Mello Tha Guddaman (back left) & Skooda Chose (back right) of Twista’s G.M.G.

GWHH is back with another exclusive interview with 2 members of Twista’s Get Money Gang: Mello Tha Guddamann & Skooda Chose! They were just part of a compilation album from G.M.G. that was released on November 11th called, Who’$ Got Next, and they took the time out to talk to us about a little more about themselves, the album, hip hop, Chicago, and our future president: Barack Obama! Peep the transcript below as well as the goodies below, including a BUY link for the album, Who’$ Got Next! Enjoy!

GWHH: Can you guys explain what singles you got comin’ up on the G.M.G. album, Who’$ Got Next, which is available everywhere NOW?

Mello: Well, I got that “Ridah” joint comin’ up, poppin’ off from the compilation. It’s been gettin’ crazy love out here in Chicago and a few other radio stations. We’re gonna have a couple other joints on there, but basically my end of the compilation - I’m bringing me, different sitatuions that I go through. It basically is what it is. Who’$ Got Next is lettin’ the poeple know what’s going down in Chicago, the talent that Twista’s got that he’s presentin. He’s got some artists on his label that he’s puttin’ out there and he wants his fans to decide who’s got next!

Skooda: On my end, I got the “U Feelin’ Me” single, released through the internet the other day, 10,000 hits and it’s on BET and MTV now. I’m just bringing the lyrical side to the table, the bars that you wanna hear. The rewind factor, man. That’s what Skooda bring, you dig?

GWHH: How do you guys feel about the state of hip hop today and how do you feel that each of you can contribute to the progression of hip hop in Chicago and in the genre as a whole?

Mello: It’s more of a business man. People tryin’ to pay their bills. But at the end of the day, it’s still about the struggle, tryin to get out the hood, talkin’ about what they go through. It’s still about that passion man and overcoming your adversity in life. That’s what hip hop is about. Gettin’ outta the hood man, then people hear their story. Everyone got their own way of tellin’ their story whether it’s in New York, down south, or wherever. I dont think hip hop.. I think it has grown actually. It’s gone global and there’s more money out there for everyone.

Skooda: Well first off, hip hop is not dead. Hip hop is gonna always be alive because there’s always someone out there w/ a different sotry that’s gonna have somethin’ else to say. Hip hop ain’t dead, it’s just different. Like I say, Obama the president, anything’s possible. Shit happens like that, you know. It is what it is. And we bringin’ that new school! We got our own way of thinking, our own lifestyles that we basically talkin’ about, you know what I’m sayin? I’m pretty sure someone out there feelin’ it or else we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in, if we wasn’t talkin’ about nothin’.

GWHH: You know, you guys are from Chicago. How has each of your upbringing and experiences in the city have developed you as an artist as well as a person?

Skooda: It made me… If I ain’t been what I been through then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. As far as the lyrics and the things I put in my stories man. It made me more of an exprienced person and an artist. We been doin’ all the cars, all the chicks, all that man, so I look at the game from a different point of view. I’m more of a mature artist for my age and that puts me ahead of a lot of MCs. My experiences made me who I am, comin’ up from K-Town, West Side. I been shot at like 10 times, that was last year! I just got that killer instinct. Everything in life, music or whatever. I’m ready.

Mello: Well I’m human, you know what I’m sayin? I go through what everybody else goes through. It helps me as a person, I don’t feel like it helps me because it is what it is. It’s life. I can talk about stuff that I’ve done and it helps me with my music. You can’t like music if you got nothin to talk about. You can’t play basketball without a ball in your hand. I feel like bein’ through what I been through and witnessin’ what I’ve witnessed it helps me a lot with my music. As far as an artist, it helps me a lot but as a person, it is what it is, just like with everyone else.

GWHH: Mello, I was wondering if you can enlighten us and the readers about what you feel separates you from the rest? In your bio, it says you rap and sing, can you talk about that a little more?

Mello: I do me, you know? I rap and I sing. I’m versatile. I can write, I can write for ya. I do all that too. With me, I just do me man. Whatever I feel like when I’m poppin’ in the studio. I say what I want. I’ma do me. If you’re not a fan of me, Support me. I don’t care. That’s my thing, I don’t care. I’ma say what I feel. If I feel “fuck you” then I’ll say “fuck you!”. You prolly said before or done before. Keepin’ it 100 percent you know. And they be like, “damn, I feel it!”, you know what I’m sayin? I’m keepin’ it poppin’ and keepin’ it real.

GWHH: Skooda, what is it about Skooda Chose that’s gonna separate you from the rest of the pack in hip hop and more specifically, could you describe more about your style of “fly gangsterism”?

Skooda: Oh, you know all the chicks want that dude on the block who’s fly all the time, but gangsta at the same time. Keep them distinguished it’s all about how you do things, you know. Like that character in that movie, like that Robert DeNiro, like that Denzel man. Like the Jay-Z/T.I. mixture with the swag and the lyrics. It’s just bein’ you tho, bein’ a distinguished gentleman, man, how you handle your business. It’s how you handle it and handlin’ it right. It’s about lookin’ good while you’re doin it too. As far as what I’m bringin’ on the table, you know, once you listen. It’s all on the blogs I sound different than everyone out there man. It’s somethin’ you never heard of comin’ from Chicago. The blogs tellin’ you. Homie the truth, bar for bar. My style, I’m unique at that. Just bein’ real metaphorical with the words and then makin’ hits at the same time. It’s goin’ to be craziness.

GWHH: Yeah, right now Chicago is the place to be. It’s where the unique talent is comin’ from. And that stretches beyond music to the big news of the week with Barack Obama becoming the first black president in the United States! And I wanted to know what that means to you guys and what you think that means for the country?

Mello: I mean, first off, I’m happy man. Just to be alive and part of this history that was made because you got people like Jesse Jackson; hHe took it real hard because he was up when King was doin’ his thing. To see that man, it’s great. Whatever else happened in the future, as long as I was part of that, as long as I can say that I was part of history that I saw a black president. You know, I wasn’t fully payin’ attention to a lotta stuff what he was campaigning about, but the key points that I did hear, he really connected to me and..

Skooda: I’m happy also man. It’s history in the making. Obama man, that’s once in a lifetime man. You witness somethin’ like that, it’s about time. Long overdue, for all the poeple who died, ancestors, grandmas who been through all the harsh treatment, man. It’s like, man… I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s rewarding, you know what I’m sayin? To see him elected, I really didn’t think it was possible at first, but it shows you man, if you believe you can achieve.

GWHH: Yep, that’s what he’s gonna inspire.

Mello: Yeah, I’m happy for the dude, hopefully he can get in there and get shit straight. You know, there’s a lotta stuff you needa fix in there. By him gowin up, strugglin a lil’ bit too, I got a feelin’ he gon make it right, you know what I’m sayin’?

GWHH: Alright, that’s the truth. Any last shoutouts or plugs to let the people know?

Mello: November 11th. Who’$ Got Next! Next best thing since Obama man! Make sure ya’ll go get that! If you wanna get a taste what’s goin’ on before, hit me on the myspace.com/mellothaguddaman or myspace.com/twista. Get it poppin’!

Skooda: Yeah, like he said, November 11th! Get that Who’$ Got Next. If you want a taste about what’s on that, hit me on myspace.com/skoodachosethetruth as well or Google me or YouTube me!

Skooda Chose “I Don’t Know”

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BUY: Twista Presents G.M.G. - Who’$ Got Next [iTunes]

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