God-Des & She

Every time I've been writing here I was nagging about something new, something that has some message not only half naked ladies dancing in front of guys. And here they are! God-Des and She, a hip-hop duo, who are getting slowly into mainstream hip-hop scene with smart, fly, cool, and deep lyrics. At the first glance their video to Love You Better doesn't tell about any special story. It's a love story of a girl falling for; yes, indeed, another girl.

Unusual one says, yes, unusual for hip-hop. Why? Maybe because hip-hop tried so hard to be exclusive for straight men, however, isn't the definition of hip-hop that it is about telling your story to people? Whatever the story is about? This is what God-Des and She are doing. Telling their story. The video is pretty well done, the whole action is going on at the cafe where God-Des spotted a girl she got attracted to. The outcome of the story may be surprising for some. Even though it seems like the girl is engaged with some guy and it isn't very likely that God-Des will succeed in her pursuit, she manages to do that.

I wonder if the video was seen and taken as a threat to men in general and a scar on their male honor when a girl preferred a dyke to a man. Of course the way I put it seems to be black and white. The girl chose the female rapper not the man but maybe there is more meaning in the video than that. Maybe the scene where God-Des approaches the girl and takes the guy's place can be seen as taking over the hip-hop scene, or if not taking it over, at least getting into mainstream. I don't think I'm reading too much from the video. Just listen to the album! We will see more of these two and I can assure you, you won't forget about them any time soon. Moreover, maybe it's high time to talk and show more than only "hot chick with pimps"?

- By Monika Grzywnowicz - Yo! Raps Magazine

Imagine, if you will, that you're trying to "make it" in the world of hip-hop, a notoriously difficult subculture replete with its own boundaries and barriers-and that's if you fit into their sterotypes.

Now imagine that you're trying to "make it" into this notoriously misogynist and unabashedly homophobic microcosm of bling bling, big booty, "bitches and hoes," and Cristal, all chillin' in a hot tub over a crunk beat...and you are white, female, midwestern and gay.

What may seem like a daunting task to most of us was a breeze for the woman they call God-Des and her right-hand soul (and R&B) sister, She. This dynamic duo didn't break the rules. In their world, there were no rules to break. The boundaries and prejudices that exist in the hip-hop world--blatantly or silently, written or implied--were non-existent to God-des and She. Most people trying to foray into the hip-hop world try to conform to the stereotypes--for God-des and She, by bucking the standard, they created their own. In other words, while most aspiring rappers try to set the bar, God-Des and She are the bar. Any reservations or doubts that critics and audience members may have going into a God-Des and She show are immediately dispelled the minute the first note is played and the first rhyme is heard.

"What sets us apart from the rest is the music," says God-Des, who's rhymes are influenced by the likes of Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash, and the rest of the cadre who influenced the early days of New York hip-hop ("with emphasis on SaltnPepa. You got that? SaltnPepa were just amazing and awesome!"). "We're not all about the bling bling, the big booty, and the golden grilles all in the hot tub with Lil' Jon."

It's a cold, rainy evening in trendy Park Slope, Brooklyn, and God-Des and I are sitting in Gorilla Coffee. We are waiting for She, who seems to be stuck amidst the flooding that sucky weather brings to New York City--my hometown, her adopted city, which helped mold her into a powerhouse.

As God-Des sips water daintily, which is nothing if not an interesting visual, she continues, "It's not that I'm against sex, nor am I against celebrating womanhood and female sexuality. We sing a song called the 'Pussy Song,' you know?" She smiles knowingly. "It's just when women are objectified...that's what I don't do."

I asked her, "So what sort of response do you get from the fans, then, if they're coming in to hear a standard rap show, and they get your style instead?"

God-Des answers, "Oh, it's been nothing but positive. I tell you, all you have to do is go to our MySpace site (myspace.com/goddes) and look at all the positivity that's come our way. I've had people come up to me after shows, shaking my hand and thanking me. People literally cry when they hear She's voice." Almost on cue, She walks in. Soft-spoken and charming, she smiles sweetly and apologizes for being late, then exchanges non-verbal but deeply intense glances with her musical partner. Like many great pairs throughout the decades--Page and Plant, Jagger and Richards, Tyler and Perry, and even Andy and Nancy Wilson--God-Des and She have a warm, unspoken connection between themselves, a connection that continuously comes in crests and waves, fueling their music with a raw passion and undeniable credibility. When you hear God-Des and She, you are not hearing something out of the studio, or out of Britney Spear's latest tale of marital strife: these girls are the real deal, and it's evident from their first note to their last.

At this point, anyone who's watched Logo for more than 10 minutes has heard of God-des and She, and more to the point, has heard their truly incredible story. In 2004, God-Des and She, born and bred in the Midwest, packed up a U-Haul and moved to the City that Never Sleeps. GOD-DES has always been a rapper, but SHE got her start in a folk rock band. "Believe it or not, it really honed my chops. I learned about my range, how to sing, what to sing about. It was a real learning experience. I loved it immensely."

