Exclusive Interview with GemStones: Lupe Fiasco's "Big Homie" Steps Out of the Shadows
Sun
16
Nov
2008
KEY Facts
GemStones linked up with Lupe Fiasco and is one of the top artists on Lupe's "1st and 15th" Record label.
GemStones grew up in Chicago where he was surrounded by not only rapping, but also singing.
GemStones is one of the few artists to make an appearance on each of Lupe's albums ("Go Baby", "Free Chilly", "Dumb It Down"
KEYS: What's good fam, respect for taking the time to speak with us. For those who may not know, go ahead and introduce yourself.
GemStones: Hey what's up. This is the Big Homie GemStones, representin' 1st &15th record label. Check out myspace.com/fnfgemstones if you want more info on my background.
KEYS: Cool cool. Let's get in to your background a little bit, I've read that you were pretty much surrounded by music while growing up. What types of music did you listen to while you were younger and how did that affect your taste in music?
GemStones: I am a huge fan of music from the 90's, particularly R&B. Plus I'm a Gemini, so you know I've got two sides. My Mom and Grandma, and Sisters, they all always sang. So you know, I sing too; I don't just rap. But yea, just growing up in Chicago, and R&B and singing is real big here, made me have more of an appreciation for not just rapping, but singing too.
KEYS: Yeah I feel you. So at what at age did you start rapping?
GemStones: I started rapping in 3rd grade.
KEYS: I was listening to "The Testimony" mixtape and one of the songs on there was about the first verse you ever wrote. Do you remember your first 16? Give us a little taste.
GemStones: Yep, I remember my first rap, and it's terrible. So I sure don't wanna spit it!
KEYS: Lol, that's cool. Now, on the mixtape you say something along the lines of "diamonds aren't as rare as me". What distinguishes you from the rest of the game?
GemStones: What distinguishes me is that I rap positively, but I have a classic flow. And I don't put myself in one category. Like, with my new song, "Unappreciated"… That song is not like regular rap, it's something different, more like a lot of that new stuff that's coming out. So I'm versatile. Plus, my voice is off the chain! Ain't no rapper out that can sing, or has a voice as nice as me.
KEYS: I feel you. What's your writing process like; do you write in spurts or are you constantly writing?
GemStones: I write when I have to. It's a job for me now. Growing up, I used to constantly write but now I do it professionally. So I only do it when I have to.
KEYS: So, take us through your beat selection process. What do you listen for in a beat?
GemStones: I listen to what the beat is tellin' me. I don't listen for the baseline and the high-hat; I let the beat talk to my soul and whatever it says, that's what I write down.
KEYS: You're signed to FnF, how did you hook up with Lupe Fiasco?
GemStones: I was chillin' in the studio and my time was up and I had to go for this dude who didn't look like much to me. You know, he was skinny, a bit nerdy, I didn't think nothin' of him. Well, then I found out his name, and that he was plugged, had a record label, and I was like, "no really". So we got to spittin' together that day, and I found out his flow was off the chain and he felt the same about me. So yea', we just came to respect each other and the rest is history.
KEYS: Dope! Now I know that you've been touring with Lupe for a lot of his shows. How does the experience of traveling around the world affect your music?
GemStones: It affects it in so many positive ways. You know it's not necessarily the music itself, like world music that influences mine or anything like that. It's more like the experience opens my mind so that I could write about different things, see things from a different point of view you know. When you're young, you don't really leave your neighborhood or travel as much but once you start to meet people from other countries - even other states - and get a feel for how they livin', it opens up your mind and helps your writing. You can relate more to the struggles of many, instead of just your own.
KEYS: Yeah that's a good point. Now, being together so much, how competitive do you and Lupe get when it comes to writing the hottest verse, or just any other things.
GemStones: Me and Lupe ain't really competitive. It's more like we push each other to that next level. I think the song "we on" is a perfect example of that. It's less like we're trying to one up each other and more like we are trying to push it to the limit; you know, encourage each other to go harder. Before, we used to rap about two totally different kinds of subject matter but he never acted like, "oh he was better than me" or nothing like tha.t It was more like he showed me in his own way. Like, "hey, look, it's better to rap about real things, ordinary things"; helped me realize, "hey, you shouldn't fake being a gangster". But at the same time, he never put himself on a higher pedestal than me and he still doesn't. At the end of the day, we're boys, and not really each others competition.
KEYS: In one of your previous interviews you've said "I'm a poet – far from a rapper". How would you differentiate between the two categories?
GemStones: A rapper just says things to rhyme. He says "you" because it rhymes with "shoe". A poet extends his rhymes into metaphors, similes, he uses imagery, utilizes the same tools as a fiction writer, you know? But a rapper is just, as you put it, "a hustler who rhymes good", lol.
KEYS: Now you also say "I'm not a rapper, I'm an entertainer". Do you think a lot of other dudes in the game use that phrase to excuse their lackluster bars sometimes?
