Published on December 3rd, 2015 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Who Is Apollo Night LA #ArtistoftheWeek RELLO JACKSON AKA MR. WHUDUP?

This week’s winner of the Apollo Night LA “Artist of the Week” honors is Rello Jackson, a hard hitting cat from the Midwest whose work ethic put him at the top of the leaderboard for the international show’s weekly broadcast. Let’s meet him!

Living a life of Respect honor and loyalty, Tyrell “Rello” Jackson also known as Mr. Whudup, earned his name in the Twin Cities with his dedication to his craft and collectively working with other artist while taking risks to be viewed as “creative but different.” He was born and raised in the inner cities of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was exposed to the hard ship of poverty, gangs, and drugs, but sought out to over come these obstacle while using music as a stepping-stone. His biggest musical influence, besides the infamous but inspiring Tupac Shakur was his uncle Macadotious. At the age of 12 is when the inspiration of his uncle encouraged Rello to become creative with his own words. The name Mr. Whudup came as a joke at a young age. Family and friends use to say he looked like the comedian Martin Lawrence who had a catchy quote “Wazup”. Rello was intrigued by it, but was not able to say it like he did because he had a deep voice at a young age. All he could do is say was “Whudup”, and it stuck with him from then on. Now with finding parts of his own identity, his talent has continued to grow, opening many doors of challenges but opportunities.

With 4 mixtapes under his belt, (Mr. Whudup, We Are The Troopz, The Hustla So Versatile, and BADU the Collaboration Mixtape) he still manages to have more then 200+ completed songs, not including numerous collaborations. Starting in 2009, Rello got first national-artist opening gig, and went on to be one of the main opening acts for major artist like Rick Ross, Young Dro, Twista, Young Jeezy, Do Or Die, Shawnna, Ace Hood, Pleasure P, Kirko Bangz and more. 2010, he got his first out of town gig with Steal Real Records performing in Kansas City. At this point, Rello began to know his worth but understood his funds where only so long. To change his situation, in the fall of that same year, he enrolled in school at the Institute of Production and Recording for Engineering and Production, completing school in the Fall of 2012. In the middle of 2011, from performing at “every” open mic in town, and being on a lot of headlining show, Rello’s local name began to skyrockets. Going on to be nominated for several awards in both the Twin Cities Urban Music Awards, and the Twin Cities Hip Hop Awards, and winning Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret award (2011), Best Group (2011 & 2012), Best Label (2012), Grinder of the Year (2013), and Minneapolis MVP (2013 and 2014).

Through all of Rello Jackson’s journeys, he managed to better himself as an artist as well as business man. With the 2013 summer grand opening of his own studio in St. Paul, which he built from the ground up and maintained for a year, it was mainly a learning experience. He held that location for almost 2 year, until live took a turn for him with children and work. Late 2014 he closed down the studio and went on to be more involved in his family’s life while still performing periodically here and there. It wasn’t until early 2015 when he branched with and joined Elite Global Management, one of Minnesota’s top event promotions and management company’s, and became the Co-CEO. This year alone, they managed to throw numerous shows and events, giving away TV’s, gift bags, merchandise and more. In his own words “EGM gave me life. I fell back on music, and they made me realized, I need it like i need air. Its just a part of life”. He is now back and working on new project but is still untitled. Be looking for growth in the near future with 2016 and beyond.

Now filled hard work and endeavors, his main goal 2016 is to go viral with more video’s, websites and reaching new fans through social networks and media’s. Rello has always been self-made, booking his own shows, engineering his own music, and creating his own flyers, but can draw back and depend on the team. This is a new beginning for this Minneapolis Native artist so be prepared to see more.

From the outside looking in, who is Rello Jackson?

I’ve been told I am a respectful therefore a respectable MAN. Also i believe strongly that you need to earn your keep, and if you don’t deserve it, then its not your for the taking. I don’t hold back, if i feel a certain way, it will be express, and i’m a family man before anything.

What brought you to the entertainment industry, music specifically?

Music, is a form of life. A natural thing. Just like you have your 5 senses and don’t even think twice about it, music is like that. The Vibe. So I had it in me since day one. I didn’t express it to others until i was about 12 years of age when i found myself surrounded with like minded individuals. Those who also wanted to voice their opinion over a tempo also.

Tell us about your current project and your ApolloNightLA “Artist of the Week” winning single “Business Over Pleasure ft. Righteouss”.

This song mainly explained my view of my city. The unity has so much potential but is over ran by the people who want to be the face or the front runners, therefore people pray more on your downfall then your progression. I just explained in the song that i’m observant and see them, but they don’t matter, because its business over pleasure. I’m taking care of whats important and stepping over obstacles.

For new listeners, what song of yours would you pick as an introduction to you?

A song of mine that i would pic as my introduction of my is a song i never created yet. With decades of years under my belt, i’m still trying to find myself and my comfort because ever year, i change, and am no long satisfied with the past. I just ask that you strap up and hop on this ride with me. Theres so much more to come. But if i can have someone else song be my intro, it would be Tupac Unconditional Love! “We must remember that tomorrow comes after the dark”!

Last but not least, HYPE wants to know…What’s your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?!” moment…

Back in 2011, I was in a competition for Best Song, and mind you, I usually when the majority of them, but i lost to a female. Not the fact of it being a female, because i know some amazing females in Minnesota that are better than me by a long shot overall like Solo Star, Sweets P, just to name a few, but this female was rapping, performing live, but didn’t know any of her words, and it was a national beat. This Girl was beautiful thought, and it didn’t help that 4 of the 5 judges were men where she took 4 out of the 5 votes. I congratulated her and after spoke to the judges. “I was told, you win a lot, its ok to give others a chance”. WHERE THEY DO THAT AT?!

Get Social:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rello.jackson

twitter: www.twitter.com/MrWhudup

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.