They say it’s
different across the bridge, and there is something definitely different about
GQ. In the words of 9th Wonder, simply put, “he’s a star”. GQ, who Grammy Award winning producer, 9th
Wonder, coins his “secret weapon” is not only a former NCAA basketball champion,
but in fact Oakland’s next HipHop hero.
Born and
raised in Oakland,
California, GQ (also known as
Quentin Thomas) found his passion for music at an early age; nine to be exact.
Influenced by a wide array of music genres and artist, the young GQ became
a fan of lyrics and started to pen his first rhymes; all while training to be a
college hoops star. In 2004 he was recruited by Roy Williams to play for
the University of
North Carolina’s storied
basketball program; and was a member of the 2005 National Championship team his
freshman year. Some years later, and already a champion of one passion, he
was well on his way to being a champion of his other -
rhyming.
GQ signed
with 9th Wonder in 2009, one of the last artists to join the budding Jamla
roster, which has grown to be one of the most buzzed about indie labels today.
Of the multi-talented emcee, 9th Wonder says, “he isn’t a basketball
player that can rhyme; he is a rapper that can ball.” His style is passionate,
controlled, lyrical and he is a master of telling the gritty, dark tales of the
place we know as “OakTown”.
In 2010, GQ
was featured on EA Sports’ NBA Live 10 video game, alongside Mississippi’s own, David
Banner. The following year, the Oakland
emcee released a few singles, and a three-part mixtape series, entitled “Blended”, before unleashing his
first project under the Jamla imprint “Trouble
Man.”
