G-Side

Wikipedia:

G-Side is an American hip hop duo from Athens, Alabama near Huntsville. Stephen "ST 2 Lettaz" Harris and David "Yung Clova" Williams met at the Boys & Girls Club in Athens, Alabama and in 1999 they formed the group known as G-Side. The group's musical style is heavily influenced and created by close affiliates Block Beataz. The production duo consisting of Mali Boi and CP composing crisp, intricate, and flowing melodies whether they be sampled pieces, or original works laced with plenty of live stringed instruments and piano keys. ST's style of rapping is more lyrical while Young Clova has more of a mainstream, laidback flow. G-Side together with Block Beataz forms the nucleus of Slow Motion Soundz, an entertainment research and development company based in Huntsville, Alabama.

Personal life

Yung Clova grew up in Box Alley, an area known for heavy crime and drug activity, where he endured poverty and dealt with family members struggling with issues such as drug abuse and the black southern experience. ST grew up in Acorn Hill, a street apart from Box Alley which also suffered heavily from crime and drug activity. ST endured poverty and homelessness, which eventually led to his entering into the foster care system for three years, at which point he was able to return to his family. Both young men had no strong father figures in their lives, with ST also losing his mother to thyroid cancer when he was 15 years old. Nevertheless, despite the struggles, pain, and adversity of their childhoods, they were able to find an outlet to give them a positive outlook to stay motivated despite the odds surrounding them.

Musical Style & Influences

G-Side says that artists like 8Ball & MJG, UGK, Outkast, Geto Boys, Scarface, Master P and 2pac influenced them both at an early stage of their lives and career. Their music has been described as a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Although they have created some more up-tempo tracks, they mainly create laidback, suggestive music often described as "Film music symphonic" or "Hypnotic" and "Spellbounding". Block Beataz has provided the duo with beats that sample artists not commonly associated with Hip Hop music like Enya, Beach House and Dune.