Not that he necessarily needs it, but popular hip-hop artist LaRussell will add to an impressive resume that already includes Tiny Desk performance, Breakfast Club radio show appearance, and sold-out Empress show.
Grand Marshal of the Vallejo’s Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and Parade.
Despite having never actually attended the parade during his youth in Vallejo, the artist radiated a big smile while discussing his latest honor.
“I’m just excited to be chosen,” he said.
Throughout the advancement of his musical career, one thing has remained constant — his Vallejo pride. As he reaches new heights both locally and nationally, the artist is accepting the increased attention with open arms.
“It’s one of those things like, I finally earned the attention and respect that I was requesting then,” said LaRussell. “I was trying to get into certain spaces and hoping that people were going to help me based off what I thought I was going to be. But now it’s finite.”
While his career continues in momentum and the number of watchful eyes grows, he has remained true to his goals for the city of Vallejo. And some of those “watchful eyes” belong to city leaders.
“It’s been really dope to see the leadership of the city really change around LaRussell,” he said.
The artist makes a point to enter every stage, business venture, and role with excitement. Local leaders are catching on to that theme.
“They understand the height of my impact and the magnitude of me being at home now,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be received in that way and to be able to actually make change in the city now.”
Vallejo rapper LaRussell performs in front of thousands of fans during Thursday night’s final August Summer Nights celebration in downtown Vallejo. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
The city, lacking in attractions like major sports teams and monuments, has found a new avenue in which to bond over .
“People from Vallejo just have Vallejo pride so when one of our own makes it, it’s just like — I’m the team mascot for the moment,” he laughed.
Mad Hatter organizer Frank Malifrando was happy to get LaRussell as Grand Marshal.
“I don’t want him performing on Georgia Street as the parade goes down that way, but I expect that he will likely do something once the parade gets to the tree lightning at the end of the route,” Malifrando said last week, with a laugh.
Even as an artist with increasing demand, LaRussell’s busy schedule does not stand in the way of his love for his city. Following a recent meeting with the city manager, he spoke about his plans to draw larger crowds into Vallejo, through concerts, events, and welcoming larger artists.
At the root of it all?
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“It’s really just allowing Vallejo to thrive and gain more revenue from entertainment,” he says. “I understand what the future of this city will look like if we are able to do what we are setting out to accomplish.”
In his position as a popular and up-and-coming artist, LaRussell has no intention of abandoning his Vallejo roots.
“I’ve been trying to encourage all of our heroes to stay home,” says LaRussell.
Perhaps it has more to do with this artist’s admiration for the place and the people that raised him, and less to do with the industry itself. “I feel more comfortable here than anywhere else in the world,” he concluded.
Based on the number of screaming fans at his sold-out Empress Theatre show and his more recent accolade of being named grand marshal, it’s clear that his city supports him as much as he does them.
The artist will be crowned at the Queen’s Court at noon on Saturday during the Mad Hatter Festival and Parade.
Times-Herald reporter Thomas Gase contributed to this article.
