Words by Haley Collins
Photos by Leo Soyfer and Solomon Mabry
Infusing philosophy and existential lyricism into his cheerful hip-hop, Grayson Pitts, better known as Robin Raps is a passionate artist, philosophy enthusiast, and a driven businessman. His sound, while light-hearted, shares authentic stories from his life and exudes his personality. And those catchy hooks, they’re part of the whole vibe.
Many may have just seen his episode with “Music in Transit,” an Emmy-award-winning concert web series where he performed aboard a moving IndyGo bus. Coming up on August 26, he will be playing at the summer hip-hop festival CHREECE headlined by 9th Wonder and redveil among a host of other talented producers and DJs. He’s spending many hours in the studio this summer with producer Travis “Kold Kut” Moore of Round Table Recording Company in Broad Ripple as he plans on releasing a few new singles.
In September 2022, Pitts released his first album, “The Florist”. To apply his inspirations and create something completely his own, he emphasized the importance of setting goals and dedicating specific time to his craft.
Most recently, he put out a single with Spring Term lead man Nathan Davis, “Tell Me Your Name (Timid Talk Remix)”, an 808-ish, electronic hip-hop version of the original from Davis’s nostalgic debut EP “Kiddo”. At night he works his “survival” job so that he can block out windows of time for creating music during the day.
When asked how he can keep at his music on days when it isn’t so easy, Pitts’s response was simple. He imagines the years ahead and considers what the alternative would be. He focuses on gradual progress over time, and it works.
Pitts discussed the entire non-linear nature of creative careers, and while some may consider rap to be a “young man’s game,” it is unknown when success will strike. The façade of the “overnight success” reveals countless hours of practice and unwavering dedication until that time comes. He shared a poignant thought that as music is his purpose, it is “not his place” to be thinking about age and circumstances, as his only task is to bring the art to life.
That’s not to say Robin Raps has not seen success. With sold-out shows, creative live performances, and even a line of coffee beans, Pitts is creating a name for himself within the city where he is received well by the local community. Looking at the years ahead, Pitts aspires to make music a full-time career and keep Indianapolis as a home base between shows and recording.
Pitts grew up in Indianapolis and feels strongly about weaving this into his sound. This music is not just for himself, but for the enjoyment of others to lessen suffering, tell engaging stories, and share experiences in a relatable way. Robin Raps gives music to people in a way that is going to help them, packaged in his own personal sound and a message of positivity.
There is a careful balancing act that goes into curating his vision while also creating accessible music. Pitts shared that he used to be overly philosophical in his early sound and changed his writing style over time so that it wasn’t “so dense”.
Now he can still share his message sonically and writing-wise in a way people will like but also trust in his own vision. He shared his opinion that better music is made when artists create accessibly while also living up to their own tastes.
His advice for aspiring artists in Indianapolis and his words of wisdom for staying focused points to within. “Take the time to learn about yourself or analyze yourself, and ask yourself if the art you’re creating is… purposeful.” He believes passionately in the use of lists and setting measurable goals, making them specific, challenging, and realistic.
Most importantly, his message is to stick with it and never give up, as regret comes from a lack of progress over time.
