By Aarika Lauryn

 

Tell us who you are?

I'm Polo Frost born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I'm a recording artist, father to my daughter and a working man during the day. A “Dream Chaser” by any means necessary

 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

 

I saw myself being on some type of entertainment level. Sports or something. I didn't know I’d be a rapper for sure but I knew one day that I would be bigger than Deonte.

 

When you decided to start, what were your first steps?

 

In 2013 I started making music. I ended up catching a big case and I knew I would never get a “real” decent job ever again. I knew I was always good at writing back in school so I used that.

My God Brother gave me a cheap USB Mic and I used that on this old laptop and cheap recording program and recorded a track in my closet. The quality was terrible! But the reception was good. I was encouraged to go to the real studio and I recorded a song and made a video. I got like 5k views in a week and I was like “Oh I’m on top of the world!” From then on I took music seriously and made it my life.  

 

What are the biggest challenges you’ve come across? How did you overcome them?

 

No one wanted me to perform on their showcases. I don't know if no one took me seriously as a rapper or what. But I was like “Dang! What I do to yall?” I was always well known around my city but people didn't want to put me on their shows. 

Why do you think that is?

Looking back I think it may have been intimidation. Now when I talk to a lot of people I hear “I always knew you had it” but that's the thing with rappers. It's a lot of fake jealousy. I think that has a lot to do with it.

 

How has being from Ypsilanti impacted or inspired your music career?

 

I really got it out the mud and played chess out here.

And being from Ypsi it's been a lot harder for me as a recording artist. I used to have to go to Detroit all by myself to get in front of the radio station DJs and strip club DJs so they would know my name and who I was. So it was definitely a lot harder - I didn't have 10-15 dudes riding with me every show, no clique and no big supporters. It was always just me.

But to shout my city out, when the radio stations came to Ypsilanti, they knew I was the guy because of the love and support I was getting in Ypsi.  And with no offense to anyone else, they were asking about me. When DJBJ came out, he kept  running my song back like “who is this guy?”

 

What is it like to be a viral music artist now and have so many people aware of your artistry and rocking with you?

 

It feels real good! You see your hard work paying off, see celebrities dancing to your song and singing along. And it's like...I rap these songs! But I am a very humble person and I still feel like I have a long way to go and I haven't done anything yet. 

 

Do you ever feel burnt out? What do you do to stay inspired?

 

Man! Do I?! Let me tell you, I work a regular job still. I go to work at 6am every day and work 8-10 hours a day. And when I get off I keep working and go to the studio or do a podcast or this and that. And I am still a full-time dad too. My daughter lives with me full-time so shout out to my Mom. Without her I wouldn't be doing any of this right now [and her mother who decided to go to the Air Force and I fully supported that ].

So yea...I definitely get burnt out. But nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream. You gotta keep pushing through whatever you're feeling or going through.

 

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

 

I make music that sounds like me. I was just saying recently how a lot of music sounds like someone else. The things I rap about may be similar to other artists,  but I sound like me. My music is fun, party music and stuff you hear in the club. More mainstream sound that people wanna hear when they go out and stuff.

 

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

 

Drizzy Drake because you can't go wrong! The talent is undeniable. Besides knowing the type of clout he comes with, you know the song is gonna be great. He put a lot of people in great positions just being on their song.

 

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

 

They say the streets don't love nobody, this industry don't love nobody. It's just dirty. The people with the money will do dirty things to keep all the money. Even an attorney I had at the time I feel was in cahoots with the label. I just feel like a lot could change to make it more fair for the artist.

 

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

 

It's hard to picture life without music. I would just be working and handling business but I have to be in music. Even if I found a young artist and manage them or find a way to produce and write. But this industry is like a woman you love that ain't no good for you…

 

Where have you performed? Where/what was your favorite performance to date? 

If anyone knows my history you probably think I’m going to say this one show, but I’m not! My favorite show was at EMU opening up for Juice Wrld. The people he brings out, well brought out - Rest in Peace. His audience was just so receptive of me. They showed me so much love. I was like “damn y'all know my songs?!”  It was a sold out show of 5K people and they were lit. They were not just sitting there looking at me.

 

What is your craziest story being in the industry?

 

When I first put out Best Ever it went kind of viral. But what I thought was viral then...is nothing compared to what’s going on right now and it’s 4.5 years old. But shortly after I first put it out, I went to NY to meet up with Mike Posner. It was freezing cold and he was doing this singing in the park thing. So it's freezing and this girl comes up to me and pulls her boob out for me to sign it. 

I ended up posting the picture of me signing it on Facebook and didn't sensor it so Facebook blocked me. But I was like...I'm signing boobs now.

 

How would you like to see your community improve or advice

 

We have a lot of talent here. There are a lot of people in the industry doing big things from here that you would never know. I would love to see more Unity. There is no real beef here but we have the hate and egos here. Someone will put out a video and get 5K views and think people need to pay them $500 for verse now. That ego is the problem.

We need to move with more unity. Look at Flint, they’re on right now. What did they do? They came together and started moving as a unit. Looking at their interviews a few of them were already boys or whatever, but they came together and we don't have that here. Doughboyz Cashout and Team Eastside doing songs together now.  They had real life street beef and they came together. There's not even any real beef here in Ypsi so what are we doing! At the end of the day, I'm going to do what I gotta do and I have no problem working with people when it makes sense but we just need more unity here.

 

Do you have any upcoming projects/events?

 

I just put out a new song with Sada Baby and I'm putting out an album soon! My publicist is putting some exciting things together for me and I'm talking to a few labels so I got some things in the works...

 

 

How can people find and connect with you?

@polofrost17 on ticktok

@polofrost on Instagram