In conversation with Milolaathetlukken

“Everything I do is to confuse people,” says Milolaathetlukken, and he means it. Flashy but composed, loud on record but calm in person, Milo van den Bos raps about sex, drugs, and Dries Van Noten in the same breath. He’s a self-proclaimed “sweet boy” with a big mouth — a perfectionist whose debut EP blends Atlanta trap with Dutch directness, designer polish, and drill grit. The Prada devotee is fresh off tour with pop princess S10 and ready to bring his self-described classy drill to the mainstream – on his own terms.

Hey Milo! Congrats on your debut EP “OMG YES”, how were the last few weeks?
It was a lot of stress. I have a tour in November, and we wanted to release the EP before it starts… and I’m really a perfectionist.

I get that. What’s your favourite song on the record? I can imagine it’s like choosing between your unborn children now.
That’s a difficult one. I think Soldaat. I like the beat a lot, and the lyrics.

Sometimes it’s as simple as that.  What was different about making an EP when you’ve only released singles until now?
I would say it’s a folder of separate things. I wanted to make some songs with the ATL sound, like the Gucci Mane trap sound. And I want to give it a bit of a mixtape feeling. Like the slowed down intros and the beat tags and stuff. But I also have a Yung Felix production, like a classic Yung Felix-type dirty tune. And one house song. I just want to show that I can do a lot of things, but it’s still my stuff.

Now you’re kind of carving out who you are musically, how would you describe your sound and style of rap?
It’s very direct. It’s easy to follow. You can understand everything. Even if I say slang, you can still hear what I say; it’s not really fast or mumbly. I like fast rap, but it doesn’t match me. I also speak slowly. So my words are… calm, direct, very quotable. I want every line to be your favourite. No fillers. And if it’s a filler, it’s just one word. But I want to make even that word something strong, like “oh my God, yes”, so it’s able to become an album title and actually becomes something bigger. 

What are your main musical inspirations?
Mainly trap music from America. But also the UK and Germany and… I just listen to whatever. The main inspiration is old American rap. For this EP, I was really into Gucci Mane, the old stuff. And I wanted to try the same kind of beats. It’s like ATL, Atlanta Trap.

Do you think that makes your music stand out from other Dutch rap?
I think the beat choices that I make are very outgoing. And new for Holland. I don’t hear it often. I think people are scared to try this kind of stuff. Because they think it’s not radio-friendly.  

But some of your songs, especially your collabs, are very radio-friendly, actually. Are you afraid of mainstream?
No, not really. I like to mix and match. I want to be a big pop star. I don’t want to make commercial sounds, but I do want to take the sound I make to the mainstream. Break the norm. 

I read you gravitate towards the New York Drill sound, because it’s less aggressive than other drill. Apparently, you’re a certified sweet boy (self-described “lieve jongen”). What’s the sweetest thing you’ve done recently?
The sweetest thing? Shit. I don’t know, I’m always sweet. I take really good care of my cats, two British Shorthairs. 

I love British Shorthairs.
Yeah, they’re fluffy. 

Can you tell me about the cover of your new EP?
I found an artist from Japan who does like spray-painted art, and I really fucked with it. So I showed it to my management and I told them, “This is gonna be it. I want this.” He’s called Ryota Daimon. It doesn’t matter to me if he’s big or not. 

You move easily between very different circles, from polished pop artists to rawer, street-inspired acts. How do you bridge those two worlds?
I’m not really a gangster type of guy, but I really match both the kakker and the street world. I can get along with everyone. I’m just a very open person. I have collaborations with Antoon, poppy and polished, and artists like Mensa, who are more grimy, less cute.

In your music, you talk about the usual hip-hop themes — clothes, sex, money. You’ll drop names like Gucci and Prada, but then also someone unexpected like Dries Van Noten. You don’t hear that often in rap. Is that a conscious choice?
Yeah, I really tried to do that. Because I like the traditional stuff, rapping about money and fashion. But I tried to give it a twist because I’m also different. I’m not only this flashy dude wearing a Gucci cap.

What draws you to certain brands, and how do you think they reflect your personal approach to style?
I like to switch it up a bit. Like, I enjoy flashy, branded items, but I would never mix them with other flashy items. It’s always one visible lobo max, like a Gucci cap, but the rest would be more classy. My clothing is always branded but to me it’s nicer if you can recognise the branding by a detail rather than a logo. But that definitely doesnt stop me from wearing a monogram print or a logo thats just a tad to big.

[I’m pointing at the huge Y-3 logo on his zip-up]
But this is for the people who know what it is. That’s what I like. Most people would think this is just… Adidas. 

So, do you feel like it’s maybe a flex to the in-crowd?
Yeah, a bit. But because I like the flashy stuff too, people are confused. And I like to confuse people. Also in my lyrics and my beats. Everything I do is to confuse people. A bit. 

For someone who raps with such flashy themes, you seem quite reserved in person. Timid a little bit. Is that a part of your confusion?
Yeah, I think so. I feel like I’m flashy always – but not screamy, not loud. I’m really calm. When I meet people on the street, they say things like… “Oh, you’re so chill. I really didn’t expect you to be such a chill guy.” It’s funny. Maybe because I have a big mouth in my music. 

Is it a performance, or an alter ego, the big mouth?
No, not really, because I have it. It’s not a lie. But I wouldn’t give my big mouth to everyone. I’m respectful. And cute. 

Haha. Anyway, let’s talk about fashion. First of all, tell me about what you’re wearing today.
I’m wearing a Y-3 Shippo, a track jacket, Y-3 nylon pants, Adidas running shoes-slash-dad trainers. And an Adidas dime jacket. That’s it.

