Getting To Know: Gleams

I was checking out Mostly Junkfood, one of my favorite music blogs as of late, and I stumbled across a new mixtape by a rapper named Gleams. I've heard dude's name before on Twitter but never really gave his music a listen. I read into the article and saw that he truly was a rapper that was leveraging Twitter for all of its potential. It's great to see social media work out in someone's favor. I was so intrigued by Gleams that I asked if he would do an interview for the site. Via email correspondence, I was able to ask Gleams some questions about his influences, Joe Budden in particular, and what we can expect from him in the future. Be sure to check out his latest offering "The Exception".


1. Why do you rap? Not trying to be funny, but what is the main thing you wish to accomplish using rap music?

I rap for listeners, blunt heads fly ladies and prisoners...lol naw lemme chill. I do this music to give the people something true to life and dope at the same time. Also because I'd rather make music instead of be out in these streets self destructing, plus it helps me vent/express my feelings best.

2. The reason you started rapping? What’s your motivation?

My motivation was seeing my favorite artists do what they love and get paid for it. And giving listeners another choice.

3. Your bio says that you’re from New York. How do you feel like that environment influenced your sound as an artist?

The majority of New Yorkers show me what I don't wanna be and how I don't wanna live my life. We're one of the best cities in the world but the people here just wanna do the same thing the next person is doing. I wanna detach myself from being labeled a NEW YORK artist, cuz I hate being put in a box. Still in all i love my city, i just don't like falling into a stereotype with the people who "RUN" it.

4. What are your influences, artists you look up to?

Obviously Joe Budden, John Lennon, Nas, Pac, Hov and Michael Jackson just to name a few.

5. Explain how the whole Joe Budden situation unfolded and how you two initially linked up? Do you guys still have a working relationship and can we expect any collaborations in the future?

Man I was just a fan that got to meet him at a bb kings show cuz of my homie Ice. Shortly after, I noticed Budden was following me. I been to his studio (as a fan) twice, and I never would have imagined what happened at Irving Plaza. We don't have a working relationship, we're just Twitter homies as of now. I'd love to collab with him in the future. We'll see what happens. Anything is possible.

6. What artists do you see as your main competition? Who else is in your lane or do you think you’re carving out your own niche in the rap game?

Only competition for me is the artists I look up to and myself. I don't view the local acts nor other rappers on twitter as comp. And I believe I have begun paving my own way musically, thank God lol.

7. Name one song that describes who you are as an artist. Something for people that have never heard your music.

A song off of “The Exception” called "FYI" will tell you a lot about who I am.

8. Explain your current label situation and when we can expect to hear another project.

I am unsigned, just building my brand and fanbase at the moment. And my next project should come out as soon as I drop the visuals for this project that’s out now.

9. I’ve drawn some parallels between your situation and another Twitter/Internet sensation Kreayshawn. Both of you have leverage what I would like to call “virtual fanbases” into creating a name for yourself, almost overnight. Would you agree with the idea of a virtual fanbase or do you see your fans as something else?

I mean I wouldn't call it a virtual fanbase, but I understand why you label them that. I don't mind what they are viewed as. As long as they support they can be anything but spam bots.

10. Wanted to leave room for you to give a shoutout to anyone in particular, or anyone not on our radars that we should be checking for.

Shouts to #TheCast, LNF and stay tuned to www.THEGLEAMSSHOW.com thanks for your support!

Thanks again to Gleams for doing this interview. He can be found at his Twitter account, which links to his other website.

One Day

Allow me to use this post to send my condolences to Ryan Dunn and his family. Also to the family of “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Also, allow me to point out my biggest pet peeve with celebrity death: the inconsiderate. Regardless of how either of these guys died, they’re dead. They’re deceased. No longer here among us. We should offer them some kind of respect. That’s like waiting until the anniversary of Tupac Shakur’s birthday to bash him. Oh wait, people do that too. But I digress.

I came across this article online the other day, which was about a tweet done by Robert Ebert. Firstly, why are tweets news? Secondly, how could Ebert possibly think that wasn’t out of line and too soon, mere hours after Dunn’s tragic death? Ebert might be revered in the film industry, but he obviously lacks dignity and tact.

Allow me to lighten the mood a little bit, thanks to none other than Webbie Young Savage.




I truly feel like Webbie, along with Lil Boosie, are modern day nignorant savants, but I will save that post for another day.

Daytime TV Will Never Be The Same

Based music is a great avenue for people to place their energy rather than more negative alternatives out there. Sure, it's random words, but it's keeping people away from more destructive activities. When you combine the principles of the Based freestyle with one's fondness for children's TV programming, sometimes, magic happens. This is one of those instances.



