Julian Xtra might be the most unique rapper on the scene, and he’s here to motivate the masses. Hailing from Chicago, the progressive hip-hop artist makes lyrical melodic music that covers heavy topics from politics to spirituality, reminding the masses that real hip-hop comes with substance.
An accomplished producer who’s put out several viral hits, Julian tells his story as someone who experienced a horrible bout of Lyme Disease back in 2012, resulting in the possibility that his music career might be over. Thankfully, he switched his lifestyle into a vegan, alkaline diet rich with herbs and holistic medicine — which he believes healed him back into full health. He even has his own vegan supplement line called All Green Everything.
With his newest single titled “Moths to the Flame,” Julian touches on the fact that for Hip Hop, the party is over. Due to the world‘s current state of civil unrest, party tracks or songs about drug use may not be the most productive use of the platform.
AllHipHop: You’re from Chicago, what was the household like growing up?
Julian Xtra: Being from Chicago, growing up was very cool. I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, I was exposed to many cultures. I’m Mexican and Creole so I grew up with delicious cuisines on both sides as well as rich cultures. Out here, I knew a lot of Indians, Asians, Hispanic people, black people. I feel very blessed to have gathered a lot of different perspectives.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences?
Julian Xtra: Lyrically not necessarily content-wise, Eminem. I really loved Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. I loved how they were technical and melodic, I thought that was amazing. I love Lil Wayne, his star power. Drake, all those different guys.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?
Julian Xtra: I’ve been rapping since I was 9 years old. It felt like an inevitable progression, I was supposed to keep doing this and there really wasn’t much question. This is what I’m doing, so gotta figure out how to do it.
AllHipHop: Talk about your experience with Lyme Disease back in 2012, and starting your own vegan supplement line called All Green Everything.
Julian Xtra: Back in 2012, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. It was affecting my brain so I decided to go ahead and get healthy. I started eating as clean as possible, paying attention, reading all the labels, making sure I could do the right thing to be in a better place mentally and physically. It changed everything for the better. I was able to still write good songs, still do all the things I could that somebody with neurological brain disease would have a rough time doing. I was able to continue doing it at a high level because I was healing and getting better. Now with this vegan supplement line, I’m going to expand that. What can I bring to the people, a product that I believe in? One of those is giving people healthy food. That’s all supplements are really are, food in pill form.
AllHipHop: How do you feel?
Julian Xtra: I feel terrific. I just got done doing a big workout today, it kicked my ass. I did core and cardio, I was studying a little bit.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
Julian Xtra: My middle name is Xavier, for a while I was JXL, my initials for Julian Xavier Lozano. I thought I wanted something that popped a little more. In my production style, in my delivery, it tends to be over the top. Someone said extra, so alright I’ll take my middle name and flip it into that.
https://soundcloud.com/julianxtra/5-starsmaster-v90
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you recorded “Five Stars!” What do you want fans to get from the record?
Julian Xtra: That record is a celebration of wins. I’ve had a lot of wins this summer. I had a Forbes article come out that was amazing, for this production I did for a couple of huge brands. “Five Stars!” is a celebration of that, an affirmation to win. A song of gratitude so we can bring in more wins, more abundance.
AllHipHop: What’s the inspiration behind “Moths To The Flame”?
Julian Xtra: “Moths to the flame” is an affirmation. I decided purposefully to release it right after the election because whatever side of the fence somebody’s on, it’s about facing change head on. No matter what happens, if we’re disappointed or we’re elated, either way we have to keep marching forward and keep fighting the good fight. Making sure we have motivation to progress. If there’s a setback, we need to rally and cry to keep moving forward. Keep pushing, that’s the energy of the song.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Julian Xtra: I need to feel comfortable. I do best at my home studio because it’s at home, I have everything I need there. I need water, a whole lot of it, and snacks. I need a vibe. I need no distractions. A lot of people like to show up with 100 people to the studio, that’s not what I do. I usually work at home but if I’m going to another studio, I come alone because I don’t need a 100 people talking to me or distracting me. I’m a hermit in how I work.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CF7oVO-Fgl6/
AllHipHop: How was opening for Post Malone?
Julian Xtra: It was crazy, a surreal experience. It was in Denver, almost 10,000 people in there. Post Malone is immensely talented, he really really impressed me that day. I have a lot of respect for him. It was a New Year’s Eve show. They were having technical difficulties right before Post’s set. While he was standing on stage, instead of being mad or being awkward, he smiled and cracked jokes about the whole situation. Some people could be a diva about it, but he was really cool. He was smiling, talking to the fans, sitting on the edge of the stage. It was really cool to see somebody famous be humble.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Julian Xtra: We want to go ahead and make my personal stuff blow up on Instagram and TikTok, have those numbers grow so that way I can independently sell merch. The people among them that may be interested in health, I want to provide something for them.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
Julian Xtra: My music is meant to be motivational, something you listen to when you’re working out. Something you listen to when you’re trying to lift yourself out of a dark place. It’s meant to be affirmational, one of those things where you look yourself in the mirror like “I’m a winner!” That’s the purpose of my music.