Errol Holden: «My style is supremely realistic and autobiographical».
Take note of the name Errol Holden as one of the most raw and authentic voices in New York’s underground hip-hop scene today. His style is deeply rooted in autobiographical realism and a depth that only someone who has truly lived the streets can capture. After years of flying under the radar, Errol is finally receiving the recognition he deserves, with co-signs from legends like Cam’ron and Roc Marciano. In this interview, he reflects on his journey—from the conscious decision to leave the streets behind to the lifelong influence of the Nation of Gods and Earths on him, his music and his latest project SUPREME MAGNETIC. He also teased us about some of his future plans….
Peace Errol, thanks for your time. The first time we heard your Ep “Hans Zimmer” last year, we were left speechless, asking ourselves: “Who the hell is this?!”. As we explored more of your music, we realized that your lyrical talent, charisma, and rhyme schemes reflect the depth of someone who has truly lived the streets of New York. Your pen exudes a remarkable life experience, yet your music has only started making waves in recent years…
Why do you think your talent is emerging only now? Was it a personal choice based on your life and story, or do you believe the Hip-Hop scene simply hadn’t noticed your skills before?
The Hip-Hop scene just hadn’t noticed my skills beforehand. That’s all.
Was the transition from the streets to a music career a conscious decision or the result of circumstances?
Transition from the streets to a rap career was definitely a conscious decision. You know, I cold turkey the streets. I was done with it, woke up one day and said I’m finished with it. Can’t do it no more.
Recently, you received a co-sign and appreciation from Cam’Ron, but you also were affiliated with Nas’ Mass Appealand now you are somehow tied to Roc Marciano’s independent label, PIMPIRE International, with a distribution deal through Roc Nation. How did you connect with these Hip-Hop legends? When and how did they recognize your talent?
I mean you know through the biggest marketing tool, word the mouth, you know? That’s all I guess they liked what they heard. You know, I couldn’t tell you exactly what project it was that hip them to what I was doing, but they, you know, they came around and they liked what I was doing.
What can you tell us about your affiliation with Roc Marciano’s label?
Uh, you know, he’s definitely been campaigning for me as much as he can. And, you know, soon we gonna work together, we got a couple things brewin’
How do you see Harlem today compared to when you were growing up?
Well, Harlem today is gentrified, you know, I grew up in all black Harlem, you know, that’s the west side and um at a specific time, the only white people you’ve seen was the police and all the fire department and maybe some paramedics, so that was our only… and teachers. You know what I mean? Then time evolved and you started to see Harlem gentrification.
When talking about your debut album Joe Frog, you mentioned that your rhymes are reminiscences of real-life events. How have your life and past experiences shaped your lyrical style?
My life and past shaped my Rap wholeheartedly. I mean, you know, my style is supremely realistic. It’s autobiographical. So, you know, it’s not really too much imagination involved with this shit. It’s just me rehashing and recalling certain instances and scenarios. You know, I can make a whole album out of a week from the life that I used to live. You know what I mean?
Before your last SUPREME MAGNETIC project, you have released just one official album called “Joe Frog” (2022) and a couple of EPs like SKITSOMANIFESTO and HANS ZIMMER. We also read that “Joe Frog” is Aldo a tribute to your father. Can you elaborate on how he influenced the album’s concept?
Yeah, “Joe Frog” definitely a tribute to my father, you know, he wasn’t a dead beat. He fell victim to, you know, substance abuse, but he taught me a lot, man, he taught me a lot, and I was just, you know, just to over simplify it, I just want to pay some symbolance of homage to him and let him know, like he always said, “I’m giving myself a chance”.
That was my father’s favorite line, man: “give yourself a chance, man”. And I’m finally giving myself a chance with something other than the street, so that was, you know, that’s the homage I’m paying to him.
Can you take us through the creative process behind your projects?
The Creative Process You know, not to make this shit overly intricate, man, I listen to the beat and let the beat guide me, man, let the beat tell me what to say. It’s really nothing too intricate about it, man.
I listen to the beat and whatever the beat is telling me to say the tone of the beat is dictating the tone of my voice. you know, the beat is telling me. The first line that I come up with is really gonna dictate where I’m going. So you know, my creative process is just really organic.
What is this, you know, what am I, what do I feel, what do I feel should be set on this? You know what I mean? And then how can I keep the listener engaged?
You know, because my song schemes as you see aren’t traditional, so, you know, I come up with ways, little crafty ways to keep the listener engaged, because I know my rap style is a bit wordy, so, you know, it’s a lot of little shit I like to do, but, yeah, for the most part, man, it just letting the beat guide me.
You recently released SUPREME MAGNETIC. What’s behind the choice of this title? Can you talk about the featured artists or producers?
A lot of the producers on here are unknown, you know, they’re really good producers, man, that are really dug into their craftsmanship.
The name of the project is Supreme Magnetic, it’s multifaceted. It has its origin in the Nations of Gods and Earths. And I’m supremely magnetic, you know what I mean?
Your lyrics often reference the philosophy of the Five Percenters and the Nation of Gods and Earths. When, how, and why did you embrace this philosophy? Harlem is often referred to as “The Mecca” in this context—how has this culture shaped the streets of Harlem and your personal journey?
I mean, well, you know I was first introduced to the “Nation of Gods and Earths” as a kid. You know, I had cousins, my older cousins… I mean, these guys is real older than me. Quitto and Ruckman and them, you know, they was part of the Nation of Gods and Earths. And then, you know, as I got older, I kind of shied away from it, and then I end up taking my Shahada and became becoming Muslim. And then time evolved in 06, time evolved, I went back to my childhood and revisited the lessons and um, you know, so it’s been with me most of my life.
