So in your own words who exactly is Goldlink?
Goldlink: That’s a good ass question my dude! Goldlink is a lot of ni**as man. Goldlink is a kid who was born in DC that grew up in Maryland his entire life and is currently living in Virginia. He embodies a lot of street culture because of his uncles being pimps and everybody around him being pimps, hustlers, thugs and killers. My dad was a dealer and my uncle is Wayne Perry. I used to run on the streets with his son so he embodies a lot of street culture and he is the DMV.
That’s great you clarified it for everybody. Because, there was a lot of information floating on the net not really stating where you’re originally from. The fans needed the clarification.
So my next question is, how did you really get into music?
GL: Good ass question. I grew up on music my entire life. My mother was a super gospel women and my dad was into soul and art and my brother was super into rap music. Ya know, growing up in DC all you hear is Go-Go and I grew up around music. But, I didn’t even attempt to think about rapping until I was 18 or 19. But the thing about it is, I started rapping because I had no choice. You know at that time of my life I didn’t have that much going on but I was always positive. I was like f**k it, if I’m going to rap I’m going to do it right. I took my time to stay in the house more than anybody and study poetry, lyricism, and study MC’s. I literally became a student of the game, that’s why I learned so quick and absorbed sh*t like a sponge and here I am today.
That’s dope. So for the people that aren’t familiar with your music and sound, your sound is sonically different than most DMV artists and really unlike anything we heard before. What drove you to sculpt your sound and really break from the norm?
GL: The thing about it was everything sounds the fu*king same and everybody is manufactured from the same building. Another thing is, growing up in the DMV there is no difference between me and Trel (Fat Trel) we damn near grew up on the same block. I grew up in the same neighborhoods, I know that same struggle and I know that same dealer. But the thing is, how can I say this in a more universal way that is more appealing and people can dance to the pain while at the same time listening. I mean, I know I have an accent and I speak slang and sh*t but I say it differently and a way people can relate.
That’s so dope man, I agree with you in terms of the DMV scene being the same to some extent so it’s always refreshing to hear somebody bringing something new to the table. Now, it’s been sometime since there was an artist from the DMV that was original and organic from their sound to beat selection. More specifically, it’s been awhile since the DMV had somebody that totally turned the internet upside down probably since Wale. How are you taking to the publicity and the critics online?
GL: That’s crazy nobody asked me that. You know what, I take it and it’s a blessing. I’m very humbled and it keeps me grounded. It shows everything that I worked for is paying off as oppose to me celebrating and letting it get to me. So I take those critics and use it as feedback and see what I’m doing and how to do it better. I’m always forward-thinking and always thinking ahead as to how I can make these people happy. At the end of the day it’s very humbling and I take the good and the bad.
Timeout, people are saying bad stuff about you man?
GL: Nah, not really hahaha
Yea that would have been a surprise to me too. So, the term “Future Bounce” has been thrown a lot lately relating to your sound. Describe it for us?
GL: It is a very nostalgic thing that everybody has heard before. See the producers I’m with from Louie, Lakim and Fingalick take these samples that we are all familiar with, but add a new twist to it. They add a new drum, piano, element or a new string causing it to be very futuristic and very forward so that’s why I say Future Bounce. It’s like you’re hearing the music for the first time again. It will have you saying “what the hell is this” hahaha. So I guessed that’s how I can describe it.
Did you come up with the term originally?
GL: I did not it was all Lakim. He’s from Soulection and he coined it I just adopted it. He crowned me and I thank him for that. But at the end of the day, he started that.
Now, with your “When I Die” video buzzing on the net what was the vision behind that video?
GL: You know what, I’ll give you the real story. The idea was inspired by an actual event. So my name on twitter is “Illwhop” and I used to run in the streets of Baltimore with a lot of people that showed me love. So what happened was, I left Baltimore and I was on my way back and heard about a killing spree that happened in Baltimore where 55 motherf*ckers were getting killed…
Yea I heard of something like that…
GL: Yea, so I was like man sh*t. I started calling all my mans and em’ and nobody was answering their phones. So I called my boys and asked “have you heard from “ill”” and they were like nah. So I had a gut feeling something happened because this was unlike him to not talk to me. So next thing you know, I looked it up and him a few others close to me got killed. I couldn’t believe it and couldn’t accept the fact that he was dead. So pretty much, if you notice in the “When I die” video there were four kids and one of the kids get shot. In actuality, there were three kids and one was ghost and they couldn’t fathom the fact their friend was gone. That’s pretty much what it was, I couldn’t accept the fact that one of my n**as was gone. I couldn’t let go and get over the fact he’s dead and I won’t ever see him again.