Soon, they began working their way around the New York rap circuit, winning fans from borough to shining borough, playing the most famous and infamous stages across the country, and opening for the likes of MC lyte. After that, high-profile industry gigs followed--but as with the rest of the industry, "they just didn't know what to do with us," sighed She. "But then again, what can you do with us? We're not going to look like Eve or be strippers overnight. We're not going to shake our booties in your face. We just want to play music."

They stayed true to themselves, and then got the double-whammy breakthrough that most artists only dream about. A University of Southern California student produced a documentary that was picked up by Logo, the duo was heard in homes--gay and straight--nationwide.

Then one day, as God-Des was unsuspectingly tending bar, a patron came in and introduced herself. She mentioned that she was a fan of God-es' work, and that she knew someone at Showtime who was in charge of music for 'The L Word'. She asked if God-Des would mind if this patron passed along the necessary information. Next thing God-Des and She know, they are prominently featured on Showtime's critical darling. And by "featured," God-Des is quick to mention, "We're talking serious face time. Not just a blip on the screen. I mean, serious time on the air." Not bad for a duo who, when you think about it, is just about two years old.

So, what's next? An opening slot for the B-52's at Asser Levy Park in Coney Island, a few more big gigs in the Midwest, "and then," concludes She, "we're putting the finishing touches on our album!" The album, produced by DJ Pain, is expected to drop sometime before the end of the year. For now, the uninitiated can download "Lick It," and "Love You Better," off of iTunes and can hear the entire EP streaming on their MySpace page. One can only expect bigger and better things from God-Des and She in the months to come.

-By Bernadette Giacomazzo - GO NYC

Midwest Natives God-Des and She Prepare to Release Genre-Bending Third Album
Three Boasts Big Hooks, Production From Legendary Brian Hardgroove of Public Enemy
(October 28, 2009- Brooklyn, NY) Hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-Des and She are proud to announce the upcoming release of their third album, Three. Produced entirely by Brian Hardgroove of Public Enemy fame, the album will be released on December 3, 2009 via G&S Records.
God-Des and She have always been unique- a female hip-hop/soul duo whose sound varies as widely as their subject matter. With their third album, appropriately titled Three, God-Des (the rapper) and She (the singer) now embark on a journey to cross over from substantial underground success to the mainstream. In making that transition, the group has managed to both hone their existing sound and expand into an eclectic mash-up of other styles, including hyperactive dance music ("Drum Circle"), all-American rock ("Change"), a themic electro ("Radio Up"), and feel-good, windows-down pop ("Get Your Bike").
While delving into so many genres on one album could easily sound disjointed, a confident identity forged over years of working together, as well as sure-handed production from Hardgroove resulted in a cohesive, dynamic set of songs. "So many of our fans comment on how much we grow every time they see us live or hear the next song we are working on. Our first two records were great in their own ways, but we hadn't truly found our voices or sound. Three cannot be compared to any other artist. It sounds totally unique and crosses all boundaries and is hard to even put into a style of music."
God-Des and She found an ideal partner in producer and current member, bandleader, and bass player of Public Enemy, Brian Hardgroove, who has worked with such veteran acts as Wu Tang, Burning Spear, and Aerosmith, and also plays with Bootsy Collins. "He gave us a lot of freedom but guided us and made the songs better. He has an incredible ear and totally understood and supported our vision for the music. He didn't try to box us in to one genre." While the duo may have initially been star struck in working with Hardgroove, the legendary producer was impressed as well. �They are easily as good as the best that hip hop has to offer,� Hardgroove says of the duo, �and far more interesting.�
A hip-hop/pop/soul duo bred in the Midwest, God-Des and She play to packed venues all over the world, from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to Stockholm, Sweden.� Ever since they appeared on Showtime�s The L Word four years ago, performing their infamous single �Lick It,� the pair haven�t had a moment�s rest, selling over 30,000 albums, and holding down the #1 song spot on MTV LOGO with their song �Love You Better.� God-Des and She's new album, Three, will be available December 3rd via G&S Records. - Audible Treats

Another girl group to deliver a great new album is Brooklyn-based hip-hop duo God-des & She. Already featured heavily on Logo and The L Word with "Love You Better" and "Lick It" respectively, the group tackles everything from self-empowerment (Stand Up), to politics (Hey Mister President), to anger (I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend) and the requisite sex/love songs. The album is soulful, infectious and very well produced, especially for an independent group, proof that taking time to do things right is worth it! The ladies are particularly good live, so it makes sense they're also off on an ambitious tour.

By Keo Nozari - NEXT

Unsigned artists with the potential to break into the big time.
God-des & She



August 09, 2008

Katie Hasty
Hip-hop duo God-des and She were featured performing their sex-charged track "Lick It" on Showtime's "The L Word" in 2007. The video for their "Love You Better" was the No. 1 most-spun music video on MTV's Logo network. They have dozens of shows lined up for this summer, many of which will be at gay pride parades and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rallies.

