PHIL ADÉ INTERVIEW: Los Angeles by way of Maryland rapper, songwriter, producer, and multi-hyphenate, Phil Adé is known for his continuing evolution across music and entertainment. Of Nigerian and Grenadian descent, ADÉ was raised across California, Alabama, Florida, and Maryland—where he discovered his musical roots through church and the DMV’s signature go-go sound. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Diverse, motivational, bright, self-conscience, intelligent.
Tell me something unique about your creative process
Sometimes before I begin recording I listen to a few of my own songs – usually the more recent ones. This is going to sound ridiculous but it’s like quickly reminding myself how to make music.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
The song on my project called ‘Way Too Serious’
What inspired you to make that song?
It’s based on my own experience. I think for a long time I just had the wrong idea about success and I was hard on myself because of that. Life is here for us to enjoy it. I had to learn to just focus on what’s in front of me, what’s around me and the people that are with me and appreciate all of it. Yes, be motivated and work hard but also be content with what you’re blessed with. The materialistic shit is not that serious.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
Anytime I’ve made any mention in my music of anything that has happened with my family, my mom, my brother, my sister, my relationship with my father —that’s me being vulnerable. I’m very protective of them.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
Best experience for me was having the mayor of DC at the time introduce me before I did my festival set at Broccoli City Festival some years ago.
Worst experience was early on in my career. I once got super drunk before performing at one of my first headlining shows and forgot the lyrics to half the songs on my set. I was pretty disgusted with myself after that one.
What is your favourite song to perform?
A song from one of my EP’s called ‘Something Sweet’. It’s a fun song that includes just the right amount of crowd participation. I usually end my show sets with it. It also features the legend Fatman Scoop who passed some time ago. It’s a special song, one of my best for sure.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
A Tribe Called Quest. they made Rap sound and look like fun to me.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
It’s nothing overly complicated, I just simplified my government name. Phil Adé is just the short version of Philip Adetumbi.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
I believe I’d dive deeper into the fashion business. I already have an online merch shop (adeinmycart.com) that I periodically release pieces on. Also, currently, me and some friends of mine are working on a streetwear clothing brand called ‘County Goods’ that we’re planning to drop next year, God willin’. I love clothes and finding new ways to dress myself. I think I’d definitely be more on the producer than the consumer side of it if I hadn’t been making music.
What’s success to you?
Success is being able to do what you love and change other peoples lives for the better doing it. It’s become as simple as that for me.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Near the end of my stint on my previous label I was feeling abandoned by some of the people that were supposed to be in my corner. I got out of that situation and I’m doing my best now to make sure I never end up there again. I’m putting out all of my creative projects, from here on out, through my own label, SEENIC Route Creative, and I’ve hired my own team to do so. I’m the captain now.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
I’m pretty active on social media. X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook —my handle is the same for all of them. @adeinmylife
Photos by Justin Villanueva
