Q: Your latest release is titled “Hustler on the Move”. How did you decide on that title?
A: “Me and my childhood Friend Snap Ford came up with the name Hustler On The Move. We formed a group and then he went to jail. So I carried the name, got a tattoo of it as well, and titled my album hustler on the move. This is a way to show him I am still pushing us and our brand. Besides that, everyday is a hustle. You just have to keep moving.”
Q: How do you define a “hustler”?
A: “Someone that grinds, minimum sleep and keeps pushing. Stays on his feet with all “Ten Toes down” and never gets comfortable or relaxed. A Hustler is like time, he or she keeps ticking; never misses a beat!”
Q: Are you a hustler, and if so, what is your day to day hustle?
A: “Yea, I’m a hustler. I come from a family of hustlers. My day to day hustle is networking, connecting with everyone in my surrounding area as well as on the map, recording everyday, interacting with DJs and promoters. I’m also involved with the community outreach program.”
Q: Mr. Lee has worked with major artists like Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, and 2Pac to name a few. He produced 14 of the tacks on your album. How does it feel to have such a successful producer pretty much take on your project?
A: “First of all, Mr. Lee said I am “one of the hardest working artists he has ever worked with period”! Off the top, I feel very blessed to have a legend work on my album as well as call in favors for my album. If it wasn’t for Lee, my album wouldn’t be what it is as far as features and the level of music it is…Real Quality music!”
Q: You also had the privilege of working with the legendary, Scarface. A lot of the most successful rappers attribute Scarface as one of their favorite and most influential lyricists. How was it working with him? Were you two (Gauge and Scarface) in the studio together when you recorded it?
A: “It was a privilege to have the legendary Scarface on my album. He has always been and still is my favorite rap artist. Unfortunately, we recorded our versus at two different times. But we created a fire track none the less.”
Q: How did the concept for the song, “Hot Love” come about?
A: “The legendary Mr. Lee and Scarface came up with the concept of “Hot Love”. Lee said he wanted to put me on it. Everything fell into place from there.”
Q: With such influential artists as features on this album how do you plan on topping that the next time around? Are there any other artists you would like to work with?
A: “I plan on being me sticking to what I know. It’s not about topping anything. It’s all about the passion for the music, the hunger to create to record to deliver. This is what I do! I have a genuine love for music; as long as it feels right then it will come out right. Artist I want to work with? There are too many to name but I will name some. Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Jadakiss, Big Krit, Maino, T.I., Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross & 50cent. I would like to make an Allstar song with Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Trae the Truth, Bun-B, Scarface, Paul Wall, & Chamillionare.”
Q: Many new rappers have little to no features on breakthrough or earlier albums. What was the influence behind the decision to feature many on “Hustler on the Move”?
A: “Really, I was blessed Mr. Lee took the time to see and hear my flow. He is a real producer. He worked with me. You know a producer will direct you in the studio. I came up listening to all of these artists. Of course I wanted to work with all of them. They all grind heavy. We call that hustling. If you look at their careers, they out there getting it. What I mean, they’re all well respected, they getting paid, plus they’re all influential MCs. I am Blessed! They are all hustlers and I’m a Hustler On The Move, so we made hustle music…”
Q: Your main single, “Get it Girl”, has been doing pretty well. What exactly is a “Get it Girl”?
A: “A “Get It Girl” is a lady first of all. She is always down for you. She is a loyal women even when you down with no money she has your back. She is definitely not a gold digger ha ha.. Not many men have a “Get It Girl”. Although, she don’t put up with no Bull shit either! She does whatever she can whenever she can for you. You know a Ride or Die chick that’s a Get it Girl!”
Q: Many women may find some of your lyrics offensive and somewhat objectifying in songs like “Beat it up” and “Shake it”. What influences some of these lyrics?
A: “Let’s start with “Beat it Up.” This concept was created by Yung Chill & Miss Mykie. I added the finishing touches. I feel that it is not offensive. If you listen to it, take the chorus for example: “We done blew a zone & we sippin’ on Patron maybe later own I can get you home & Beat it up” Just that right there you know as well as I do one night stands happen. To add to that, if you add weed & alcohol in to it, then sex is the next step if both parties are interested. Yea this is a real life song. I wrote it from my experience. That is one thing you get from me I write music from my heart. Real live music. As far as “Make it Bounce,” it is 40% real 60% entertainment. I wrote that for the club for you to dance to. That’s what it is.”
