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Interview
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Gab Gotcha has
long been a vital component to the Queens and underground hip
hop scene having worked and spit verses on numerous
collaborations with artists/groups such as The Beatnuts, Joell
Ortiz, Rass Kass, Scram Jones and Sha Stimuli. Gab Gotcha has
garnered wide street buzz and radio support during the release
of his albums and mixtapes, “Hustler’s Prayer” and “United States of
America –vs- Gab Gacha Vol. 1” which received airplay on NY’s
Hot 97 FM, XM Satellite radio and NYU’s college radio station in
addition to heavy airplay in international markets including
Chile, Brazil France, Italy and Colombia.
With life experiences serving as both the narrative and the
inspiration in his music, Gab Gotcha was eager to shine light on
the content, energy and flow of his rhymes as an MC. “It only
seemed a natural for Wu Music to bring this MC’s creativity to
the hip hop forefront while at the same time putting the raw
taste of Wu-Tang back on the streets ” says The Rza.
TIMELESS is the
definite must-have hip hop album for December 2010 having
already been hailed by OnSmash.com as the album “that will
remind hip-hop fans that real hip-hop still lives”.
While the Wu fans
still aren't yet sure where to place Gab, it's evident Gab is here to
stay and official like a referee's whistle, regardless of how the
fans take it. Better still this MC is lyrically on point as far
as writing and spitting darts go, so it's time to get to know The Gotcha
on this exclusive Wu-International interview as he breaks down
his affiliation, humble beginnings and upcoming projects, Enjoy!
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I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: How did the name come about and
does it mean anything in particular?
Gab Gotcha: Gab Gotcha is actually simple if u
think about it this way , the gift of Gab Gotcha paying
attention ... etc. I was given the name Gotcha in the
streets for my talents at accommodating certain things when
needed, in other words if you need it ? GAB GOTCHA
Wu-International: Chief General Gaza? Any other names
you go by?
Gab Gotcha:
Chief General Gaza was
the handle during my years with the Beatnuts. My brother
Junkyard JuJu gave me that name. Jimmy Keez is another Aka
Coach is another.
Wu-International:
How did it all start for you? When and why did you decide to
pick up the microphone?
Gab Gotcha: It all started when I first heard
Kool G Rap , The Beatnuts and the Wu. The Nuts and G Rap
were from my hood. JuJu heard me rhyme on a DJ Camilo
MixTape and put me on a track and the rest is history.
Wu-International: Yes, heard you on Beatnuts as I had
that album but didn’t pay no mind until lately, how did you
get involved with Beatnuts?
Gab Gotcha: They were from my neighborhood and Real
eventually finds Real and me and JuJu made it happen.
Wu-International:
Were you part of the Beatnuts camp or just a regular
collaborator?
Gab Gotcha: I am still and will always be family
. No camp or collab ... FAMILY.
Wu-International: You were incarcerated at the height
of your career it seems, do you mind sharing with us what
you were locked up for?
Gab Gotcha:
I was
incarcerated for 7 1/2 years for a heroin conspiracy. Copped
out to 10 years in the Feds.
Wu-International: Any regrets or was it a learning
process to get you where you are today?
Gab Gotcha:
No regrets,
everything happens for a reason and my time is yet to come.
It was a great Education. I learned what it is to lose
everything, fall crushed. I learned how to get up off the
ground and rebuild, and most of all I learned to never take
the small things for granted.
Wu-International: How did you keep yourself busy or
what do you spend most of your time doing whilst locked up?
Gab Gotcha: Rebuilding from the inside
out. Reading, meditating, writing, exercise (until injury)
and spiritual growth, lots of Sports and Writing.
Wu-International: We assumed you would be doing a lot
of writing, sharpening your lyrical swords as evident on
your songs, how have you been able to keep your creative
juices flowing in such a negative environment?
Gab Gotcha: Creativity is not just limited to the
free world. Some of the sharpest swords I ever heard swung
were behind bars, both in the lyrical and physical sense.
Wu-International: What about the rap game, did
you keep up to date with what was going on outside in the
game?
Gab Gotcha: Of course. Unfortunately at the
time I was there it was tough to keep up to date in those
mountains but I did my best to do it.
Wu-International: To be honest I started following
your movement again after you joined Wu-Tang, how did you
get down with the Wu?
Gab Gotcha: My Cousin Calle Cardona (Latin hip
hop artist) was shopping his music and just so happened to
hand a scout my CD who subsequently gave it to RayroQ Acosta
who then showed it to the RZA, DIVINE and POWER. They all
agreed and signed me to WU MUSIC GROUP.
Wu-International: You are signed to Wu Music Group,
some fans might confuse you to be part of the Wu-Latino
collective as well coming through via Ray Acosta, can you
clear your affiliation please?
Gab Gotcha:
I want to clarify this, I am not signed to the Wu
Latino Label. I am signed to Wu Music Group. Yes I am a
Latino artist but I primarily spit in English, and I'm not a
reggaeton artist I am a Hip Hop artist.
Wu-International: How does it feel to be down with a
legendary movement such as Wu, and how well do you
think the Wu fans have responded to you?
Gab Gotcha:
It is an honor
and a privilege to be part of the greatest hip hop
movement ever created. I could not have wished for a
better home. As far as how the Wu Fans responding to
me ... I feel that I'm not getting a fair assessment
by a lot of them. They either question my
affiliation or my product. All I ask is that u
listen to my music and know that my story and life
is a testament to my skills. As a man I'm one of the
few and the proud ones that can walk around knowing
I'm a stand up individual.
