David Appolon's favorite rapper is Kanye West. One of my favorite rappers is Kanye West. We got along just fine (his favorite album is "808s and Heartbreaks" while mine is "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"). I met and talked with the up and coming rapper at the beginning of this month.
Appolon is better known as Gio Dee and didn’t always see himself as a rising rap star in Boston. According to Appolon, in the bible the name David means love of musicians and Gio in Italian means gracious. All together, Appolon’s stage name means gracious love of musicians. Born and raised in Boston, Appolon didn’t know he would be where he is today. Now 23, Appolon planned on becoming an audio engineer but after two years left school to pursue a
career in music and is now a rising rap star in the Boston-area.
Appolon now resides between Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, and San Francisco. He moved to California in April to expand his sound, fanbase and overall for a change of pace. Appolon was originally part of rap group Chef Boyz with friends. Chef Boyz is now the name of Appolon’s label and part of his business market.
Appolon now resides between Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, and San Francisco. He moved to California in April to expand his sound, fanbase and overall for a change of pace. Appolon was originally part of rap group Chef Boyz with friends. Chef Boyz is now the name of Appolon’s label and part of his business market.
“[Music] happened by accident,” said Appolon.
“[I said], ‘let’s not do what everyone is expecting me to do’ and I just went
back to music. I was in and out of studios as a kid. [I was] always interested
in music.”
For Appolon’s first class project in an audio engineering class as a freshman, he was told to record either an instrument or vocals. He decided to rap and record himself and released the rap online, eventually receiving more than 2,000 plays. The initial reaction to the rap was all positive and continued to post freestyle raps each week to see how an audience would react.
For Appolon’s first class project in an audio engineering class as a freshman, he was told to record either an instrument or vocals. He decided to rap and record himself and released the rap online, eventually receiving more than 2,000 plays. The initial reaction to the rap was all positive and continued to post freestyle raps each week to see how an audience would react.
Appolon
realized music was something he could do for the rest of his life in 2012 when
he sold out his first headline show at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge,
MA. Appolon also opened up for G-Eazy at House of Blues Boston and loved
every second because of the positive crowd reaction that he received. Appolon
wants to create something that fans can relate to.
“[Music] defines me at this point. I can’t see myself doing anything else at this point. It’s something I love to do. It’s something I really desire to do. I always go after what my heart desires,” said Appolon. “I knew it was a strong passion since probably elementary school. Probably third or fourth grade. I’ve always been around music pretty much.”
Appolon's newest album "Never Going Back" under his stage name Gio Dee will be released in November.
“[Music] defines me at this point. I can’t see myself doing anything else at this point. It’s something I love to do. It’s something I really desire to do. I always go after what my heart desires,” said Appolon. “I knew it was a strong passion since probably elementary school. Probably third or fourth grade. I’ve always been around music pretty much.”
Appolon's newest album "Never Going Back" under his stage name Gio Dee will be released in November.