Ridgio – Run (feat. YTM) [Interview]

September 24, 2020November 7, 2020 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Please Introduce yourself

I’m rapper and producer from the westside of Chicago. I started playing music when I was 17 and have been at it every since. My main inspiration musically is story telling and it comes from people like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, and J Cole. And one of the main reasons why I’m motivated to keep pushing forward in music is to spread the true Word of God through the sound he blessed me with.

Describe your sound in 3 words

Energetic, Lively, Infectious

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer

My favorite rapper is Big Sean, Lyricist is J Cole, and Producer is Kanye West.

Best Hip Hop album ever

Good Kid Maad City

Best live gig you have even been

Playing in Milwaukee was amazing! I still appreciate the energy I got there til this day. It was just a small bar but it was crazy!

Top Hidden Gem Artist

My boy “Parnell”

Future plans

I’m releasing a gang of music videos leading up to my next Album 26 Winters thats coming out next February. After that I’ll be networking and really tryna focus on my craft as well while spreading music.

G Q Smith – Fire in My Brain (feat. Open Mike Eagle, Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire, Hoodie. & FiveOh!1) [Interview]

September 15, 2020November 7, 2020 ~ Admin ~ Leave a comment

Please Introduce yourself

I am G Q Smith. I am an independent music producer based in Illinois. I’ve been producing hip hop for about 5 years, but playing music for most of my life. I just worked with Open Mike Eagle and Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire on a track called Fire In My Brain.

Describe your sound in 3 words

Depravitive, exposed, curious

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer

My favorite rapper and lyricist is Danny Brown. His voice and lyricism really make me love him. My favorite producer (not including me because of course I am my own favorite), is Skywlkr who produced a lot of the songs in Danny Brown’s album XXX. Very experimental, interesting and memorable.

Best Hip Hop album ever

I bounce back between XXX or Atrocity Exhibition, both by Danny Brown. Right now I say XXX. “Stank pussy smelling like Cool Ranch Doritos”, that line always gets me.

Best live gig you have even been

BB King, pretty amazing considering he is probably the most influential blues musician ever and he passed away. He is the reason I started playing guitar, which eventually led me to start producing hiphop.

Top Hidden Gem Artist

I know you just said one I gonna name two

Hoodie.) An experimental rapper based in Las Vegas. He has dope lyrics, combined with a unique delivery and beats.

Backxwash) A rapper based in Canada. Don’t know she is a hidden gem artist, because she has been getting a lot of coverage lately, but definitely underrated. “God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It” is a fantastic album.

Future plans

In the short term, have Fire in my Brain reach 25k streams on Spotify and work with more major artists (I ain’t giving away who!).

In the long term, make connections with lots of music industry leaders, whether it be famous rappers or A&Rs to make beats for their singles or albums or make an album of my own with artists that I love. I would also like to make soundtracks for video games and TV shows. I listen to a lot of soundtrack music in my spare time. I could see my beats fitting really well with some sort of sci fi world.