Loovy
Chicago Selects is a new series of playlists curated by Chicago’s indie artists. No restrictions, no requirements — artists make a mix then tell me about it. This is a free article. Those who wish to support can use Venmo @JackRiedy or Paypal paypal.me/RiedyJA.
With Miles Bridges rapping on YN Jay tracks and Quavo a staple at the All-Star Celebrity Game, rappers and basketball players continue to crossover into each other’s lanes as they have for decades. Loovy made the switch before his music career even began. The artist born GregoryElijah Bennett grew up in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood. Loovy played basketball for four years at Olivet Nazarene University while studying film, but he’s been focused on building up his discography since graduation.
Loovy’s new EP BALD FADE ENERGY captures the confidence of a fresh haircut in six tracks. The project opens with high energy songs like the New York drill-inspired “The Loo” before giving way to more R&B-influenced tracks in the back half. I talked to Loovy from his home to learn more about live instrumentation, clean rap songs, and the relaxing power of modern R&B.
The production on the EP is really great, particularly the piano at the end of the last track. How did the instrumentation come together?
I’ve been practicing since COVID started, but I am not on that level by any means. I know a ton of musicians, so I got one of my old high school friends [Byron Marsaw] to play that. He had some chords, and it didn’t take long at all. Originally, the song was supposed to cut off by two or three minutes, but I just let him play. When you really love music, it’s those small things that are timeless, and I wanted something like that on this.
I liked how you featured Nate Fouch on “BFE interlude,” and he keeps singing at the end, and you’re laughing at him for going for it - were you in the studio together when that was happening?
I’m an old-school person at heart, interludes, things like that are huge to me. That feel, that rawness. Especially as a rapper, you have moments in the studio where it just works. We only recorded that three times. The third time we just went for it, and that was it. After the second time, I told him “Don’t shy away, let loose.” He did, and it made me laugh. That was a raw moment.
How did the beats come together? Were these producers you know personally?
One of my goals is to have people escape, and all of these beats did that for me. From the beginning they bring you up, then they mellow you out. I got a few from a producer I met on Youtube, a producer I met, but the others just through relationships.
Did you have that arc in mind when you put this together? Energy up front, then mellow out?
I always keep that in mind because I love storytelling. I went to school for film, so I love something to have a beginning, a climax, and then go. I don’t want it to feel like an album, I want it to feel like “I just experienced this.”
The beginning of “She Wanna Leave Her Man” has that little spoken part. To me, it sounded a lot like Andre 3000. Are you a big Love Below fan? When you started talking storytelling, I thought there might be some of that in the mix.
Yeah, man. That poetic - I started in middle school with poetry. So I try to add that in there to have that flow and storytelling in there.
Speaking of college, did you play basketball in school too? How far did that go?
Through college, man. Could have went further, but I had so many injuries, man. You know that story. Had a really good senior season but it was just too late. But yeah, basketball was life, bro.
Were you active in music at that time too?
In middle school, high school, I was in a rap group, but I decided to focus on basketball. I was wearing so many hats at the time. I had a job, school, basketball, and I was the president of the ethnic relations club. When season was over with, we’d always put on a talent show. We were having a rough time finding acts this particular year, so I said “I’m gonna do it. I’ll be one of the acts.” The whole room laughed at me! I got outside judges that don’t know me, nothing about the situation, nothing. I ended up doing it and winning first place, the song was crazy on campus, and from that day I knew, if basketball doesn’t work out, this is what I wanna do. And ever since then, man.
I read that in my research and I wanted to double check because usually people wanna do one. Like “I wish I was a rapper” or “I wish I was a basketball player.” And you’re doing both, which is great, good for you!
Yeah, I’m glad now I could put basketball behind me. But growing up, basketball was my escape, so it was hard letting that go. It was for a purpose, obviously.
I was surprised that your playlist is a little more R&B heavy. So how did you put this playlist together?
I’m always out, talking to people all day, so when I get home from writing music or doing what I need to do, I need something that’s gonna chill me out. My brain is going all day, trying to make it happen as any artist does, so R&B, vibe-y things mellow me out.
I see multiple Ari Lennox songs in the mix. Were you a Dreamville fan before you came across her work?
J. Cole is definitely an influence on me. I think he was a feature on her song, and I heard her project. Man, her honesty, her being vulnerable, the skits in between. Really good project man, I think it’s underrated for sure.
Were you ever involved in music extracurriculars? Choir, band, classes, anything like that?
