"LET'S TALK ABOUT IT"
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK | DJ GYVIS & TEYONCE KNOWSITALL OF “LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
INTERVIEW: TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK [@REALIFEVMG]
PHOTOGRAPHY: @HECTORACRUZ
APPAREL: @VIRILEMONARCH
“LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!” IS A PODCAST BASED OUT OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. THE SHOW’S WEEKLY BROADCAST IS HOSTED BY BROOKLYN NATIVES DJ GYVIS AND CO-HOST TINA “TEYONCE KNOWSITALL” TORRES. BROADCASTING FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, THE HIP-HOP INFLUENCED MEDIA PLATFORM “LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!” DELIVERS IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH INFLUENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS FROM HIP-HOP’S CULTURE, FROM UP AND COMING TO LEGENDARY. VALIDATED RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH DJ GYVIS AND TINA “TEYONCE KNOWSITALL” TORRES TO FIND OUT THE STORY BEHIND “LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!”, THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW NEW YORK HIP-HOP ARTISTS, THE SHOW’S RESPONSIBILITY TO HIP-HOP CULTURE AND MORE.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE “LET’S TALK ABOUT IT” SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: WELL I ALWAYS WANTED TO PURSUE A PODCAST AND GIVE LISTENERS SOME GOOD EAR FOOD. SO WHILE BRAINSTORMING I DECIDED TO HIT SOME CLOSE FRIENDS AND KEEP IT WITHIN MY COMMUNITY. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH TEYONCE AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO HOST A PODCAST SHOW, SO WHEN GYVIS REACHED OUT WITH THIS IDEA I THOUGHT THE CONCEPT WAS DOPE... I WAS THRILLED.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: THE PURPOSE IS TO BE AN OUTLET, A SOURCE, A PULSE TO THE STREETS AND FEED THE ENTIRE MUSIC COMMUNITY AND ABROAD... EVENTUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PERSON'S SUCCESS.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: TO GIVE A PLATFORM TO UP AND COMING ARTISTS... GIVE RECOGNITION AND PAY HOMAGE TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE THEM.
VALIDATED: WHO ARE A COUPLE OF NOTABLE GUESTS YOU’VE HAD ON THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE HAD EASY MO BEE, RAMPAGE, SAUCE MONEY, MILK DEE, YUNG STACK, LIL VICIOUS, CORTEZ, AGALLAH, STAN DA MAN AND INNOCENT?.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: WE HAVE HAD MANY KNOWN ARTISTS, LEGENDARY PRODUCERS, SUCCESSFUL WRITERS, PHENOMENAL LYRICIST AND RAPPERS.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THE RESPONSE TO THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: IT’S S ALL LOVE AND GOOD VIBES... JUST HOW IT SHOULD BE.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: I FEEL SO BLESSED TO SIT ALONGSIDE SO MANY INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS, THE LOVE AND SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.
VALIDATED: WHO WOULD BE A "DREAM GUEST" TO HAVE ON THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: UMMM, I HAVE A FEW IN MIND... JAY-Z, QUINCY JONES, FUNKMASTER FLEX, ETC.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: TOO MANY TO MENTION BUT JAY-Z WOULD DEFINITELY BE MY FIRST CHOICE.
VALIDATED: BESIDES THE MUTUAL LOVE FOR HIP-HOP, WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU WORK ON THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: I THINK IT’S S CHEMISTRY. I’VE KNOWN HER AND HER FAMILY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO IT’S NOT THAT HARD TO GET ALONG BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: WE’RE BOTH POSITIVE AND ENERGETIC BUT AT TIMES WE ARE TOTAL OPPOSITES. I’M SWEET AND PASSIVE. HE’S STRONG AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. IT HELPS OUR PERSONALITIES MESH WELL.
VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU EACH BRING TO THE SHOW?
DJ GYVIS: WELL FOR MYSELF, I WOULD SAY I BRING EXPERIENCE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THE BUSINESS.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: I FEEL I BRING A DIFFERENT VIBE TO THE SHOW BECAUSE I AM VERY PERSONABLE. I’M NOT ONLY INTERESTED IN THE MUSIC, I’M INTERESTED IN THE PERSON AND THEIR LIFE JOURNEY.
VALIDATED: AS A HIP-HOP INFLUENCED MEDIA PLATFORM WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE CULTURE?
DJ GYVIS: PROVIDE RAW AND UNCUT TALENT THAT IS NOT HEARD TO THE MASSES. THERE IS A LOT OF HIDDEN TALENT OUT HERE THAT DOESN’T HAVE DIRECTION... I WANNA SET A COMPASS.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: I FEEL THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING THE WELL-DRIVEN, HARDWORKING, CONSISTENT INDIVIDUALS A CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR MUSIC, THEIR STORY, AND TELL THEIR TRUTHS WITH NO BOUNDARIES.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP-HOP CULTURE?
