Laelo
Washington, Washington DC, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
Check out a clip of the legendary DJ Premiere spinning Laelo's brand new single "One Time For Hip-Hop" -
Laelo's new single "One Time For Hip-Hop" has reached #1 on the College Radio charts! Thank you to all of the DJ's that added out record to the mix over the past few weeks. -
“At this point, I don’t have one specific person that inspires what I do musically. I’m inspired by ALL greatness, especially the greatness of African-Americans. It’s funny you ask this question because the artwork to my new album DTPHTM is dedicated to some of those great inspirations. I feel like in order to be truly great you have to be a special type of person that has real talent mixed with supreme work ethic. There have definitely been many great people from all walks of life to pull that off. I’m inspired by them all.” - Talent Monthly
“The name Laelo, may not strike a chord with any of you just yet, but soon enough it will. Today the up and coming DMV representative is back with something smooth and brand new for our ears to devour. - Jesse James
The A3C Circuit tour made it’s second to last stop Tuesday in our nation’s capital. As people filed into U Street Music Hall, the atmosphere gave way to a sense of Hip-Hop community, connecting artists, tastemakers, and fans alike. However, there was another side to the story, the brewing and palpable sense of competition between MC’s to make it to Atlanta this fall. Every artist that graced the stage put on great performances, but in the end, Laelo stood victorious. Having covered the event personally, Laelo’s stage presence and ability to demand an audience is what ultimately decided the event. He MADE you listen-he MADE you become a fan. Short set times and somewhat anonymity to spectators allowed the “High Definition Society” front man to flourish, not only in a competitive nature, but in a performance setting. His music does contain heavy weed influence, but his messages aren’t dictated by the sub-genre, only used as a stylistic foundation for deeper, more meaningful rhymes. We chopped it up with Laelo about the performance, not being labeled a weed rapper, future projects and his journey to A3C. Next stop, Atlanta. - Jake Mayo
Since RAW® has been around , we are discovering that the STREETS love RAW® just as much as we do. We are constantly finding RAW® Lyrics in HIPHOP songs everyday. Big names such as Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Chevy Woods, Fashawn, Neako, Fiend, Laelo and many more are talking about how much they love RAW® in the their songs. RAW LIFE IS IN EFFECT! We have sponsored THE SMOKERS CLUB TOUR and many other tours promoting RAW®. We have even created a limited edition ROLLING TRAY product for CURREN$Y. Have a look at the quotes we have pulled from some of the artists. #rawlife - rawthentic.com
Today marks a big day for the DMVer. After nearly a year and a half delay due to unforeseen circumstances, Laelo has finally released his latest project, Lifers Never Die available now on iTunes. - 2dopeboyz.com
After an almost two year layoff Mr. High Definition is back with his brand new album, Lifers Never Die. Once again Laelo masterfully displays his unique versatility over eleven impeccable pieces of production. Features on the album include, Uptown XO, Black Boo, Gods’illa, Awthentik, Alison Carney, Violet Rocker & Precious Joubert. Productions credits go to Str8 Beatz (The High Definition Society), Matcy P, Sergio Cortez, Awthentik, DCypher, Nowah Beats & Hec Dolo. The album is available via FREE download, but for the fans and supporters that would like to invest in the Lifers movement the album will also be available on Itunes, Amazon and all other online music retailers. - iHeartDilla.com
(Audio) - Hip-hop Roundtable
Laelo likes to call himself a lifer. That's probably the reason he kept rapping even after he vowed to retire. On his new album, Lifers Never Die, the rapper sounds re-energized and battle-ready. He takes indirect shots at skinny-jeans rappers ("Niggas Ain't Grindin'") and applauds his own grind ("I'm A Hustler, Baby"). And of course, what would a Laelo album be without homage to that green ("Simple and Plain," "That Good Shit," "Caffeine & Marijuana")?
