Atlanta is all the rage in Hip Hop right now, but 250 miles away lies historic Savannah, the hometown of La Scrilla.
The 27-year-old rapper seeks to be a people’s champ for the Georgia city, which is known more for its tourism than its music scene.
“That’s my heart, that’s my home, I been here all my life,” he says in an exclusive interview with HipHopDX. “Our city need help. Our city not really that big on music so I’m just trying to bring a lot to the table as I can, as an individual. And get my city turnt up!”
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La Scrilla began rapping 18 months ago and says he is inspired by Tupac and John Lennon. He listened to Southern legend Boosie Badazz growing up, but now says that he is really focused on crafting his sound.
“I’ve been listening to myself a lot lately,” he says. “Really that originality, I really don’t sound like anybody else. I’m just lost in my own music right now.”
Serving a six-year prison sentence, which he completed two years ago, helped him learn the lesson of patience and how to understand people.
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“It’s kind of like psychology class,” he says. “Seeing other people’s experiences and just learning how to handle it. I’m just glad I got wiser and grew up and did time but I’m still here.”
Ya get wat ya earn#OffToppic.twitter.com/f7xeq8O5Tv
— La$crilla (@LaScrilla) April 2, 2016
Reflecting from the beaches in Miami, La Scrilla appreciates the opportunities he has to tour and share his music with more than Savannah.
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“I see people rocking with me and that gives me a better burst of energy when I can see people showing love,” he says. “I’m always excited. I’m passionate about this right now. You see me doing my own thing and it’ll be real original.”
La Scrilla worked with Street Execs to release his debut EP, Against All Odds. He linked with the team in May and had previously worked with Skooly and the late Bankroll Fresh.
“They saw me working and I thought it was just a matter of time before we pretty much linked up,” he says.
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He uses the six-track project that he calls “triumphant music” to bring something different to the game than rapping about drugs or flashy cars. La Scrilla is leading by example as he says he wants to empower others to know that they can make money and stay out of prison.
“I’m from a small city and with me just coming home like, all odds are stacked against me,” he says. “That’s pretty much the feeling you’re gonna get like, you can do it.”
La Scrilla says the Against All Odds project is another step in his career that will take him to higher platforms. He is motivated and focused.
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“The come up is the fun part,” he says. “We’re having a lot of fun right now. I just need to keep being away from all the stuff that could go on and could get me in trouble. Just trying to go in the right direction.”
His mission is bigger than himself. On his journey, La Scrilla is seeking to break boundaries that people in his community see for themselves.
“It seems like it’s not meant for us and it’s true there’s a lot of people that feel like that,” he says, “and I’m showing people that there’s a way to get this money.”
