STARE
AT ME
"The impact has been un-fucking-deniable"...
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"I'm truly unbought, and unbossed, like Shirley Chisholm"...
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U.G. Digital Mag: First and foremost, I have to thank you so much. I have been an avid follower of you for pretty much your entire career. Certainly, I’ve followed the Dungeon Family so naturally I know your clear connection there, but I also think back to your days with Lucy Pearl, and I’m just so grateful for what you have contributed to music.
U.G. Digital Mag: Again, it’s amazing because you’ve inspired so many people for over twenty years. How does it feel to have that type of longevity, but also to have been so impactful to so many people for so long?
Joi Gilliam: Well (laughing), it feels …. It’s difficult to explain how it feels. It fills me with a tremendous amount of pride…
U.G. Digital Mag: Do you really feel in your heart that you’ve
been that impactful? I ask that because sometimes, artists don’t see what we see. We often become so humble.
Joi Gilliam: Right, and I don’t want to do that. I am acutely aware of the impact because I do see it.
U.G. Digital Mag: I feel like you’ve been overlooked. You’ve had projects, but then come right to the brink and something happens. But you’ve reached so many people even so. Even looking at
at your moment with Lucy Pearl. You also signed briefly with Raphael Saadiq & Pookie Entertainment, but then seemingly not much materialized. I had huge hopes not just for you, but the company as a whole because I’m such a huge fan of his as well.
Joi Gilliam: I think this is the thing. I think for people looking at the situation from the outside, it’s easy to feel a tremendous amount of
You’re one of those artists they consider to be your favorite artist’s favorite artist. I feel like you’ve been that example of someone who works really hard, and this is such an honor.
Joi Gilliam: Thank you so much James. I really appreciate that.