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G1 hailing from Detroit has been making moves in production circles for some time now. As her NGC label makes moves with people from all over the USA and Europe Luv Jones caught up with her via e-mail to discuss whats happening at the moment and what lies in the future... Okay, first off let people know who you are and what you’re about?
Well my name is G1, and I am the CEO of a small independent label, New Ground Collabo Records, located north of Detroit, Michigan. I began my career in music as a drummer for a couple of rock bands. I also play guitar, bass guitar and some keyboards. I got into Hip hop with a fellow friend, Lamont Hendrix when I lived in Detroit. In 2003, I began attending the Recording Institute of Detroit, majoring in Recording Engineering and Music Producer. I graduated in 2004, 1 year ahead of schedule, by taking back to back courses. I interned for High Concept Studios, working with rock groups, and at the same time worked on building NGC.
I have worked wit local artists such as Rubix, Vanessa Norwood, Isotope, Flint rap group, the Chosen Few Corp, and Jazz musician LowerB.
New Ground Collabo was the brainchild between me and Co-Founders Lamont “5’58 Premiyum” Hendrix, (R.I.P). Lamont had been working in the business for a couple of years when we met. He released a couple of local tapes with his group UnPlugged Roots. They were being looked at by a couple of indie labels at the time, but nothing came of it. So the group broke up after artistic differences, Lamont release solo work and collaborating with Jamal “J-Palm” Cherry. Lamont wanted to get his music past the local Detroit scene and so we decided to work together, and form NGC. We planned to use the internet to get him more exposure, along with planning a trip for him to London and Germany, to promote his beat making skills and Producer skills. And at the same time, I wanted to open a site to allow other artists to showcase their music, never ever looking to form a record label. But it happened by accident. Unfortunately, Lamont passed away before we could launch the dream. So I took the rest of the family on my shoulders and got it started. Once I met Steve Wheeler, another fellow RID student, we just worked together, and now NGC is what it is today.
Well, NGC is the actual record label that I own, and Premiyum Entertainment was a company that housed both NGC and Steve Wheeler’s production company, S-Dubb Productions. Since neither one of us wanted to actually give in to each other’s company it was just smarter to form that, and in case we split, (which we have), we still had our original companies.
Now the NGC pod cast Show is just a basic underground radio show, featuring artists. When I began this one, I wanted an outlet that I could showcase not only NGC artist’s music, but to help out other labels and hip hop artists showcase as well. Now it has grown into not just showcasing hip hop, but R&B and Jazz artists. We have played artists such as MC HUSH, 1865, NECRO, singer Billy Miles, Jazz artist LOWERB as well as the NGC family. People can listen to the show, which is linked on the NGC Pod cast myspace site (www.myspace.com/ngcpodcast), listen to it, or they can download it right to their ipods and check it out anytime.
I usually send out announcements all over the net, using myspace. Then we have the msn site, the main NGC site and a yahoo site. Just google us and you can find us with no problem…lol. I plan to make the main NGC home site part of it so folks can download directly from there, making it easier for them to find it.
The NGC roster of today includes artists Stan Blade ( Nottingham, England), Hip hop duo Versify, made up of German Born Producer Ulliversal and Colorado Emcee Doctor Oscify, DJ/Producer DJ Home, THE CLURK, (Who co- owns Landmark Entertainment and is a producer/emcee from Colorado) , newcomers emcee/intern The Menace and German female vocalist, Chackstar.
Behind the scenes are my longtime friend and Producer J-Palm, and hip production team, VPI Productions, formed of myself, Ulliversal and DJ Home. We also work with producers who aren’t with NGC on paper, but are considered part of the family as well. They are beat makers DJ Rezarekatah, MoCity (from Detroit) and DJ Magiccee (from North Carolina).
You right about this label thing. Everyday is full of challenges but I wouldn’t change a thing. The hardest hurdle I have had to deal with is keeping artists who are dedicated to their art. NGC has gone through some artists who either weren’t dedicated enough, or just refuse to listen to what we were trying to achieve for them personally. I can’t tell you how many times I had to call a person to come into the studio, just to do their job. Be an artist. Especially at the time when included in their contract was free studio time for their projects, everything funded by NGC. They still had every excuse in the book.
Then those who think they know more than us, wanting to control every aspect of their career, and not focusing on their talent. Now don’t get me wrong. We are all about having the artist give input. But it takes a team effort. It takes trust of your label. You don’t want to trust the person, the label, then go have your own label.
