We caught up with Theophilus, in an EXCLUSIVE interview, at the New Yorkers for Children Fall Gala on Sept. 18, benefiting youth in foster care, hosted by Alison Brod Public Relations, sponsored by North Shore-LIJ Health System, Guardian Scholars and honoring Justin Tuck and John Demsey for their contributions.
The lanky and rail thin rapper made his entrance to the Cipriani ballroom fashionably late, chic in a black suit jacket, black jeweled Toms and and his trademark white adjustable baseball hat. It was the kind of black-tie party an incognito Bruce Wayne might show up to, but the Brooklyn-born star wasn’t intimidated by the scene. In fact, he was in the mood to talk some light trash about the rap game, and give us the scoop on what he thinks of Kanye West‘s latest collaboration album, Cruel Summer.
“I just think, that’s a sound that’s already there, he just tries to make it sound better. I don’t think he’s taking his sound here, he just wants to show people he can do that too. I don’t think that sound is going to be around forever. It’s about the times right now, but it’s great, and Kanye is always showing people that he rules that time. I think his solo album will be much better.”
Theophilus is currently working with guests like Drake on his own new album (he says it’s likely out sometime in January) but he’s not planning on repeating the same 80’s inspired beats that got him first noticed in 2009.
“You know, four years ago that’s what I was into. It broke well and people loved it at the time. It was before Will.i.am and all these guys were using it in melodies . . . I like those melancholy beats — I can get all my emotions out on stuff like ‘Humdrum Town.’ I just wanted to get my emotions and be expressive.”
For an artist like Theophilus, the process of reinventing himself musically is a metaphor for love.
“Writing a new album is like breaking up with a girl — you learn so much about yourself.”
Theophilus is a rising star in the music world and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
New Yorkers for Children raised over $1.35 million to benefit Youth in Foster Care. Additional sponsors included: BNY Mellon, CIRCA, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., M·A·C Cosmetics, Prada, American Express, Armani Exchange, By Kilian, CNN, First Republic Bank, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, The Kennedy/ Marshall Company, Longchamp, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Oscar de la Renta, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
— Gino Orlandini
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