-GSB (Genesis/Sadam Backwards)-
*Who is GSB?*
Here's a chance to learn more about GSB (Genesis/Sadam Backwards). We sat down and asked GSB a few questions that fans wanted to know. These were his responses...
How many were in your family?
-Three
Where were you in the lineup?
-Second; yes, the dreaded "MIddle Child"...it has been rewarding to be both a little brother and a big brother. I don't understand why so many complain about this status. It's actually the best of both worlds, in my opinion.
What one or two stories do you remember most clearly about music during your childhood?
-I was about thirteen or fourteen and some older friends of mine who also rapped (Neptune and Soulo) took me with them to a jazz club in downtown Philadelphia. They encouraged me to perform with them, although I wasn't quite prepared. Thus, I ended up freestyling, if I remember correctly.
Since I hadn't previously performed, when my turn came up, I grabbed the microphone, closed my eyes, and let it rip for about thirty or forty seconds--although, as you can imagine, it felt much longer. (laughs)
The audience applauded...although I think it was more out of pity than anything else (laughs)
Since I hadn't previously performed, when my turn came up, I grabbed the microphone, closed my eyes, and let it rip for about thirty or forty seconds--although, as you can imagine, it felt much longer. (laughs)
The audience applauded...although I think it was more out of pity than anything else (laughs)
What was it like where you grew up?
-North Philadelphia was a pretty interesting place to grow up, to be honest. In hindsight, I'm unsure how I survived all of the nonsense that people inflict to survive, but I did. I mostly kept a smaller circle, so I'm sure this helped. I was, however, a social creature--let's not be confused.
My mother, though difficult at times, appeared to do her best to support two sons with little to no support (my younger brother didn't come until I was a teenager), so the idea of being unattached to material possessions was instilled relatively early in me (whether directly or indirectly). I was the type of kid who would have fifty cents and give another a quarter. It's just who I was...who I still am.
Growing up in a challenging environment doesn't pave the way for you...it just makes you stronger. In the end, it is up to you what you do with the strength, you know?
My mother, though difficult at times, appeared to do her best to support two sons with little to no support (my younger brother didn't come until I was a teenager), so the idea of being unattached to material possessions was instilled relatively early in me (whether directly or indirectly). I was the type of kid who would have fifty cents and give another a quarter. It's just who I was...who I still am.
Growing up in a challenging environment doesn't pave the way for you...it just makes you stronger. In the end, it is up to you what you do with the strength, you know?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
-In Elementary School: a football player; I used to wear these Penn State sweatpants during recess and run around like David Meggett. Am I the only one who remembers David Meggett from the Giants? (laughs)
In Middle School: a horror writer...inspired by the likes of Stephen King and R.L. Stine... I used to fill legal pads from front to back--both sides of the page--with stories... I wrote so much that my middle finger would be sore and indented from the pen. Have you ever used a disposable pen until the ink ran out? I used to do that in sixth and seventh grade.
In High School: I settled on the reality that I had to do something more likely to occur (too small to play football), so I decided to pursue Electrical Engineering...
In Middle School: a horror writer...inspired by the likes of Stephen King and R.L. Stine... I used to fill legal pads from front to back--both sides of the page--with stories... I wrote so much that my middle finger would be sore and indented from the pen. Have you ever used a disposable pen until the ink ran out? I used to do that in sixth and seventh grade.
In High School: I settled on the reality that I had to do something more likely to occur (too small to play football), so I decided to pursue Electrical Engineering...
What leisure time activities are you involved with?
-Chilling with my Babies (aka Family...including my Girlfriend--they're all my "Babies"). In addition writing songs, playing Video Games, reading books on my Kindle (too easy to BUY NOW--shame on you Amazon!), fixing computers... Truly, thinking of how to merge all of this together to save the world...
What were the most joyous, fulfilling times of your life?
-The most joyous, fulfilling times of my life are being a Dad. I love being a Dad--there's nothing like it! Being a Father is pretty cool, but being a Dad? Priceless... Other than that, creating songs that have purpose and that are intended to express reality or heal...
What have you learned over your lifetime that you'd like to share with the younger generation?
-I really have a ton of things...I normally share these things in my rhymes... I'll share two here:
- The Kingdom of God is within you--we are ALL God's children, and
- If you lose respect for your elders, you have already lost the fight.
What are you most grateful for in your life?
-What a difficult question... How does a man with many blessings (four children, a loving partner) and opportunities (collabing with Illy Dutch, the ability to share my life with others who might appreciate my expression)--with so much he has overcome (deceit, homelessness, war, mistrust), value one thing over another when they all have convened to make him who he is today?
What am I most grateful for in Life? Life.
Grow!
What am I most grateful for in Life? Life.
Grow!