LaQuinn

LaQuinn is a student of many great Charlottesville musicians having dealt with everyone from every musical form of life. His late uncle Johnny Gilmore afforded him the possibilities to meet, witness, build and learn from other greats such as Uncle George Clinton, John Hornsby, Dave Matthews and a host of other talented artists. His story of being abducted when young to the perils of inner city life, a brief run in with the law and industry fodder serve as entertainment and as cautionary tales for enlightenment.

We know that LaQuinn’s “217” is a fabulous album simply by just checking its qualities. It sprints all the way to the half-hour mark without taking a powder, with shattered storytelling, dead-eyed axioms and Olympic rhyme schemes. However retrograde, or pure the subject matter, the album is musically somehow grandiose and economical at the same time.

But his development extends beyond just his writing, as LaQuinn picks a wide-ranging group of thumping beats from different producers. And to back that variety up, he also drops a sequence of features to further boos the diversity of the album.

And as if that is not impressive enough, “217” has some of the most unusual song titles I have heard in the rap game yet – “Pauls Gaurdian Angel” (feat. Ben Malick), “In Galatians She Naughty” feat Gill (feat. Winston Garland), “Judas Peer Pressure” (feat. Tanaek Turner), “Matthews Holy Slaves” (feat. Lyle Eugene), “Solomon the Pimp! (feat. E Dubb) and “Zebedee Talks” (The Jeffersons), among others.

This is a 12-track twisted odyssey, crafted by a lyrically gifted underground rapper, as he unloads on a range of specific issues. LaQuinn presents a consistently high standard of lyrics and wordplay throughout the album. It’s easy on some tracks to miss his clever wordplay while powerful instrumentals dominate the tracks, so pay attention.

LaQuinn gives the listener a consistent performance leaving little room for error. At a time when the most talked-about issues in rap music are centered on process and authorship, LaQuinn instead takes umbrage with matters of content and persona.

LaQuinn aspires to be the final torchbearer of truly authentic, larger-than-life, world-weary, and lyrically virtuoso rap music, embodying his ideal vision of excellence and purity in the field. -

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?Grew up in a small college city with big city problems. The want and love for rap was fueled by his families openness and looseness after petty drug binges that lead to music blasting and a call and response themed showmanship. Coming from a musical family the kids were goaded on as entertainment which helped them all to eventually flower into musicians. The two most serious elders that encouraged the bunch being their late Grandma Anne; whom worked long shifts in a Leggett department warehouse to keep her grand-kids and kids musically inclined, and their late uncle Johnny Gilmore a veteran of many professional touring and house bands.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?Perfect your sound and read as much as you can.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?I slipped once but I turned into a dance.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?Yeah. Im on tour now with my brother Gill and we are accepting more dates. Its 'The Super Smash Brothers Tour" and we doing alot of DMV dates looking for more. Most interesting thing that happened is probably meeting NBA and NFL players familiar with my music.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?Right now Im working on a mobile sound stage.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?I utilize the A-Z method when it comes to promotion. Do everything from A to Z.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?I think Madison Square Garden would be nice with all the tops from each state. I would love a state showcase at these venues for real.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?Im still working on my collaborative effort "Youtube Killa" and a slew of singles with dudes independent and major. Writing a project for a couple folks too.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?If I wasnt making musicId be dancing to it no doubt. I like to move and I would have to be in some form of grooving all day. Helping people is natural too so everything would be incorporated into that.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?Fans should look forward too all the dope albums and mixtapes I got ready as well as seeing me in some bigger entertainment scenarios.
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?I want to give a shoutout to Dee Dee GIlmore and Curtis Gilmore, the whole Ateam ,the Vinegar Hill Society, Wesblizy , I Feel Famous Studio,Mattrix Radio, #ResultsandNoHype,Patience J ,Real Deal Gill, Timberland, Pharrell Williams, MoRocko Films, all fans of my LaQuinn Official page, Bump Brown, 92.7 (the only station to play my music in my city), G.H.O.G.H Ent, 900,800,700,1600, Riley Cradle, Afton Shows, the Lord, my daughter, Charlottesville Public Schools( for labeling me a loser) , Music Resource Center and every critic that helped. -

Why did you select this song as your current single?

Mary’s Grief to me is the essence of what holds people back and what we must get around to make something of ourselves that satisfies us in our own eye. Yes, fear is a factor but to me the grief people suffer is what truly has to be erased to get pass pessimistic thinking. To me a lot of society is separated almost on sight due to grief one has felt or messages one’s share amidst their inner circle.

How does this single relate to the rest of the Album, EP or Mix-tape?

The single has that definite “keep your head up” feel. I am all about having fun and a good time. Its the looseness of how we need to think to get past certain downfalls in s the streets and suburbs.Also, number one- the album on many levels is supposed to speak on my lifes numbers and my quest to enlighten people while having a good time. The titles alone should give people oblivious to me and my music a run for their money in trying to judge before listening, my whole musical set-up tells an epic story if you take time to listen.