As an MC I'm polished enough to know I'm built to
rep this movement, I'm still humble but ... I will
continue to kill all tracks I lace. Hate me or Love
me. |
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Wu-International: Who within the Clan have you
had the opportunity to work with apart from The RZA?
Gab Gotcha:
Apart from the RZA No one
yet. Because of all the tour dates and schedules I am still
waiting for the opportunity, patiently waiting for my chance
to advance. I have worked with Young Dirty, 9th Prince, Tash
Mahogany and Kinetic 9 from Killarmy though.
Wu-International: Who would you say your
favourite member of the Clan is, and why?
Gab Gotcha:
I have Love and Respect for all the members of the Clan. As
an artist I would love to work with all of them but I think
Rae is the artist I would most love to collab with , our
content matter is similar.
Wu-International: Prior to you joining the Wu
movement, there was only one artist reppin’ Latino in the
Wu, Dom Pachino aka P.R. Terrorist, do you know of him and
the fans have expressed interest on seeing both of you doing
a song together?
Gab Gotcha:
Of course I know about Dom Pachino. Killa Army was and still
is official. I would love to collab with the brother, see I
want people to understand something, anyone in my Wu Family
is already in with me for whatever. I show Love always.
Doesn't matter if your Latino, Black, White, Asian etc.
Wu-International:
So what's the deal with the label, are you presently signed
under Wu Music group as an artist or signed for an x amount
of album deal?
Gab Gotcha:
That is a question best answered by the Label.
Wu-International:
You dropped “Timeless” last year, why have you called it
Timeless?
Gab Gotcha:
When our time on this planet is done the only things that
remain timeless are the memories and the music. TIMELESS
Wu-International:
Feedback we got was more disappointed fans with the
album, most of the songs were already released, and some of
the new ones that leaked like The RZA produced “The
Cleaners”, Humility and Honoroll didn’t make the album, what
was the reason for not including these songs on the album?
Gab Gotcha:
First of all I want to apologize to the Wu faithful for
that. What happened is I was signed based on a project I had
already made. The label felt so strong about the project
that they decided to release it. The songs that did not come
out on the project were because they were done after the
release of Timeless.
Wu-International:
The cover art of the album is crazy, who was responsible for
that?
Gab Gotcha:
Andrew
Thiele of Artek NYC, Me and him came up with the conceptual
visions.
Wu-International: Which songs from this project are
your favourites and why?
Gab Gotcha:
Hmmm , I love all of them
(naturally) but I will pick one in Particular. HUSTLER'S
PRAYER track #7 begins with my Mother (R.I.P) blessing me in
Spanish. She passed away 2 years ago and Never got to see me
signed to the Wu. She would have cried tears of joy so ...
yeah, HUSTLER'S PRAYER is my favorite.
Wu-International: Will it be safe to assume
you are currently working on a next project, and if so can
you kindly tell us more about this?
Gab Gotcha:
I am actually working on several projects which will
be released during the upcoming year. Trust me, I'm grinding
very diligently.
Wu-International: Any songs completed that
features any Wu member or Killa Beez that you might
like to share with the fans?
Gab Gotcha: I'm this type of person, until it is in
front of me I will not confirm or deny any such
speculations. let's just say it is long overdue.
Also I would like to address any of the
aforementioned before , I am always ready for work.
Holla.
Wu-International: Will the fans see any type of
collaboration between yourself and Beatnuts anytime soon?
Gab Gotcha:
Of Course , that is
always on Deck.
Wu-International: Would you say your ethnic
background is a great influence in your sound?
Gab Gotcha: Not in my sound, but in my content.
Me being of a Colombian background I feel a lot of MCs
exploit and/or speak of lifestyles that they may or may not
have lived that are prevalent in my Colombia. I'm from
Medellin Colombia and have poured out Henne at Pablo
Escobars Grave ... Nuff Said.
Wu-International: You have been compared to the great
Big Pun on few articles, how does that make you feel?
Gab Gotcha: It's an honor to be compared to one of
the greatest ever but it is also weird because I don't think
I sound like him at all. His word play and cadence was
amazing and even though my content is as relevant maybe I
feel that our Latin roots and physical characteristics play
more of a part in that comparison, I mean lets keep it G.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, what else
do you get up to outside of music as far as hobbies and
interests go?
Gab Gotcha:
I'm
also getting into visuals and artist development. I am part
of a couple of Media and Production houses (SQUARE DEAL
MEDIA) and (SCARBORO MEDIA) that specialize in all visuals
and I personally consult MCs on character development.
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Wu-International: Do you have any thing else to share
with the fans before we end this interview that has
not already been covered?
Gab Gotcha: To all my Fans I love and respect
y'all for following me all these years and you can
expect more heat for a long time. As for my hatred
are concerned, all I can do is keep making music, if
u Respect the RZA's Ear for music than u should know
he's not gonna co sign nothing sub par. I hold
myself to the quality of music you expect to hear
for the WU. All I ask for is that you give me the
opportunity. If your gonna hate let it be because
you feel I'm not on the level but not because of the
Color of my skin, ethnicity or Religion. |
Wu-International: One last thing, where can fans keep
up to date with Gab Gotcha?
Gab Gotcha:
WWW.WUGOTCHA.COM, Twitter @gabgotcha, FB Gab Gotcha,
GOOGLE GAB GOTCHA
Thanks
for your time and we wish you all the best in your future
endeavours.
Keep up to date with Gab
Gotcha
WWW.WUGOTCHA.COM
http://wudisciples.blogspot.com
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