GLC (rapper)

GLC

Leonard Harris, most commonly known as GLC, which stands for Gangsta L. Crisis, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He recently signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label. In 2004 GLC featured on the song "Spaceship", from West's album The College Dropout and appeared in the video for Kanye's "Mr.Gossett's Class". He is also one third of the newly developed group The Go Getters, formed by West and label mate Really Doe.

Biography

Hip-Hop carries different meanings for different people. For some it’s all about the party, while for others it’s purely poetry. For the Getting Out Our Dreams/ Epic recording artist gangsta l. Crisis, it’s quite simply an escape. “I lost my mother and my father [when I was young] so I would write poetry and raps,” says gangsta l. Crisis, reflecting on how he got into Hip-Hop. “I tried to use the music to soothe my soul because I was feeling pain.”

Back in the early ‘90s, Gangsta L. Crisis knew that this thing that soothed his soul could do more than just that. And with a lot of patience, growth, development and a little help from a fellow Chicago native, Gangsta L. Crisis is ready to break out with his G.O.O.D. Music debut. But before we talk about the future, we have to remember the past. Harris met a young producer by the name of Kanye West in 1993. Both were 15 year olds with dreams of becoming Hip-Hop stars. It only made sense that a mutual friend, Andre Frazier would introduce them.

“Andre told me, ‘My guy got some beats. You should come through and meet him,’ the MC remembers. “I went through there dressed fresh as hell—G’d up, Polo and all that shit back then at age 15. Man, it was just crazy because we were originally meeting on some music shit but he and I just had a lot of the same common interests. We just became best friends from there.” The two friends remained close over the next decade plus and as one became one of music’s biggest stars, the other wasn’t jealous. He watched, learned and waited for his time.

“[Kanye’s experiences] have shown me the progress only comes before struggle in the dictionary,” says gangsta l. Crisis frankly. “That’s the only way that that “P” is going to come before that “S”. It also showed me that if you really believe in something, if you really believe in yourself and as long as your keep God first and apply yourself, how could you fail? You just got to have set in your mind that this is what you are here to do.” “There were people telling [Kanye] and me, ‘Oh man, y’all shouldn’t be rapping,’” he adds. “And at times, the shit can get discouraging but you got to want it. You’ve got to have that mentality that can’t nothing stand in your way. Proper preparation prevents poor performance. The five P’s—I live by that.”

So, it only makes sense that gangsta l. Crisis was more than prepared when Kanye gave him his first opportunity to shine. The two teamed up for “Spaceship” off of Kanye’s debut, The College Dropout. The single not only introduced gangsta l. Crisis to Hip-Hoppers worldwide, it also inspired many.

“When people heard my verse on ‘Spaceship,’ a lot of people came up to me and told me like, ‘Man, it really helped me get through losing my mom;’ or ‘It really helped me do this,’” says gangsta l. Crisis. “It just made people feel better. By me using [music] as therapy for myself it became a therapy for others.”

