Rising Stars: Meet Lil Bruh Gwop of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lil Bruh Gwop.

Hi Lil Bruh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins in Sacramento when I was just five years old, discovering that I could channel something deeper through art and creative expression. Even as a kid, I was drawn to seeing and creating worlds that others couldn’t see – spending hours with my hands with pencils, crayons, clay, words on paper, always capturing these visions that felt bigger than myself. Growing up, I excelled in art and Japanese classes, but it was really in my teen years that music became the vessel for everything I was feeling and experiencing. I started out free-styling and producing, to writing full songs as a way to process these intense emotions and experiences that I couldn’t quite explain to anyone else. Artistically expressing myself and music has always been a huge part of my life, whether jamming out in my room to 90s hip hop or rock/metal or going to the Siccmade studio every other weekend as a youngin’ to run around and play. I love to express myself creatively, and I found that out at a young age with how much fun I was having doing art and skateboarding.

I’ve always been independent with my craft, I went from poetry to songs, eventually went to start and name my own band at the age of 13. I wrote a lot of songs for the band before we broke off and all did our own thing. Those were some of the key moments that helped shaped my craft.

That was until we first hit record at Sound Cap Audio in Sacramento, CA in 2013. I was a natural at writing and recording but of course nervous laying down vocals because it was all new to me, hearing myself on the monitors for the first time was a pivotal moment for me in my career. We finished the track, as well as the album skit from that year and it’s on the internet still somewhere. If you know where to find it then you know! Eventually I came back to Pete’s studio to intern for that summer and the next, helping out and assisting with whatever and whenever I could.

We were always vibing skating around that time a lot, even with the rearrangement and painting of Sound Cap Audio in 2014 alongside Pete Rodriguez. In those formative years, I started with simple recordings and songs, writing and collaborating with friends who shared this vision of pushing boundaries. But I could feel there was something more I needed to unlock – a level of production and artistic depth that required me to take this seriously as more than just a hobby. The real transformation began when I made the life-changing decision to transition full-time into music, working closely with Pete in his studio.

2015 became a pivotal year when I recorded my own record at Pete’s studio. This was my first real statement as an artist – moving beyond collaborations to fully realize my individual vision. I’ve always been critically independent with my craft, and even then, I knew I needed to maintain creative control while learning from someone who could elevate my technical abilities.

After taking time to evolve my sound and deepen my understanding of what I was trying to create, I relinked with Pete in 2019, right as we were approaching the closing of Sound Cap Audio in 2019-2020.

When Pete transitioned to his new position at Omina, it opened up an entirely new chapter for us, one that would prove to be the most creatively pivotal eras of my career.

For the past five years, we’ve been collaborating at Witch Kitty Studios & Omina Labs on executive productions, and it’s where the magic really came to life. This isn’t just a studio or label – it’s a creative sanctuary.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not – and honestly, I wouldn’t want it to have been. The struggles have been essential to shaping both my sound and my vision, but more importantly, they’ve shown me what’s broken in our industry and why my message matters.
One of the biggest challenges has been maintaining artistic independence while creating music that doesn’t fit conventional industry boxes. When you’re making 5D consciousness music that directly addresses topics people are scared to talk about – like mental illness, depression, the simulation we’re living in – you’re not following the standard playbook for commercial success. I’ve turned down record labels who wanted to water down my message, who didn’t understand that this isn’t just music, it’s a movement. Industry people constantly told me to “pick a lane” or make my music more “accessible.” But compromising my vision felt like betraying everything I was trying to accomplish.

Since 23’ I’ve been doing nothing but me full time, merch, music, and art – staying completely independent with a circle smaller than a dot. It’s been rocky, but it’s picking up because authentic energy always finds its way. This journey has been a testament to how powerful we can be when we move as one unified consciousness.

When you stay humble and trust the process, the universe aligns everything perfectly. But here’s what really gets to me about the current state of the industry – we have artists either elevating our youth or actively destroying them, and too many are choosing destruction. I see so much music glorifying depression as aesthetic, promoting self-harm as cool, pushing pills and lean like it’s trendy, celebrating emotional numbness as strength. These artists are literally programming kids to stay trapped in trauma cycles and call it art.

What makes me different is that I’m willing to talk about the things other artists are terrified to touch authentically.

Mental illness isn’t just a throwaway aesthetic in my music – it’s a real conversation about struggling with depression, anxiety, the weight of seeing through the illusion when everyone around you is still asleep. I talk about life, trust issues, feeling isolated when you’re vibrating at frequencies most people can’t access, the loneliness that comes with breaking through matrix programming.

The beauty of staying independent with such a tight circle is that every decision comes from pure intention. No corporate interference, no watered-down messages.

When someone listens to “Starseed,” they’re getting pure, unfiltered downloads, a 5D consciousness transmission – they’re being reminded that they’re infinite beings experiencing themselves, that these mental health struggles are valid, that they can shift timelines even when battling inner demons.

