InterviewInterview
PA ~ Musically, how would you describe your sound/genre?
Q.G.~ It is a cross from a east cost style wit a little down south influence. I have lived in Ohio all my life by my roots are from Georgia and I was always there as a kid in the summers so that played a big part in who I grew up listing to and looking up to in the rap game.
PA ~ What gravitated you toward your artistic work?
Q.G.~ Just the pure love of music. I have always been involved in music I was in band in school and also choir, I really started loving music when I joined my church choir. Ya I can sing to!
PA ~ Who are your influenced by?
Q.G.~ I am influenced by every body. I could start off with the church cause it taught me to feel the music and not just sing it. I would say that artist that influenced me would be Run DMC, EPMD, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, UGK them my Niggas, and several R&B artist.
PA ~ I understand you have a CD & DVD called "Hav‘en Major Things CD and Turn it up Vol. 1 DVD", what is the listener / viewer in store for?
Q.G.~ Wow the listener is definitely in store for a great listing experience. My DVD feat. Bobby Valentino when he was in Cleveland, Ohio and we had all access to the show. My CD is just off the Chart it is mix with raw street flavor and emotion. I just put my heart and pride on the table and did not care about what people would think or even if they wanted to hear it or not, its me in my rawest form.
PA ~ How is the CD / DVD being received?
Q.G.~ It is doing well It was selling real well in Ohio and Atlanta. To the point that both were being bootlegged. Now that is a complement to me that people thought enough of my work to bootleg it!
PA ~ Do you have a favorite composition?
Q.G.~ I have a few I love the track Living this Ghetto Life Feat. Talishia Johnson. She has phenomenal vocals. I also love the track Strippers Delight and Not Like Mine. They were fun track to do. On the DVD the hole Disk is live.
PA ~ Will you be touring to promote "Hav‘en Major Things"?
Q.G.~ The CD has been out for about a year now and we have been on the road touring hard we have been in Cleveland hard, (Robins Nest) (Club Cleveland Coyote) (Club OH10) and the Metropolis.
PA ~ Any other projects or follow-ups in the works presently?
Q.G.~ We are working on my new solo project as we speak, and our Dj (DJ NonStop is bout to drop our 2nd MixTape Murda Copulation CD so be on the look out and check out the website WWW.SDPMUSIC.COM
PA ~ Do you perform solo or normally with a group?
Q.G.~ All my work is solo but every were I go my click follows and is on stage with me, Its Shackled Down for life Baby!
PA ~ Any performances coming up you'd like to plug?
Q.G.~ Ya I will be in Atlanta in Oct. for the Atlantis Music Conference so be sure to get a ticket and come check us out we will be rippen Ohio to the fullest.
PA ~ What would someone expect attending one of your shows?
Q.G.~ Just a Live as performance. We bring the heat for 45 minutes nonstop! Best believe we keep 'em on there feet.
PA ~ Do you perform outside of your hometown?
Q.G.~ All the time we will go any and everywhere. Hit us up and let’s do business.
PA ~ During your artistic journey so far, any interesting (funny, bizarre, highlight, nightmare etc...) stories come to mind you'd like to share with us?
Q.G.~ Well we was in Cleveland doing some store signings and the word got out and when people started seeing the limousine we started getting followed and all. People started treating me like I was Jay-Z or 50 Cent. We have groupies at the hotel trying to get at us it was off the chain! Cleveland we love you for that!
PA ~ Give us your thoughts on the indie music scene good and not so good.
Q.G.~ Well the scene is full of in my opinion Garbage. Just a lot of MC’s out there putting out Kill Kill, Bling Bling and I'm the biggest dope boy on my block. There is no essence in the music any more. Just I'm gonna rep my lil block and that's it. On the upside the indie scene is opening a lot of doors for small time artist to get exposed. So just like anything you got the good with the bad!
PA ~ How is the artistic scene in Columbus, Ohio evolving?
Q.G.~ Columbus is starting to get it right. We have a lot of hot ass nigga’s on the scene that are now getting their music heard. But the people and radio station have got to start showing some love and support for their local talent.
PA ~ What has the highlight of your career been?
Q.G.~ We put on or first live production and invited local and non-local artists to perform last November. It was a big success. So now we are looking to do the 2nd annual Fall Jam Music Fest. And make it that much hotter. Ya Digg!
PA ~ What are some goals you hope to accomplish in the future?
Q.G.~ Just to keep putting out music that the fans enjoy. And of course get that major deal and put my city, Columbus, and Ohio on the map!
PA ~ What are your other interests outside of music?
Q.G.~ I have my own clothing line called, Quinasential Gear that is slowly taking off for us and we believe that it will be a hot clothing line.
PA ~ What was the best piece of advice you ever heard that motivates you in pursuit of your artistry?
Q.G.~ To all the artists in this unforgiving game, just stay at it don't give up on your dream! It will come.
PA ~ Where can someone find out more about "Q.G. and Shackled Down Productions"?
Q.G.~ Yo, check out our site www.sdpmusic.com or hit us up at sdpmusic75@yahoo.com