DJ GYVIS: WOW, WATCHING THE BREAK DANCERS ON EVERY CORNER IN BROOKLYN, AND MY BROTHER PLAYING “RAPPIN DUKE” ( DA HA ) (CIRCA 1984). THE REST IS HISTORY. LOL
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP HOP WOULD PROBABLY BE TRYING TO WRITE MY OWN LYRICS FOR THE SUGARHILL GANG’S “RAPPERS DELIGHT”. (THIS BROUGHT ME BACK!)
VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW NEW YORK’S HIP-HOP MOVEMENT?
DJ GYVIS: I LIKE IT, IT JUST NEEDS TO CONTINUE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: IT’S SHAKING!!! WE HAVE SOME GREAT TALENT IN NEW YORK. IT’S JUST THE PROCESS THAT MAY BE A BIT ON A STAND STILL.
VALIDATED: AS AN ADOLESCENT, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK?
DJ GYVIS: GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN AS A YOUNG KID WAS OVERWHELMING. EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE IN FRONT OF YOU; THE CRIME, ROBBERIES, DRUGS, THE VIOLENCE... IT WAS EVERYWHERE. LIGHTING FAST DECISIONS ARE MADE... BUT NEVERTHELESS HIP HOP SAVED US ALL.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: I HAD AN AMAZING CHILDHOOD IN BROOKLYN. GROWING UP I RODE BIKE, PLAYED DOUBLE DUTCH, ATTENDED FAMILY GATHERINGS, BARBECUES, BLOCK PARTIES AND EVERYTHING WAS ENTERTAINED WITH MUSIC.
VALIDATED: GROWING UP, WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE RADIO STATION? FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY AND/OR DJ AND WHY?
DJ GYVIS: I MISS 107.5, ‘CAUSE BACK IN THE DAY HIP HOP WAS ONLY GETTING PLAYED ONCE A WEEK! SO YOU WAS ALWAYS CRAVING FOR THAT NEXT SET, AND THE DJ’S WERE PLAYING A VARIETY OF MUSIC. SO I ALSO LEARNED OTHER JEWELS.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: MY FAVORITE STATION WAS HOT 97 ALTHOUGH, I LISTENED TO ALL STATIONS. ANGIE MARTINEZ IS STILL MY FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY AND OF COURSE DJ ENUFF. THEY’RE MY FAVORITE BECAUSE THEY WERE RELATABLE. I FELT A CONNECTION EVERY TIME I TUNED IN.
VALIDATED: WHEN IT COMES TO BEING INVOLVED WITH MUSIC PROFESSIONALLY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHAT’S KEPT YOU MOTIVATED OVER THE YEARS?
DJ GYVIS: THE LOVE FOR THE CULTURE AND MUSIC KEEPS ME GOING.
VALIDATED: YOU STARRED AS “MARIA” ON THE HIT WEB-SERIES “RESPECT LIFE”, WILL THERE BE ANYMORE ACTING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: ABSOLUTELY! I’VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A NEW OPPORTUNITY THAT’S IN THE WORKS. IN MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK, I WROTE “ASPIRES TO BE AN ACTRESS.” I THINK I WAS MADE FOR IT.
VALIDATED: WHAT HIP-HOP ARTIST/ALBUM ARE YOU LISTENING TO ON REPEAT CURRENTLY?
DJ GYVIS: ANY JAY-Z ALBUM, KOB (MAINO) GORILLA GLUE (JOELL ORTIZ AND FRED DA GODSON).
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: JAY-Z, J COLE, DRAKE... ANY CONSCIOUS MUSIC. TUNES I CAN ENJOY AND LEARN FROM.
VALIDATED: WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON TOGETHER OR INDIVIDUALLY?
DJ GYVIS: WE ARE GOING TO DO A MIXTAPE WITH ALL OUR ARTISTS WHO APPEARED ON THE SHOW.AND MORE SHOWCASES.
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: WE’RE PLANNING ON ORGANIZING A MIXTAPE AND HOSTING A NETWORKING EVENT TO HELP BUILD WITH OUR GUESTS. WE’RE PROJECTING ON HOW WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER MAKE MOVES IN THE PROCESS.
VALIDATED: HOW CAN OUR READERS INQUIRE ABOUT BEING FEATURED ON THE SHOW?
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: SHOOT US AN EMAIL ON LTAIT@DESERTSTORMRADIO.COM
VALIDATED: WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS?
DJ GYVIS: @DIGIWAXXGEE ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER
TEYONCE KNOWSITALL: TEYONCE_KNOWSITALL AND @LETSTALKABOUTITTALKSHOW ON INSTAGRAM