For the past six years, EarthGang has been performing big shows like Billie Eilish, Mac Miller en J. Cole, which they signed in 2017 with his Dreamville label. They embarked on their own Welcome to Mirrorland Tour from 2019 to 2020 to support their debut album of the greatest label. Spielland. Of course, the world is EarthGang’s stage – and they’ve found a way to return to it.
“Building EarthGang into a global space has always been part of our master plan,” he said. Barry Johnson, president and co-founder of EarthGang’s management company Since the 80s, in a statement to Billboard. ‘The earth is our turf and the call to be the only hip-hop performance in New Zealand has proved it. We play Worldwide Monopoly and I love it. ‘
Billboard jumped on the phone with EarthGang shortly after returning home to Atlanta to discuss how quarantine in the US inspired their upcoming second album, which they said would be released this year, and how performances in New Zealand reminded them to the magic of live music. .
How did you feel when you climbed on stage again in front of thousands of people?
Olu: It was in ecstasy. Like it was literally months ago in front of thousands of people. Then we actually got the chance to do it again, to be in front of the people and really agree with them. And the energy is insane. It was amazing, it was magical. It was a reminder of how magical it can be.
You were the only American actor to perform at Bay Dreams. How were you sure you would pursue it safely when the opportunity arose?
WowGr8: The last time we were in New Zealand in 2019, we did an end-of-the-year show. And they called [performing at Bay Dreams] dan. We were like, “Yeah!” immediately. And when COVID happens, they go, “Well, that might never happen.” But then they tell us everything we have to do, actually around October, they tell us all we have to do is quarantine and we will go do the show again.
What was it like to be quarantined at Christmas in New Zealand?
WowGr8: Yeah, that was an interesting quarantine. … They had us like everyone else in separate hotel rooms. And it was like military outside. We did the COVID test about three, four times [a week]. Like every two days they would do a test again. It was a very serious process. After a while, it got a little crazy to just stay in one building. You can not even go outside and peek a little bit of land.
What COVID-19 measures did the concert-goers have to obey to attend the festival?
Olu: Zero! There are no COVID measures. The government took all the measures when they quarantined us inside, and they took all the measures earlier in 2020 when they actually closed the country. When we got outside, the only people with masks were Uber drivers and people who worked at hotels. And that was just in some of the cities. Everyone else did not have a mask unless they just wanted to, but no, you do not have to wear a mask. You do not have to give up socially. Of course, there is always a focus on hygiene, so there were hand cleaning stations and things like that available. But other than that, nothing.
Dr. Fauci announced during a press conference that concerts can return “some time in the fall”. How hopeful do you feel about performing in the US again?
Olu: I always feel hopeful, I will always feel hopeful. I think one of the things that keeps people in this country going and believing is the music and just the healing properties of music that it brings to the world.
You joined Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Instagram Live to talk about the vote and on Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight’s Rock the Runoff Virtual Concert. What parallels do you draw between your experiences as artists and your efforts to mobilize voters in Atlanta?
Olu: Obviously, if you put positive energy into something, and empower your people with that positive energy, there is no limit to what you can achieve. There were people who could not believe that we were acting in front of thousands in New Zealand in a COVID-free environment, just as there were people who believed that we could not make the state of Georgia blue.
Congratulations on your song “Bots” with TianaMajor9 won a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song! How did you react to the news?
Olu: My sh lost. Run around an AirBnb screaming, FaceTiming people, answering texts. It was a very quiet morning look Moana and then everything else goes crazy.
WowGr8: That sh– was super crazy, super crazy.
Thinking about music you released in 2019 feels like centuries ago. What quarantine-induced inspirations have helped develop your sound on your newer music, such as the new Spillage Village album released this fall, or your most recent collaboration with Wale, “Options”?
Olu: Before me personally, I made music before it all based on experiences from the past. But now it’s the manifestation, the things I create, the things I make, I sit there to make things grow. It’s not so much a recording of time, but a production of time … You let these things happen rather than just letting life happen to you and writing about it.
I do not want to sit at the manger and make sad music. [Laughs] Like I would do it one or two days, but life is to enjoy and to be happy. It can be very difficult at times, but I feel like these are the times where we need to balance it with joy and celebration because it is a blessing to live. You can not allow the things that are going on around us to make people feel that we should not be here, or that it is a curse or something, but to live is a blessing.
Once the pandemic is over, where are you heading first and why?
Olu: The first place I’m going to go is Africa. I have been to three countries in Africa. I want to visit much, much more in Africa. I would like to go to West Africa.
WowGr8: I would like to see Asia. We were supposed to go to Asia before the pandemic and everything was canceled. So I want to get around to Asia – the shows, the travels, whatever it takes to see more parts of the world.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.