Indie Music Artist Spotlight - PoeDogg

PoeDogg is a hip hop and rap artist from a small town called Nevils, GA. He grew up on Master P and 2Pac and started rapping when he was 17. PoeDogg really started getting serious with his talent at the age of 23 and is currently working on an EP called “DA RE-UP”. In the meantime PoeDogg has dropped a number of singles, including “Re-Up” and “I.Know” which is now on radio rotation. The artist is hard on his grind towards creating his own personal sound and carving out his own lane in the game. PoeDogg’s tracks are great for jamming while taking a slow drive through town or on your way to work, school, etc. It just takes a couple of listens and this dude may quickly become one of your favorite artists!

It also helps that PoeDogg is confident in his skills and messages. This allows him to make great music to ride and listen to, with tracks that bang from beginning to end. His surefire flow and choice productions could so easily be your flame in the morning, right up until the late night. What everybody’s been missing… music you can feel!

1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?

The fact that I can make a living doing what I love drove me to pursue my career full-time.

My influences are Young Dolph, Gucci Mane, T.I., Master P.

2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?

What separates me from other artists is the fact that I mix flavor and reality together. When listening to PoeDogg you will want to dance at the same time and say “youngin speaking some real spill in his rhymes.”

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?

Life has influenced alot of the music I make. The struggle, coming from nothing, close friends crossing me. Putting my trust in people. Lessons I learned from that wised me up on a mature level.

The most difficult thing that I endured on my career path was losing my little brother to cancer. Darkest time of my life.

4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?

When I first started writing I want people to hear my message. Understand the person they’re listening to. Now I just hear a beat I like and go in the booth. However the beat makes me feel that’s the type of song I make.

5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?

First, I’m staying down till my lane open up. Patience is the key. My plan is to keep pushing out work and out-hustle my competition. Work ethic is the key in the music game. It’s like I’m back trapping again.

6.) Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?

I would love to stay independent because I want to control the way my music is released and produced. I’m already working for myself, why sign and become a worker when I can become a boss.

Yes, The traditional music industry model is dead because a lot of artists sound alike and look alike. Principles are fading.

7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?

Social media really made it easy for artists to get on. If an artist is not social media savvy, it might be hard for them to build a name or brand. Social media helps indie artist promote their brand and target new fans.

8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?

Artist who go commercial to me are not sell-outs in my eyes. I don’t know they situation or what they got going on. I’m only concerned with my business and what moves I need to make.

I’m always going to stay true to myself and my music. If I got to change or switch it up for money, I don’t want it because I stand on principles and purpose. What you hear from PoeDogg is what you going get, real and uncut.

9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself five years from now doing like what Gucci did for Atlanta. It’s a lot of talent where I’m from. I want to open the lane up that will at least give them an opportunity. I see myself five years from now a ten million dollar nigga. On some boss Rick Ross shit.