God Child | TFVCAMP Rap Group Bleeds Positive Energy With New Project
We have lives to change and hearts to fill
What’s going on! I am 28 and I’m from Chicago, IL. The Westside to be exact. I went to school over on the east side.
It’s dope how you’re in the rap group, TFVCAMP. How did that relationship start What does TFVCAMP stand for?
Well to be honest, we all met at different times but the existence of TFVCAMP started back in late 2015 back in Jamestown, NY. Happened right before my daughter was born. I was in a dark place in life. I was released from boot camp as an agreement with a federal judge to better myself, where they offered me to go to college and get out of the city. I took it. Most of my peers and brothers were dying to gun violence in Chicago and I didn’t want to join that trend. After seeing my mother overdose on drugs, I was real hurt so I left. Soon after, I met some guys who would help change my image on life. I met this guy from Harlem named ‘Sleezy’ and another dude from The Bronx named ‘Jason’. Sleezy was a rapper, but Jason wasn’t. They were always encouraging me to rap. Jason later left and went home, then me and Sleezy bonded like no other. I met other members of TFV, like ‘Drizzy’ through Sleezy and such. We all got real close. TFV stands for ‘The Future Voices’. It was created when I got a call during Drama Class and I found out all my brothers got killed. I dropped out right there. I met the member ‘Gedem’ right after. He moved in the same complex building as I and soon I found out he was into music as well but never actually started. So I had a gig in Ohio, and asked him if we wanted to join because we needed a third person. Funny how it went from a gesture to a life time brotherhood. I met member ‘Virgo’ later on when I became our college town’s engineer. I worked with almost everyone who had done music in every genre. I had an ear for music, so I’m not sure how engineering started but it was a easy trade for me to pick up. I was pretty decent at it too. I never pursued the lane much, but ventured off into rapping. Most people told me I have a voice for it and had an iconic style. The Future Voices is the big umbrella and TFVCAMP is just the music part of us. We are involved in other things. TFVCAMP stands for the voice of the people’s future.
A lot of young individuals usually gravitate towards safer careers, such as working in an office or something similar. What made you take the leap to become an artist, and how did you first get into rapping?
GEDEM: How I’ve always thought about it, there’s always time to play it safe with a career and where I’m from (Woolwich/Bath Maine) that’s usually the path taken. I want to make a name for myself ,and where I’m from others that never had a chance or enough exposure to make their dreams possible. I’ve always had a passion for music and sound, starting with minor piano and guitar lessons, and constantly songwriting. I quickly realized the genre I am in now, and that was the sound I gravitated towards, I wanted to become an artist so I could meet and make lifetime ties with people sharing my mindset as well as helping me grow at the same time. It’s crazy how in a safe career you fall into endless repetition. As an artist, I’m constantly able to see my growth for myself which makes life really feel limitless.
GOD CHILD: For me as well it almost seems complex, but it’s simple. We all want to be great at some point in life, and me coming from Chicago with a family of mob ties and street organized crime, I wanted to be different. I guess having a daughter really opened my mind up to a different future i saw. God had spoken to me. I always was a leader, even in the streets, so it wasn’t hard making a new transition. I grew up in church as well, and was one of the hottest young organ player’s around in Chicago. I worked jobs and hustled, so a grinding period was a must.
Your instagram bio shows that your “Certified Ghostwriter”. Who have you ghostwrote for and how did that happen?
Yes I am. I wrote for many underground artists, not really any majors. Artists from Cali to NY. RnB, Hip Hop and Rap. It started by just being good with wordplay. I went to college for Oral Communication so public speaking was easy for me. Most times it came from doing a feature and I would critique the artist’s verse.
Your groups project ‘Sage Mode’ drops on March 15th and off that single ‘Glee’ you dropped, it sounds like its going to be fire. How many tracks are on ‘Sage Mode’ and what was the process like creating it?
There are about 10, possibly 12 songs on the project. We wanted to bring the old felt vibe off listening to projects like back in the early 2000s.
