RESPECT. Interview: SEMI the GAWD Talks New Projects, Making It Out, & Sway in The Morning

SEMI the GAWD isn’t new to the scene, but his recent endeavors have definitely gotten people listening more than ever before. The young Harlem-bred emcee has set out on a path of destruction as he has vied to reach the top spot. He hasn’t shown any sign of slowing down anytime soon as he’s released countless projects and, more recently, made an appearance of Shade 45’s Sway In The Morning with a buzz-worthy freestyle in tow. I recently got the chance to sit down and have a quick chat with SEMI as he opened up about his career thus far, and the motivation behind it. Keep reading.

RESPECT.: I have to ask you, of course, how you’ve been.

SEMI the GAWD: “I’ve been alright, man. Getting a lot of love these past couple days. Just soaking it all in.”

RESPECT.: Your latest project Tales of the Underdog 2 has really hit well with the public. What’s it been like working on it and finally seeing it come to fruition?

SEMI: “It’s been crazy just for the simple fact that a lot of those records are old records. I’ve gone back in and revamped the project so many times. I held on to it for so long just because I felt like it was a really dope project, and I didn’t want it to fall on deaf ears. We did some of those records as long ago as 2011, and some records were done just weeks before it dropped. But overall, I’m really happy with the feedback. It just proves that timing is everything. Nothing sounds outdated and nothing sounds like I’m trying to keep up with the times either. I think people can agree that I have my own genuine sound and that’s the most important part for me.”

RESPECT.: When it comes to keeping that genuine sound, how difficult has it been to do in New York?

SEMI: “It’s not hard at all. If you have a genuine sound, it really shouldn’t matter where you’re at. The music you make here would be the same as the music you would make if you were in Cali. It’s all about how you feel when that beat comes on, or what state of mind you’re in. I mean the environment does kind of have an effect on the content of the music, especially when you’re in a fucked up place. But the sound comes from within.”

RESPECT.: So, how exactly has the environment affected your content? Your upbringing, your surroundings. How have they all molded the artist you’re becoming?

SEMI: “Ah man, it’s funny because it’s really a conflict between who you want to be and who you could end up being. Being someone who came from the hood at a young age and saw everything one way, then moved out of the hood and saw things differently, then moved back to the hood to see all those same things all over again, you become conflicted. It’s like you got so much love for your homies and the people around you but you know they aren’t living right cause you’ve seen better. So, sometimes you might want to kick it outside until 4 in the morning but you know that nothing is going to come of that, you want to hang on the corner with all the drug dealers because those are your people but you also know you’re putting yourself in harm’s way. I think moving back to the hood was a big lesson learned because I used to always want to come back thinking I was missing something when I really wasn’t. When I got back it was like damn, such and such is still over there doing the same thing, them niggas over there ain’t doing much more than they were years ago, and you think ‘Man I really got to get up out of here because that could be me.’ So, my music became a little more rough and edgy because of my environment, but also more honest. I want to be the artist that’s like ‘Listen the hood seems cool in these songs, but it’s really fucked up here too. Like I’m not telling you not to sell drugs, get your money by any means, but what are your plans for the future cause you’re looking lost.’ I just want to help young niggas understand that they’re lost out here and let them know that they have the potential to do so much more.”

RESPECT.: With all that in mind, talk about your creative process when it comes to making music. You clearly have the motivation, so what’s it like when it comes to pushing your pen?

SEMI: “I’m always writing to impress the people I looked up to. The real lyricists like Jay, Fab, Nas, & guys that are known for their ability for story telling and hard hitting bars. We’re in a time where people couldn’t care less whether you can actually rap or not. But for me that’s the only thing I care about, even if I know something might go over the average person’s head. I’m sitting there writing like, ‘Man one day Hov is going to hear this shit and jump out his seat.’ That’s always what I’m going for. I’m never going in the studio thinking ‘Man I got to make a hit record’, because nowadays you never know what a hit is. Half the records I hear now, I’m like ‘Damn, this is the shit people are listening to?’ I just go in there trying to make the music I like and trying to outdo myself every time. I’m my biggest critic. Usually my writing consists of me pacing back and forth, looking crazy for about a half hour [laughs].”

RESPECT.: On the topic of lyricism, let’s switch on over to your latest appearance on Sway In The Morning. You definitely got people talking with that freestyle. What was that experience like?

SEMI: “It was crazy for me, that was the biggest thing that has happened to me in my long years of grinding. I was more than prepared, I was planning on going for at least 10 minutes [laughs] but, I definitely appreciated just the opportunity to even go up there. They showed a lot of love and gave a lot of good advice. It just reassured me that I’m on the right path and I’m really built for it. A lot of people have been telling me how inspiring it was to see me up there because they know how long I’ve been working at this. It’s like everyday people are basically just waiting for you to give up and after seeing me up there they felt like ‘Damn, he’s really doing what he set out to do despite the doubters and the naysayers.’ People have been saying ‘It feels real now!’, but it was always real for me. It just took them seeing me on Sway for it to be validated.”

RESPECT.: It’s clear you’ve been taking big steps, man. So, what’s next? What have you got coming up?

SEMI: “We’re trying to get all the videos for ‘Tales Of The Underdog 2’ out before we put out the next project so that’s the main focus right now. A lot people have been hitting me after seeing me on Sway for tours & little things like that but we just want to make sure it all makes sense before we jump out the window. I’m just trying to stay focused and keep working, put on for my people, and crack the door open for my niggas. But Flo Montana & I have a project in the works. So ,that’s coming real soon. Definitely look out for more visuals though.”

RESPECT.: How can anyone get in contact with you?

SEMI: “They can hit me by email if it’s about business, tharealsemi@gmail.com. But if they’re looking to show me love they can hit me at @ThaRealSEMI on all my social networks from Twitter and Instagram to Facebook.”