What was the writing process for the song?

The writing process like most times just consisted of me centering myself and letting life talk to me. I am a very visual person and I tend to even with my eyes wide open venture of into my head and let the stories flood out. I am just a musical fanatic that does not let anything get in the way of a good vibe flowing out of me. I have so much love and championing in my heart it’s always easy to write because I care about more than the average artist does …or so I have been told.

What does this song’s lyric mean to you?

The song lyrics to me are a call for people to get it(nonsense) out of their head as well as anything that’s a festering bad idea or thought. It’s like my mom told me one day that she wouldn’t go to a certain church because like most people they felt the preacher was directly speaking on them and this made me laugh before I thought about how people in society can segregate themselves based on foolish beliefs or just hubris.
The lyrics are begging people to listen to the foolishness that infests our consciousness in song format so they can brave the day.

What would it be like to see you in person performing this song?

I think it is one of those dope piano stage set up songs with two people harmonizing the notes. It is so laid back and non-threatening that I could.

Audio Player -

Growing up in the inner cities of Virginia and travelling cross country has helped shape this artist. After multiple run ins with the law as a juvenile only honor roll and maintaining a higher education helped save this man.
Coming from a single parent family where his mother set the tone for do what you do to the fullest has driven this artist to succeed.
A life that mirrors "Forrest Gump" in having alot of interactions with influential people from George Clinton to Dave Matthews to Snoop Dogg, you can hear his influences in his music.
Crafty with lyrics packing alot of: double-time, off-time and multi-syllables. This artist leaves no topic untouched and or style.
Tune in because backed by a foreign and local following of "Quiet Hip-Hoppers"(no comment just listening and grooving while completing work or school) this artist is prepped to make a huge impact.

What Are Your Goals In The Music Industry?
To be the best artist entertainer I can be and to conduct myself with respect.
Leading by example and helping to spread good vibes.
Being true to myself and to others to foster good relationships.
Winning a ton of Grammys and having fun because the hardwork always will shine.

What inspires you to make music?
My inspiration is my familiar ties to music. On both sides there is a vast expanse of musicians whom have put in alot of work in the underground and industry.
My top inspiration out of all my family is my late uncle Johnny Fitzgerald Gilmore. My uncle always put his effort into helping and pushing his nephews and nieces musically. Being a veteran of many bands and traveling the world all over he still took time to -reach out with postcards or train us personally. He was a drummer so our timing versatility comes from his drumming.

Tell us about this project?
This project like most starts with a call to action. Coming from the hood people tend to see alot more than the suburbs per say. So this song is like a turn-up but turn down song. Meaning its like party but don't catch a body.

Who were your musical inspirations growing up?
My inspirations are my uncle Johnny and all other forms of music that this world offers. I love everything from Parliament Funkadelic to Beethoven. My inspirations are the compositions in total and the instrumental aspects of it.

Are You Working On Any New Projects?
Yes, Im always recording. I treat music even when not getting paid as a job and hobby which lets me explore and always work. I have auditory sensations where I always hear beats and in part to how I beat migraines.
My newest project is a colloborative effort where I want to drop thirty tracks for the fan's.

How long have you been creating music?
Ive been creating for about six years, just now getting serious as opportunities presented themselves.

Do you want to say anything to your fans?
I love my fan whom I feel are friends due to high interactions on social media. Thanks to all the triple "S" support -sales, streams and sharing. -

LaQuinn begins his new mixtape BBQ and Biscuits by boldly rhyming “guacamole” with “stromboli” and he never looks back. This confident release is graced with humor, pathos, and verbal dexterity. His flow is chameleonic and the delivery changes often, switching quickly between one-or-two syllable verses (like OG Maco’s “U Guessed It”) and intricate spurts of dense lyricism. LaQuinn wants to show us every trick he’s got up his sleeve. The production quality is immaculate, backed with soul and jazz. On “One Take,” he pulls back this curtain of perfection, noting the slightest stutter on a single word (don’t sweat it, buddy). -

Virginia-based rap artist LaQuinn is alternately compelling, clever and frustrating. On the sometimes mesmerizing “Pink,” the artist skillfully varies the dynamics of his flow, driving his voice to climb and dip in the right spots. We only wish he were more consistently mixed––he’s often muffled and we’re left straining to hear his words (though we did make out his rhyming of guacamole with stromboli and cannoli. Tasty!) “Vizions” is an eerie, sinuous jam. We can see “Brothers Keeper” getting a crowd waving as he rides a classical/operatic sample to deliver urgent street wisdom, advising his bro to “grow up.” Love that elastic, Godzilla-sized bass, too! We urge this artist to up his production -