DC indie rapper Rock Abruham recently returned after an almost three-year gap from his first album Thank You Very Much, with his sophomore release, From The Mud. Rock spoke with us about his need to process his childhood, a disappointing 2019, and how he has to hype himself up to create music as foundational to making some of the best hip-hop coming out of the DMV (the geographical region of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, centered on Washington, D.C.).
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What were some of your influences while you recorded From The Mud?
The record was influenced by a lackluster 2019 and memories from my childhood. It was also all about finding the rationale as to why I continue to do this. That’s why the record came out sounding so introspective and moody. But I’m happy with the end result.
What are some of your all-time influences?
The thrill of creating. It’s the equivalent of going to therapy, and it provides balance in a world of chaos, especially the world we live in today.
What’s the most overrated?
Royalty-free sampled beats unless you know the musicians. When me and my peers went diggin’ for records to make beats, we looked like Hostel clients with our mask and gloves, and we came up with note progressions ourselves. I guess I think it’s cheating in a way, but that’s just me.
What’s the most underrated?
Eritrean and Ethiopian food. The world needs to stop sleeping. These cultures bring some of the most delicious foods one can consume, especially all the breakfast dishes. Also, shout out to all my Habesha women.
What are you most excited about right now?
I’m most excited about my new album. There’s a big contrast between this and the last one. Many people were already putting me in a lane, so showing the versatility on From The Mud keeps me inspired.
What’s next for you?
A lot of music. I’m not taking long breaks anymore. I took a three-year hiatus and lost a lot of momentum. For me, it’s lots of music, staying busy, and just having fun with it.
The DMV is stuffed with talent, but it always feels like an overlooked area when talking about the best in the game. What makes the DMV unique from other places?
It’s a simple answer: the lack of unity. The DMV has some of the most talented artists and musicians around, but we fail to come together and take this industry by storm. Everyone wants to be first; everyone wants to be the person that is highlighted, and unless that changes, the lack of respect for DC, MD, and VA hip-hop will continue. Hopefully, one day that will change.
Will you ever do a full-on go-go album?
You can probably catch me at a go-go, but there’ll never be an album like that from me.
