We've posted quite a bit of
J.G.'s work on RespectThisFresh, and I finally got the chance to talk to him about his work. Get to know J.G. a bit by reading the interview below.
J.G., short for...
Julian Gueringer.
When and why did you start rapping?
I first started rapping in the 5th grade because my best friend
Jamal wrote a rap to a girl, and I wanted her 'cause he wanted her––kid shit. So I wrote a rap for her also. He ended up with her though. That was my first rap I ever wrote.
Which artists influence your sound the most?
2Pac, John Mayer, Boom Clap Bachelors, Curren$y, Dom Kennedy
Do you have a favorite artist?
Boom Clap Bachelors
The artwork for "Grindin' Work" has a cheetah on it. Why?
I don't really know, it just looked sweet.
"Grindin' Work" is a dope track, and TDeezy did a great job on the production. How did you guys come up with the concept?
He sent me over about ten beats to start off GOMORRAH, and that one seemed the hardest to write so I picked it. I also just wanted to make a new grindin' song, and I figured that was my chance.
How did you and TDeezy meet?
Let's just say he will have to answer that question 'cause it's a long story.
"Gomorrah" is the name of a film from 2008 and the name of an ancient city, but it's also the name of your next project––a collaboration with TDeezy. What made you guys use GOMORRAH as the title?
It's from the ancient city because it was washed away, so me and TDeezy figured we could use it as a state of mind. GOMORRAH is your mind being able to place you in any time period or place in the world.
What can we expect on GOMORRAH?
GOMORRAH will be a roller-coaster ride. It's deep, hard, fun, easy, and real.
"Napoleon's Last Words" off of your last project, Excuser Mon Francais, sounded like a really personal track. How close to home was it?
It was a very personal track. During the time I made the track, my Dad and Mother were sick. I wanted things to go back to the way they were when I was younger, and I also was going through a stage where people doubted what I was doing. I was reading up on Napoleon, and I seen he did a lot with his life but he died and never really wrote anything about it. So I figured if nobody ever heard from me again this will be the song people can remember me by. I named it "Napoleon's Last Words" because of the cover and title of the project, so it all came together.
Can we expect to hear more tracks like "Napoleon's Last Words" on GOMORRAH?
Not so much of how I spoke on family, but a more dark side of me and how I view things.
You're headed to the DMV right? What's going on out there?
Ha, [I] was headed to the DMV to meet up with PatIsDope to do an interview and network, but the pigs stopped that because they thought I was Spiderman "tree slangin," haha. So the trip didn't happen.
"I ain't tryna be king, but I went and made my own." That's what you said on a verse from "Grindin' Work." What are your ultimate goals with music? Where do you want to see yourself with it? Do you eventually want to be seen as one of the "Kings?"
I hear most artists say they want to be the best. I think that's cool for them, but being the best is only temporary. I want to be one of the greatest. That means I'm in a line-up with the "best of them." And even when I die someone can come along and be better than me, but that still won't take away from me being one of the greatest. My main goal is just making a name out live my life a million times.
Just for fun, what's the last song you played on your iPod?
The last song I played was Aqualung's "Strange and Beautiful."
J.G. and TDeezy's
GOMORRAH drops February 7th! Be sure to peep the first track they leaked,
"Grindin' Work," if you haven't yet.
- By
Priya P.
