Vinny Virgo

Let’s start off with the origins of Vinny Virgo. You were born and raised in the city of Tampa, which now boasts a rising hip-hop scene. What can you tell us about the local scene you have come up in?

I would say with Tampa it is a lot harder in terms of being collaborative and networking. In other areas like Cali or Atlanta it seems like people work together, but this area isn’t really known for uniting to make the city shine. Lately that is starting to change as some guys out here are doing big things. I am feeling that vibe.

How important was your upbringing there to your decision to go into music

My music history is based mostly in rock, honestly, specifically indie and alternative like Radiohead and Postal Service, and I try to bring those origins back to my music. Get outside of the hip-hop bubble and genre boundaries.

What do you look for in those artists that you try to emulate yourself?

I try to relate to how different their sounds can be, but also I attempt to bring tracks that could appeal to two fans of different types of music, that can sit in the same room, and find a common ground with my music. It may not be every element from a particular genre, but it could just be the ambiance, the beat, the bass, or any tangible aspect of the song.

You’re unique in that you started off in the poetic realm and other writing outlets before diving into hip-hop. How does that influence your style and approach to defining your sound and song structures?

I have recently noticed how it has helped me a lot. When I was writing poetry before it forced me to break down the prose a lot more, almost like doing math in a way. Now when I write a 16 I might try to make it all different but still comes off as cohesive. Certain lines might be more complicated and their aimed at a certain listener, then the next two could be more easily digested but still have the same impact on another person.

Tell me about your group The White Kids? What’s the back story there and are you still a group?

Naw, we aren’t a group now, but we are still cool. In high school Sammy Mull and some other people were already rapping, and would be the one at parties in a circle beat boxing. I had never rapped in my life, and had only written poetry, but I would see them and thought ‘I could do that.’ So I started freestyling with my boys and they said it sounded good, so I did it more until I wrote a verse for a party that I knew everyone was going to be at. That was the first time I ever spit in front of anyone other than my boys, and I could see that feeling on people’s faces that I had felt from watching others do it. After that I was pretty much hooked, so we started the group.

Do you remember when that first time you performed took place?

[laughs] Umm, yeah actually, I think it was mid-October in 2008. It was my boy Mike D’s birthday at my friend Carly’s house.

You were working with Niko Is from Orlando on your latest webisode. What can we expect from that collaboration?

Yeah, for sure. We linked up recently so you can definitely look forward to some things dropping really soon.

Anyone else you’re working with that we should know about?

Yeah, I got some stuff with Goodie Drift from St. Pete that we are working on. Chester Watson and I got some stuff coming out pretty soon. Other than that, right now I am looking into collabing more with some rock artists that can bring their sound into hip-hop.

Do you have any rock artists in mind?

Pretty much some local kids around here. On my next project Owl I am going to bring in some different fields of music than I have touched on before, and this collab will be incorporating that 1970s psychedelic rock type sound.

When did you found Smoke and Smile, and what are your goals with that endeavor?

Sammy Mull and I were driving back from a meeting in Brooksville, and the guy we were meeting with was stressing that we needed some sort of brand to associate with our sound when people hear it. As I was getting off the interstate that name came to me and I sent our messages to everyone and they replied pretty confused. Now I know if I did the same thing they would know exactly what I am talking about. What started as a saying has now been incorporated into who I am as an artist. It’s my motto. In the future it will expand even beyond that and will include our independent label and distribution arm.

Speaking of smoke, we have to ask, what’s your favorite strain?

Right now, Casey Jones. It’s a Cali strain and everything about it is pretty awesome.

How’d you link with Josh G of Aqua Empire on production, and what is it about his beats that make you seem to gravitate towards them?

I had known Josh and Santos before just from coming up together, but when I first went solo I didn’t know yet who I wanted to go to for beats that would define my sound. Around that time Josh started sending me beats like “Riding High” and it immediately clicked. I was hooke - The Daily Chiefers

After his premier solo tape Vinny Virgo has thrust himself upon the local music stage far past some others. Me, Myself & High is quality music. Go download it! http://www.datpiff.com/Vinny-Virgo-Me-Myself-High-The-Intro-mixtape.389650.html - Please Excuse Our Dope Ass Music

Vinny Virgo receives some honest advice from Talib Kweli in this week's "Get in the Game." - MTV

A special showcase featuring on-the-rise indie hip hop talent from the Tampa Bay area. Vinny Virgo (formerly of The White Kids) has a clever sense of humor and songs reflecting on topics ranging from being weird to getting high and elevating his consciousness. Recent single “New World Order” samples vocals and clap-tracks off Tokyo Police Club’s “Citizens of Tomorrow,” with Vinny delivering lines like “Chemtrails ‘bout to kill a nigga’s stem cells/but when it’s all said and done, I hope it ends well” over a chopped, twisted, warped and skewed sonic stew that is sure to captivate the mind. - Creative Loafing

While Vinny was visiting from Cali to finish his upcoming album, “Me, Myself & High: Lotus,” I caught up with him to talk about his new project, life in California, and more!

Check out the link in the URL for the full in depth interview with Vinny Virgo. - Mieux Magazine