Now God-des and She are ready to take on a wider audience.

First thing's first: MC God-des' whose rhymes are gruff and, at times, hilariously matter-of-fact, is a white woman from Wisconsin.


"Yeah, I don't really have a lot working for me in hip-hop, do I?" the recent Long Island, N.Y., transplant says with a laugh. "I'm androgynous, and She doesn't look like Britney. . I used to be reticent to start rapping because I didn't want to feel like I was misappropriating black culture. But I've always been into poetry and rhythm. Just being here is a political art."

God-Des and soulful singer She have self-released a pair of EPs and one full-length, 2003's "Reality"; they plan to release their newest studio set, "Stand Up," produced by DJ Pain 1, June 17. With this, they hope to reach a new fan base through touring and word-of-mouth ("Queer folks are friends with straight people, too," She quips). The set is a hook-crazy, high-energy affair, with slow jams, political fist-pumpers and sexy, sassy lyrics that resonate with listeners gay or straight.

"Go figure" a lot of lesbians work in construction, and one of our friends was playing 'Lick It' to her male co-workers on site. One of them came up to me after a show one time and was like, 'That song saved my marriage,' " God-des says. "See? We're helping to save the American marriage. Isn't that nice?"
- Billboard Magazine

God-des and She
Stand Up (Gentry Music Group)
By Jessie Nelson
Published: June 17th, 2008 | 11:59am


New York by way of Wisconsin's God-des and She are paving new ground. Their debut release, Stand Up, will cause the industry to take notice as God-Des and She take their rhyming sensibility and musicality to the next level.

Anthems such as "Top of the World" and "This is the Life" inspire without being cheesy and the combination of God-Des's playful bravado and She's sexy alto make these definite "turn-up-the-car-speaker" jams. The duo tackles the crazy state of our nation with the title track, "Stand Up," and "Hey Mister President" and takes on the music industry with aggressive club jam "Give Em What They Want." "Love You Better" is God-Des's love letter to her crush, with another hot hook, "I want you to be mine / Hope I'm not out of line / No one can love you better," from She. "Lick It" is the sex anthem of the album with grinding drums and in-your-face instructions on how to make a girl feel good. After the track's success on The L Word, it likely appears on many an iPod. God-Des and She will inspire even the most jaded hip-hop head as they release their intellectual, fiery brand of hip-hop into the world; proving beyond a doubt that women can rap their way into our ears and intellect.
- Venus Magazine

MP3: God-Des & She: “Love Machine” / Album Release God-Des & She Deliver Their Highly Addictive Second Single “Love Machine”
Posted in Entertainment | December 3rd, 2009
MP3: God-Des & She: “Love Machine” / Album Release God-Des & She Deliver Their Highly Addictive Second Single “Love Machine”

Critical Praise for God-Des & She:

“Most people trying to foray into the hip-hop world try to conform to the stereotypes… For God-Des and She, by bucking the standard, they created their own. In other words, while most aspiring rappers try to set the bar, God-Des and She ARE the bar.” – GO NYC Magazine

The Song:

God-Des & She, the innovative duo hailing from the Midwest, are back with the second single from their new album Three. Entitled “Love Machine,” the retro/80’s groove of this highly addictive track demonstrates the duo’s ability to continually surprise the listener by blurring the lines of classification of their music. God-Des explains, “I wanted to do a sexy, up-tempo hip-hop song that wasn’t R&B… we were really happy with how “Love Machine” turned out because it sounds so different (from) anything else I’ve heard as far as hip-hop… and as soon as we started performing it for people we knew we were on to something.”

With the combination of God-Des’ smooth lyrical flow, the powerhouse vocals of She, and a unique style that is near impossible to define, this duo is well on their way to breaking into the mainstream.

God-Des & She’s third album, Three, is available today. Produced entirely by Brian Hardgroove of Public Enemy fame, the album is being released by via G&S Records.

“Love Machine”

The Background:

A hip-hop/pop/soul duo bred in the Midwest, God-Des & She play to packed venues all over the world, from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to Stockholm, Sweden. Ever since they appeared on Showtime’s The L Word four years ago, performing their infamous single “Lick It,” the pair haven’t had a moment’s rest, selling over 30,000 albums, and holding down the #1 song spot on MTV LOGO with their song “Love You Better.” God-Des & She’s new album, Three, is available nowvia G&S Records. - Geniuspatience.com

Hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-des and She released their third album, Three.
November 16, 2009


Three Boasts Big Hooks, Production From Legendary Brian Hardgroove


Hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-des and She released their third album, Three.
Hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-des and She released their third album, Three. Produced entirely by Brian Hardgroove of Public Enemy fame, the album was released on November 3, 2009 via G&S Records.

