BTD Interviews Louie XO

Hi Louie XO! Let’s get right into this interview. I am sure our BTD listeners are excited to learn more about you. Can you share a bit about yourself and how your musical journey began?

I’m Louie XO a 28 year old rapper from Columbus Oh, the oldest of 3 boys iv been rapping for about 7 years now and released 37 projects before turning 28.
My musical journey started back in high school freshman year (2012-13) making music with my best friend Donald but I never took it serious till 2018 with my first mixtape titled “Hush”

Louie, you’ve got roots in Columbus’s South and East sides and later in Alabama, how have those places shaped who you are as an artist and the sound you create?

Columbus has definitely shaped who I am as a artist being more on the club scene working with my Popz (dad), so I was always around music and different Djs

The name Louie XO is memorable,  what’s the story behind it, and what vibe were you aiming for when you chose it?

Funny enough the name Louie XO was inspired by 2 things 1.Rodger from American dad had a persona name “Ricky Spanish” that was the original plan to make a play on that name so I replaced Ricky with Louie & 2.”XO” for Love because at one point in my life I went through a mean depression and I never wanted to see somebody go through what I went through crying my eyes out In Columbus so I wanted my music to uplift / motivate fans

You’ve been compared to everyone from Young Thug to Lil Uzi Vert, but your sound has a whole different twist, who do you feel really shaped your style, and how do you make it your own?

Lil Uzi Vert gets all credit here for shaping my sound we’ve met like 3 times and his energy spoke to me so young and turnt like me plus we’re both July babies lol that’s my goat man we both use the “Yea” adlib so well he inspired my laugh adlib “Haha” in my older music early on THATS MY GOAT !

If you had to describe your music to someone who only listens to traditional country, how would you pull them into your world? You might have to get a bit creative this one 😊

I would tell them I have at least one song for everybody you’re guaranteed to get up and dance just like country it’s all ENERGY

Speaking of creative, how do you keep your creative spirit firing while staying true to your unique style?

I let life happen then I have so much to talk about plus my drive to sign a deal and retire my mom early, the thought of leaving my mark on this world before I go on the lines of curing a illness, helping the homeless, diabetes kid camps (being a diabetic myself) this is what I do it for

You’ve dropped over 30 projects in just a few years, what’s your secret to keeping the creativity flowing without burning out?

I just adjust with times, instead of using the same kind of instrumentals I listen to everything to stay fresh having range makes your brain work harder then it just become muscle memory

In the studio, are you more of a “one-take energy” artist, or do you like to build and layer until it’s perfect?

BUILD AND LAYER TILL ITS PERFECT ! I can and have done “one take” songs but when I can make the track sound as full as possible it makes me appreciate the song more

I would like to talk about your track, “Ready or Not.” That track is sizzling; can you tell our BTD listeners what that song is about?

Ready or Not is about the build up in my career / me explaining flexing on a female I wanted, I’m letting her know im comin for the top in music so either she can vibe with me or not but regardless I’m ready for all the success !

If I was in the studio with you all day while you worked on “Ready or Not”, what would I see happening?

you would see me smiling with every bar punched in, me dancing, and perfecting the double vocals, I did the whole song off the top of my head and it got better as it went, the late night vibes and LED lights like a star (Me) within stars

What’s your favorite Louie XO track to perform live, and why does it hit different in front of a crowd?

I can’t really say I have one because by the time I’m performing iv released a new project so I perform songs off it or one project before it catches the crowd off guard and keeps them wonder “who is this guy” or “when did Louie drop this” you don’t know if you’ll be jumping up and down or in your feels lol but if I could pick an all time favorite it probably would be “snotty nose”

We have to know, what’s been your silliest or wildest on-stage moment so far?

I had a performance in Knoxville TN where me and the crowd were jumping up and down so much the mic broke in my hand but I kept goin till I got a new one, it’s also a snippet of said performance on YouTube

I read something that you’ve turned down major label deals to build your own path through TBA and TGA, is that correct? What’s been the best part and the toughest challenge about doing it all independently? Can you tell us about those labels?

Yes around I think 2021-22 I had 4 majors and 2 smaller labels reach out but after a little studying on each one I felt like it wasn’t a good fit because I had 7 artist signed under me (5 male, 2 female) so it wasn’t a good bigger than just me I didn’t wanna mess the start of their careers. The best part of it is meeting new artist who felt like their music wasn’t going anywhere and help them see the insides and outs of the game / grow with me because I was still learning at the time, the worst part of it all I’d say was putting my own money into it all and not understand it’s a “investment” paying an agent also to manage spending etc. TBA is “Thot Boy Association” for the boys consisting of Nashville Artist Luhswaggstarr & Aruba artist XTC7400 all other artist have since been released from contract, TGA is “Thot Girl Association” for the girls currently with 0 artist after both were released. Now we as a label are holding off on new talent till I sign and can invest bigger into all Artist

Outside the music, what is something you’re passionate about that fans might not expect?

Graphic Designing ! iv done all 37 of my cover arts and even covers for other people and have gotten better as time goes on, iv even done a little video editing for promos, sports highlights, etc.

Where can our BTD listeners find your music, and do you have any special shout-outs you’d like to give right now?

They can find my music @ “Louie XO” on all platforms it’ll always be the bigger page cause its recently been a lot of Louie XO copycats since i blew up. I’d like to give a big shout out to Luhswaggstarr & XTC for believing in me and never losing that drive I know it’s been hard but we’re one step closer

BTD