When the topic of St. Louis-based hip-hop comes up, the conversation is usually short and sweet. Nelly, of course, comes to mind for most. Maybe you can throw Chingy into the conversation as well, but that’s where the line is usually drawn.
Up-and-coming group Gwap Getta Music is looking to change that outlook and bring their hometown some more acclaim. Consisting of real-life siblings Donnell “Savage” Preston, his twin brother Donta “Tae P” Preston, and older brother Michael “Misfit” Ward, the group has been making a name for themselves by not only doing shows in their hometown, but also by branching out to cities like Chicago and Houston to make moves and network.
Since getting serious about the music business in 2010, GGM has seen their hardwork pay off in the form of working with such artists as Soulja Boy, Lil’ Flip, Jackie Chain, and Cash Money’s Caskey. They’ve also shared the stage with a host of other notables including Lil’ Wayne, Ty Dolla, Twista, Crooked I and fellow St. Louis native, Yak Boy Fresh, who is featured on their hit song “Geronimo” from their 2013 EP, Self Made. The EP also featured another hit song “Paparazzi,” which held the top spot for almost a month on Los Angeles station 98.2 The Beat. The success of the single led to the trio getting the opportunity to tour and open for Young Money rapper Corey Gunz on his Paid Up tour.
Rolling out caught up with group member Misfit to talk about the group’s origins, their new single “I Need the Gold,” and the legacy the group wants to leave in the rap game.
How did GGM come together as a group?
We, of course, kinda always been together due to the fact that we are blood brothers. We’ve been making music since we where just kids back when we’d take all my mom cassette tapes and recorded over them. We went through different group names but GGM sorta stuck around 2010 when we officially formed as a group. We got a chance to record at Nelly’s Derrty Ent. studios and we just started going hard at it and the hard work began to pay off around 2012 when we started getting recognition.
As far as the St. Louis rap scene, what do you think the biggest misconception is from people around the country on the outside looking in?
Well it’s plain and simple people around the country just don’t believe that there’s talent in the Midwest. St. Louis has the most talented rappers in the country … at least to us. We will make them change their minds soon enough. We’re really just getting started.
What was it like doing the SXSW show?
SXSW was the best experience of our music career thus far. It was our first time and definitely not the last being in Austin, Texas. Everyone showed us so much love. We meet tons of people from record execs to legitimate superstars, did endless interviews, and met so many fellow young talented artists on the grind. Trae Da Truth and Young Chop was some cool people and we got some work coming soon with them. We definitely was repping St. Louis hard, letting people know what it’s like in the Show Me state.
Tell us about your latest song, “I Need the Gold.”
We are very big on fashion. With this song … it’s representative of a period of time in hip-hop like the ’80s when gold chains was [sic] the thing. I mean everyone had big gold chains. We were inspired by that and put our own twist on it with GGM 2015 fashion. We’re definitely going for the gold plus we’ve been told repeatedly “treat yourself like gold” throughout our careers and that’s what we do.
What’s next for GGM?
We plan to take our movement and music worldwide. We want the whole world to know who we are and what we represent. We wanna be remembered as one of the best to ever do it, next to the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and NWA, to name a few.
Readers in the St. Louis area can check out the group as they headline a show at Pop’s Nightclub in St. Louis on June 5.
For more information on GGM, please visit their website www.gwapgettamusic.com.
