Your Old Droog

Your Old Droog
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instruments Vocals, production
Years active 2014–present
Labels Chopped Herring Records, Droog Recordings

Your Old Droog is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Sacha Jenkins, the creative director discovered him on YouTube. He first gained public attention in June 2014 when online rumors were thought up by some that his self-published debut EP was actually recorded by veteran New York rapper Nas under an alter ego,[1] before revealing himself in August of that year as a 25-year-old Ukrainian American.[2][3] His self-titled debut album was released digitally on November 25, 2014.[4] The name "Droog" comes from a Russian word meaning "friend".[3]

Biography

Droog's family emigrated to the United States from Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union.[3] As a young rap enthusiast growing up in Brooklyn, Droog first developed his craft in lunchroom battles in school.[3] In 2013 he released the song "Rhyme Strange" under the name "Imaginary Droog" with DJ Skizz.[5] In June 2014, he released the 10-song Your Old Droog EP, which generated a significant amount of buzz due to comparisons to Nas and the otherwise lack of information about the artist. Self-released on SoundCloud, the EP was produced by Droog, El RTNC, and DJ Skizz. In August, Droog revealed himself in an interview with The New Yorker and soon showed his face for the first time in a video of him freestyling.[6] At the time, he embraced the publicity and speculation regarding his identity, expressing that "This is like my street team, why would I stop free publicity?"[2] He played his first concert on September 3 to a sold out crowd at Webster Hall.[1] His debut self-titled album was released digitally on November 26, which included the 10 songs from the EP along with 8 new songs produced by R'Thentic.[4] A limited edition of the album was released on vinyl shortly before the digital release.[7]

Kinison EP, Your Old Droog's second EP, was released on February 4, 2015, again on SoundCloud.[8] Kinison's lyrical theme is that of Droog's appreciation of rock music, with songs named after Rage Against the Machine, Porno for Pyros, and Sonic Youth.[9] Production was completed primarily again by DJ Skizz and El RTNC, along with one contribution by the producer Marco Polo. That February and March Your Old Droog supported DJ Premier and Royce da 5'9" on their PRhyme Tour.[8]

Your Old Droog's third EP, The Nicest, was released on July 17, 2015.

Artistry and influences

Your Old Droog has been extensively compared to fellow-New York rapper Nas, to the point of theories being developed that his debut EP was actually recorded by Nas under an alter ego.[1] Droog has appreciated the comparison, but has himself named Big Daddy Kane,[1] Big L, and Kool G Rap as influences,[2] as well as Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Cassidy, and Lloyd Banks.[3]

Discography

Studio albums
EPs

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Caramanica, Jon (Sep 14, 2014). "Unmasked, a Rapper Exults in Tradition". New York Times. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Kang, Jay Caspian (Aug 25, 2014). "Nas Is Not Your Old Droog". The New Yorker. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Calloway, Sway (Interviewer) (Nov 26, 2014). Your Old Droog Talks Nas Comparisons and Coming Up Battle Rapping in 1st On-Camera Interview. Sway's Universe (YouTube). Retrieved Dec 2, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Weingarten, Christopher R. (Nov 17, 2014). "New York Rap Enigma Your Old Droog Plots LP Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
  5. ↑ Darmic X (Jun 14, 2014). "I Met Your Old Droog Before And He's Not Nas". Complex. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
  6. ↑ Bobb, Maurice (Aug 26, 2014). "Watch Your Old Droog Put Those ‘Nas In Disguise’ Rumors To Rest". MTV News. Retrieved Nov 26, 2014.
  7. ↑ "CHOPPED HERRING RECORDS welcomes to the label, the dopest new act outta NYC". Chopped Herring Records. Archived from the original on Dec 4, 2014. ORDERS WILL SHIP FROM THE 27th OCTOBER.
  8. 1 2 Frydenlund, Zach (Feb 4, 2015). "Stream Your Old Droog's "Kinison" EP". Complex. Retrieved Apr 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ Breihan, Tom (Feb 4, 2015). "Download Your Old Droog Kinison Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved Apr 4, 2015.
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