G2 Talks ‘Off It,’ Working With Sheck Wes and Southside & More

Colored dreads, face tats, and glistering jewelry; G2 looks like your typical rapper, but he’s far from that. “I was tryna figure out how can I stand out and be different,” he says about not matching the stereotypical person artist would find in Los Angeles. G2 emerged into the rap scene with his 2017 project Expect The Unexpected. Although the project features stunning local acts, the production comes from 808 Mafia, who serves as one of the artist’s major co-sign.

Gaining Southside‘s respect wasn’t easy though, G2 says “I had to put in a lot of work and show him I can record.” He put out his debut EP Off It earlier this year. It boasts high-profile features from G Herbo and D Savage. Production is also handled by the likes of Pyrex Whipper, Redda, and of course, Southside. “I feel like it’s a good body of work. It’s different,” G2 states. Check the interview out below.

How are you doing today?

Shit. I’m just now waking up, let’s do it still.

Tell me the story behind your style.

I’d say like my first year rapping, I was really tryna find myself. I fucked with Famous Dex, Tyler, The Creator, and G Herbo. I really fucked with them. I was tryna figure out how can I stand out and be different in Los Angeles. I had to find my sound and style. Who else? I don’t know, I don’t really have a favorite artist, I just like the songs at the time. You can say the Los Angeles music scene for sure.

How’d you get into music?

My whole family does music. I used to sing in the choir. My cousins rapped, my auntie sung. I come from a musical family so that shit is pretty much in my DNA.

So your parents were always supportive when it came to making music?

Immediately. My friends, not all of them.

What’s your favorite project to date?

JayDaYougan‘s Forever 23 and Off It, for sure.

Tell me, how did your relationship with Sheck Wes develop?

So my cousin and Travis Scott are really close. My cousin is my right-hand man so I would always be around. When Travis first started to sign niggas, Sheck Wes was the first one he brought. Sheck and I clicked almost immediately. When we first met we would never even talk about music. That shit is crazy, but I met him through Travis and my cousin.

Let’s get into Off It, describe that album in your own words.

I really feel like it’s a well put together project. I feel like it’s a good body of work, It’s different. I got Pyrex, Southside, Redda, and Diablo on production. I have G Herbo and D Savage featured on there. I don’t know, it’s just different coming from where I’m from.

My favorite song on the project is “Racks.” Everybody likes “FAWHS” and “Blastin’ Off,” but nah. I love money, but I really tell a story on that song. “Since I was a jit, I played with racks huh / 15-years-old, taught myself how to trap huh,” I kind of tell them how I was introduced to the streets. People really don’t be listening. I feel like people listen to beat and just vibe with that.

Tell me about meeting Southside.

Once again, I met Southside through my cousin LuxuryTax5O. I had to earn his respect and attention and it took me a minute. It was hard, it wasn’t easy. I had to put in a lot of work and show him I can record. I kind of had to prove myself.

Do you have plans to release more music this year?

Hell yeah. Within probably the next month I’ma release something.

Would you ever consider doing R&B?

I been recently considering, not doing R&B, but you know my singing ways. Yeah, but I can’t do it by myself. There has to be a female singer on there with me.

If it weren’t for rap, where do you think you would be now?

In the streets or jail, on some bullshit. The nigga I grew up with is in jail facing 25 years, the majority of the niggas I grew up are in jail. I would’ve been in the street or working. No, I wouldn’t have been working. (laughs)

What Los Angeles rappers are you listening to right now?

It’s a few of them. Of course, I’m fucking with my DBFLYG and GMG boys. I really mess with the AzCult. D Savage too. Oh, there’s this rapper named Hook. Bro, she’s so fire. I swear to God. She’s from Riverside, I fuck with her. I still listen to Drakeo the Ruler. Oh yeah, Tyler, The Creator as well.

Anything else you want to add?

Shout out my boy Malc, man. Stop sleeping, Off It out now on all platforms.