Novie Blendz: Honestly that’s
really dope that you guys at
KOTD are not just trying to make
“stars”. You are actually helping
these guys develop as artists and
increase their skills and talents.
Gully TK: Yeah, we want
everyone to be on their A-game
at all times. After a battle, I’ll
always give them constructive
criticism. I’ll be back stage like,
“Yeah, you did good. Just work
on your performance a little
more.” or, “Your performance
was good but just structure
your material a little better next
time.” Just helping them grow
into the best that they can be.
Novie Blendz: Cool! Now prior
to the GZ battles and the entire
KOTD movement, how was the
battle scene out in Canada?
Gully TK: Well I guess it just
started out as random matchups
that Organik had put together.
Then eventually he just had an
event and people liked it; then
the events continued. After a
while, it grew to this huge league
that it is now. There were so
many rappers that our YouTube
page was getting flooded, so
the GZ battles had to become
a separate thing for up-andcomers and the main KOTD
was the place for worldwide
“Top Tier” battles. So the
scene started out as random
matchups and now it’s a lot more
organized.
28
Novie Blendz: So are the Grand
Prix tournament an extension
of the GZ battles? How did that
tournament get started?
Novie Blendz: Well seeing the
outcome of it all, the hard work
paid off for sure. Now you’re from
Mississauga right?
Gully TK: Yes, it is an extension
of the GZ. With the Grand
Prix, I wanted to have a title
for the GZ level of KOTD. So
we decided on 32 emcees, eight
from each division; we have
Vancouver, Calgary, LA and
Toronto. So it was eight emcees
from each division and they just
battled it out so we could decide
who the first champion would
be. We just had our first title
match at BlackOut4 and it was a
great turn out; it got a huge buzz
for GZ and we are definitely
going to do another one in the
coming months.
Gully TK: Yup, that’s my city.
That’s home to me. I will always
put on for Sauga, no matter
what. The people out here ride
with me. Sauga has made me
who I am today.
Novie Blendz: What kind of
things qualify an up-and-comer
for the GZ and the Grand Prix
title shot?
Gully TK: There are a lot of
factors that go into it. One thing
is their record; how many wins
and losses that they have. Also
just off their buzz; you kind
of know right away what guys
deserve to be there or not.
There are so many things to
consider. We actually had a staff
of about 10 people. It got to the
point that we were trying to fill
the last two spots like, “this guy
deserves it more than that guy.”
So the last few guys we ended up
just voting on who should get it.
It was tough, but a lot of it was
easy at the same time.
Novie Blendz: Dopeness. You can’t
ever forget where you came from.
Now what battle was it that you
saw that made you want to be a
part of battle rap?
Gully TK: Well, Organik was
throwing an event and asked
me to be a judge and I was like,
“Hell yeah. I got you.” Before
any of that, I wasn’t really into
the whole battle rap scene. I was
more into doing music. So when
I was asked to be a judge I loved
it at first. Once things started
up, I went back and studied all
of the old tapes from the WRCs;
I just fell in love with battle
rap instantly. I just studied the
game to see how I should judge
battles and whatnot. To answer
your question; I think it was
around the time of the “Pat Stay
vs. Hollohan” battle when I was
like, “yeah, I definitely want
to get more involved in this.”
That was a crazy battle. I was
like, “okay, I want to be a part
of this; if there is anything you
guys need let me know and I am
there.” From that moment on, I
went from judging to being staff
just like that. I started running
GZ battles and then it just kind
of grew from there.