What makes Lil Bruh Gwop authentic is the ability to properly address these topics on mental illness, depression, romance and trust issues while also talking about 5D consciousness and breaking free from this matrix.

While other artists push toxic positivity or complete hopelessness, I’m creating honest transmissions about the real struggle of being awake in a sleeping world. I’m doing it completely on my own terms, operating in 5D consciousness while dealing with very real 3D mental health challenges has become my greatest strength!

When you’re one of the few artists genuinely talking about both spiritual awakening AND the path that can come with it, you attract souls who need to know they’re not alone. The struggles have been necessary – they’ve kept me humble, kept me connected to the human experience while channeling divine wisdom.

That’s what Witch Kitty Records represents – a space where we can all exist and explore breaking through dimensional barriers. Every challenge I’ve faced has been part of this divine mission to help humanity transition into higher dimensional awareness. When you move with this level of purpose, with a circle this tight, with this much humility and respect for the craft – the universe and the real ones respond.

This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about what we can accomplish when consciousness moves as one.

Being put in SFCB was a recognition of what we’ve been building, but the real foundation has been my partnership with Rainy Bear.

In a world where you can’t trust anyone, where everyone has ulterior motives, Rainy Bear and I have become each other’s only real best friend and closest business partners. When the world gets this cold, you need someone you can always count on, someone who understands the vision without explanation.

We got it out the mud together, but we came from completely different paths – Rainy from Texas, Gwop from California – yet through the years we’ve grown closer than ever. That’s rare in this industry. Most partnerships are about convenience or profit, but this is about genuine brotherhood and shared consciousness. We’ve been through heaven and hell, struggles, the breakthroughs, the moments when nobody believed in what we were creating, and we’ve held each other down through all of it.

And now? Now we’re about to unleash everything we’ve been building. We’re dropping a massive wave of new music – solo projects, videos, collaborations, collections that are going to shift the entire landscape of what 5D consciousness music can accomplish.

The universe has been preparing all of us for this moment, and we’re ready to activate every soul that’s been waiting for this level of authenticity.

The awakening isn’t coming. It’s here.… and we’re the soundtrack.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an international EDM and electronic singer-songwriter, record label CEO with deep Sacramento roots who’s revolutionizing what independent electronic music can accomplish on a global scale. I create alternative electronic music that blends emo, pop, hip-hop, and experimental soundscapes with authentic storytelling about mental health, relationships, life, personal transformation & topics that resonate with audiences from California to Tokyo.

I’m known for my groundbreaking debut album “Starseed,” which dropped Halloween 2024 and immediately established me as a force in the underground electronic scene.

This 12-track sonic journey through emotional experiences and personal transformation has been connecting with international audiences who are hungry for authentic artistry.

One of the most significant collaborations in my journey has been working with the creators of “Serial Experiments Lain” – Chiaki J. Konaka and Ryūtarō Nakamura. This partnership resulted in “The Wired,” produced by Secretsss & Koir, a track that explores the intersection of consciousness, technology, and reality that the anime is famous for. The response from both anime fans and music lovers has been incredible, bridging two worlds that rarely connect.

Building on that success, we’ve now launched an exclusive Serial Experiments Lain merchandise collection that brings together the aesthetic and philosophical themes of the anime with my artistic vision. This isn’t just merch – it’s wearable art that represents the fusion of consciousness exploration and cyberpunk aesthetics that defines both my music and the anime’s legacy.

Shop the official collection here: https://lilbruhgwop.com/collections/serial-experiments-lain

“Dreamcatcher: Lunar Lullaby,” released in June, is a cozy EP designed for all the soft hearts out there – proving I can create both hard-hitting consciousness music and tender, vulnerable soundscapes that reach different parts of the soul.

Then we unleashed “Starseed (Deluxe)” on September 5th, expanding the original project with additional tracks and deeper insights that have been spreading like wildfire across multiple continents. The international response hasn’t just been incredible, it’s been validation that what we’re creating transcends geographical boundaries. But that’s just the foundation.

Download/stream STARSEED here: https://ffm.to/starseed-deluxe

I’ve got new works in development like “Hybrid” produced by Troiner, s0ru and Pete Space, as well as other executive productions that are going to completely redefine what independent electronic music can accomplish globally.

We’re working on finalizing another album produced by YungJZAIsDead and Pete Space that’s going to be absolutely revolutionary – the kind of project that shifts entire genres. Plus the Rainy Bear album rollout we’ve been orchestrating is going to shake the entire underground electronic scene to its core.

