Over the last few years, Louisville’s Jalin Roze has seen nothing but success. As one of the city’s best-known local artists, the rapper has taken Louisville’s local hip hop scene to new heights while creating a new local music experience.
Just last month, Jalin Roze made a special guest appearance at the Zach Longoria Project’s R&B Showcase at Headliners and also performed as the opener for the Chance the Rapper’s concert at the Louisville Palace, which was sponsored by the University of Louisville. With regular performances and a rapidly growing fan base, it’s hard not to notice the impact the young artist is making on Louisville’s music scene. And as 2015 continues, Jalin Roze has big plans for the near future. According to him, this is only the beginning of a wonderful year.
Louisville.com: Of all of Louisville’s local artists, you were the one selected to open for Chance the Rapper. How did you manage to get onboard with that show?
Jalin Roze: “The students of the Univeristy of Louisville voted on musical artists and Chance the Rapper was chosen to perform this year. He and I are really similar performers, we have the exact same band, musician-wise, so UofL reached out to me.”
Louisville.com: You’re currently working on your new project. What can your fans expect from it?
Jalin Roze: “The sound of my new EP is refreshing. It’s a big step in the right direction. With the previous EP I was working on, I scrapped it half way through because the feeling wasn’t right, it was a collection of unfinished thoughts and I didn’t want that to be the theme.”
Louisville.com: When can your fans expect the new EP?
Jalin Roze: “I’m planning a release this summer. I have big plans for a release show, but it’s still all top secret as of right now.”
Louisville.com: What do you want to accomplish as an artist?
Jalin Roze: “I want to create timelessness. I want to define progression in my own terms, it’s not about the celebrity factor, I want to stay true to myself. I’m passionate about my music and my message, and I want people to feel that when they listen to my new EP.”
Louisville.com: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Jalin Roze: “When I met Andre 3000 at Forecastle last year, we didn’t talk music, we just cracked jokes. He was so humble. He has exposed so much of himself that he doesn’t need to say anything about it. When about to perform, he told me to ‘kill it,’ and that was some of the best advice I’ve ever received. Also, my mom said, ‘Keep making me proud,’ and that’s the best advice she ever gave me.”
For more information on Jalin Roze and his upcoming EP release visit his website here!