God-des and She have always been unique- a female hip-hop/soul duo whose sound varies as widely as their subject matter. With their third album, appropriately titled Three, God-Des (the rapper) and She (the singer) now embark on a journey to cross over from substantial underground success to the mainstream. In making that transition, the group has managed to both hone their existing sound and expand into an eclectic mash-up of other styles, including hyperactive dance music (“Drum Circle”), all-American rock (“Change”), anthemic electro (“Radio Up”), and feel-good, windows-down pop (“Get Your Bike”).

While delving into so many genres on one album could easily sound disjointed, a confident identity forged over years of working together, as well as sure-handed production from Hardgroove resulted in a cohesive, dynamic set of songs. “So many of our fans comment on how much we grow every time they see us live or hear the next song we are working on. Our first two records were great in their own ways, but we hadn’t truly found our voices or sound. Three cannot be compared to any other artist. It sounds totally unique and crosses all boundaries and is hard to even put into a style of music.”

God-des and She found an ideal partner in producer and current member, bandleader, and bass player of Public Enemy, Brian Hardgroove, who has worked with such veteran acts as Wu Tang, Burning Spear, and Aerosmith, and also plays with Bootsy Collins. “He gave us a lot of freedom but guided us and made the songs better. He has an incredible ear and totally understood and supported our vision for the music. He didn’t try to box us in to one genre.” While the duo may have initially been star struck in working with Hardgroove, the legendary producer was impressed as well. “They are easily as good as the best that hip-hop has to offer,” Hardgroove says of the duo, “and far more interesting.”

Bred in the Midwest, God-Des and She have played to packed venues all over the world, from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to Stockholm, Sweden. Ever since they appeared on Showtime’s The L Word four years ago, performing their infamous single “Lick It,” the pair haven’t had a moment’s rest, selling over 30,000 albums, and holding down the #1 song spot on MTV LOGO with their song “Love You Better.” God-Des and She’s new album, Three, will be available November 3rd via G&S Records.

Check out the single here: http://media.audibletreats.com/God-Des_And_She-Respect_My_Fresh.mp3

Streams:
“Respect My Fresh”:
http://media.audibletreats.com/God-Des_And_She-Respect_My_Fresh.mp3

Bio, pictures, and streams available here:
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/god-des-and-she

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/goddesandshe

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-Des-She/92078389560

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/goddes

Official Site:
http://www.god-des.com
- Hot Indie News.Com

God-Des and She are a female Hip-Hop duo that breaks the mold of what a female rap group is supposed to be. They are two white women with an urban sound from Madison, Wisconsin. Their music mirrors their personality--you can't put them in a box. God-Des and She are Hip-Hop, Soul, Dance, Pop, and more.
I spoke with the group recently about the release of their third album appropriately titled, Three.

