Meet Caleb Rudd, a nineteen-year-old rapper from Nashville, Tennessee, who goes by the stage name of Topdown. With his unique style and blend of different genres, he has been making waves in the music industry. In a recent interview, Topdown spoke candidly about his music, his passion for it, and what drives him.
‘Topdown’ is an oxymoron, a word that contradicts itself, and that is what he embodies – contradiction. As Topdown, he is both the observer and the observed. According to him, the name came from an idea for a character that he wanted to do for a project, but it became much more. Topdown is now his artist name, and he believes it represents him perfectly. Music has been a part of Topdown’s life since he can remember. As a child, he used to sing and replay songs repeatedly, and he always fixated on certain specific sounds. In middle school, he started teaching himself how to play the piano and gradually started creating his pieces. He describes his music as a mix of rap, alternative hip-hop, jazz, classical, and rock. His lyrics are the main part, but he also focuses on making music that draws listeners in sonically.
Topdown has been making music seriously since September 2022, but he started playing around with rap and hip-hop in October 2021. He makes music for himself, as it is his therapy and the truest way for him to express himself. While he admits that money and fame are welcome, they are not his main goals. Instead, the driving force is perfectionism. He believes in perfecting things to his own standard and making something that lasts. His goal is to create work that has passion and care for itself and does not fade into the endless pits of content and mediocrity. He also wants to outdo those that inspired him and make a mark in the music industry. Topdown has a lot of great friends, family, and supporters, but three people have contributed significantly to his growth. The first is his best friend, Aiden who pushed him into doing rap. The second another close friend Corbin. Caleb would send him ideas while and he had always been there to help give advice and input, helping Topdown become reality. The third is his cousin Brooklyn. She is the greatest source of his confidence and sees her not only as his biggest fans but one for the kindest and realest people you’ll ever meet.