GemStones: Definitely, most definitely. That's what a lot of singers do too. Actually, the rappers stole that one from the singers! Another classic one singers give - this time for when they lip sing- , is that they can't sing and dance at the same time, lol. Yea' those are classic excuses for lackluster talent.
KEYS: Now you sing as well. You've been doing that from a pretty early age as well right?
GemStones: Yup, I've been singing since I was young. My mom and grandmother, my sister, they all used to sing a lot. So yea', singing was big in my household.
KEYS: I've read that it was actually your uncle who helped you decide whether to sing or rap or do both? What were you going through at that point in your life and how did his advice help you.
GemStones: It wasn't my uncle. I did that on my own. I was just tryin' to meet Puff Daddy and sign to Bad Boy, lol. But I made the choice to do both on my own.
KEYS: If you only had one choice, rapping or singing. I'm pretty sure you can't really choose right?
GemStones: I like them both for different reasons :)
KEYS: There is always this pressure put on an artist to come up with that hit single for radio play. How do you handle that pressure and does it change the way you approach a track.
GemStones: I try not to put too much pressure on myself, but you know it's hard. It's funny that you ask that because I'm currently in the process of searching for my radio single now. You got some groups that do amazing that have zero to 1 or 2 radio singles. And then you have some artists that for some reason get an amazingly huge radio push. You know, your mainstream cats. But it's definitely hard trying to appeal to everybody. So I just try and remind myself never to worry about my critics, and just stay true to my vision regardless of if it gets played on the radio.
KEYS: Back to "The Testimony" mixtape. In the first song you do a pretty admirable thing by apologizing to the listeners for misleading them in the past. How much of a responsibility do you think an artist has to always be truthful?
GemStones: I do. I mean not literally, but artistically; if that makes any sense. I mean, if I write a song, about a guy and a girl, it's not gonna' necessarily be me that's the main character. And that's cool, that's art. However, you got some people who intentionally put themselves in the music. Make it like it's them who is in every song. I think those people would be better off making it more clear when something is fact or fiction. At the end of the day, art mirrors life or provides insight to life, but it shouldn't be real life. Otherwise it wouldn't be art. Art should be better than life, at least for the person who is creating it. That's why, for people who write about this horrible life, or this fast paced dangerous life they never lead, is kind of backwards. It's like, "dude, why do you want to escape your life, for a life that's worse than what you have?" you feel me? I can't judge too harshly though. Cuz' for a time that was me you know. I was just rappin' to put words together. Doing what I THOUGHT I had to do in order to succeed in the game. But as you mature, you realize you don't have to make believe to get a hit. Look at "Superstar".
KEYS: In one of your past interviews you said: "…I want that little twelve, thirteen-year-old boy to walk up to me and say, "Gemini, thank you. You saved my life. It's because of you I can go on. Because of track seven, because of track eight, I can go on…" Would you say that a reaction like that is much more important than record sales?
GemStones: Yes, most definitely. Not that record sales aren't important. I mean, you have to be able to provide for you and yours and you learn to prioritize that when you grow older. That's part of being mature. That being said, there's certain artistic changes, a beat, a line, a person singing on the hook, etc... that could be made, that isn't going to change the entire song, but that could help it sell better. But there are other things, like subject matter, rapping about guns, drug deals, that you shouldn't do just to sell a record. I'd rather not sell one record than lead an impressionable youth down the wrong path in life because they are trying to be like me. Not enough rappers look at themselves as role models, and that's dangerous because you could talk till' your blue in the face about how you never asked to be a role model but to not see yourself as one is to ignore the reality of your situation. Kids are gonna see you up on MTV and you are gonna be their role model. It's human nature to look at one another and create role models for ourselves. So if you got role models, expect people to look at you as one... its simple.
KEYS: The mixtape also has a song talking about all the haters out there. How do you deal with the typical hater?
GemStones:I don't pay haters no mind. I remove myself from all haterz.
KEYS: Now you're from Chicago which is known for having some dope sports teams. So I was wondering, if the Chicago scene was to put together a rap team, who would be its starting 5? Who would be it's Jordan, Pippen, etc…
GemStones: I would be Jordan. It would be me, Lupe, Shayla G, Kanye and Dave Hollister.
KEYS: Now before ending, I like to throw out some words just to see what your first thoughts about the words are. So just let us know the first thoughts that come to your mind when you see these.
Sarah Palin
GemStones: Is sexy, but not ready to lead a country.
Gangster rap
GemStones: Puts food on a lotta' muthufuckers' tables.
Superbowl predictions
GemStones: Chicago Bears.
Illmatic or Reasonable Doubt
GemStones: Illmatic.
Favourite pair of kicks
GemStones: Nike Air Max.
KEYS: Respect for taking the time to speak with us.
Ohh GemStones!! He is looking different but damn he looks GOOD!! I am dreally looking foward to hearing more from this man. He is SOOO talented. Truly lights up a stage cannot wait to see him perform again!!! he was at the hip hop classic in chicago and was the baddest thing walking. That boy is GOOD!
About Us - Advertise on KeysAndBeats - Contact Us
