ARN: Where are you guys from?
Loki Loko: My name is Loki Loko and I am from Anaheim California. Both of my parents are from Central America.
Big O: My name is Big O and I’m originally from Birmingham, AL. Grew up in Atlanta, GA with my uncle until he got sick and had to move back to Birmingham until I graduated from High School. After that, I moved back to ATL and from there I moved down to Orlando, FL for college where I met the homie Loki Loko.
ARN: Why and when did you two decide to start making music?
Loki Loko: Before I was making music I was into creative writing and storytelling. I won a couple l poetry and spoken word competitions as a kid. When I learned how to put rhymes to music, it was a rap. I got a lot of positive feedback from it. It made me feel good and I’ve stuck to it ever since.
Big O: I first got into music when I was around 6 or 7 years old. As a kid, I used to create beats on tables and old U.S. post mailboxes for people to freestyle over. I remember one day when I was at my granny’s house, she had Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was playing on her record player & I started scratching it like I was a DJ. I paid the price for it because my granny smacked me upside the head for damaging her record. That didn’t stop me from wanting to get into music and I started making beats on this trash ass program called Ejay back in 2000.
Dr Dre’s – “The Next Episode” was the track that really influenced me to start making my own beats.
ARN: Where and how do you two work best?
Loki Loko: I think I work best when I’m outside. Something about being outside helps me come up with my best material. Otherwise the bathroom is runner up. Shout outs to the shower and the john.
Big O: As crazy as this is gonna sound, I work best when I’m bored & pissed off. I know that may sound crazy, especially since my sound is very mellow and laidback, but my anger drive those beats haha!
ARN: Have you guys heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time? Does this also work with the creative process for you both?
Loki Loko: It really just depends on the type of energy the artist is trying to capture on the record. They can take that feeling and those emotions and use it to connect with the people.
Big O: I’ve heard this so many times for songwriters and I actually believe it. Then again, I think any level of raw emotion will bring the best out of any creative. Just to piggyback off of my previous answers from one of your questions, I work best when I’m angry and unfortunately I had a lot of anger.
ARN: What’s the best advice either of you have ever received?
Loki Loko: The best advice I have received is to focus on what you can control. A lot of people make excuses as to why they can’t accomplish something. Instead, they should think about the resources they do have and focus on what they can control.
Big O: For me, it’s much different compared to my boy Loki. I didn’t really get much advice coming up for real. Growing up, I was an observer and I paid attention to my surroundings and learned from my mama, aunt & uncles mistakes so I wouldn’t make them when I became a man. I remember as a kid it was this OG on my block and his name was just “Kat” and every time he used to see me in the neighbourhood upset about not having something, rather it was a toy, something from the popsicle man or etc, he would tell me to stop whining and be grateful for what I actually have inside of worrying about what I don’t have. That actually stuck with me through adulthood. If I don’t have something right now, then it wasn’t meant to be at that moment and I’ll get it in due time.
ARN: What is still the biggest challenge you two face?
Loki Loko: My biggest challenge is still finding the balance. I have Kids and music is like a child in its own sense. Both are really expensive to take care of. So if anyone out there would like to help alleviate the expenses, hit me up.
Big O: For me, I think my biggest challenge is finding happiness within myself. No one person can truly make you happy, that’s something that has to come from you. I have a bunch of amazing people in my life that I love with all my heart, but I think my true happiness will kick in once I either mend or break a broken relationship with some family members.
ARN: What’s the best compliment you two have ever received about your music?
Loki Loko: I can’t think of one specific compliment at the moment so I’m going to blame the medicine. But every compliment is really special to me though and I mean that.
Big O: I’ve been given so many compliments about my music from fans and people I’ve grew up listening to such as Skyzoo, K-R.O.K. of PM Dawn & members of The Pharcyde/Bizarre Ride that it’s hard to say which compliment is the best. To me, they are all incredible compliments and they motivate me to keep going.
ARN: What would both of you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
Loki Loko: I’d be more productive and less picky.