What is your signature look these days?
I’m very into Y-3 lately. It really fits my body type. I’m very tall, and my legs are long. And somehow their pants always fit me right. It’s weird because it’s Japanese, you would think Japanese brands would always be too short on me. And normally, I almost always have a lot of Comme des Garçons on me. 

What’s your favourite piece?
That’s difficult. I like that they have a lot of mesh, nylon, and polyester. I like sporty fabrics, it’s almost scuba-like or something. I like track jackets and nylon track pants. That’s my style lately.

In a world where people foam at the mouth for Raw Selvedge Denim, it’s a funny take, actually, to like synthetic. What’s your first fashion memory?
I was into rap from a young age. I looked at 50 Cent and Soulja Boy. And I really liked the new era caps and the long t-shirts. And all the kids and parents from my school were like, “What the fuck are you doing?” I wore bandanas and stuff. I really wanted to look like a gangster. I think I was around 10. All the parents told me like, “Pull your pants up.”

What did your own parents think?
They just thought it was funny that I wanted to dress like something. Because it is. I think it looked very cool. Even on a child. I would still wear it like that.

And is there anyone now that you’re drawing personal style inspiration from?
Hmm. I like A$AP Nest a lot. And Veneda Carter, I like her style. A$AP loves to wear Comme des Garçons, and I like how he mixes and matches with like a very crazy jacket. He can wear clownish items, but make it look cool. Veneda, yeah. I don’t know. I think it’s very interesting how she wears her clothes. She always wears weird Nikes and old Jordans with sweatpants. Like the colour combinations and her funky jewellery. 

In terms of style, who do you think is setting the bar in the music industry right now? And who do you think might need a little help in that department?
Oh shit. Juicy.

Come on, big mouth.
Maybe Chief Keef, trapper style. I like it, but I never would do the same.

Who do you think might need a little help?
Lil baby. He needs help. There’s a meme going on that he just had new tattoos on his upper leg, and he wore very short shorts to show them off, but it looks really goofy, almost hotpants, to show off his new tats. 

Is there one specific item of clothing that, when you see someone wearing it, you instantly know that they have a strong sense of style?
Yeah, for sure. If someone wears Comme, I know they know what’s up. Or if someone wears Vaquera. But if they wear the lingerie T-shirt, then I almost feel like I’ve seen enough. I think that happens very quickly. I even have it when I see a nice shoe and think, okay, let’s do it. And then a month later, I see everyone with it. I don’t feel special anymore. I don’t want it to be like, oh, you have those. It has to be “What are those?” 

That’s funny. And what do you do with the stuff that you don’t like anymore?
I think it can be cool after some time, so I keep an archive. I have a whole room in my house where I keep all the shoe boxes and stuff. 

You rap about being “fris heel fruitig” (Fresh and fruity) – What does Milolaathetlukken smell like? Are you big on perfumes?
I have a new perfume: Bibi in collaboration with Skins. It’s the Santal. Usually, I like woody smells more. Cedarwood. So this is a new step. I have a lot of perfumes, but I spray a lot, so… It’s all gone. And I always commit to one for a while, I don’t want to mix, because my clothes smell like one perfume. I don’t want to be a scent bomb. Something I really hate is when people have too much on. If they pass by me and I can smell it, mostly it’s because the perfume is very cheap, like sweet body spray. Sometimes men wear something I can’t stand… What’s that smell? Really overpowering, musky… 

Oud, maybe?
Exactly. I like oud, but…If people spray that much, I get crazy nauseous. 

Not my personal fav either! What are your favourite spots in Amsterdam?
Bar Billie. You can find me there a lot. I know everyone there, so it feels like coming home, like a living room. Café Pieper as well, I like it. Mostly, I like terraces, even with the rainy weather, I enjoy sitting under a heater. I don’t like clubs a lot. I like to just chat with a beer and relax. I’m not a big party boy. But it can escalate. 

And how do you feel about the fashion scene in Amsterdam?
I don’t really like it here. I love London for fashion. And online. For shopping, I go to Cowboys to Catwalk. And since a couple of months, there’s SPRMRKT. I liked the way they did the Stüssy store as well. Same for Margriet Nannings. 

Some rapid fires: Favourite shoe? One you own, and one you would like to own.
I own a pair of Christian Louboutins, high tops with studs. They are my favourite at the moment. They are very nostalgic for me. I like that they are a bit tacky but also classy at the same time. A pair that I still need are the Gucci Princetown loafers with fur inside, but they aren’t in the collection anymore so I’m still waiting for the day they are rereleased.

What’s the most expensive item in your wardrobe?
I think my Prada jacket. It shouldn’t have been that expensive, but it was. Unfortunately, I wanted it badly.

And is that also your most prized possession?
I never have one favourite item. If I buy something new and I’m very happy with it, I will wear it for a week and then it’s just an item. After that it’s just in the rotation. Maybe my favourite is the new Vaquera piece I bought. It’s an oversized Rugby polo.

What’s on your rider?
Hennessy, Veuve Cliqout champagne, Heineken beers, Coolbest, soda’s, La Roche-posay water spray, M&M’s, Sensation sweet chili chips and a selection of fruits. 

What’s your favourite song at the moment?
Everything on my new EP, haha.

Are you superstitious?
Not really, but I do have my rituals before I go on stage, and I keep my fingers crossed if I walk underneath constructions.

Go-to drink?
Capri-sun, especially Cherry.

One thing you can’t leave the house without?
Can’t leave my house without saying goodbye to Pop and Punk (my cats).

Do you have any plans for after your tour?
Yeah, maybe I’ll go somewhere in December. I really want to lay down on a bed at the beach. So we have to go far, maybe Miami. I think I need some rest.