What's poppin’ everybody? I'm back at it with another FIRE interview. I sat down with RøadRunna Gates for a few hours today and we talked about life growing up on Grove Street, getting set-up and shot, helping create All Cash Empire & MORE. Enough of me talking tho’, let's get to the interview.
Zaay: “We here today with one of the big dawgs at All Cash Empire to talk about life Behind The Music. A Lot of people know him for his fire catalog but they don't actually know the trials and tribulations he had to overcome to make it to this position. We got RøadRunna Gates in the building! Why don't you introduce yourself for the ones that don't know you tho’? Let them know who Gates it.
RoadRunner Gates: “Yo, whaddup Los Santos. This ya boy Roadrunna Gates. One of the best rappers from the city. I was born and raised on Groove Street. One of Wessooide Hoovers finest, one of da grimiest from da section in my day. Da lil hawmies got the Groove poppin right now, they turnt up. Big shoutout to Da Deuces, Da Nine, Da Foe, and Da Trey. Niggas really holdin it down.”
Zaay: “I know living on Grove wasn't a easy task, but how was life for you growing up in a area thats so dangerous tho? Break that down for the people that think its not that bad in Davis.
RøadRunna Gates: “My family ain't have much money growing up. My momma had to struggle just to pay the bills. It was nights we ain't even have no water, no lights, niggas had to use water for cereal yo. You ever had water with Frosted Flakes before crim? Shit is type crazy. Ain't no love in the streets, folks would try to rob you, jump you, catch you lackin. I had to really keep my head on a swivel just to stay alive. You live past 25 inna hood, you a legend. I've been shot before too.. Just working back and tryna get healthy from that, it was a battle in itself. We always ten-toes regardless, we still here till this day, Thank God for that.”
Zaay: “That's rough, them tables turned tho as we can see, but I see it everyday day, you just got to stay down and stay committed. But how did you get shot tho if you dont mind breaking that down? Without any names of course.”
RøadRunna Gates: “It was juss a case of nigguhs tryna set me up. Niggas I really put some trust in type shit, thought they had a lick but niggas stay on point tho. I ain't gone put no names on it but them niggas know who they is or was, sad thing is all of them not on Earth no more. I know they momma's cry for them erryday.”
Zaay: “Woahh… That's wild as hell man, them streets really ain't no joke. You got backdoored by people you trusted?! Did this situation make you want to leave the streets to rap or where you already rapping?
RøadRunna Gates: “Nah, it didn't make me wanna leave. It just made me wanna go harder for all the people who show hate and don't want me here, or just even inspire others that when you get knocked down, you always gotta stand back up and keep pushing. Dywane Wade said it best, fall down seven times, and stand up eight. I've been rapping and releasing music since like 2021. Shooting happened like right after I dropped my first single ever with promotion.”
Zaay: “What keeps you motivated to still rap nowadays? Like what really keeps you going when you wanna throw the towel in on this rap shit and just hit the streets full time?”
RøadRunna Gates: “Seeing all my family members and people I grew up with struggling and just getting by… It motivated me to put the hood on and make sure whoever that came up with me stay good for the rest of our lives. Home is where the heart is, but you always gotta elevate yo self. You can't stay in the hood or the trap forever yo, thas how you get stuck in place, back in jail, or murdered. All that was motivation to get my peoples on the track that we need to be, out of poverty, living lavishly.”
Zaay: “I like the way you think, thats some real game for the youth right there real talk. But what did you want to be growing up before you knew rapping was for you?
RøadRunna Gate: “Growing up, I really wanted to be a NFL player for real, not even gone lie. I wanted to either be a Quarterback or Runningback. I would watch Mike Vick and Cam Newton go crazy, but I also wanted to be like Reggie Bush too, that nigga was cold!
Zaay: “Oh shit, real talk? That boy Vick was a DOG! No pun intended…That dog fighting shit fucked up his career bad man… But lets switch the topic, Who are your top west coast rappers that are out right now tho, watchu’ be bumpin nowadays?”
