The Playground Meets: Grimey Qua
By: Ryan Crowley
Ryan Crowley of The Playground recently sat down with Grimey Qua, a rising Brooklyn artist to talk about his inspirations, his new single and the message he wants to send.
Qua: “What’s up man! We keeping it going you know, I'm on like two hours of sleep right now. We just grinding for it all.”
Growing up in the Bed-Stuy area, Qua was surrounded by the creative culture early on, and was inspired by the message that musicians could send through songs. Since then, his passion for music kept growing enough to get him in the studio.
Qua: “I’m from the Stuy so you that culture just became a part of my life. I seen that Tupac video “Keep Ya Head Up” around like 5 or 6 and I just loved the feeling he gave me, expressing himself. I wanted to be like that person one day. And I’m a Virgo man once i'm into something im committed, it’s hard to get me off, so”
Qua has not let the circumstances get to him in the past year, and he is more focused than ever. He is excited to show the fans new sides of him, and keep the momentum going from the opportunities he is earning.
Qua: “My dreams, man, my goals keep me going. And it’s a tough situation right now we in with Covid right now, losin people all that. But I’m still feeling more blessed than I used to, I know that everything I been through just helped prepare me for this life, everything God brought to me just made me stronger now so, it’s just all a blessing for real.”
There is no limit to the influences and genres that he listens in, and this leads to a lot of different inspirations. Qua is not only a fan of the music but of the culture and lifestyle, as he has been since a kid.
Qua: “I listen to everybody honestly, I really came from buying all the CD’s, all of it and being surrounded by everything. I asked my mom for Get Rich or Die Tryin for Christmas when I was like seven years old, so it wasn’t just some fad. I really love the culture. For Brooklyn, Pop Smoke of course. He was young, one of a kind, you don’t just get those guys. Did a lot for Canarsie. Then there’s Fivio, Sosa, Smoove L. I been on my Durkio shit right now too, so.”
The Brooklyn scene is taking over right now along with New York as a whole, and Qua is excited to contribute to the buzzing scene with his latest single CLOUDS, with a strong accompanying visual. He is grateful for all the support and energy that is around him, and seeing his goals become real drives him even further.
Qua: “Everyday I wake up and I’m more motivated off of the next step so, I ain’t seen it all too much yet but I’m just grateful for where I am and where I’m bout to go. I got people comin up to me sometimes, stores, my neighborhood type shit. So it’s dope, seeing everything you work for start to manifest in front of you. I just wanna give people that feelin like I said.”
His 2020 project Wiggy World was a very personal project, which invited everyone into the mixed emotions that come with loss and pushing forward. He is proud of the project and what it stands for. Heading into 2021, Qua’s focus has been on creating more of a sound for everyone, one that can play on any station or at any place.
Qua: “Honestly Wiggy World was more like raw. That’s where my mindset was, a lot of pain and mixed emotions, so I had to show it. I actually contribute that project to my brother that I lost. So with this new stuff I’m more focused on that radio sound, moving the people as a whole, instead of just the people in the trap. I wanna be able to make something for everybody. So it's getting real, I’m working real hard to tap into more.”
He looks forward to entering a more global sound, however it was important for him to make a personal project such as Wiggy World, for both him and his close friend. He felt it was an introduction to himself and his loved ones and their experiences good and bad, to show others they have gone through the same.
Qua: “Wiggy World was more so of an introduction to this kid from BedStuy with all these mixed emotions. I felt the only way to capture that was through Wiggy. I want to be known as Wiggy’s friend, Wiggy’s brother. So I made sure that my man defined me, and I defined him. So all those struggles, ups and downs, that was what Wiggy’s World was. I was in the can, all that so I just showed how it was going at that time.”
As his following expands, Qua is excited to share good music, and a lot of inspiration too. He emphasizes the importance of speaking to kids growing up like he did, and teaching them things that he was not taught through his songs and success.
Qua: “Man I just love music so much. I got a blueprint for the plans, but I really just wanna get that little boy from BedStuy through all the bullshit. Help him get his mind right through all the violence, the noise, fathers in jail all that. I just wanna talk about it. It’s burning me inside to talk about it. I have to, I gotta show these kids that the road doesn’t end when you go to jail or get into the wrong things, I gotta elevate everybody.”
Qua has gone through a lot to get where he is today doing what he loves, and he says that resilience is one of the most important factors for new artists. He did not let anything stand his way when he returned home from prison, and without much he did everything he had to do to get his footing. He explains that this attitude and drive is all you need to chase your dreams.
Qua: “This is mad important. Cause a lot of people pull up on me and wanna know how I started movin quick. I did a long time in jail, so when I came home I promised myself I’d do what I was put here to do. There was times I ain’t have a dollar to my name, puttin other people’s chains on in the videos, but I knew to just play my part till my time came. Chase your dreams. Never let up.”
Qua is wasting no time capitalizing on the momentum, and he is excited to keep increasing his presence this year with clean visuals and new projects, including a lot of collaborations. He is ready to take his music around the country and keep growing his supportive fanbase.
Qua: “Ah man I’m not doubling up I’m tripling up. I just got so much artillery, I'm ready to drop man. I got a song called Study Arabia that’s comin out next. It's gonna move a lot of people, cause where I’m from ain't too many artists left on my side. I’m taking a different lane and I'm owning it. I’m taking this music to a new level. But that song’s my baby. I got another project coming out with my boy O-Wave, Yellowzoo (could be wrong names) 6-7 tracks in the cut that we workin on, shoutout to Maino Hustlehard. He really pushed us into that. I’m really bout to go in, more videos, traveling, everything. I’m comin full throttle.”
There is a lot in store for Grimey Qua in 2021. Make sure to stream CLOUDS and tune into Qua’s Youtube for more videos and behind the scenes. Keep up with him on all social medias for the updates! @grimey_qua
Check out our interview below with Grimey Qua from The Playground’s Ryan Crowley (@rcdigital_) below, and follow @pressplayground for the full video and more interviews with your favorite artists.