Is Welo Denver’s Denzel Curry?

Photography by Trey Karson.

“[Being a musician] is a marathon, not a sprint,” said local rapper Welo with deep sincerity. “You can’t look back, you have to always look forward, and it’s not for everyone.”

Welo, or Jerrad Richardson, made Denver his home five years ago, moving far away from his childhood in Hawaii. Though the first year was rocky with COVID lockdowns and political turbulence, the artist scene of Denver discovered Richardson’s passion and helped form the artist fans see today.

Now established in Denver with a studio, photographer, stylist, and fan base convinced he’s the next Denzel Curry, Richardson speaks with his chest and performs with his whole body, jumping across the stage no matter how big or small.

Richardson acquired his stage legs through years of opening for big name acts such as Lil Xan , Lil Pump, and Ski Mask The Slump God. Experiencing crowds of all sizes and even recovering from an elementary school talent show where he remembers being laughed off the stage, Richardson is ready for anything when it comes to performing.

“I love performing,” said Richardson. “I love the back and forth with the crowd. It’s a release for me and it’s a release for them.“

Each beat is littered with unique sound bites and echos of Richardson’s blunt, bouncy, lyricism. Walking a fine line between sinister and goofy energy across each track, Richardson exudes confidence that pulls any listener out of their shell and into the moshpit.

“I just make music that I want to listen to. Turns out other people like it too,” said Richardson with a smile. “I just want to make dope shit with the homies. Explore all the different vibes, you know what I mean? Make something for any mood you’re in. Bring you some type of comfort, or be able to help bring you down, and help hype you up.“

There is no question that most Welo songs will help hype you up. Terse percussion and diverse flows bring intensity and pressure to each track that Richardson releases with on the nose lyrics and cathartic volume. The edge and heat that sets Richardson’s work apart from the chill or easy-listening side of hip-hop is tied to his passion for groups such as Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance in his youth.

“The first time I listened to Linkin Park, it changed my whole brain chemistry,” explained Richardson. “I did a nosedive into their music. The freedom of it. You can feel every instrument when you listen to the songs. It still gives me goosebumps. Still hits like the first time I heard it. The emotion is crazy.”

Tapping into depths of emotion boldly and reminding every listener that sometimes it helps to scream it out and move, Richardson makes quite an impact on all he meets. Performing across stages in Denver Richardson screams his heart out and then hops off the stage to hug fans. This energy and confidence stems from years of patience, financial commitment, and tinkering at his craft. As a lifelong poet Richardson’s writing began long before his rapping, including a full book project he completed with friends in his youth.

“If you don’t have the patience to wait until its your time you aren’t gonna make it,” said Richardson. “You’ve gotta put money behind yourself. Consistent money, to keep things moving.”

Working and writing relentlessly, even scheduling studio time on his birthday, Richardson is determined to spread his explosive energy to fans across the world. Keep an eye out for Welo’s upcoming releases on Instagram and check out his music video collection on Youtube. And hey, go see him live, I promise it’ll be worth it.