*Also, if you enjoyed this, check out Yung God's other Based freestyles. Like Caillou.

Loook Up To The Sky

And I do this for my culture
All my single mothers pushing strollers, keep pushing
Don’t let that man hold you up
It’s a war going on, get your arms up
Don’t surrender, read more books
They wanna kill us, wanna spit on us
Only in America
I’m more liberal than conservative but old fashioned in that vintage low
Sip Rossi and spit vintage flows
Ask these girls if you ain’t know
I don’t ask and she don’t probe
Keep this on a need to know
That bottle service and that car service
Both get me where I need to go
Money come and go, bankroll it stay
I’m a star, give me space
At a attention and these guns about face
Got a date with destiny, I’m bout a hour late
Before we build I gotta lay the pipe
That’s my devils talking, I’m a angel right?
A sin is a sin is a sin
Don’t judge me, I gotta be the voice for men
Got expensive taste, I need Ferraris on my plate
My motto? “Only date models”
I need this icing and cake, wait
You see this bait? This Supreme. Original fate
Yall washed up, I ain’t showered in days
I live beyond my means, I gotta get paid
I got vision like a running back
I been around like culdesac
I’m drinking Jack and don’t owe you jack
Keep moving like vogues on a Cadillac
I feel alone even when I’m not
Right now I’m in a fish bowl, everybody watch
Will you hold me down or hold me up?
Do you got my back or will you front?

Her

She lives next door
To the store that I loiter at
We talk every night, she cry to me about her guy
And if we text, I get pissed when I get no reply

I know that she’s the key to love
She is who I’m thinking of when I ain’t beating richard up
The mental images her face looked
The closest that I got was when I’m poking her on facebook

Video chats are so exciting,
Cause it’s like she is inviting me to her world full of privacy
I’m getting gassed up, I think she’s liking me
She’s gullible, and I just wanna take it like a pirate

I see her in class
Not really two doors down, but any time that I pass
To take a piss in a stall, I picture us in the hall
Locking lips on the wall, her hand grabbing my dick
My left hand on her tits, aw my shit’s getting hard
Some thoughts of dating this bitch

Her name is my password

All my niggas got they bitches and stuff
But all the bitches, they fuck
Are known as bitches and sluts
But she’s special, I know to ya’ll I come off as rough
But I’m the nicest to her, and I just want to concur
A relation, I want the cheesy dates at the movies
And stupid walks at the beach, and sharin’ straws in a cup
I never had that, so when we holdin’ hands walkin’ home
I look past that, the fact she’s fucking guys that I hate
But…

Things are looking great, cut copy
Last time that we talked, she said her relationship was rocky
Now that mr. faggot’s gone, their’s no one that can stop me
From bagging her, I got these tickets to the roxies

Next day, metro’s taking me home
I see her in a cut at wendy’s, but she’s not alone
Who’s that guy, wait, why the fuck he ‘bout to kiss her?
Come to find out she got back with her nigga

She’s so pretty, fuck self pity, I feel so shitty
I wanna text her in a jealous rage, but if she replied
Or say anything, I’mma smile, I know

What do I do with myself? sit in my room for some days
Play XBox with piles full of wet socks, fuck that

My nigga asked “ace, what happened to such and such?”
I just tell him her name, and then, tell him I probably fucked
Or I could tell em the truth and say she didn’t like me much
But instead I lie and say she moved to Nebraska

World Goes Round

We the victims of slavery
It's still alive
If you think otherwise, I suggest you open up your eyes and face reality of what's going on with you and me
We just on a longer leash with a few more opportunities than they had in the past
My grandma bust her ass and she ain't got no MediCare
Heart crying, she need money from everywhere
Just to pay off all these high ass bills, I'm tryna put her in a high ass crib sitting on the hills
So I know I gotta hustle
I can't go legit 'cause I won't net shit
Gotta make sure that my mama live behind that black vent
Only $7 a hour from the government, that don't make sense
And then they telling me to fill out they lil' applications
If it ain't about no money, by all means, motherfuck your conversation
The same shit goes on
Take a look around you, there's so much that goes wrong
And these folks still tryna hold us down
Things will never change, they gon' always be the same as the world goes round and round

The same old shit
Innocent ones who fall flat
Younger than those who be snitching for confidential slack on the time they gettin’ for crimes they committed and those the ones I feel like shouldn’t be living
Don’t have no responsibility
I’m tryna figure out how these habitual molesters that I be sitting next to sentences always be the lesser to a dope presser
My nigga Woo got 30 years for that white girl
I know amigo got 2 years for playing with little girls
Open your eyes and tell me what you see in your world
Make it better but won’t shit change