But, when u have to argue about clothing, getting on folks to finish your bios, or u don’t like the way I clean up your bio, to make it easier for readers, you cant get to the studio on time, etc. we got problems. They couldn’t see the big picture. And its funny cause now NGC is headed into its most successful year thus far, ( partnering up with Landmark Entertainment has been a blessing), I have gotten calls from some of these ex-artists, who want to come and do projects with us again . They see the success of J-Palm and Doctor Oscify, who listen and are true to their craft, and now they want to come back. And I haven’t done or change the formula one bit. I mean Doctor Oscify opened for Blackalicious! He and Landmark Entertainment’s “The Secondary” opened in front of 900+ people! Just being in the networking family, that helps NGC in the long run.
Stan Blade is the FRANCHISE artist of NGC, Just like J-Palm is the FRANCHISE PRODUCER of NGC. We met on a hip hop forum. Later, Stan and I collaborated on a track and I fell in love with his flow. So before the end of 2005, Stan told me he wanted to sign with NGC because we showed him a lot of love, doing small promotions for his music even though he was not a member. So, we signed him! I would have been a fool not to. I have never met a cat with a British accent flow so New York style, so sincere but with so much power. Stan Blade is just one of the best kept weapons that we can’t wait to unleash on the world. Like he says, Stan blade is the “TROOF.”
What’s coming up for Stan Blade is his first full length cd, and hopefully some dates here in the USA. He is on the new VERSIFY with a collabo called “Bi-Polar controller._ The NGC Dream team of Ulliversal. Doctor Oscify and Stan Blade are such a dominating trio. That song proves it right there. I can’t wait for upcoming collabs with those guys.
The goal is to bring him to the States late this year or early next year to record, and do some shows in Colorado and Michigan. I get asked all the time as to when he is coming because I have so many places that want to book him for their shows. People here are filling his style so that’s a good thing.
As far as having any thoughts about Stan Blade being British with his style of rap not really. . It really shouldn’t matter whether he is British, or American, or anything. Just as long as he is a great emcee, that’s all that matters. It’s hip hop emceeing in its purest form. I mean a lot of up and coming rappers today can’t even touch his skills by far, or are even on his intellectual level. Stee is just like the emcees before him (Krs-1, Chuck D, Method Man, and Redman). He is always thought provoking, always challenging your mind and yet delivering the message with a style so NY how could you not like him?
In the near future for me personally, I have some collaborations coming up. I am working with Jazz musician LowerB on some collaborations. He is one of the premier saxophone players in Paris, France and we hooked up by me playing his music on the pod cast show. He sent me and cd of his work, and I in turn, remixed one of his tracks and now we will collab later this year. I am also releasing a cd with fellow NGC producer, J-Palm which will be collection of our music. It’s been a long time coming for us.
As far as long term goals. I hope to make NGC even more successful than this year. I hope we can branch off in the next 5 years, with our own full studio facilities, and everyone will be here in the USA working and producing for not just ourselves, but other artists. That’s a HUGE long term goal.
Truthfully? Being a woman hasn’t helped one bit. It has been a struggle and still is. Usually people in the industry who don’t know me or who haven’t seen my face yet; always assume that I am a guy, right off the bat. They are more willing to help a person out. And of course I set them straight lol. People are amazed that I run a label, but trust me I still have to deal with the ish when trying to put together shows, etc. The only advantage I can see right now is the fact that more and more women are coming into hip hop on the business tip so that may help me later on down the line. But it is still a “Man’s World.”
Wow, this is a hard one because I pretty much like a lot of my own things. I mean I have done so many, so I will say “Check Out the Rhyme”, which Stan Blade is on also. It’s the first time I rapped on my own track! I remember making the track because I was watching a movie called “ANN B. REAL” which was suppose to be a hip hop version of the movie, “the Diary of Anne Frank.” She was on the stage towards the end of the movie, and the beat she was flowing over was mad ill. Well I was just watching and I kept saying in my mind, check out the rhyme. Next thing I know, I went to work on the beat, and wrote the first 8 lines of the rap. Later in the studio, J-Palm blessed the track with his piano work and the rest is history.
Dang does it have to be just one? Lol. I would love to work with either
Dre of the group Outkast or Q-Tip of Tribe Called Quest. They are cats who aren’t afraid to push the envelope of music and with my style being so versatile and out there sometimes, either one of them would be a perfect fit.