Big O: Honestly nothing. Everything that happened then lead me to here and I love the position I’m in right now.
ARN: What’s your latest release?
Loki Loko: My latest project is the Ocean Grown EP with my boy Big O. Perfect soundtrack for cruising through the city with a pocket full of green, windows down, perfect weather, and pretty views.
Big O: My latest release was an EP with Dankery Harv of the legendary Detroit duo Frank N Dank called “A New Day.” It was released on July 4th with only one feature from Lauren Nine. As for me and Loki, we are always working on something. In fact, we are working on a new album right now….
ARN: Who do people say you guys sound like with your music?
Loki Loko: People have told me I sound like Snoop. I’ve been told I sound like a few others too but snoops my favorite one.
Big O: I’ve had a few people tell me that my music sounds a bit like J Dilla. I never heard it like that, but I will definitely take the compliment because he’s one of my favorite producers of all time.
ARN: What are you two best advice for handling criticism?
Loki Loko: Just don’t take it personal. Whenever I get negative criticism I just hear it out and take whatever I can from it. If not, whatever. But I always appreciate the fact that they took the time to hear the record and leave me some feedback.
Big O: Yeah, exactly what my boy Loki said.
ARN: What are you two focusing your time on now (e.g., recording a new record, touring the Midwest, writing, making beats, etc.)?
Loki Loko: Releasing more records!! It’s still covid season so I’m waiting for that to blow over cuz I really miss going out and doing shows.
Big O: I’ma be real with you, this covid lockdown shit is the best thing to happen for me because I’ve been in high demand like never before. I have more projects coming out this year. On the 14th of August, I’m releasing the instrumental version of me and Loki’s EP called “Ocean Grown Beats,” I’m gonna release a new single with Albany, NY rapper B Chaps called “Trip (Feat. Ohzhe).” It’s the first single from our upcoming album called “M.o.o.D Swings”. I’m also featured on another beat tape compilation from the record label Chill Select called “Moonite Jazz” with the track “H A B i L i T A T e.” The song will be out on the 16th of August, but the whole album will be out on the 28th. I’m also gearing up for another release by the end of this year with a joint LP with New Jersey rapper “P-Rawb called “The Complexity,” I’m working on completing yet another joint LP with Queens, NY rapper L.O.U. Called “The After Effect” that will be dropping soon. I also have some work coming this October with UK rapper COSM and last but certainly not least, my 3rd LP is set to drop very, very soon…. I won’t give you a title to it just yet though.
ARN: How do you two currently feel about the state of Hiphop in general?
Loki Loko: I think it’s evolved into the sub genres that you hear today like Trap and Lo-fi. I’m all about diversity so I’m cool with it.
Big O: I might sound like an old man when I say this, but I don’t give a damn. Like my guy Loki said, it has definitely evolved and created a bunch of amazing sub genres. I love that about the state of hip hop because it keeps the genre fresh and it’s something for everyone to enjoy. However, I do not like this whole “melting pot” of all of these new artist sounding the same. I miss the segregation of hip hop where everyone had their own sound, identity and approach to the mic. I’m 33 and back when I was growing listening to hip hop, you can tell who was who and what region they were from based off of how they rapped and approached the mic. It was an incredible wow factor when you heard a Jay Z/juvenile collaboration, it was a dope to heard a 2pac/Method Man/Redman track together or even a Kanye West/T-Pain collaboration track. They were able to bring their styles together, approach it differently & make it sound incredible. Nowadays, everybody around the world is trying to sound like our southern rappers and that shit can get boring real quick.
ARN: If you two could only listen to 3 albums for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Loki Loko: Big Pun – Capital punishment
50 Cent – Get rich or die trying
and Nate Dogg’s entire catalogue
If I had to choose a third it would probably be 213 – The Hard Way
Honorable mentions: Nipsey Hussle – The Marathon/Crenshaw
Big O: Oh I like this! Since I’m a producer, I need albums that will take me somewhere sonically. With that being said, my three albums for life would be:
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
J Dilla – Donuts
The Alchemist – Israeli Salad