You came up with all that by yourself?
GL: Yea. But, I got to give it up to the directors, they did their thing.
No doubt. But I got to ask you a question. The opening beat to that video was produced by VirtuosoTheGod right?
GL: Alright this is how it works. First off, Virtuoso is the homie and he is so amazing with that fu*king sh*t man. I met up with him one day and he was like “I want to make you a beat” so he started showing all these beats and I ain’t like any of them. So I was like F it lets do it from scratch and what people don’t understand is I made that beat. I made that beat and I told him what to put on it. I came up with the two samples which were Missy Elliot’s “Work it” and Gwen Stefani’s “Holla back” joint then I took the sample from somewhere on the internet that I won’t say the name and a sample from the beginning of my song and made the beat. A lot of people don’t know that with Virtuoso at hand we made the beat.
So, can people expect anything together with you two guys?
GL: umm… maybe.
I also noticed that Baltimore spitter Black Zheep who opened up for you release party is also in that video. How did you guys connect and is there anything brewing in the future with you guys?
GL: Yea man. Like I said earlier I used to run around in Baltimore so that’s my guy. But the way I met Black Zheep was, he came to the studio that I happened to come too and I heard about him before and liked his music. So when we actually met we clicked and that’s like my brother. I will f*cking die for Black Zheep. So we ended up being close and I kept him with me. I think he is one of the dopest n*ggas out of the DMV and Baltimore. I believe in him and he runs with these guys called 7th Floor Villains and I believe in all of them. But yea, we been working on some stuff and me and Black Zheep got some sh*t coming.
Like Virtuoso, there are certain producers that really have the sound you gravitate towards. How does the selection process go for choosing the right producer?
GL: I’m really really selective. Like Fingalic and Lakim have such unique sounds that you never heard before. When I pick a beat, I don’t want it to be the weirdest thing in the world but must be a certain way. That’s a good question, like if it hits me a certain way I may just take it. You can be the worst producer in the world but I will take it.
Now I got to ask you, you pretty much made yourself hidden and it’s virtually impossible to link a face to the music. Was that the plan all along?
GL: Yea that was the plan. The whole thing behind that was I don’t understand why people have to attach a visual. My whole thing was I did the reverse and didn’t attach an image to the music. The reason I did this was because people can’t really judge how I look like and it was pure quality. At the end, people can only judge the pure quality of the music. So I made sure I worked on every song and perfected it and kept people on edge.
So is that going to be your whole motive throughout your career?
GL: I can’t say, but for the God Complex and this God theme since you never seen God’s face it fits.
Oh okay. So your project The God Complex has simply broke the internet and is making some noise online, why the title The God Complex?
GL: Well the title has two separate definitions. Back in the day I had an ex whose father was a philosopher and one day she telling me that “God is perfect and everybody in the world should strive to be like God.” Then the definition of the God Complex theme was somebody who was very arrogant, cocky and above an icon. So, I took two ideas and blended into one and made it musically cohesive. So you can hear the Future bounce beats that are loud, grand and so cocky.
I hear you’re a pretty big fan of Sango?
GL: Yea that’s the homie. I’m actually dropping something soon and we’re performing at Broccoli Fest with him. He’s the homie though, we text and all that.
Cool, now you performed at SXSW on the Soulection stage with some of their artists. What is the connection with all you guys and can we expect a collab or anything of that sort in the future?
GL: Yea Joe Kay is the homie and Abjo so expect something in the future. That’s fam and we will be doing stuff together for a longtime.
So Broccoli Fest is near and it’s your first major show in the district. What is the one thing you want your fans to expect when they see you perform?
GL: That I’m really hot and I’m fly hahahaha…
Lastly, we’re going to play a little game of “On da Spot.” I’m going to round off 5 topics/names and you give me the first thing that comes to your mind. Cool?
GL: Cool.
DMV Music Scene
GL: Promising
Best Place to Eat in the DMV
GL: Yum’s Carry-out
Favorite Song on God Complex
GL: Control
Ta-Ku and Kaytranada
GL: Legends
The God Complex
GL: Immaculate