Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Pierce.
Hi Anthony, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well I’ve always loved writing creative stories and making universes in my mind since I was young. The fact that I was one of four children and more on the introverted side I felt like I didn’t have many opportunities to feel heard and seen. The first time I became interested in using music as a medium for that need and desire was when I was roughly around 8 years and I was listening to vanilla ice in the ninja turtles movie and I wrote my first rhyme. It mentioned batman and bill Clinton playing saxophone. I didn’t write with much consistency until later in my teen years at around age fifteen listening to rappers like Eminem and Canibus who have different types of styles and subject matter than a lot of what I was used to and I felt like I found my chance to have something to say. From that point I was very into studying who I thought was good and writing and freestyling more. My friends would always encourage me and tell me I was saying really cool stuff so I started to feel like I belonged and maybe this could be something that worked. I’ve have a bevy of up and downs and twists and turns that my music has helped me make since of and made me lean when more into the need to provide unique and fresh takes on music and life.
I created my first solo album in 2014 called pyramid schemes featuring production and appearances from a few well know ppl from around the Grand Rapids scene.
Since then I have made 4 solo albums 6 EPs and one collaboration album. I edit most of the music videos I have put and I’ve been able to do over forty full length visuals for various songs across my discography. I also have a passion for visual arts and I’ve hand drawn several of my own covers on my music projects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been what you might imagine embarking on the hero’s journey.
I’ve always felt like I was a person that struggled to feel like I’ve been at the right place at the right time enough for my liking. I always was aware of whatever I brought to the table that was unique… I was often teased my siblings or relatives for being “alien” and things like that. I didn’t have too much guidance but there was love and food and shelter at home and I cherished that much.
I have often felt like I’m good in a group or with social skills in theory but I’m my life experience the results leave much to be desired. I spent years trying to form a group with my brothers and we managed to do much less than I’ve done by myself with a year or two of being locked in. So I would question whether it was meant for me to even be doing what I was sure was a calling at times.
In My high school years my home life got difficult and I was having to stay at friends houses for months on end at a time and I couldn’t really focus on my education like I wanted and I didn’t have any friends at school so I would leave school and walk around the city wandering nowhere or go to my friends house who lived about an hour or so away walking distance. I’ve struggled with have enough collective resources to properly pour into work, like most self respecting artists and I have had challenges with being authentic to myself and navigating the music scene at times and I often feel even more misunderstood the more I try to connect. Thru it all though I feel like the certainty I have that this is something I am supposed to be doing and the drive to be what you want to see in the world keeps me focused on trying to find my own way to beautify the world a little more with immersive, expansive and challenging art.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am mostly a hip hop vocalist and visual art director for a media company I am starting called Sexy Genjutsu. I feel like my specialty with making music is making every word count and transporting the listener into an alternative reality with atmospheric themes and sonic palettes. Me and a partner I work with shoot and edit music videos and have been very prolific with our turnout in the past 18 months getting around 40 different full length videos out that have been accumulating steadily increasing numbers as far as visibility. I’ve done features for many of the scenes most known and talented people. Over the last couple of years I’ve really been working on putting my face out there into the eye of public scrutiny more and I’ve been blessed to have performed live in multiple venues 25 to 30 times over the past couple years making me more of a known commodity who gets on the stage with no backtracking and gives it all I have like it’s my last time. I am most proud that I am still going and getting much better by using my life experiences and working on sharpening my listening skills to increase my musical range. I’ve put much more of myself and my emotions into what I’m doing lately and diversifying song structures and approaches and I know the future has no limit.
What sets me apart is my relentless need to create and and push the envelope with fresh fun approaches I am never afraid to try different genres. I love packing my work with replay value, wit, humor and words of motivation. I live for that moment when you get off the stage and people walk up and just pour positive feedback and want to know where they can find you at. It’s all about connecting and staying power for me.
What matters most to you?
Joy and Integrity. This is what I need to keep me getting out of the bed in the morning and what it takes to have the discipline to jump thru all of life hoops with excitement and undaunting determination.
These are my primary muses I draw that wonders of the creative spark from. Being in that creative zone wakes up my inner child and tells it we’re going to Disneyland.
These are also the things that enable me to be centered and ready to accept that the chips will fall where they may. It also keeps me unsatisfied with not pushing my limits.
Pricing:
- Bandcamp albums priced from 9.99 to 11.11
- Feature verse priced for 75 dollars or song for song trade when applicable
- $100 music videos max 2 locations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ghettogov.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: @ghettogov
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/mavpierce.5
- Youtube: @ghettogov6161
