Zoo St.

Describe your music’s sound for unfamiliar listeners. How did you come across that sound?

Dez: Mmmmmmmm.. maybe modern day Wu-Tang with south/midwestern roots. Not the same but similar. We have a bit of an attack style of approach with less emphasis on catchy hooks and more focus on deep-cutting lyricism and witty execution. Also Kendrick. Always Kendrick.

Dee: I’d say a blend of Wu-Tang and OutKast and just being exposed to all different kinds of music from Wu-Tang to India arie to Odd Future.

Kwon: I think we all developed our own sound from different pieces and paths which you hear in our songs. We’re built similar but made from different circumstances so it gels well. Honestly, I just liked free-styling, but then i wanted to sound better, so i started writing. I began to experience more in life and had something to talk about so i jotted it. Odd future was the initial group inspiration but personally, lil herb, earl, & mac miller, had me thinking maybe i could try writing.

Your latest album, “DR. dr.” Has such chill vibes. What was the creative process behind that album?

Rick: It’s funny you ask that. I was discussing this the other day with a colleague of mine. A lot of the tracks i made on ‘DR. dr.’ are sample free and that honestly is a step in a different direction for me. I think the difference in my production process kinda motivated how melancholic the vibe of the music is. I decided to explore untouched sounds that I normally wouldn’t fool with and what you hear in ‘DR. dr.’ is ultimately what manifested.

Dez: To add onto that a bit, ‘DR. dr.’ stands for Dee, Rick, Dez, Rae. A simple acronym, but it’s a title we’ve used for a project far before we started doing public releases, and this time around we just felt it was a fitting title for what we had put together.

What made you decide the album cover for that album?

Dez: “The Leak” mixtape by Lil Wayne which were songs originally intended to be on the iconic Carter III. We referenced the color-way for the album from that cover and then we added some flavor with a spin on our first project ‘Zoology’. Using a neutral, paper-like color for the base and overlaying scientific drawings of different breeds of animals that may have been referenced in previous projects and/or in lyrics of ours. Finally, the mountain theme coming from a 4 song stretch in the middle of the album (Track 4 (Horsemen) to 7 (SmarterMan/CotterMan)).

Where do you find inspiration to create music?

Dez: From daily life experiences, to the sounds from Rick’s beats, to eachothers verses.Alliterations get the best of me a lot of times too.

Dee: Yeah, man. LIFE! Life is the ultimate inspiration. Maybe it’s something I randomly heard that day or a one liner Dez sent in the chat. Sometimes the names of Rick’s beat can get me lyrically inspired.

Kwon: Same thing really. Just my life and sometimes listening to other artists inspires me. But it’s more just me writing my thoughts or feelings, im not a rapper.

How’d you get into making music?

Rick: Beatmaking & engineering were basically handed down. My dad always stayed in the studio & I think I got a beatmaking machine for my 12th birthday. By the time I was 16 the studio was given to me too. I’ve built my own now, but all of that was originally inherited, really.

ALL: For us; we’ve been rapping together since we can remember lowkey. Our older brother, Julius Keith, had us rapping from a very young age (Dee & The Easywey). Big bro had us believing we could rival any pen. I think we do. Kwon picked up the pen once we established ourselves as serious artists, but has literally always been there rhyming with us and just in the studio.

Any new music coming out or being worked on? Anything else you’d like to promote?

ALL: Z44 is meant to be the next release coming out of the Zoo St. camp. We’ve flirted with the idea of a solo EP for Kwon too but…

Dez: I intend to rollout a solo catalogue soon. Including an EP executive produced by myself, with beat production from a talented young Donesunk. I also have a single scheduled to release this coming spring featuring a guest verse from Detroit’s own; Junii & production from TAKN.

Dee: Was in the lab with Rick the other day talking about a possible EP. If the Lord wills it I’m with it.

Kwon: Kwonny world tour suppose to be something im working on but the motivation hasnt really been there since i stopped hooping.

Other than music, what else have you been up to?

Dez: I’m committed to investing my time into my young family. I spend most my time heading to, or at work. Otherwise i’m making time for my family. In any spare time, if I’m not getting out to try and engage with the Chicago music community, I’m trying new foods in the city or even cooking.

Dee: “Really I’m provider yeah I put that on my soul.”

Dez: So yeah dee on the same thing.

Kwon: 2k26 3-level scoring dimer.

Dee: Bro being modest though, he the same archetype in real life and been playing pro ball for like 3 years.

Rick: Trying to make a house a home if you know what I mean. Plus, I been in the gym a lot, really. Traveling a bit more for work in the past few years too.

What music have you been listening to lately?

Dez: Whew.. always a lot of unreleased from the family. Uhh Lifeofthom, Kaicrewsade, DC2Trill, 454, Jay Elec and Oddie Strangelove.

Dee: Obviously, Zoo St. Forrest Frank, Jx.Zero, and that Malice record was tuff.

Kwon: I’ve been on Steve lacy, Domo genesis, LUCKI, khamari.

Rick: For me; I rediscovered my love for Radiohead hits like Nude & Videotape on my most recent vacation trip.