SS: How happy are you that you escaped Wisconsin?
God-Des: (laughs) We are extremely happy that we escaped Wisconsin! Although we love the Midwest the weather in Austin, TX is definitely a lot better.
SS: So you relocated to Austin?
God-Des: Yeah.
SS: Is Madison the best city in Wisconsin?
God-Des: I think Madison's the best city in Wisconsin. But I think a lot of people would tell you that Milwaukee's better (laughs). Madison is really low key and artistic. It was a great place for us to get our start because it's smaller and people are down with supporting local talent. It was a good place to build and learn our hustle.
SS: What was it like working with producer Brian Hardgroove on your new CD Three?
She: I think it was amazing to work with someone that has such a vast knowledge of music. He really let us have a lot of control. He would be like, "That doesn't sound right," and we would be like, "Well what should we do?" He would say, "Well I don't know, what should you do?" Like a Zen master kind of dude. We had to figure it out. He's an amazing guy and he really helped us find our sound and layer up the music in a way that we hadn't done before.
SS: There's a song on the album called Love Machine. Can you explain exactly what your Love Machine is?
God-Des: (laughs) That's a really funny question. We like to leave that up to the imagination. It was just kind of fun at the beginning because when I first heard the melody of the song (hums melody), and the only words that kept coming to my mind were love machine. I just kind of starting laughing at myself like, what a funny idea--to use the idea of a time portal or a car as a metaphor for sex. With each line I was cracking up more and more. It's really fun and catchy. The writing process was actually really fast. Sometimes our best songs are songs that we don't marinate over for days and days. A lot of times the best songs just flow right out in a couple of hours.
SS: Was there a concerted effort to make the new album Three more Pop?
God-Des: I don't think at the time when we started that we wanted to make the album more Pop. It was more like a lot of the beats that we like were kind of unique sounding and not your typical Hip-Hop sound. Love Machine is the first song that we wrote for the record. Once we realized that we could do that kind of sound the more beats we got that were a little unique. We figured out a way that we could ride with that sound and it was definitely an effort to make more upbeat songs. For years when we would perform all we had was slow and mid-tempo songs. We made people want to shoot their eye balls out because they were really depressing songs (laughs). The world is so depressed right now and we don't need to add to that anymore. We wanted to make this record inspirational and fun and when people listen to it they can get a release from the everyday stresses of life. So that was well thought out. We wrote what we felt and wrote to what we grooved to more than anything.
SS: What's your favorite part of performing live?
God-Des: Both of us really love when we see that we can affect people. We try to make a conscious effort to make our show a roller coaster experience of emotions--kind of like a real reflection of life. We definitely have a lot of fun songs and we lead into some real serious songs. We always want people to walk away feeling inspired and feeling they can be whoever it is they want to be. We want them to feel good about themselves and walk away like, "Man I feel incredible and I want to take this energy from the show and spread it throughout the world." That's something that we've been able to do for a long time. You can feel when you have that connection with the audience.
SS: Do you have a lot more groupies since Lick It came out?
God-Des: Oh my gosh, astronomically. My favorite story to tell is that we're saving the American marriage because a lot of our fans are construction workers and play that song at work. One of our fans told us that a guy came up to her that she works with, I like to call him Bob. He said, "I'd like to thank you for playing that song at work, it saved my marriage." We're literally saving the American marriage with that song and we plan to continue to do that and make women happy across the world. 'Cause if women are happy across the world the whole world is gonna be a better place.
SS: That's so true.
God-Des: Isn't it though?
SS: Yes. OK, give me your craziest road story.
God-Des: Do you have 10 hours for that? We have a couple of books we could write about that. Some of ours are so horrific its scary to tell.
She: Sometimes we have really magical shows where the whole energy is perfect and everyone is feeling it. We had one of those recently in Indianapolis where these girls came and were super affected by us. We turned into the Grateful Dead of the Hip-Hop world and these girls followed us the whole tour. They came to every show because they wanted that feeling again. The last show that we had we rolled up on them tailgating for our show. They were drinking beers and grilling and we were thinking how do we make this an event at every God-Des and She show? Like a football game! That's dope. It would be kind of like Phish but paying homage to Wisconsin with beer and brats that are God-Des and She brand.
That's a cute story. All of the funny stories are like, awful. Tragically funny (laughs).
One time we did a New Year's gig for this lecherous guy in Chicago named George. He put us up in this awful hotel that had roaches all over the bed and the wall. We called him like, "George there's roaches all over this place it's disgusting." He was like, "I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE ROACHES!!!" I told him I didn't care if he knew there were roaches or not, he needed to move us. And then he tried to feel up God-Des' butt later--before he paid us! He was so awful.
We played a death metal bar once and a death metal guy that looked like Jesus started to break dance.
SS: That's crazy.
She: It is. Can you imagine playing with all these death metal dudes looking at us crazy and we're white and rapping? It was nuts but they really responded because we're honest and put on a great show. You don't have to like the music that we put on because the energy speaks for itself. It's contagious and fun. We're not pretentious and we don't take ourselves seriously. We're just good soldiers spreading love, positivity, humor and equality. If every artist would set that example it would be a whole different ball game.
SS: On the song Radio Up there's a lyric that says "Music is no longer human," explain what that lyric means.
She: Well God-Des wrote that but here's my take on it, it's basically that when you go into a studio they can change everything about how your voice is. They can change the pitch, the modulation, the timing--everything about it. The human voice that goes into that microphone is completely changed over by the technology that we have these days. The feeling, warmth, and the soul is lost in that. We're just trying to be conscious of those things. If you hear us on a record its really good but if you see us live you'll kind of lose your mind--it's amazing. It's two powerhouse women getting up there and making you get goose bumps all over your body the entire show--its awesome.
We're lucky that we're doing this because we do affect so many people. It's a blessing. As much as we possibly can we're trying to bring humanity back in to music and get people to not be so interested in the pomp and circumstance of how you're supposed to look, be packaged, and what box you're supposed to check musically. If we can break through then how many other people can break through that don't fit in the box that are amazing and can bring joy and love into the world?
God-Des: I just feel like music has become such a business. We have been given this gift since the beginning of time. Humans, animals, and plants will respond to music. Before people just did music because they loved it. They sang or played from their heart and their soul and music is owned now. It's such a commodity and a product. When you look at an artist like Britney Spears she's truly just a business product. I think that has made us lose so much of the realness and feel of music. It's really hard to hear music today and feel something from it. It's hard to evoke emotion anymore.
SS: What inspired the song Spin The Bottle?
God-Des: Man I love spin the bottle that's where I got my first kiss! Reina Williams did the beat. She's awesome. We met her at a show in Baltimore and two days later she came to New York and stayed with us for four days and we started creating music together. Something about when we first heard the guitar part that she laid down it was like, "We should write a song about spin the bottle!" It was just the sound of it, we're bringing spin the bottle back. We had the music done and the idea before I even wrote a word. People really respond to that song and everybody over 35 jams the hell out of that song. If you're over 35 that's your favorite song--it has a retro 60's feel. It has a Beach Boys sound to it.
SS: When was the last time you actually played spin the bottle?
God-Des: You know it's been a long time. I was trying to do some throwback stuff. Now I'm a little more worried about playing spin the bottle. Back then you didn't think about all the things you could catch from kissing the mouths of people but it's been a while--probably college. People are now playing it at our shows.
SS: What kind of adversity have you faced being a lesbian Hip-Hop artist?
God-Des: You know it's funny because we really haven't had anything hateful said to us. It's been maybe one or two times out of the five thousand shows we've played. I think people want honesty and realness and they can smell when something isn't genuine. The fact that we are genuine and talented people don't really have stuff to say to us. It's funny when people ask us that question because what works against us the most? Being women? Not looking like Britney Spears? Being gay? Being white in Hip-Hop? What? We're so far from the norm its like can you really pick out one thing?
I played at this Hip-Hop conference in Madison, WI in 2000. They had guys from the Nation of Islam speaking on panels too. This one guy was in a wheel chair, he was an older dude maybe 55 or 60 and after the show he wheeled up to me and said, "I just gotta let you know sister that I respect you. The fact that you're so real and you're out and open. [Forget] what everybody else says, just do you. I got a lot of respect for you for that." That kind of affected me. I'm just me. When people focus on that its stupid to me. We make music for everybody and who cares who I like and don't like?
SS: That's true but Hip-Hop has historically been very homophobic and not accepting. There are a lot of people in the closet...
God-Des: That's the thing! Come on, 75 or 80% of the famous female rappers are gay. I really think times are changing. If you write a hot song people are gonna play that song. Sadly I think being a woman and being gay is easier than being a gay male and trying to perform in the Hip-Hop world.
SS: Why should the readers of Examiner go out and cop the new God-Des and She album Three?
God-Des: 'Cause it rules! It's so genre bending and unique. There's a song on there for everybody. What was a true test to me was asking people what their favorite song was. Almost everybody says a different song and to me that's really great. That means we don't have just one good song on the album. It's a unique sound that is appealing to everybody. 2-year olds and literally toothless grandma's have listened to our record--there's something on there for everybody.
For more info: http://god-desandshe.com/ - Examiner.com

