Rapper reps Reno
Local hip-hop artist, JB the Go Getta, represents everything that a hip-hop artist should.
He’s humble, has his own musical style and is dedicated to being original. He released his fist album “Street Vibrations Vol. 1” last week.
“It’s my way of saying I’m rocking Reno and shaking it up a bit,” the Go Getta said.
He agrees with local hip-hop artist L Dubble that hip-hop bounced off its track and doesn’t convey truth. Hip-hop should be about real-life issues, not about big chain necklaces, big rims and the material gain, he said.
Earning respect in the hip-hop circle means not being afraid of representing yourself, he said.
“I can’t respect anyone who can’t speak facts,” the Go Getta said.
Even though he wasn’t born in Reno, it’s still home to him and he shows his love for the city through his music and in one of his nicknames: “Battle Born Kid.”
“I feel I represent Nevada to the fullest and take pride in where I come from,” the Go Getta said. “Even though Reno doesn’t support hip-hop.”
He’s done two local shows, one at Vixen and one at the New Oasis in Sparks. The show at the New Oasis was in the beginning of October. Despite the low attendance at the show, JB loved being on stage.
“I could care less if there are five people or 500 in the crowd,” the Go Getta said.
He would like to perform at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Go Getta said the last time he tried to book a show at UNR, things didn’t work out. He said he gave UNR 16 dates for possible performances, but rooms were always booked.
He had a desire to be a songwriter since he was eight, but never imagined he would want to be the one behind the microphone.
“I was the rebel in the family,” the Go Getta said. “My mom listened to country and my dad listened to ‘80s music, but I liked hip-hop.”
JB, local hip-hop artist L Dubble and their producer GQ Williams dedicate every Sunday to the love of their lives, hip-hop.
“Our studio is in Lee’s (L Dubble) room and our vocal booth is in his closet,” Williams said. “We are there every Sunday, no matter what.”
Williams stumbled into producing at age 19. He was mad when his brother put a beat-making program on his computer. But Williams began to play with the program and it seduced him to create his own beats.
Going into hip-hop, he knew he wanted to create his own sound that didn’t imitate the music heard on the radio. He refused to become a “swagger jacker” which is someone who doesn’t have a style and copies what others do.
“Hip-hop is about being original,” Williams said. “Everyone follows the cookie-cutter hooks, but I’m not saying that there isn’t good music out there.”
Williams prides himself in being a producer and not a beat-maker. The difference is that a producer guides the song, helps with the concept and helps the artist through the recording process, he said.
Both the Go Getta and Williams continue to pursue their love for hip-hop, even if they don’t become famous.
“I want to be remembered as being one of the best lyrical rappers ever,” the Go Getta said.
Danielle Gonzalez can be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, InsideReno.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Print this post
Email this post© 2008 The Nevada Sagebrush
