Interview With Trillian OG
Everyone give a warm welcome to Tariq Mclean better known as Trillian OG. A upcoming artist from Cleveland, Ohio. With biggest song bring him in attention “Cowboy Bepop” ft Aviator Vez (Kon Queso Remix)
How’d you get the stage name “Trillian OG”?
“The full name is Reptillian Trillian something that came almost jokingly with the way I affect my peers’ perspectives by discussing conspiratorial or controversial topics, they eventually advised me to shorten it to what it is now.”
Did you have any stage names beforehand? if so, what?
Before that I went by “Dewie Lennon” and “Dewie Rahim” for a few years before then. Of course when I started around 2011 I had about 2 or 3 names I went through before even getting to that one.”
What was it like growing up in Cleveland, Ohio?
“It was bitter sweet growing up in Cleveland I was on Knowles Ave from 2 to 12 years old then we started moving around from st Clair n Holmes to south Euclid where I graduated high school. I would say I got to experience an extremely wide spectrum of lifestyles from meeting people who lived in one part of the country for their entire lives struggling to make ends meet to people who have traveled the world spending thousands daily from money made trading or inheritance or exotic dancing. All those types of people can be found here in Cleveland.”
Did growing up here have any influences on ur music?
“Growing up here had a huge influence on how I make my music for sure mostly because I write about relatable experiences between people who have been through similar things and in most cases those people are here in Cleveland showing support. This is where most of the stuff that I make my music about happened.”
Does any artist influence your style? if so , who?
“Definitely my favorite artists, Kanye, Kid Cudi, Travis, Gunna, Flying Lotus, J Dilla and a few others. I love their instrumental selection. Lyrically I listened to a lot of older artists like MF DOOM, Digable Planets, Pharcyde, Common, Bronze Nazareth just to name a few. If you can believe it the first music I owned was a Will Smith cassette tape back in the late 90’s early 2000’s”
What was it like writing “Cowboy Bebop” ?
“It took us about 4 hours to write the whole song the last verse I added on a few days later. Writing the song was almost like an out of body experience the way a lot of the lyrics just came to mind. I love MF DOOM’s instrumental for Kon Queso it’s got a nostalgic feel to it and riding the beat was pretty natural for my brother Vez as well as myself. It’s so eerie losing someone who influences my music so heavily but I do feel like We did the track some justice and I honestly think if he got the chance to hear it he’d be impressed. RIP to the big homie.”
What are your goals for 2021?
“Over the rest of the year I’ll be dropping a total of 9 collections of music in addition to. 6–9 videos. I’m also working on a small tour looking to touch places in Cali, New York, North Carolina and possibly Georgia and then ending here at home. Dates and venues will be locked down before the summer. I have 3 tapes under construction right now — one of which is a collective with me and two others so look out for that. We’re currently workin out of the Cleveland Steelyard and developing that relationship with our engineers there is also a big part of what we have coming out soon, shout out to Signal Studios they have some really talented people all a pleasure to work with.”