God-Des and She Talks Music, Beyond With Mike Schpitz



Published 12/21/2009 · By Mike Schpitz, Anne van de Sande



Rapper Mike Schpitz is used to giving interviews, not doing them. Always up for new things and challenges, he took the opportunity to interview God-Des and She for BallerStatus. These lovely ladies had huge success on MTV before LOGO licensed one of their songs for "The L Word." When they're not on stage -- they play about 150 shows a year -- you can find them in the studio. Their album Three was produced by none other than Brian Hardgroove, the producer for Public Enemy. Plenty stuff to talk about during this interesting conversation between three creative artists.

Mike Schpitz: First off, tell people who might not know about you, "The Reader's Diges" version about yourselves.

God-Des: We're a very unique, hip-hop, pop, soul duo. We mix a lot of styles in our music from emceeing, to singing, to poetry mixed with melodies. We're just a very different sound from what people expect or have heard.

Mike Schpitz: What was the one song or songs that really opened the door for your career?

God-Des: We have been doing shows and touring together for a long time and building the interest or buzz that way. People have been spreading the word through word of mouth, press, music festivals, etcetera. Getting our song "Lick It" featured on the Showtime series The L Word drew a lot of attention. I had 200 new emails in my inbox the following day. Every time we have performed, we get asked back, and the next show is double or triple the size of the first one. Music festivals like the Dewey Beach Fest and SXSW drew a lot of attention from fans and industry people. Really, it's been a constant progression of building the buzz and gaining attention and recognition.

Mike Schpitz: I'm going to throw out one comparison that I immediately drew when I heard your music, and I want to know your thoughts on the comparison as well as how comparisons influence how you go about making your music. Floetry.

God-Des: Floetry has never been a comparison we have drawn a lot. We have heard anything from Black Eyed Peas to TLC to Salt N Pepa, but it's really hard for people to draw those comparisons because it's rare that a group has an equal amount of singing and rapping. It's hard for a comparison to stick especially with our sound and style being so different. We draw influence from everywhere and all different styles of music. We have a lot of personality, humor as well as more serious stuff like political commentary. I have heard Eminem as well.

Mike Schpitz: As females, it is almost expected for rappers/singers to play up their sex appeal to become successful. Has it been harder for you both to receive the attention and recognition you feel you deserve because you are not putting yourselves out there like that?

She: Actually, I think because we are not overly sexual, it has helped us draw more attention and more interest. We performed at the Dewey Beach Music Fest and because we were so different, we were the talk of the festival. People were drawn to us and the music because it was so different. Labels and industry heads seem to have a more difficult time with us because they love the music, but they can't just check the boxes and fit us into these neat little categories. There are definitely challenges, but at the end of the day we are not going to put ourselves out there in a way that isn't us. We are both comfortable being who we are, and that comes across in our music. The music is powerful and meant to inspire people to be themselves.