But it's his salute to D.C. that steals the show: On "This Is My Home," featuring Uptown XO and Black Boo (of Mambo Sauce), they shout out the nation's capital with well-timed metaphors. Black Boo offers a crash course in D.C. slang: "bamma," "kill Moe," "slight work," etc. Then there's Laelo: "Your town might be the shit, but my city is No. 1." There, it’s settled. —MJM - Marcus J. Moore
Jeremiah Martinez: Man, there were a lot of artists to pick from for this. Some of these artists I know you’ve heard some of these before 2011 but this was the year that some of these cats actually made that breakthrough move that garnered some serious attention giving them the title of Top 10 Breakthrough Artists of 2011.
The Doppelgangaz
Action Bronson
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire
Brown Bag AllStars
Rapsody
Nitty Scott, MC
Laelo
A$AP Rocky
THURZ
ScienZe
- Kevinnottingham.com
Meet Laelo. The DMV emcee has been featured with his videos and singles several times on this site and through his latest project, Life in High Definition, he ended up on our list of Breakthrough/New Artists 2011. Reason enough to chop it up with Mr. High Definition. (Continued...) - KevinNottingham.com
I can only hope that one day, Dr. Dre will drop another dope album like, The Chronic. While I no longer revel in the inhalation and exhalation of any loud-tivities *laughs.* I love this album and it is indeed one of the best that Dr. Dre has ever done. You don’t always have to be a partaker of this subject in order to enjoy the music. But, I believe it does help enhance your listening pleasures. DMV hip hop artist, Laelo serves as a great example of what I call ‘green heart music,’ because his music doesn’t just focus on sparkin’ up. However, his latest album Life in High Definition…well let’s just say you will most definitely need “Marijuana & Mimosas” in hand to vibe out to it *laughs*. Nevertheless, Laelo has a way of painting awesome imagery regarding love, life, and letting Mary Jane ease some of the pain that the other two induce. His lyrics are laced with stories of endurance in a world of negativity and whether it comes across as gritty or blunt, then so be it. He delivers it in his own way, therefore clarifying what needs to be made clear. He gives it to you in high definition. I got a chance to chat for few with this brotha and find out what he’s up to.... - iHeartDilla.com
93.9 WKYS is embracing local talent, and every Monday, we will prominently feature a local artist on the WKYS website... This week’s featured artist is Laelo.... - KYSDC.COM
Hec Roc & DJ RBI go in on the politics of DC hip-hop, and Laelo gets a stamp of approval from the fellas. - Washington City Paper
...“Hopefully through this interview my dedicated fans and those on the fence because they haven’t heard enough yet will get to know me as a person a little bit more. I strive to be as open as possible in my music, but if there is anything my fans feel they need to know about me platforms such as this are provided and hopefully useful. Shout out to all the HD Lifers out there. I see yall!”...
- TheRealSharnell.com
"Fuck The World, is a gritty, murderous rampage in which no topic or person is safe, and light-hearted listeners aren't allowed." - Marcus J. Moore - WashingtonCityPaper.com
"I am recommending this album. But I want to go the extra step, and say that Fuck The World, while not being unique in title, is a very special project. As a listener you get so much diversity in these sixteen tracks. Laelo Hood is someone I can see going incredibly far in hip hop. His talent borders on words like remarkable. He is the consummate emcee, showing throughout this project that he can spit on any topic and pull off any style. He can tell these stories. He can drop the hot metaphor. And most importantly, he can make the dope song." - HipHopDependency.com
Although his Fuck the World album dropped in January, Laelo Hood released "Hooked on You" as a single yesterday, a breezy tale of drug dependence featuring vocalist Maimouna Youssef on the hook. "Hooked" is a dope record (sorry, I couldn't resist), and one of the better songs from Laelo's album. DCMumboSauce.com has the single. - Washington City Paper
Although his Fuck the World album dropped in January, Laelo Hood released "Hooked on You" as a single yesterday, a breezy tale of drug dependence featuring vocalist Maimouna Youssef on the hook. "Hooked" is a dope record (sorry, I couldn't resist), and one of the better songs from Laelo's album. DCMumboSauce.com has the single. - Washington City Paper
Laelo Hood was nominated for 2 awards and took home the most important ONE of the night...DC, MARYLAND & VIRGINIA'S MALE RAP ARTIST OF THE YEAR! He was also nominated for Song of the Year for "A Man Will Be A Man" - DMV Entertainment Awards
Discography
Deeper Than Plenty, Higher Than Most AVAILABLE NOW!!!
