Rapper Robbie G is coming home to Guelph for his Boom Bap tour and album release
On Sept. 23, Guelph native Robert Gruenbauer, better known as Robbie G, is performing at Van Gogh’s Ear during the Ontario leg of his Boom Bap tour.
Gruenbauer is set to release his next album Boom Bap the same day he returns to Guelph. Twenty-nine tour dates have been set across Canada over the fall after just completing a 20-date tour with collaborator Evil Ebenezer.
Starting up in the small, rural city of Guelph had its challenges, but Gruenbauer is no slouch.
“We haven’t really had that many years to build a music scene [in Canada] especially for an urban hip hop market,” said Gruenbauer. “If you’re in the States you can do a ton of shows in a small area, where in Canada some of the drives between our tour dates on the Boom Bap Canadian [are] eight hours between some cities.”
Across all genres in Canada, artists must continually strive for success and Gruenbauer’s work as Robbie G highlights the dedication needed to ‘make it’ in this country.
“Everyone thinks that you just make this big hit and you blow up and you become famous - well it’s not really like that; you have to work really, really hard all the time, blood, sweat and tears. You’re going to get kicked down, people are going to make fun of you, people are going to hate, but you have to have thick skin and just believe in yourself, and keep on going.”
Robbie G has been kicked down, and by no less than someone he admired. One instance manifested itself into a diss track by long-time local artist Noah23 simply called, F#$% You – which left Gruenbauer unscathed.
“I’ve looked up to Noah23 since I started in this industry,” said Gruenbauer. “I’m not really in this industry to get into verbal arguments like that… I’ve got nothing against him.”
Even in the worst moments, Gruenbauer stays poised and focused on his music. Noah23, however, might still be stuck on his original thoughts.
“His music is garbage and he’s a wretched cliché," was all that Noah23 would comment in a private Facebook message.
One real way you might learn about this artist is to go to his show.
“I feel like my music will tell them who I am better than I can tell them myself,” said Gruenbauer.
Robbie G performs at Van Gogh’s Ear on Sept. 23.