God-Des: For me, there really hasn't been anyone who has come up to me, at least not to my face and said, “You suck!” One experience I had in Chicago was at a record store when I was 18. I was talking to the guy who worked there about music and me being a rapper, and he said something along the lines of, “Rap is a man's world, a man's game and you're not going to make it unless you put yourself out there like that.” That was a critical moment for me where I said, “You know what, I am going to do this, and I am going to do it on my terms and by being myself.” It's hard for people to knock it when they hear the music and see the performances like, “They aren't talented.” I think because the music and our image are so different it helps us stand out among a lot of the same types of things.

Mike Schpitz: I often feel like a lot of mainstream music is all style and a lot of underground music is all content. I feel like your music has a balance of both. Do you guys lean one way or the other in terms of what you listen to and what you try to create? Is it hard to incorporate "style or swagger" into music that also has a lot of content? How do you find the balance? Who are some other artists that you feel are able to do both successfully?

God-Des: This is a big challenge because we don't make music that just fits into the "indie, backpack category" or just the "pop, mainstream radio." A lot of our music sounds too "mainstream" for the "indie, backpack scene", and a lot of the music doesn't cater to mainstream, pop radio. The longer we do this, the more people hear the music and really get us and the music. We just stay true to ourselves and make the music that we want to make rather than trying to make records to sound like something that is out or to cater to a certain audience. For us, it doesn't matter who the person is; if they like the music, we share the love back and appreciate any one who gets it.

Mike Schpitz: When did you both first realize that music wasn't just a dream, that this could actually become a reality and your full time jobs?

She: For me, I was in Wisconsin playing in a band for eight years when I met God-Des at a show. The singer she was working with was going to school, and she wanted to do some songs with me. I wasn't sure about doing hip-hop, but we got together and just "vibed", and the music came out incredible. It became a choice to pursue when God-Des said that we needed to move to New York. She put it into perspective for me, and even though it was really hard, the hardest thing that I have ever done, it was the best decision because we became stronger and more focused. It really humbled us because it prepared us for the grind of the music business and turned us into smart, strong businesswomen. After that, I knew we could handle anything.

Mike Schpitz: Drake (well Trey Songz) recently said in a song, "I just want to be successful." Have you ever thought about the point where you feel like you succeeded at making your mark in music or fulfilling what you set out to accomplish? What is that point? Are you there yet? How was your definition of success changed with all the "success” that you have and are receiving?

She: Success for me is just being able to live off of music and not having another job but more importantly provide for my family. The day when I can go to my immediate family and say, “We don't have anything to worry about any more.” is that point for me. The further things progress, the more stuff there is to take care of, but learning along the way and becoming smart businesswomen as well as successful artists is something we take very seriously. There are really two perspectives when it comes to the music business. People see it as a glamorous lifestyle where you get to travel the world and make money from music, but they don't see all the work that goes into it. We travel and tour, but people don't see the long nights, being broke trying to pay bills, and helping support our families. If anything, I think the music has humbled us. Having the opportunity to do music as a job has become empowering and drives us to help people in the music business as well as become philanthropists. Rather than spending money and using our power and gifts to be famous and buy stupid things, we can give back and help other people succeed.

Mike Schpitz: Who are your musical influences? Who makes you excited to write, rap, sing, record, and perform?

God-Des: Lately, K'naan has been really inspiring to me. I am really happy to hear a new sound from someone who is hungry, honest, and sincere in his message. He is very inspiring. Most of our inspiration just comes from life experiences- good and bad. I have been making beats lately and trying to create some clever, new sounds.

Mike Schpitz: So music is clearly your passion, but if you couldn't do music at all, what field would you be in?

God-Des: Music is pretty much engrained in my family, so it is hard to imagine doing something else, but I would probably be involved with animals, something like a dog sanctuary. I would definitely be doing something helping people or animals - a job that is rewarding and meaningful.

She: I have pretty much been fired from every job that I have worked, so music is it for me. I worked at a group home with kids, and I really enjoyed it though. I feel like music is a gift, and I need to share that with people. Music is what I love to do.

Mike Schpitz: You guys have been all over touring and performing. Is there a difference to the way the music is received overseas compared to here in the states? Is there a certain country, city, or state that you guys receive the most love? Is there one show that sticks out in your minds?

She: Three shows really stick out in my mind; the first is Sweden. We have been there several times, and each time the shows get bigger and bigger. Last summer we went and not only was the show packed, but people knew all the words. To see that in a different country, where English is not their primary language, is incredible. People were already waiting for us when we got there to perform. That type of response is absolutely amazing. The second one is at the Whiskey A Go Go in LA. There is so much history tied to that place. Artists like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix have performed there, so being able to do a show on the same stage was amazing. We got a chance to open for the band Vixen, and even though it was not a hip-hop show or a hip-hop crowd, when we started performing, the energy that kept building during the show was incredible. We got an email after the show from a lady who said she was really just there to see Vixen, and she was irritated from a long day and wanted to see them perform, but after we performed, she said she hadn't been that excited about music since she saw Sublime perform at some shitty venue. That was amazing for us. The third show was at the South by Southwest Music Festival. We performed on the roof at the Blind Pig for a hip-hop showcase. The crowd started to die down and leave after a few performances, but once we started performing, the place got filled to its capacity. There were even people down on the street congregating - just listening to the music. Those three shows really stand out just because the energy between the crowd and us was just incredible.