Q: Did the finished product of the album meet your expectations or exceed them?
A: “The finished product exceeded my expectations by far! When you have a legend like Mr. Lee behind the music you can’t go wrong..”
Q: You recorded your first song at fifteen. Do you remember how the song went? Where did you get the inspiration?
A: “The first song I ever recorded went like “I come out like the solar eclipse/hate is unnecessary keep my name off your lips/I’m from da dirty curry where we pop clips/.” My inspiration at that time came from Black Dave & Anthony White (R. I. P). They were the best rappers in the town. When Anthony died I just began to push harder & harder with this music.”
Q: What was it like for you around that time growing up inTexas?
A: “I’m originally fromNew Mexico. I live inTexasand have been here for eleven years so this is home. When I was a kid it was very competitive everybody was rapping much like today. Though back then it was more real rap and hustling, Street life was all I knew. One of my uncles was the biggest hustlers in the state of N.M. My other uncle was the Bail bondsman and they were brothers. So you can imagine what my life was like. Not to mention my grandmother was a full time hustler she gambled in every gambling shack until she decided to change her life for the Lord. My mother and father were not always around. My mother had me she was sixteen so my grandmother raised me. These were my peers my uncles my grandma. That was my life so you can imagine what it was like.”
Q: How important is it to you to put southwest rap on the map as opposed to just putting good music out?
A: “It is very important for me to put the Southwest on the map. That’s a goal of mine but my #1 plan is to always I mean always put out good music. This is my heart my passion my pain! Music is my life! I put it in order for you, God first, then my family and then my music. Music is my addiction something about production of a beat it makes me complete. Music is my fix ha ha…”
Q: “Trying to Hold On” (which is not on the album yet there is a video supporting it) is a tribute to theU.S.troops. Do have any ties to the military at all?
A: “I will always make stand out music. Not the normal. I’m innovative! “Trying to Hold On” is an inspirational song ft. Clint Mustane. I’ve never been in the military. I wrote that song off of my fathers and brothers pain. They both served and I think our military needs a little more credit. I was told some soldiers are told there is a 90% chance you are going to die. These men and women still enlist. That’s pretty damn brave! Not to mention they are a long way from home. I salute all our troops I respect them!”
Q: How important is it for you to bring awareness to the war and the fighting soldiers?
A: “It is as important as breathing! Meaning, we have terrorist trying to knock us off the map, while Americans rob and steal from each other. That’s crazy. 9/11 was my real wake up before that my father pain after 9/11 my brother’s pain woke me up. I have three uncles that served as well. That’s why I dedicated a whole song to them. A lot of people take them for granted. You have to realize they have families and they’re fighting for us like people fight for their families. They put there life on the line for our country. Everybody say they real but that’s real for real! They are real life heroes!”
Q: Are you performing now or any tour dates lined up?
A: “We are actually lining up a tour right now. Of course I am performing around the southwest.”
Q: What is your favorite venue to perform in?
A: “Any venue willing to let me showcase my talent and share my music with all my fans. I rock crowds so they can see me perform so I can show my skills my talent and share my passion. Music is my life it is and always has been a way of venting as well as creating. This is what I do. There is a different feeling on stage than in the studio. The experience is so live! Its breath taking to see your fans singing what you wrote inspired by your mind and your heart, you know. I just love to perform and I want my music, my message to reach as many people as possible!”
Q: Do you prefer large audiences or intimate ones? Why?
A: “I don’t discriminate on the size of the crowd. Obviously, a bigger crowd is a different feeling. Music drives me. I just love to perform. To be on stage and perform is a feeling I can’t describe. I just love the feeling you get back from the fans, going live, connecting with fans. I like to go full blast so they know why I am here!”
Q: Where do you see yourself a year from now?
A: “Where I plan to be in the next year?” (I hope to be)”…headlining my own tour, running my label ABR/B4W signing more fresh talent, taking foot steps towards becoming a mogul in this industry! Heaven is the limit so dreams become reality through the grace of God!”
For more information: www.gaugehustleronthemove.com