There are three things that keep me inspired and motivated. One is the fact that I love music! I sleep, eat, snort, music.
I can’t imagine music not a part of my life. The second thing that keeps me motivated is the lost of my friend and co founder of NGC Lamont. I mean this dude worked and made music 16 of the 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He never stopped creating; never stop trying to chase his dream. And no matter what obstacle got in his way, he just brushed it off, and kept going. That drives me also. If he were alive today, what success NGC has had, he would have been mad proud. His work ethic motivated me to keep going. As the NGC family call me, the woman that never stops working.
Third is the NGC family. I have so many talented people around me, who have true love and passion for what they do. They all know their roles, they all cheer each other on, support one another. How could I not be inspired? It’s a pleasure to do anything and everything for them.
Crunk Crunk and more Crunk….lol. The scene is cool. People are truly laid back there and are really nice. But if you don’t fit into the scheme of things as far as the music they like, you will have a hard time breaking in. You are either Young Jeezy, or you are Lil Jon. As a matter of fact when I was there, Young Jeezy was in the club. Btu u know what’s funny? We were in club 112. Now knowing all the atl music, they played Dem Franchise boys, Young Jeezy, etc. But they stayed completely away from Usher, Ludacris, Ciara and Jay-z. And what was most unique was they also played a lot of NY hip hop, Nas, lil Kim, Biggie, Busta. I expected to hear all Dirty South so it was nice to hear they still respect the east coast.
Man, you trying to get me in trouble…lol. In some ways I guess it has a big impact on Detroit as far as emcees are concern. I mean from back in the day, Proof was one of the first’s to get a major label deal back then. And he had done a lot for the underground movement. But for me personally, I think the loss of J-Dilla is much more of a major impact. But then again I am a producer. I mean here is one of the top notch producers, who worked with so many artists like Erykah Badu, the Roots, Common, Tribe, and Janet Jackson. He helped create the hip hop sound that came out of the D. A lot of cats today don’t even realize they using his style at times.
Beef is beef. People going to hate on you if you’re successful. But sometimes u have to take yourself out of a situation if possible. Sometimes U just got to let folks say what they going to say and brush it off, move on.
I mean NGC has had a small thing with beef from folks, and we haven’t even BEGUN to impact the world just yet. It comes with the territory. But we don’t act on it. We take it as; we must be doing something right and headed somewhere that others wish they can be. Now I know that sounds all egotistical but think about it. We work hard to get to a certain level. We get to a level and u hate me for it? Is that really fair?
Man, you know I am so bad at this. I don’t really follow a lot of folks outside the USA. Heck, I don’t follow a lot of underground hip hop. But thanks to myspace, I have run across some cats that have caught my eye. Folks like Captain Gips, Producer Dirty Hairy. Those cats are insane. I like Canadian singer Kellylee Evans. She is awesome! And again, my boy LowerB from Paris. As far as international famous groups, I am a huge Incognito fan as well as the Brand New Heavies.
Myspace has helped tons. Man you talk about a place where you can drop your tracks, network truly with other artists/ producers, talk to each other on a daily basis and build a fan base all in one. How wonderful is that? And what pisses me off is how the media in America has focused solely on the dating on myspace, and never ever speaks on the music side, and showing the world how positive that side is.
Well I’m a College basketball and College football fan. I am a diehard University of Southern California Trojans Fan. As a matter of fact, The NGC logo and colors are USC colors, lol. In my free time which I never have enough of, is golf. I love playing. It takes your mind off a lot of things. And because of the world cup, I actually liked watching soccer. I still don’t like the fact that you do penalty kicks to decide the game…lol. I think they should play to someone either scores, or passes out.
The 'Ulliversal & Doctor Oscify are Versify' CD is available now from cafepress (link below), check the myspaces for beats and rhymes from NGC and support the underground if you like what you hear...
NGC (seems to be down at present)
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© ukhh.com 2006
G1 Interview
Starting an indie label can be pretty hard, was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome and do you have any advice for those in a similar position?
How ill is that?!! One of the pioneers working with a woman who can sing her tail off? That right there shows you that she has respect for the realness of hip hop. And the fact that it’s a double cd and he has 1 full side? Mad ill! I mean she could have picked anyone, lol Jon, Mannie fresh, Kayne. But she went right to the master himself. I hope this collaboration will be embraced and teach the new generation of hip hop kids what real hip hop is and where it came from, and that its okay to step outside the boundaries, as long as u keep the elements real.
What is your favourite sport? 
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