Meet Drod

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drod.

Hi Drod, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Drod (pronounced dee-rod) and I was born in New Jersey and moved to Raleigh in 2007 at the age of 7. Music was something I always have enjoyed whether it was around the house or going to church, but I had found my love for hip-hop music in seventh grade. My obsession with old-school rappers such as Eminem, 50 Cent, and Dr. Dre became something that I knew I had to try to make on my own. It was in 2014 that I began learning how to songwriting and write rhymes.

Later in 2017, I began my music career from the very bottom of the totem pole. Starting a minimum wage job to save up enough money for a cheap microphone and laptop was what got some of my first poorly mixed remixes out on my SoundCloud. From there, I began learning how to record and mix/master my own music and began writing some original music as well. Many other skills had to come out in order to begin my brand as an artist. Learning photography, social media marketing, content creation, and networking are a few skills that are needed in order to become an independent artist.

The slow growth as an independent artist can be discouraging sometimes, but having small pivotal steps of growth is what keeps me going. Now as of March 2022, I have amassed over 3-4 million streams across all platforms, over 400k different listeners consume my music, and have had shows from states such as Ohio, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The path to true independence and freedom is my next step.

My goal of making music a full-time living is my goal for 2022, and with the right amount of hard work, dedication, and blessings from God I know that I can achieve this.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As I said before, it can be very discouraging as an artist when you don’t see any growth in your music. I just remember how long it took me to get to where I am at and to keep pushing forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Recording Artist who will fall into the Lofi Hip-Hop/Indie/Bedroom Pop genre.

Plenty of my music falls outside of this genre, which can be why a lot of my music is genre-less. I am most proud of my independence as an artist and slowly growing a team of trusted individuals with who I can pass some of my workloads.

It can be hard making connections in the music industry, but I am reminded that I don’t need certain connections if I can promote myself and still generate income from it.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My fiancé is someone who has helped me out the most throughout the years with graphic designing my logos/cover arts as well as being someone I can trust to be an extra set of eyes and help at my shows.

When we get married in September 2022, we are planning on her being my full-time video editor for all of my content creation needs which we are both excited for!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://fanlink.to/drod
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okaydrod/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okaydrod
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9NTMcdQiREd76GAlM2z7w
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/okaydrod
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05V8HRYvyOH8BTL4srorTi?si=XRxdh5crTJaulbsDkgpMMg&nd=1