I don’t know about the average person, but I wish I had taken engineering, music production. I write so much, it’s crazy to think about the music I could make if I had more knowledge about music production. But no, I didn’t. Everything I’ve learned, I learned on my own. I’m learning now for sure.
Have you done any sessions in the studio with a producer, side-by-side?
It’s really about finding the right producer. You’re paying for all that studio time, so that connection needs to be there. I’ve done that more with my brother. He knows what I’m trying to hear, things like that. I think in the future for sure I’ll find more talented producers who I have that chemistry with.
I read that your music is non-explicit, no curse words or anything like that. How did you decide to do that?
Every DJ is like “I need the clean version,” I’m like that’s it. A lot of people don’t know this, but I started off as a Christian rapper. I have a real faith-based upbringing for sure. I chose to keep that same energy once I found my brand and what I wanted to do, just because I want everything to be authentic. I’m not a person that goes clubbing a lot, curses a lot, I just don’t. So why have it heavy in my music? I’m not opposed to it, it’s just got to be authentic to me.
Do you think that’s made you a better writer by avoiding certain things?
The majority of society wants to hear raunch, it’s just what it is. It challenged me to stand my ground and still be crazy good at what I do. It definitely challenged me lyrically. Even with the music I released, I still think I’m not at the level I want to be lyrically. After this project, I have another one lined up where I’m diving into relationships and all types of metaphors. I’m excited.
Can you tell me more about the title and what it means to you?
Lots of Black people are gonna look at it like, he’s just doing something fly, he’s just talking about a haircut. It means so much more to me, man. A bald fade is clean cut to me. I don’t dress like the average rapper, I wear polos and slacks and Chuck Taylors. Most of the rappers I know have dreads, so it’s that energy of “I’m gonna be who I am, and I’m gonna stick to the route I’ve decided to take.” It’s that confidence. Any time you get a haircut, it’s that feeling you get, man. Sometimes I’ll drive for no reason. [laughs]
“The Loo” was cool, hearing a Chicago rapper over a New York style drill beat. Are you up on that wave of artists? How did you decide to record on that?
I’m big on energy. I think a lot of people in Chicago hate when other people say drill, because they feel like, “Chicago, we made that.” The people in New York right now, their energy is just crazy. They’re dancing, they’re having a good time. When I came across the beat, I felt that. It wasn’t experimenting, it was more like showing my versatility.
Were you able to do any performances before the pandemic? I know that Roseland dropped at the beginning of the year.
The Roseland project was experimenting. I was still finding my sound. When that dropped, I did have a lot of performances. I was in Detroit a lot, in the suburbs in Illinois, Tennessee. I was definitely getting out there a lot, but with me finding my sound, I had stopped doing performances.
Now that you’re back in Chicago, are there any artists or producers you want to collab with?
It’s a few. Supa Bwe, I love his range, his melodies, where he can take his voice. I would love to work with him. I like Femdot a lot, his wordplay, and everything he stands for.
What is your day-to-day like now?
I turned down a corporate job, man. I’m doing corporate videography contract jobs for bills, but otherwise it’s all music. That’s why my music has to be authentic to me. If I was working that corporate job, I’d probably be rapping differently because I’d have all the money and things that I want. I’m good, but everything is modest right now. I did that because I have a goal I’m trying to pursue, and I’m good with living in my means right now and all my money going towards studio time, music videos, stuff like that.
Your music is very confident, but it’s not flashy in the way you’re talking about Pateks or foreign cars.
Even when I feel myself getting there, I bring it back. I want it to be authentic, and I want people to relate to me. Going through homelessness and all that, once everything does happen, I’m still not gonna be super flashy like that.
I’ll keep that in mind if I see you on the street with some $7000 sneakers on, I’ll say something.
Yeah man, say something. [laughs] “You remember that interview?”
Catch A Vibe w/ Loo
Bussa Move. - Loovy
VELOUR JOGGING SUIT. - Loovy
Mood - dvsn
Girl With The Tattoo Enter.lewd - Miguel
Luv Ya Gyal // Love Sounds - Tory Lanez, The-Dream
Best Part - H.E.R., Daniel Caesar
Rehab (Winter In Paris) - Brent Faiyaz
No Validation - Jacquees
Crush - Yuna, Usher
Redbone - Childish Gambino
Whoa - Snoh Aalegra
Girls Like You - Miguel
Onandon. - Loovy
Broke - Ari Lennox, JID
Ooh Nah Nah - SiR, Masego
I Want You Around - Snoh Aalegra
I Been - Ari Lennox
Rough Soul - GoldLink, April George
Banana Clip - Miguel