NMDB UNDERGROUND UNCOVERS: O-Z AND GMONEY XL MAKE THEIR MOVE
Greg, aka “G Money XL” and Jeremy, aka “O-Z”, was just a couple of guys who make music in their free time. With no intentions of looking for stardom or fame, both made a song called “Make Your Move” and launched it on social media and Soundcloud. Browsing around for upcoming artists, NMDB’s creator Kelly Holmes stumbled upon Jeremy’s numerous postings about his music around Facebook. What captured her attention was how much Jeremy was promoting his music –almost everyday he was posting links to his Youtube, Facebook and Soundcloud in various hip-hop and music groups. Curious about a certain song on Jeremy’s Soundcloud, Kelly listened to “Make Your Move” and instantly took interest in featuring the artists on NMDB. Now the “Make Your Move” artists G Money XL and O-Z are one of the first artists featured on NMDB Underground, a column focused on underground Native artists.
NMDB Underground talks to Greg and Jeremy about their hit “Make Your Move”.
NMDB: What are your hip-hop names?
G MONEY XL: I go by the name “G Money XL”.
O-Z: Well my name Jeremy and I go by "Lakota Boy" or “O-Z”. I go by a few names because there is another artist that goes by Oz but I had the name since a wee little guy [laughs]. Thought I’d add Lakota boy to it.
NMDB: When did you start making music?
G MONEY XL: I started making music about seven or eight years ago. I needed something to do with all the free time I had living on the reservation.
O-Z: I started making music when I was about 14 yrs old. I needed a way to vent and I had a few family members that were also making music and being the young one I looked up to them so I wanted to try. I didn't record my first song until I was 16 years old, I had a teacher bring in his recording equipment and I recorded my first song. I haven’t released anything out until last year. People listening thought it was good but I really didn’t have all the right equipment but had to get it out somehow.
NMDB: What's the story behind "Make Your Move"?
G MONEY XL: I had the day off and nothing to do, so I figured since I haven't made or dropped any tracks lately, I messaged Jeremy and said “let’s get in the booth “. Few days later this guy shows up and we didn't really know each other so I tried to be open and funny as possible. When working with people I don't know, I want to get them to like me so I joke and mess around until it’s time to flow. So we get in the booth and O-Z gets a call. He had to leave for an hour or two; meanwhile I'm in my booth bored as hell. I turned on the microphone and looped the instrumental we had picked out, and started thinking of something to describe our track. "Nothing to lose, nothing to prove” was the main part I wanted heard and the lyric "if you wanna play these games then, make your move" is for all the other rappers who didn’t want to collaborate with us. O-Z was writing his verse, and soon as I get done with my part he was ready to go. Recording this guy while writing my verse was a difficult task but I got it done, pushed it out, and gave it to O-Z. He uploaded the song and he we are.
O-Z: Well Greg came up with the chorus, I listened to it and it was great; it got me all hyped up and I started writing and it was all coming to me. The first few lines in my verse are “I have nothing to lose, put everything up on that line". I put everything I have into this track; making music that connects but yet shows my skill and talent at the same time.
NMDB: Where are you from?
G MONEY XL: I’m from Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Growing up I bounced around South Dakota and North Dakota. I currently live in Pierre, SD.
O-Z: I bounced all over from here in South Dakota to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Now I currently live twenty miles outside of Pierre, SD in a small town called Blunt. I’m from Rosebud Sioux Tribe. I was born in Rosebud and spent most of my life in Rosebud.
NMDB: How do you feel being selected to feature yourselves and song on Native Max Drumbeat?
G MONEY XL: It feels great to be picked out of the many Native rappers around here, didn't think anything like this would happen after making that track. Thank you for the opportunity!
O-Z: Oh I feel alright [laughs]. No I feel great it feels great to be selected out of a lot of Native artists. Never thought upper people were tuning in and now I know, it feels great also thanks for tuning in.
NMDB: Why do you think NMDB, Native Max Magazine’s new entertainment site, is such a great forum for Native talent?
G MONEY XL: Well honestly I thought Native Max magazine was for Natives to be posing, modeling I guess. Now that I know it’s much more than that I believe it is a great way to get a lot of unseen Native talent brought up to the spotlight and out to this world, letting these other races know that Native Americans are still here.
O-Z: Well like what Greg said to show that we are still here and Natives have talent also and the magazine is giving them the chance to show everyone out there we do exist and there are some Natives making moves and trying to better themselves; getting out the Natives who are trying to make it, trying to better themselves, showing the Natives who are getting out there and not just sitting around. It’s great that you have contacted us. I feel honored; it feels great and thank you.
