Halifax-based hip-hop artist Hodder’s third album, Sorry I’ve Been Off The Radar, drops on January 13
We really stepped out of our comfort zone on this project and tried to find a good balance of hip-hop and pop appeal while still focusing on staying true to what I enjoy working on and releasing.
In this Q&A, we learn more about the artist and the album.
You can find out more about Hodder and his new album on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.
This interview has been edited.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a Halifax-based hip-hop artist and co-owner of the IBEX Music Group label. My recording career began in 2019 after doing a guest verse on a track with my homie and now-label-signee Lil Freaza.
I didn’t have a stage name or moniker during the entire recording process for my first album, so when it came time to drop the record, I figured a lot of who I am and what I’m about is being authentic and not creating a fake image so why not just keep my name. Hodder is my last name, and it seemed fitting. Fortunately, it turned out to be an easy artist name to find.
How do you describe Sorry I’ve Been Off The Radar?
Sorry I’ve Been Off The Radar is a collection of tracks I’ve been working on over the last two years while I’ve been busy building up our label and trying to create a solid platform from which we can begin launching more professional projects and content.
The album’s concept came together in the final stages of its creation. I’ve used the word “off” in every album I’ve dropped to date, so I wanted to keep the pattern, not for any particular reason; maybe it’ll be a branding thing down the road.
We really stepped out of our comfort zone on this project and tried to find a good balance of hip-hop and pop appeal while still focusing on staying true to what I enjoy working on and releasing.
This album has something for everyone, and I know that’s a cliché, but I truly believe that with this one.
Why did you choose Sorry I’ve Been Off The Radar as the album title?
The last two years, I had so much planned for releases, but after a lot of unexpected situations on top of all the behind-the-scenes work we’ve been doing, I felt like I fell off a bit. I was still working daily to develop as an artist, build IBEX and organize shows. A lot of the delay also came down to me being too picky. I’m trying to find a happy medium between quality control and not overthinking. I think I’ve finally found that sweet spot, and I’m happy to say I will be a permanent fixture on the radar.
What was the inspiration for the album? Is there a theme?
The main theme became development and sort of just me trying to solidify my position within the hip-hop scene. A realization that overthinking is a sign of underdoing and keeping some of the tracks from the album’s early stages in their original form to showcase the development across the last two years.
What is your favourite song to perform off the album, and why?
That’s a tough one. It really depends on the crowd. Retail turns the club up, Hours and Hours is a feel-good track, and Million with Freaza is a wild track. I love getting people’s feedback and getting a feel for what different crowds like to hear.
What’s next for Hodder?
I’m working on a lot of different things. We’re in the works of reviving a local hip-hop series, bringing back the battle rap scene and starting the reboot of the IBEX podcast. I’ve got a tour in the planning stages for spring and another EP slated for a springtime release, but that’s an entire marketing campaign away.
You can find out more about Hodder and his new album on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.