ZiPPiR Collective
Interview conducted on July 10, 2020
By Dan Locke
Independent Hip Hop label ZiPPiR Collective presents fresh versatility in their gritty new track “500k”, set to release on Friday June 26th. “500k” is a celebration of their collective (no pun intended) accomplishment with earning a total of 500,000 streams cross-platform. Stronger together, they join forces to deliver a track that keeps you dancing from beginning to end.
Tell me about ZiPPiR Collective. Who are all of the members?
ZiPPiR Collective is an independent record label originating from Springfield IL. ZiPPiR is made up of 6 different artists, Kid Ziggy, Papa Luke, RJC, JunioR Pasare, Danny J and THEDAMNCLAMMAN
How ZiPPiR did gets its name?
The 3 original founding members of the collective are RJC, Papa Luke, and Kid Ziggy. So, when we were trying to come up with the name, we wanted to choose a word that had a letter from each of our names in it, and that’s when Ziggy came up with ZiPPiR. We tried to make the spelling unique to make it easier to search, and well, the rest is history!
Since you keep everything in house from creation, to production, to songwriting and engineering. Do you go out of house to get your music out there?
Absolutely! Something that set us apart early on was our focus on the promotional and business side of our careers. We knew pretty much from the jump that we would have to outsource promotion/press in one way or another, but keeping down our overhead costs by recording in-house helps us have a bigger budget for a promo. We don’t box ourselves in by keeping all of our production in-house. Being actual fans of hip-hop music and other creators, we stay involved with other creatives as well.
How was the DeJam Showcase?
It was a life changing experience for sure! This was the first time we were invited to a major city outside of the U.S to perform as a group, but we killed it! We placed in the top 5 out of hundreds of acts nationally. We also gained a ton of awesome connections and exposure via the showcase, so it was really a win-win.
Tell me about the making of the 500k video?
500k was just one of those videos that you can tell we had a BLAST shooting. We didn’t want to overthink the concept too much, so we just decided to keep the video pretty simple, but Jayy Wills makes everything look like a movie so I feel we struck the perfect balance!
What do you feel is the voice of COVID-19 in the world of hip-hop?
We think Covid-19 represents a unique opportunity for artists to stand together in solidarity for a great cause. It’s a much-needed wakeup call that all artists need to embrace more of an independent role by focusing more on fan engagement, collaborative efforts, and marketing in general.
With the Me-Too Movement and women getting more into music, how do you feel would be the best way for a female rapper to enter the world of hip-hop?
Honestly, it’s hard as a group of males to give a valid female perspective on this. That being said, women have been a staple of hip-hop since its inception, so we are excited to see even MORE women imprint their artistry and empowerment in a predominantly male industry.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think the main thing we are gonna see affected is live performances. With something so serious going on in our country you can never be too safe, but I think we speak for all artists when we say we can’t wait to get back on stage!
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Outside of our day jobs, we have been continuing with weekly recording while practicing safe social distancing. Our main mission has been to stay productive with marketing, social media promotion and continuing to grow as musicians.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Well Ziggy and Maxi pretty much play 2k all day, while Papa continues to down Steel Reserves. Meanwhile, Danny J refuses to pull up to any function without Bud Light Orange in the picture. JunioR gets pretty upset, because by the time he shows up, Danny drinks all of the beer, but he confides in buying a pint of Hennessy. Who knows what RJC is up to with his spiritual habits…?
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. What are you planning to do?
As hard as times are, we still have plans to perform at a few venues that have the ability to host events. Our online content will always stay up to date, along with contests, giveaways and online merchandise!
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
While it may not make sense for artists to entirely switch to this style of performance, it will definitely be useful as a way to stay connected with our fans.
This week Live Nation announced their first ever U.S. drive-in concert series — LIVE FROM THE DRIVE-IN — This will bring fans a live music tailgating experience unlike any other, kicking off July 10-12 in Indianapolis, IN, Nashville, TN, and St. Louis, MO. Brad Paisley will headline performances in all three cities, marking the start of a much anticipated return to in person live events. Darius Rucker and Jon Pardi will also headline the series. Is this something you would be willing to do?
Absolutely! We are never shy to new environments. We look forward to adapting to whatever is convenient to people’s health and safety, while providing an entertaining atmosphere.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
HELL yeah! If we have the equipment / technology to do so, we will do it!
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
We don’t want to come off conceited in any way, but we’re confident our abilities and work ethic will expand far beyond just local events and opportunities.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
As ZiPPiR Collective continues to grow, we want to thank our core group of supporters in our corner. At the end of the day this is definitely a family-oriented team, and we take pride in our local success. We are excited to expand with our fan base along this journey and to bring new content for everyone! Our fans are our family, and we’re stoked to grow and see where this journey takes us.
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