Twenty Questions with Team WatzGud

Team WatzGud (HardKnoX, 6K, eR, Dolo) is not your typical hip-hop group.

Team WatzGud (HardKnoX, 6K, eR, Dolo) formed in the summer of 2010 inspired by the Hip-Hop coalition at North Michigan University that created a buzz which could no longer be limited. Team WatzGud found ways to trend set, give back, and remain a crowd favorite. Under an independent recording label for a short amount of time they’ve managed to perform shows/concerts in over 50+ cities ranging from halls, clubs, bars, sporting events, weddings, and school events.

Throughout their career, they’ve worked with a few recognizable names. After starting over independently in 2011, they’ve delivered better music, better show presence, and a whole new attitude. Team WatzGud is not your typical hip-hop group, they’ve also dabbled in the world of jingle writing in which they’ve written and produced a jingle for a large company. Although the career of Team WatzGud is in its infancy, the amount of independent work and networking shows proof of a long promising future for the 4 young talented artists. In an exclusive interview we got a clearer picture of the group

1. How long have you been in the music business and how did you get started in the first place?

Team WatzGud: We started back in 2010, so it’s about 5 years now. We were signed to an independent label before we came together as a crew. When we all cut ties from the label, we decided to stay together and continue pushing on our own.

2. Who were your first musical influences that you can remember?

Team WatzGud: Hands down, our Number One influence is Lil Wayne. That man’s work ethic is amazing.   

3. Which artists are you currently listening to? And is there anyone of these that you’d like to collaborate with?

Team WatzGud: We listen to a lot of Kanye, Wiz, Big Sean, as always, Wayne, Travis Scott, ASAP Rocky, and Kendrick. It’s hard to choose who we would like to collab with when we want them all lol.

4. Have you suffered any ‘resistance’ from within the industry, and if so how have you handled that, and how do you handle criticism and haters in general?

Team WatzGud: Absolutely, A lot of people who hear our music don’t understand the hardship of what we had to go through to get where we are now and why we represent the party life and whole turn-up situation. Listen, everybody is rapping about their struggles in life. We struggled to long to constantly remind ourselves of the negatives. We are that “I just got out of a long hard day at work, it’s time to party” type. We want our music to remind people of a Good Time. We don’t see the haters. Hate or love it’s all exposure, what one doesn’t like, billions will.

5. What are your thoughts on visual media? Do think that video is an appropriate marketing tool for your music, and will you be making any videos to support your latest releases?

Team WatzGud: YES, Image is everything. We’re planning it for our summer release “Back2KnockBackCity”

6. Which do you ultimately prefer? Entertaining a live audience or creating songs in a studio setting?

Team WatzGud: Y’all must have never seen a #WatzGud show huh? We love entertaining live audiences.

7. Tell us something about your lyrics and music production on your releases. Which part of these processes do you handle, and which do you outsource generally?

Team WatzGud: A Studio session with The Team is always a party. We’re not talking about straight wilding out, but the energy is so good. We’ve been told by many artists how much they love a session with us. We outsource producers, but everything else is done under TWG hands.

8. What is the title of your latest music release and where can fans find it?

Team WatzGud: Our Latest release is “Assemble” the Mixtape, Can be found at www.teamwatzgud.bandcamp.com Also Check out “KnockBackCity” also on the site.

9. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in a genre thriving with newcomers?

Team WatzGud: The good vibes and the unity of what we represent. We are 4 artists from the worst places in the Mid-West, who came together, we have so much to offer and don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

10. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to be a part of this tough business. Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

Team WatzGud: Passion, We literally live in this life and love it.

11. Which aspect of being an independent artist and the music making process excites you most and which aspect discourages you most?

Team WatzGud: The freedom to make a song about anything we want and owning our own stuff. What discourages us, is not knowing what’s fake and what’s real out here.

12. How do you market and manage your music career? Do you have a management team or do you do everything by yourself?

Team WatzGud: We do everything ourselves

13. How do you achieve your sound? Do you work from a private recording environment or do you use a commercial sound studio?

Team WatzGud: A little of both.

14. The best piece of advice in this business you actually followed so far, and one you didn’t follow, but now know for sure that you should have?

Team WatzGud: Best Advice, take your time learning, pay attention to detail. We haven’t really taken advice and never used it.

15. What are your thoughts on talent shows like American Idol, The Voice and the X-Factor etc.?

Team WatzGud: We love watching them shows. We respect the artistry of the music, but it’s not the way an artist should break out.

16. Do you consider Internet and all the social media websites, as fundamental to your career, and indie music in general, or do you think it has only produced a mass of mediocre “copy-and-paste” artists, who flood the web, making it difficult for real talent to emerge?

Team WatzGud: I’d say both; the internet is a powerful tool and great way to promote music.

17. If someone who has never heard you, asks what does ‘Team WatzGud’ sound like? Which 3 keywords would you personally use to describe your overall sound and style?

Team WatzGud: Party, Loud, and DAMN

18. Straight off the top of your head, can you shoot out 3 adjectives to describe the current state of Hip-hop?

Team WatzGud: HipHop is Evolving, it is Not Dead, and is Just Lost

19. As you work your way through your career which more than any other fires-up your imagination – A Grammy award, Platinum music sales or any other tangible milestone?

Team WatzGud: Team WatzGud Wants a Grammy! Its forever…

20. What is the ONE thing you are NOT willing or prepared to do EVER, in your quest to achieve a successful musical career?

Team WatzGud: We don’t want to hurt anyone in any way just to get there. Our work should be enough. We just want everyone to listen and party with the world #SAYWATZGUD

OFFICIAL LINKS:

www.teamwatzgud.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/teamwatzgud
www.twitter.com/teamwatzgud
www.soundcloud.com/teamwatzgud
www.reverbnation.com/teamwatzgud
www.youtube.com/teamwatzgud
http://www.datpiff.com/Team-WatzGud-Knockback-City-mixtape.645674.html
https://instagram.com/saywatzgud/
http://rudeboymag.com/team-watzgud/

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