Recently, the two Chicagoans reunited for “Drive Slow.” This time alongside Houston’s Paul Wall, Gangsta L. Crisis says the Late Registration song was “a blessing.” “He hit me with the beat and three days later it was my verse,” Gangsta L. Crisis explains of the song. “From that point on, I haven’t looked back. There were execs from different labels that were there when we played the record, and when once we played it everybody stood up and were like, ‘Wow!’ Now, people see me and they’re quoting lyrics from the song and everything. It’s just wonderful to feel appreciated when you work so hard.” While the one-two Kanye punch would provide a boost for anyone’s career, those songs mean so much more to gangsta l. Crisis. “Those two verses that I did on those two songs are classics—those songs will go down in history,” gangsta l. Crisis notes proudly. “People will always remember ‘Drive Slow’ and ‘Spaceship.’ It’s good because as long as people remember them and still listen to them 10 or 20 years down the line, if I’m not here in the physical I will still be here. I feel like we live through memories. Like my mom, I lost her when I was 12 but she is alive and well because I think about her everyday. I want to do these types of records that mean something.” Not to just rest on his stellar guest turns, gangsta l. Crisis has taken his brand of emotive, thought-provoking lyrics mixed with a street edge to the next level with the release of his Hood Celebrity mixtape. “Hood Celebrity was songs I recorded between 2001 and 2002,” he explains. “It’s just really like a compilation of old records that I put together only because I really wanted to be heard while I was on tour. But now I got the Drive Slow mixtape. I did it with DJ A-Trak, the five-time world champion DJ. This was his first mixtape, so I was honored that he would do it with me. It’s more theme-oriented and it’s a true example of what’s to come.” Gangsta L. Crisis says while Hood Celebrity is where he has been, Drive Slow is more of where he is going. “With Drive Slow, you’re definitely going to see the growth and development from [“Spaceship”] until ‘Drive Slow’ and beyond that.” For the DJ A-Track-assisted mixtape, gangsta l. Crisis recorded his versions of songs like Scarface’s “Now I Feel You,” Three 6 Mafia’s “Stay Fly” and the Purple Ribbon All-Stars’ “Kryptonite (I’m On It),” among others. “This mixtape shows that even though I am signed to G.O.O.D. Music, I rap the way I rap. It’s kind of like a rite of passage because this shows all the music that I grew up really loving and that made me want to do this. I can’t rap like a New York rapper because I am not from there. I don’t have the swagger, the style, the vernacular. That’s not really my thing. And I can’t coming out rapping like a West Coast rapper because that’s not where I’m from either. So, I couldn’t really emulate anyone’s style. I had to come out and find my own lane. So, that’s why I respect rappers like UGK, Scarface… People who just came out, did what they had to do and the world had to accept it. That’s what I’m doing. At the same time, these are legends that I looked up to so it would be fucked up if I didn’t pay homage. You got to pay homage to the OGs.” Having paid homage to those who came before him, gangsta l. Crisis is now ready to leave his mark on the game. And to hear him talk about the project, it is sure to do just that.

“It will definitely be the definition of love, life, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom and understanding,” says the rapper of the untitled debut. “But everything I am doing is not about sitting you down in this class and being your teacher. I’m that same motherfucker you see going in the liquor store, posted up on the block or riding around in his Cadillac with his motherfucking beautiful accomplice riding shotgun, watching TV. “My album is going to take you to a place,” Gangsta L. Crisis concludes. “It’s not going to be a listening experience—it’s going to take you somewhere. So, whenever you feel like you’re in a certain mood and you want to escape all your problems, although you’re still going to have to face that reality at the end of the day, whenever you need a simple escape, that’s when you’re going to put my CD in.” And who doesn’t need to escape every now and then.

Management

HUSTLE / Road Manager: DJ GENO / Booking Manager: Wes Shinault (Visual Bliss Management)

Co-Management: Bandit Productions (www.banditproductions.com)

File:GLCWesDoe.jpg

From left to right: GLC, Wes Shinault and Really Doe

Videos

He also appeared on Kanye West's second album Late Registration, appearing on a song called "Drive Slow" which also featured Paul Wall.

Discography

Studio albums

• 2008: Welcome to Haterville

Mixtapes

• 2004: Hood Celebrity
• 2006: Drive Slow Mixtape
• 2007: Honor Me

Guest appearances

• 2003: Jay Z - "Encore" (The Black Album)
• 2004: Kanye West - "Spaceship" (The College Dropout)
• 2005: Kanye West - "Wow" (Freshmen Adjustment)
• 2005: Kanye West - "Heavy Hitters" (Freshmen Adjustment)
• 2005: Paul Wall - "Drive Slow" (The People's Champ)
• 2005: Kanye West - "Drive Slow" (Late Registration)
• 2006: Teairra Mari - "Play Me (remix)" (Second Round)
• 2006: T.I. - "Drive Slow" (The Best of)
• 2007: Consequence - "Disperse" (Don't Quit Your Day Job!)

External Links:

• Fake Shore Drive Interview