making music, and here I am today man, I am forever grateful for them. Shoutout to the gang by the way man.
AG: Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations now and when you were younger? Also, who would be your dream collaboration?
EA: Sheesh, the legend’s man. I would have to say that my biggest musical inspirations right now and for many years to come will always be, Lil Wayne, Drake, T-Pain, Travis Scott, and Kanye West man, those guys are freaking legendary men. I want to make a song with all of them, haha. On the same song if it was possible man, haha, sheesh. Like literally, my rap style is sonically based around all of my favorite artists’ sounds and creative ideas. I picked from each of them and made my very own creative twist to it to add to my own unique flow and style man, it’s beautiful. Shoutout to the man, I pray to meet these guys in person one day and just tell them to thank you for just not giving up and making great music.
AG: I feel like musicians have had an extremely tough time with the whole pandemic, due to not being able to perform their music, so what would you like to be able to get done once travel restrictions are less strict, and people are allowed to be in bigger groups?
EA: I just want to be face to face with my fans and supporters man, that’s all I want to do. I just want to put on a show for them and go freaking ballistic man, I have so much unused energy for them that it’s ridiculous. I just really want to show them the same love that they show me, everyday man, that’s all I really want to do.
AG: Although Covid has harshened the ability to perform and travel, has it been easier to record more music, due to being home more?
EA: Honestly, yes. I’m a carpenter and my job is literally allowing me to stay unemployed so that I can continue to make music and build on my dreams man, it’s beautiful. They believe in me and are literally praying for my success man, God couldn’t be anymore greater for me right now man, I’m so humbled by the opportunities that he has been giving me.
AG: You released your debut album, “UNTOLD.” last year in April, and you recently released an EP titled “Rogue” in collaboration with fellow artist, Jude Barclay. What are some of your plans for 2021 music-wise?
EA: Content. More and more and more and more, content. I feel as though I’m not really showing my fans everything that they should be seeing. So me and my team are currently working together to provide more exclusiveness, videos, content, music, etc. Literally, everything is about to change and I can’t wait to explain how it will very soon.
AG: To end this I want to give you a chance to shout out any of your projects/ songs and any other artists you want to spotlight:
EA: Okay well, shoutout to Godman, I know it sounds a little cliche, but that’s serious to me because I literally would not be here right now, had it not been for Jesus. So shout out to the holy trio man, my mom, and dad, my beautiful girlfriend, the family, my brother’s man, y’all already know who y’all are man. Thank y’all for believing in me man, seriously, had it not have been for my friends and family believing in me, only God knows where I would be right now, so I’m honored and blessed for this opportunity and I just want to thank you once again for having me on this interview, it’s been an honor man, God bless.
Errol Allen has the flair, charisma, and talent to become a driving force in the world of hip hop. Although he is honored to have this interview, I am even more gracious to be able to talk with him and witness his greatness. All of his social media and his music will be linked and I highly suggest you take some time to check him out and dive into his artistry. Until next time, make sure to spread love whenever you can, and stay safe out there everybody.