RøadRunna Gates: “My favorite West Coast rappers? I listen to a lot of midwest music for real, but I been bumpin a lot of RT Kae, LuhQuiller, Tay, Bell, 51Gotti, and the whole GP crew lately, can't cap on that. Big shoutout to the whole ACE collective too.
Zaay: “Speaking about the All Cash Empire, How long were you rapping for before you got signed and whats your history with ACE?”
RøadRunna Gates: I was rapping for about a good month or two before I signed. The first label I signed to was Magnolia. I had a decent run there, it's hella appreciation for them, they helped get my career started and really gave me that boost, especially Melissa, my old manager. A huge shoutout to her, she know the business well. But all that ended on the decision that it was time for me to spread my wings and look out for a better deal for myself, ACE really started off as Too Much Loyalty.The label went through a few name and management changes to what it has come to today as All Cash Empire. I got here because it was an idea between a collective group of my homeboys that wanted to start our own label, so we decided on that, took off and ran with it. Here we are today. Big shout to the whole GP collective too again, those my nigguhs, wait till my nigga Sheisty and Spankk get back, shit gone get real dangerous back out inna streets.
Zaay: “How is being signed VS being unsigned? Break that down for the rappers and fans that down know the difference since you have some experience in this.
RøadRunna Gates: “I mean being unsigned you definitely got more control over what you do with yo music, when you release, control over everything, but it's harder to get promo or noticed if you ain't got no push for real. Being signed you definitely get hella help from the label, all the dough, all the amenities, this shit no joke for real, it really change yo life. Only thing is, you don't got that control that you would if you was independent. But, it's much harder to make it staying independent.
I'd recommend any top artists that think they got talent to come to the ACE collective. We look for the best talent and we got the best rappers in the city. The label really looks out for they artists.”
Zaay: “I noticed Maystar is one of the faces of ACE too, how close are you with him? How long have you known him for?”
RøadRunna Gates: “Maystar, that's my dog. Really came up with him for real. Knew gee since High School, been tapped in with him ever since. He a real wizard with this music shit, and he stay on top of what he got too, he always A1.”
Zaay: “Man, I think yall two should collab on some new shit, the fans need that. You got any projects you plan on releasing the people should know about tho?”
RøadRunna Gates: I plan on dropping my EP in the next two weeks. That's only if the label doesn't push it back. I got some slaps on there that the city really should blast when I drop it.
Zaay: “Bet, I'ma make sure I check it out when it drop. But speaking on projects, If you could do a whole album with a west coast artist dead or alive who would you choose?”
RøadRunna Gates: “I'd wanna do a whole album with Dr. Dre making the beats but if I was rapping with someone on a dual project, then most definitely Ice Cube or Kendrick Lamar, fasho.”
Zaay: “That would be a certified west coast classic right there! But let me ask you this tho’, who was some of the key people behind your success?
RøadRunna Gates: “People who was real key to my success. I would say have to be my momma, Maystar, Melissa, Spankk, McLean, and also my videographer, Poke. Huge thanks to all of them fasho and most of all, God himself.”
Zaay: “Any current projects, shows or merch you pushing right now?”
RøadRunna Gate: “My EP, ima release the artwork in the next few days, also trying to work with some club promoters on getting booked for a few shows, hope that turns out smoothly.
Zaay: “Any final words to the people before we wrap it up? Why don't you end it off for us.
RøadRunna Gates: “I just wanna say, don’t let nobody tell you that you can’t do nothing you put yo mind too. Anything is possible. Grind for what you want and put in the work, results will come. For all my young niggas still in the streets lookin for a way out, it’s a light at the end of the tunnel cuh, keep pushing and you gone see the dividends. Appreciate ya for interviewing me too, much love. This ya boy Røadrunna Gates again, coming at you, live, direct, and unfiltered. Power Moves Only. “
Zaay: Thanks for sitting down with us Gates, thats all for today folks. I hope you enjoyed the interview, this ya boy Zaay signing out, make sure to leave a like and a comment if you enjoyed this! WE OUT!
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