GOD CHILD: The process was deep for me because we actually lived everything in this project. Almost like it was foretold or something, it’s funny how despite being distant at times we were still able to reach each others energy. God was working in mysteries ways. The vibe was so organic and real it was priceless. By far one of my all time favorite collections.
GEDEM: For me it felt like this project gave every member a chance to add their piece to the puzzle. We brought many different sounds and styles, giving different perspectives to the common goal. TFV members are spread throughout the east coast so for all of us to get together as a unit and create a memorable project was something like no other. Truly an amazing experience. I was honored to be a part of, and it will stay with me forever on my journey as an artist.
What are some of the biggest positives about being in a rap group?
GOD CHILD:Knowing you belong somewhere. It’s simple for me.
GEDEM: For me it’s always been family. Knowing you share a connection with others that some might not understand.
What are some of the hardest parts about being in a rap group?
GOD CHILD: It’s definitely the distance, timing is everything.
GEDEM: At this point in time the biggest struggle is distance. Making things happen as a unit has been difficult with us being so spread out.
‘I fucked around and got a check’ , the hook on your track ‘Glee’ is catchy as fuck homie. I know when you made that chorus, you knew you got one. Where were you when you made that track?
Funny you mentioned me feeling like I had one. I definitely did, but didn’t know it would come out and have the effect on listeners like it had. I believe I was standing in front of my stove when I was just vibing to the beat. I didn’t really have anything at the time.
The name of ‘Glee’ makes me think of an ecstatic and really happy vibe. Why did you name the track that?
Everything was organic, so I wanted to keep everything organic. That was the name of the track before I purchased it. It matched the vibe. I was in a better place in life at that moment. I was able to do something great for my daughter and my team, so I guess in my heart I finally felt happy.
Your sound on ‘Glee‘ is mainstream, but unique in its own right. I can definitely hear this track on the radio. What are you doing to make sure people hear the track?
It drops officially everywhere on February 20th through Symphonics Distribution. Much love to them for accepting me and my team to their family. We are working on getting radio spins in the south, as well as the Midwest and East Coast. It already has a buzz overseas. Over 20k plays on snippets. The reactions have been overwhelmingly great. I love it. I’m old school so I really want to work with veteran DJs and create a new sound.
In that song as well, you talk about having a daughter. How does she motivate you every day to keep making music?
She is reason TFV is even created. Her birth is my rebirth, so she is my music! Every day watching her grow and seeing myself in a female form is odd but awesome. I can’t fail period. The future depends on me and my team to make it! I guess from not having any parents growing up I have to change the cycle in my daughter’s life. The artist you see, hear, and grow to love is only here because of Sophia. God told me when her mom was pregnant with her, that I must lead her and her generation into a world of peace and love. So that’s what I’m doing. I don’t know what the future is like, but I know it will be brighter.
What separates God Child from any other rap artist trying to make it?
GOD CHILD: really consider myself a Child of God. I have a high calling, so my standards for myself is on a different scale. My only goal is to protect the future, and through my music and resources I want to rebuild lives. I have to change lives, by always putting God first. My mindset is different than your typical artist.
GEDEM: Being in big areas where this genre of music shines, your bound to run into the same style, thoughts, and sounds sooner or later. That’s a bad thing of course, repetition is great. The place where I’m from, isn’t generally those places, so taking the chances and putting in the work needed as an artist is smiled upon by very few. So with that being said, I wanna bring a new sound, drive and ideas to my TFV family as well as the genre itself. What I think also sets me apart from other artists is my mindset on growth. Not only do I want to see success for myself, but anyone and everyone around me looking for the way towards that next step as well.
New videos and performing worldwide. Getting our vision out there. This is a long journey so we are only preparing for what’s to come. We have lives to change and hearts to fill. Our journey is more than music we want to teach every hood, every street corner, every village, every state and every country. The day we can say “My God, we did it.” is the day we can finally rest. Pray for us and we do you all. I hope and pray that from this interview you would feel “Glee”, peace and love!
