Warhol.SS on “3200 VOL 2”
1202 MAGAZINE spoke with the Chicago rapper on his newest album.
Warhol.SS by Eric KLX
“I put a lot of time into this,” says rapper Warhol.SS on his newest album, 3200 VOL 2. “I think I put the most thought into this project from the beat selection, lyrics, and how I put it out. This is probably the most thought I put into something.”
3200 VOL 2 has reminiscent sounds of Warhol.SS, also known as Warhol, and his early SoundCloud trap days, with notes of modern rage alongside his consistent flow and cadence through self-assured lyrics. The 16-song album is a sequel to his 2017 EP 3200, an ode to Larry League’s 2016 project, also titled 3200. Warhol continues his notable feature run with Rich The Kid on “HELLSTAR,” oym on “MASTERMIND,” and Babyface Ray and DaeMoney on “SERVIN N SWERVIN.”
“I haven’t dropped anything with Rich The Kid since Where’s Warhol in 2017,” he says. “The whole vibe for this project was to be a new, improved, and crazier version of those years. I don’t necessarily want to say those years because it was totally different back then, but I want to bring that energy back…that true love for the music. I’m not just doing it to put some shit out. I’m doing it because I really want to change some shit.”
Warhol says he doesn’t prefer to collaborate with artists unless it’s genuine and organic. For example, when he first met Babyface Ray, he says they conversed for over an hour before getting to the recording studio. In the past, he’s collaborated with artists like Trippie Redd, Rico Nasty, Shoreline Mafia, and more. Broadened collaborations with artists from different cities, like Babyface Ray, meant more experimental sounds for Warhol. 3200 VOL 2 comprises focused experiments that look into the past and future of Warhol.SS.
Artist Andy Warhol inspired the name Warhol.SS. He has always admired Andy’s talents in fashion, photography, film, and more. He was a significant factor in Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade fame with the “Speed Racer” music video in 2016. As a precursor to 3200 VOL 2, Warhol released a visual to his single “Troops II.” His goal, like Andy for all of his work, is to create a beautiful, painting-like picture where he is also the focal point in each video.
Constant improvement and evolution are what keep Warhol driven in his crafts. Whether it’s for a music video, song, or project, he recognizes the importance of slowing down to achieve better work.
“I can normally make a song in one sitting, but lately, I’ve been trying to put more thought into everything,” Warhol says. “I’ll come back to it, see what I can make better, what I can emphasize, and what I can make a moment in the song.”
Warhol.SS by Eric KLX
When it comes to videos, Warhol will be writing a song when he decides if there will be a video to it. This is usually determined by how good he thinks the song is.
“Video-wise, I really pick my beats based on I can see a crazy video being shot to it,” he says. “I start with the vision for the video when I’m picking a beat. I feel like I have an acquired taste. Music is so watered down now, and so are people’s visuals. It’s damn near the same shit being put out. There are artists who have to get that shit back on track to make creative shit again that sparks conversation.”
Once this album marinates with listeners, Warhol says he hopes to go on tour early next year and potentially release a deluxe version of 3200 VOL 2. His deep passion for music shows that he is still in progress in his music journey. He anticipates more artistic music videos and more collaborations.
“What sets me apart from artists is that I still care about the art of the music,” Warhol says. “I still love to make music, and money is not everything to me. I feel like once you start focusing on the money, shit starts going south. You forget why you started doing it, and you forget the fans really pay you. I care about leaving a mark on music for the entire culture.”
