Civil Scope: Emilio Rojas
Posted on July 24th, 2015
by Staff Editor
by Staff Editor
Where are you from and how has it influenced your career?
Emilio Rojas: I’m from Rochester, New York. I live in Washington Heights, New York. I’ve lived there for the past 5-6 years. I talk a lot about things that impact the urban community. I’m half white and half Venezuelan, so I talk a lot about things that are very relevant to that. Growing up in the urban community that are affected by crime and drugs. Rochester was a very poor and violent city…It’s becoming increasingly difficult to live within some sort of comfort in New York and my music revolves around that. I’m kind of like that New York Kendrick Lamar type of artist.
How did you get your stage name?
Emilio Rojas: That’s my real name. It’s actually my father’s name.
When did you start taking rap serious?
Emilio Rojas: I still don’t take rap seriously. It’s fun. It’s a career. It’s what I do, but you can’t take life too serious. You just gotta enjoy life. I can’t sit here and look at something that I’m passionate about that I’m blessed to be able to do for a living like it was a choice. It’s a blessing.
Who are some of the biggest influences to your career?
Emilio Rojas: I think a lot of my inspiration comes from the things that I’m surrounded by. I tell a lot of stories. Real life sh*t.
You just dropped your new EP, L.I.F.E., What’s the meaning behind the acronym?
Emilio Rojas: Whatever you want it to mean. It could be ‘Love Isn’t For Everybody,’Living is F*cking Expensive.’ [Laughs] It can be anything. Life is what you make it. That’s kind of what we were going for.