Killin' Em (From the A3C Mixtape Volume 4)
No Love (single)
How Lifers Roll (Remix) ft. Big Sant, Wais P & Ethan Spalding (single)
Three the High Way ft. Kev Brown & Kenn Starr (single)
Purple Rain & Kush Clouds Mixtape
Photos
Bio
For years rapping under the name Laelo Hood, Washington DC hip-hop artist Laelo aka Mister HD, spent a lot of his time battling in local nightclubs, performing at open mics around the DMV area, and even opening up for some well-known Go-Go bands in the city. In 2006, he independently released his first solo project called Ghetto Prophet: Water of Life. His song “I Feel Good” became a local hit, earning him the top spot for five weeks in a row on WPGC 95.5 Home Jamz. Around the same time Laelo was invited out on tour by friend and New York rapper, Akir. Their travels landed them in places like Atlanta, North Carolina, and Montreal, which gave Laelo his first taste of the road life. In 2007, Laelo earned the “Rapper of the Year” honor at the 2nd annual DC, Maryland and Virginia Music Awards.
In 2009, Laelo signed a deal with DMV-based label, Inner Loop Media Group and coined his brand, “The High Definition Society,” which instantly connected with a growing fan-base of “Lifers” across the world. Since 2010 Laelo has focused on the business of his brand, securing sponsorships with Raw Rolling Papers Co. and Marijuana & Bullshit Clothing. On January 4, 2011, he released his first ILMG project. Three months later he collaborated with Boston native DJ Beanz on his Purple Rain & Kush Clouds mixtape.
With the help of UK deejay, Dub MD, Laelo was able to garner attention from fans worldwide for his detailed storytelling and gritty lyricism. But the biggest record from that album was a bonus track called, Cool featuring Lyriciss & Pro’Verb. The song was accompanied by an amazing visual which got Laelo his first appearance on some major hip-hop sites including 2Dopeboyz and DJ Booth. It was the first time a lot of those hip-hop tastemakers caught wind of the DC emcee.
After releasing multiple visuals for both projects, Laelo went back to the lab immediately to get started on his next album. With the intentions of doing things on more of a major scale, this time Laelo called on some heavy hitters to collaborate with him. His album, Life in High Definition, released just eleven months after his FTW project, was an instant hit. With six videos and features from Jet Life members Smoke DZA and Fiend, along with local DC sensation Tabi Bonney just to name a few, Laelo’s new sound took his career to a new level. People all across the World Wide Web started to pay close attention to what the rapper would do next.
Known for his raw energy and grimy yet clear voice, by this point Laelo had already opened up for many major artist such as Nas, G-Unit, Rakim, Damien Marley, The Clipse, Mya, Immortal Technique and many more With his new found notoriety, Laelo also began to hit the festival circuit in 2011, performing at SXSW, CMJ and A3C.
Then, for personal reasons, he took almost a year off from music not dropping a new record for almost 2 years. Then in July 2013 Laelo returned to the scene with a new album, Lifers Never Die which featured the standout tracks “Back At It (For The People)” and “How Lifers Roll Remix” featuring Big Sant & Wais P. Laelo has since been touring and headlining clubs and major venues like the Fillmore & Howard Theatre for the last 2 years.
On April 21st of this year he released his fourth studio album entitled “Deeper Than Plenty, Higher Than Most”. The video for the first single “City Life” featuring Grammy nominated soul singer Carolyn Malachi can be found on MTV.com and VH1.com. The second single “One Time For Hip-Hop" is currently being spun by the likes of Statik Selekta, DJ Chris Styles & DJ Premiere. The record also recently cracked the Top 40 on the Rap Network and Rap Attack Lives college radio charts. With the new album available for sale he plans to hit the road this summer. Stay tuned for more big things from Laelo in the coming months.
Band Members
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