– Congrats on your new album, “Judge Me Not”, and your latest single “Peace”. Before we get into those projects, how long have you been making music Westcoast Gillie?
I’ve been making music for about 11+ years now.
– What exact area in L.A. are you from? How’s the Hip Hop scene there?
I’m from Gardena. The hip hop scene has its spitters RIP YG Soprano aka Boobie one of the ones to really put Gardena in the circle of this west coast rap shit. There’s definitely some pressure in the city. We a small city in the middle of all the cities the worlds heard about in songs and movies. South central, Compton, etc so its hard for the artist in our city to get that pub but we definitely applying pressure to be heard and we will be.
– Who are some of your Hip Hop influences growing up before making music?
My hip hop influences ranges from to many people pretty much everyone from the west coast that’s just what it is. East coast would be jay z, guru/gangstarr, dip set, 50 cent, jadakiss, red and meth, biggie of course to many spitter there too. My south shit I would say cash money, hot boys, no limit, OutKast/ dungeon family, T.i., young Jeezy, gucci, 36 mafia/ hypnotized mind camp, ugk, swisher house, paul wall to many to name too.
– Getting to your project we covered, “Judge Me Not”. For a listener, what can they expect?
When people listen to Judge Me Not what they can expect is a real person. No pump faking no buushiit. They gone expect to hear what I got to say, what goes on in my world. They just gone expect the fact that there are humans just like me and you out there. I’m just willing to be me flaws And all. So expect whatever you think you might not expect.
– How did you collab with on this projec?
I collaborated with one artist Sean Draper. He came in the session and I was like you rap you wanna get in this song and the rest was a hip hop gem. Easy money to work with artist who have the same motive.
– How are the fans receiving the project? What kind of feedback are you getting?
They’ve been receiving it well I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback. Prolly got some bad ones too but I ain’t trippin. Honestly I really don’t pay attention to the good or bad feedback of any of my shit. I just make what I like and put it out. No disrespect to the ones who like it and support me I respect that and it’s always love.
– Your latest single, “Peace”, has a powerful message. What do you think about the current climate right now?
Peace does have a powerful message but I feel I’ve been rapping about that type of stuff since I’ve started rapping. I just feel like browns need to get along with browns and blacks need to get along with blacks and we both need to unite with each other. Police brutality needs to be handled and humans not being treated as humans needs to change. A lot needs to change its starts in our communities. if we can tear it down why can’t we build it back up? It’s really up to us the people if we want it. But all I can do is be positive and be a voice of change. I can only lead you to the lake.
– Who produced “Peace’?
Shout out to Bluff Gawd @bluffgawd he made the beat for PEACE. he’s a solid person as well. Makes beats that make you think with in. Have to go deeper to bring it out. Real solid human.
– Any producers you would like to work with the future?
Honestly I wanna work with people who want to work. Don’t matter the producer cus if Dre or j Cole come to me and say let’s work IM WORKIN. But if any new or non known producers wanna work and I vibe wit it IM WORKIN. Bottom line I’m tryna work and create with anyone who has my same drive.
– Any new projects you are working on?
I’m always working on new projects always writing new music. Once I’m done with one project I love it and I’m proud of it but it’s on to the next for me. So I’m always working on something singles or eps. I couldn’t respect myself as an artist if I don’t keep working.
– Our highlight question, what’s your definition of Underground Hip Hop?
My definition of underground hip hop damn I’d say it’s the artist. What does the artist want to be know for. Does he want his song on the radio or is he coo with just being known with in his tribe of fans. How far does the artist want to take the craft. What’s the artist really stand for. Underground hip hop is the message usually one that the masses don’t want to hear or aren’t ready to hear. The expansion of the mind has gone down. So to answer that it’s the artist and what he wants to put out or what he’s willing to leave on the table.
– Where can people find your catalog, and where can they follow you?
People can find my early days of rapping on SoundCloud.com/WestCoastGillie, all my new videos and EPs are on YouTube and also and all streaming platforms that you play your music on iTunes, Spotify, tidal etc..Also WestCoastGillie.com. Twitter, instagram, Facebook everything is @westcoastgillie
– Lastly, any shout outs?
Always gone shout out my family I love y’all to the fullest the homies all of them they family too. All my supporters and fans who been sticking with me from the gate. It’s because of y’all I still dream. Shout out UndergroundHipHopBlog for supporting a regular degular independent rap artist. Peace, love, motivation and one love.
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
