We recently caught up with Dave East co-signed artist Quany Gz.
Harlem born and raised, Quany Gz has been consistently making music for 4 years, but has recently started to garner attention for his collaborations with Harlem rapper Dave East. East featured on Quany’s “Never Had Shit” single which currently has over 2 million views on Worldstar. In addition to locking in with East, Quany recently went on tour with him as well and performed at the Apollo. Quany is the latest artist to join Dave East’s collective From The Dirt. After releasing his Self-Centered EP last year, Quany will be following up with his debut album The 16 Laws of Power which drops May 8th. The 16-track project will include features from Dave East, Millyz, Mr. Chicken, Cruch Calhoun and more. Inspired by Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power, Quany’s 16 Laws of Power showcases his approach to life. Find out what else Quany shared in our interview below.
The Knockturnal: When did you first start experimenting with music?
Quany Gz: About six years ago.
The Knockturnal: How old were you when you freestyled or wrote your first rap?
Quany Gz: I was 15.
The Knockturnal: Was there anybody in your life motivating you to take music more seriously?
Quany Gz: The guys, all my friends was locked up at the time that was doing rap, so they just motivated me to use my swag that I already had to rap so I started rapping.
The Knockturnal:And has your family been supportive of your choice to pursue music?
Quany Gz: Yeah
The Knockturnal: When did you put out your first song and what was it called?
Quany Gz: About about 5 or 6 years ago I did and it was called “Politics.”
The Knockturnal: How did you connect with Dave East?
Quany Gz: He was already like family, you know, ties to one of the guys on the block, and he lived on the block, so it was just easy just to connect at the time before he was even lit, before he even had the deal.
The Knockturnal: How does it feel having someone like Dave East help support your music and help guide you when it comes to music?
Quany Gz: It motivates me. It shows that I got somebody supportive in my corner. Also, it helps me strive to always just do good, I can’t never fail. I always gotta show out.
The Knockturnal: What is the best piece of advice Dave East has given you or you’ve learned just by being around him?
Quany Gz: Just work. Just continue working and time coming soon.
The Knockturnal: Is there anything already out you want to highlight?
Quany Gz: I put out an EP called Self-Centered last July. Mm-Hmm.Its six songs. I feel like this is the just the beginning of me showing what I can do. I’ve got a lot of music in the stash.
The Knockturnal: And What was your favorite track off Self-Centered?
Quany Gz: “Self Centered”
The Knockturnal: Why the title track?
Quany Gz: That’s my favorite song because I just I feel like I was telling my story and I got one of the most inspirational speakers on that track, I got Denzel Washington on the track. It’s sentimental things. I’m an inspirational rapper, so, you know, most of my raps are motivational and inspirational and about the pain I go through.
The Knockturnal: What are you currently working on right now?
Quany Gz: Right now I’m working on my tape right now, working on my tape right now. It’s called The 16 Laws of Power.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us the inspiration behind the title?
Quany Gz: The inspiration behind the title was the, the book The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. I had many titles at the time, but that title stuck with me for some reason because you know, everybody go through life, you know, situations and stuff like that and I feel like the songs are my Laws of Power.
The Knockturnal: Do you have any upcoming features on the project?
Quany Gz: Yeah, definitely. You gonna see a lot of big names on this tape. It is a level up. It’s a level up tape. Self-centered was old me, you know, show what I could do by myself, now I’m about to pull up with the Avengers.
The Knockturnal: Is it safe to say East is gonna be on the project?
Quany Gz: Yes. East will be on the tape.
The Knockturnal: What it was like to go on tour with Dave East?
Quany Gz: It was dope. It was my first time really going on tour.
The Knockturnal: Is there anything else that you specifically want to highlight?
Quany Gz: I’m working on a clothing line right now. It’s called Legends Never Die.
