Who am I?: Gregory A. Hill – CEO/Manager - 12:50 Entertainment, LLP
Alias: “G$mooth”
Born: In the Sixties
Musical Influences: Grover Washington, Jr., Earth, Wind, and Fire, the Isley Brothers, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, James Brown, and Michael Jackson
Inspirational Influences: My family
My purpose: To preserve my family
A Piece of Me 12:50 Entertainment is all about family and giving due respect to those that put it down before us. Having grown up in the sixties and seventies, I was privy to the inception of some of the greatest music ever created by some of the greatest artists that have ever lived. James Brown was in serious rotation in our household coming up as well as Isaac Hayes’ “I Stand Accused” (one of the greatest love songs that never got it’s props. Ike was straight Mack on the monologue!!!).
12:50 consists of people that have put it down in the streets to survive everyday just like so many others. 12:50 consists of people that put it down for us everyday in the armed forces so that we can have the freedoms that we enjoy. 12:50 consists of men that do whatever it takes to feed and protect their families. We are all about respect towards each other and our fellow man. If you take this as a sign of weakness, you’re sadly mistaken. If you’re trying to earn stripes by flexing or dissing on 12:50, then you won’t be earning those stripes. The entertainment industry is mostly made of people that “skin and grin” in your face (I call it “Hollywood Talk”) and stab you in the back if they can’t benefit from you or your talent. It may be the normalcy of the business, but I don’t buy it! We’re all about family and loyalty here. The pictures that are painted in our music come from the experiences and perspectives that our people have seen or gone through. We are very original and those that have touched us individually as well as collectively inspire us. The “beef” thing is a waste of good energy and resources. The business has too much of that. It’s time to have some fun and get back the vibe that made other musicians want to work with each other instead of competing so much for chart position. If the people like it, they’re going to buy it anyway. As a consumer, I get the impression sometimes that the industry believes that they can truly sell us anything. It’s time to give the public what they truly want: real people, real music, and real commitment!
As Crutch says in the song “Can’t F@#K Wit Us” from our mix tape Raw and Uncut – Vol. 1, “Our main mission is to please the fans”. This is so true.