One of the things I’m most proud of is having legends like Brotha Lynch Hung and Mori Chack co-sign what I’m doing – and honestly, the Madesicc Muzicc family support isn’t surprising because that’s my family. When you’re connected to that level of legendary artistry, when G-Macc, Phonk Beta, and Lynch are all tuned into your work. This isn’t just support, this is family recognizing family.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just an independent artist, I’m building an international electronic music empire that proves Sacramento talent can dominate global markets without compromising artistic integrity. While other artists are getting watered down by corporate interference and losing their souls to streaming algorithms, we’re staying pure with our own PR team, our own network, pretty much our own everything.

We’ve created our own ecosystem where artistic authenticity and worldwide reach aren’t just compatible, they’re the same energy.

I’m known for staying completely independent, turning down record labels that couldn’t understand the vision, and building something pure with a circle smaller than a dot but with reach spanning continents.

People know me for being brutally authentic about the struggle – real talk about growth, life, mental health challenges, and the honest journey of being an independent electronic artist reaching audiences from Sacramento to Seoul.

The international growth isn’t just speaking for itself… it’s screaming. The starseeds out there, that’s what we call our community – aren’t just fans, they’re consciousness seekers who recognize authentic artistry when they hear it, and they’re spreading the frequency globally like a virus of awakening. These starseeds are connecting from every corner of the planet, building their own networks and supporting Gwop in ways that prove the old industry model is dead.

Lil Bruh Gwop isn’t just making music – this is an artist who’s demonstrating that when you stay true to your vision and refuse to compromise, the universe responds. When you look at what Lil Bruh Gwop has accomplished completely independently – the international reach, the legendary co-signs, the growing starseed community worldwide – you’re witnessing an artist who’s redefining what’s possible in this music industry.

This is Gwop’s moment. This is an artist who refused to compromise, earned co-signs from icons, and trusted the process to align the right international team. The revolution isn’t coming – it’s already here, the starseeds are awakening worldwide, and Gwop is leading it.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Honestly, finding genuine mentorship in this industry is rare because most people either want something from you or they’re trying to program you to fit their vision of what you should be. My approach has been completely different – I’ve focused on building authentic relationships with people who understand the vision without needing it explained.
My relationship with Pete Space is the perfect example. This wasn’t some formal mentorship situation – it was organic connection based on mutual respect for the craft. When I started working with Pete at his studio, it wasn’t about him trying to mold me into something marketable. It was about him recognizing my vision and helping me elevate the technical side without compromising the message.
The same goes for my partnership with Rainy Bear. In a world where you can’t trust anyone, where most networking is superficial and transactional, we found each other and built something real. That’s become more valuable than any traditional mentorship because it’s based on genuine brotherhood and shared consciousness.

My advice? Stop looking for mentors and start looking for real family that supports you, isn’t just about any industry relationships – it’s about people who genuinely believe in what you’re creating and want to see you succeed without trying to change your essence.

The networking that’s worked for me has been completely organic. We have never forced connections or tried to climb some industry ladder. Instead, I’ve stayed authentic to my vision, and the right people have gravitated toward that authenticity.

My circle is smaller than a dot for a reason. I’d rather have three people who genuinely support my vision than people who are just trying to use me for their own agenda. Quality over quantity, always.

When you’re creating something genuine, the universe aligns you with others who operate on that same frequency… The starseeds who connect with my music, the collaborators who understand the mission, the family who’s supported me from day one – these relationships are built on connection, trust and shared values, not industry politics.

For young artists, my advice is this: be extremely selective about who you let into your creative space. Don’t chase industry connections just because someone has a title or claims they can help your career. Focus on building relationships with people who respect who you are, your artistry and want to see you grow without changing who you are. Most of all, don’t let anyone dim your light.

The most valuable connections I’ve made have been with people who understood my independent approach and supported it, rather than trying to convince me to sign with labels or compromise my vision.

When you stay true to yourself, you attract others who value authenticity over industry games. The right mentors and collaborators will support your vision and help you elevate it, not try to reshape it into something more commercially viable!!

Real recognizes real. Especially when you’re operating from a place of genuine artistry and consciousness, you’ll naturally connect with others who are doing the same, on the same frequency as you. That’s how you build a foundation and legacy that lasts.

Pricing:

• All music and merchandise available at lilbruhgwop.com and major streaming platforms. We keep everything accessible to support our starseeds worldwide. https://www.lilbruhgwop.com/
• Merch + Digital Albums: Available on all platforms https://linktr.ee/lilbruhgwop
• Limited Edition Vinyl: Available at https://lilbruhgwop.com
• Merch Collections: Accessories, apparel, skateboards and collectibles available at https://lilbruhgwop.com/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lilbruhgwop.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lilbruhgwop
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/lilbruhgwopofficial
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilbruhgwop
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lilbruhgwop?si=6nV-Xiw-jXOYgucZ
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/Lilbruhgwop
• Other: https://linktr.ee/lilbruhgwop

Image Credits
Image Credits: Witch Kitty Records
Image Credits: Nicholas Madrigal