Mike Schpitz: As an artist, I often battle with the thought and idea of "selling out." I am curious to know where other artists draw the line of things they will do in terms of marketing, sponsors, shows, and creating the music. Is this a conversation that you both have had with each other about certain things you will or won't do?

God-Des: The main thing for us is just making sure that we are being ourselves. We will never pretend to be something we are not. People can sense when artists are not genuine, so we make sure that we are 100% us. We write all of our own music so, everything you hear is us, unless we are speaking from another person's perspective. We make sure what we say is true to ourselves and what we stand for. Also, we make sure that we are comfortable with what we are doing - not being overly sexual just to be sexual. We both like to look good, but we won't wear things or be doing things that we are not comfortable with. I put on show make up and wear my hair different ways like a Mohawk or a shaved head, but I have to be comfortable with what I look like.

Mike Schpitz: Now for the million-dollar question. A lot of artists are making a name for themselves by giving out free music or getting bootlegged on the net. How do you feel about illegal downloading? Why haven't labels come up with a successful way to combat this issue? Do you foresee all music being free in the future?

She: We always address that in our shows and make it a point to really connect with people so they have incentive to buy the music. So it's not just like buying a CD; it is a whole experience that comes along with the music so people have a connection not only to the music but to us as artists and as individuals. We always stay around after shows to take pictures, sign autographs, and really connect with the people who are coming out to see us. Our fans are really loyal. They travel from other cities and even other countries to see us perform, so we really make it a point to connect with the people that are supporting us.

God-Des: It seems like a lot of the labels and artists don't have that connection. People are hearing music but don't even know who the artist is and that doesn't encourage people to support music. Fans don't share a real connection with artists, so they are not going to really go out and purchase the music.

She: Like she said, we bring a whole experience with the music from the show, to taking pictures, signing autographs, and meeting the people who come to the shows. We also talk to our fans on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace too so people can share this whole experience with us.

Mike Schpitz: Now let me ask you both a few random questions. What is your favorite viral video? Think in terms of "Chocolate Rain " or "Charlie Bit Me".

God-Des: I really like the Will Ferrell Landlord video where little girl comes to the door. I love that video.

Mike Schpitz: What is the last album you purchased/burned or downloaded?

God-Des: K'naan is definitely one of the more recent ones. Mostly people make me mixed CDs. I got Kings of Leon too. I also want to get the Blueprint 3 soon.

Mike Schpitz: Everyone has their guilty pleasures as far as music they are kind of ashamed to listen too. Are their any artists or songs that you secretly love that you don't want anyone to know about?

God-Des: I'm really not ashamed to listen to anything. One of my favorite songs of all time is Lionel Richie's "All Night Long." I also like Neil Diamond.

She: I like Dolly Parton a lot. I likw that that Miley Cyrus song "The Climb" too. God-Des used to sing it a lot. She even sings it in the morning while I'm still in bed. I can definitely relate to the message in the song though.

Mike Schpitz: Alright, I want to thank you guys so much for your time. Now is your chance to give a few shout outs to people who you feel may not get their proper due.

God-Des: Definitely everyone who helped make this record, DJ Pain 1, J Deisel, Rein Williams, Brian Love, Brian Hardgroove, Audible Treats and definitely all the fans. Big thanks to everyone.

A word from Mike Schpitz: I wanted to share some thoughts and comments about my interview with God-Des and She. First off, I am neither a journalist nor a writer so the exact wording is my own summaries of the questions and answers from the actual interview with God-Des and She. I had 25 questions typed up in preparation because I feared I would race through all the questions and have nothing to work with. I made the mistake of attempting to ask the questions, hold a conversation, and type little notes that would allow me to expand on all of the things that we talked about. I quickly found out that it was impossible for me to type out exact quotes from God-Des or She, so I had short notes written down. I apologize for not taping the interview and sharing answers verbatim because both God-Des and She were not only well spoken, thoughtful, and honest, they were also a lot of fun and funny as well. I tried to ask questions that I personally wanted artists to answer as well as some questions that interviewers don't seem to typically ask. I wish I had the audio of the entire interview because it would be much more indicative of the type of people that God-Des and She are. They are very humble, talented, passionate, and intelligent women who are breaking ground not only in with their music but also for what they stand for and represent for so many different types of people. The opportunity was an absolute pleasure. Make sure you check out their music, their website, Twitter and MysSace and go catch a live show if possible. I highly encourage everyone to reach out to them as well because they really care about the people and the fans.

For more inforation on God-Des and She, visit their official website at God-DesandShe.com.
For more information on Mike Schpitz, go to his official website at MikeSchpitz.co.
- Ballerstatus.com