Rodie Senpai, “U Know”
Rodie Senpai is a musician from Hunting Park, Philadelphia, where his family has held roots in the music culture since the early 1960s. He recently released the single “U Know”, an upbeat and bright track showcasing the story of a romantic relationship, told through stylistically autotuned bars. Senpai uses a diverse range of vocal inflections, adlibs, and laughs to create a unique atmosphere within the song. According to Rodie, the couple described in the lyrics have been “dealing with each other for a while and have gone through some things but ultimately the two have had a beautiful relationship. Which to (him) is how the song is portrayed sonically.” Rodie's verses are complemented by a professional mix, where strong engineering and mastering create a clean sound.
While Philly’s large rap and music communities currently place a heavy focus on drill, Rodie and other local artists like Chioke and Eli616 are bringing a new era of sounds to the “City of Brotherly Love”. He sees a diverse and unique future set ahead, and adds that “There are so many innovative sounds and talent coming out of the city right now it’s wild.”
Growing up in a “church-going and music-making family”, the young creative has had a passion for music and artistry all his life. Rodie’s great-grandmother is Lorraine Ellison, one of Philly's legendary R&B and Soul artists of the 1960s. She planted the generational seeds for his musical successes in the city, and is best known for her hit 1966 record “Stay with Me (Stay With Me Baby)”, which a users on YouTube describe as “quite possibly the finest vocal performance ever recorded” and “one of the most underrated songs of the sixties, what a voice she had, no-one today could match her.” Many online explain how Lorraine’s music, especially her beautiful vocals, sung from the soul over orchestral instrumentals, bring them to tears.
“Stay with Me” was recorded last minute in a recording studio, following a booking cancelation from Frank Sinatra, before entering the Billboard charts on October 15th, 1966, climbing up to #11 for R&B and #64 on the Hot 100. In an interview with RSO Underground, Rodie Senpai revealed that today, Lorraine Ellison's tracks are still generating consistent streams and new sales. “My great Grandmother was signed to Sony and her music still collects royalties til this day”.
In addition to her discography of published recordings, Ellison was known for her local community influence and impact on Philadelphia’s music culture, singing in her church and releasing 2 projects under the local “Philadelphia International” record label as it began to gain traction in the early stages.
Outside of Rodie Senpai’s local Philly influences and his musical family ties, he also finds inspiration in “people who are unapologetic in their craft, books and stories, and FatManKey,” an Atlanta artist Rodie deems as a “*legendary rapper*”.
Rodie recalls a recent trip to Atlanta that influenced his attitude toward collaboration and openness in his creative relationships. Being from the Northeastern US, he fell into the “standoffish” culture, describing it as “carry(ing) a certain thing about us”. After exploring the scene of Atlanta and discovering this new attitude of friendliness and community amongst the local artists, Rodie considered, “why act like that instead of being outgoing and promoting what I do?”
When asked about his purpose behind creating music, Rodie Senpai replied, “I really just wanna make beautiful sounds and let people hear them”, adding the personal benefits he receives from expressing himself artistically, “It’s also just therapy sometimes.”
Rodie is admittedly more focused on his craft than the industry and business side of being a musician, stating his dislike for those aspects of his creative journey while understanding it’s necessity. To Rodie Senpai, the “art” of music means more than anything, even more than the riches that can come with record successes. “I got into the music industry because I have a passion for it, not because I think it’s lucrative or I just wanna be rich… I don’t even really care for the industry part at all but it’s what comes with it.”
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, Rodie reveals some of his favorite activities and passions, like making art, playing basketball, “kissing girls”, food, and comedy. He provides some insight into his thought processes behind the creation of “U Know”, and shares a message to the world of gratitude, saying “Be grateful for what you have and what you have not!”
RSO Underground Interview with Rodie Senpai
Who are you?
Hi My name is Rodie🤓, I Like Art, Playing Basketball, Kissing Girls and Eating and Laughing A LOT. I grew up in Norf Philly down Hunting Park in a primarily church going and music making family.
Where are you from? (How is the music scene there?)
The music scene in Philly is very focused in on the drill rappers right now. But people like myself and some others in the city like Chioke and Eli616 tryna bring a different aura to the city. There are so many innovative sounds and talent coming out of the city right now it’s wild.
Why did you get into the music/creative industry??
I got into the music industry because I have a passion for it, not because I think it’s lucrative or I just wanna be rich, I really just wanna make beautiful sounds and let people hear them and it’s also just therapy sometimes. I don’t even really care for the industry part at all but it’s what comes with it.
Who and what inspires you?
I come from a church going/ music making family so I was always pushed to sing or pick up an instrument or something. My biggest inspirations come from people who are unapologetic in their craft, Books and Stories, and FatManKey *legendary rapper*
Do you have any stories of your artistic journey to share?
Ummm Shitt my first time going to Atlanta was very eye opening experience to me as far as being a musician go. I realized that being from philly we carry a certain thing about us where we are sort of standoffish in places where being hospitable can open a lot of doors. And I just thought to myself why act like that instead of being outgoing and promoting what I do?
What song/project are you currently promoting and what is the story behind it?
The song I am currently promoting is Called “U Know” and lol it’s about a relationship between a couple who have been dealing with each other for a while and have gone through some things but ultimately the two have had a beautiful relationship. Which to me is how the song is portrayed sonically.
“You Know… How I might get oh yea”
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
One thing people would be surprised to know about me is that my great Grandmother was signed to Sony and her music still collects royalties til this day. Her name was Lorraine Ellison
Where can we find your music and art?
You can find my work all all Streaming Platforms and YouTube. For the new fans my earlier music is on SoundCloud as well.
What is your message to the world?
My message to the world is gratitude is one of the highest waves you can live on. Be grateful for what you have and what you have not!
Check out Rodie Senpai Everywhere!