First Day Feature: Goody breaks down his album “21 (To Anyone)”

Since hip-hop’s start the culture has been closely associated with the art of storytelling. When it comes to getting a view of Chicago from the perspective of someone still dealing with the harsh realities of the city look no further than Goody. The MC manages to balance the line between the rough city and being a “good” person in the midst of the madness well. This is evident in every bit of his new project 21 (To Anyone). From the intro to the outro you get to take a walk into his shoes to see what the “other” side of Chiraq living is about, the side that is rarely glorified with the drill sound dominating that scene. Goody manages to be relatable in all that he does and that is a quality that few artists are able to replicate. With the aforementioned album arriving after about 2 years of increasing anticipation what better time to get a look inside the mind of the artist? That’s just what we do below.

Who is Goody?

Goody is regular kid from Chicago. I represent the average person trying to progress. I come from a two parent house hold, I’m a college student, I’m a good person, no pun intended. I love making music.

How long have you been taking music seriously?

I’ve been taking my music music seriously for 4 year now.

Your new project “21 (To Anyone)” just dropped. What would you say is the overall direction and concept you went with here?

The overall direction and concept comes from me wanting to share the average perspective of some one who is trying to thrive in the environment that they’re in. Its literally to anyone.

It’s a very interesting album as it is written from a first-person perspective mostly. How do you find it so easy to convey your own personal point of view in such an impacting way?

Most of the content was based from personal experiences, so it was just a matter of recalling certain events and putting it in track that matched that emotion.

For the rest of the interview I want to step outside the box and ask you some questions based on a line I found interesting from each track. Is that cool with you?

Of course

Track 1 – Be (To Anyone): “Where I’m from they said I’d never see 21. Either be dead or in prison.Shorties like 9, carry nines but don’t know division.” In what ways so you feel you’re different from the people you speak of here? The ones who found themselves dead or in jail?

I feel I’m different because I was raised different. I always wanted to be more because it was expected of me. My city is notorious for murder so the chances that I would dodge both jail and prison were slim. A lot of people fall victim to having low expectation for themselves because of their environment. No one pushed them.

Track 2 – Pay Check: “Never complacent working to step it up a level, I learned you gotta fall back if it don’t make you better” What is the last thing you’ve had to fall back on in order to progress?

The last thing I had to fall back from to progress was watching tv. haha

Track 3 – All I Know: “From the Windy City where they shoot up shit and everybody look at you like you they lick, I got niggas like ‘damn Goody rap? I never even knew that he could do that shit’.” What would you say those same people knew you for more than anything if your music isn’t it?

Most people just knew me for being the cool guy, I was known for being well dressed in high school, so that’s probably the most notable thing.

Track 4 – Down For It: “Since 17 I been that dude, leaving school hanging with the crew. 5 deep up in the whip stuck in the middle like an interlude. Going downtown finna make moves, mask off finna pay off. I took L’s and learned from my loss now the world is mine watch me take off” Throughout your life what would you say is the biggest loss you’ve had and what was the lesson you like learned from it?

One of the biggest losses I’ve taking during this project was when I was at a hip hop festival in Rhode Island. Someone broke into our rental and stole 1st laptop with the album on it. Luckily we had everything backed up but I learned never get too comfortable no matter where you are. Never let your guard down.

Track 5 – Shawty Swing: “I play that Jodeci. Let’s do it all between you and me. No one should speak, agreed that we both gone keep our peace” Kind of surprising to see a younger artist use the Jodeci reference. Would you consider them to be an influence on your sound because that’s a group R&B singers tend to drift to more than rappers?

Jodeci definitely influenced me. Jodeci looked like a rap group, but they could sing soulfully. They embodied the hip hop style in their music.

Track 6 – Party: “We just came, just pulled up. Gas rolled and my cup poured up. I got squad in here it’s going up. My buzz rising like my high cause I’m finna blow in like 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” Two part question on this one. The first is what is the best party you’ve ever been at and what makes that one the best?

Whats crazy is I’m not a big “party goer”. I can’t recall one specifically, but I have been to some pretty crazy parties.

Part two is when will you officially feel as though you’ve blown up? You speak on reaching your goals a lot on this project so I’m wondering what moment will make you feel as though you’ve accomplished where you want to be?

I’ll feel like I’ve made it when my environment changes. That’s when I’ll know, once I’m able to financially provide for my family.

Track 7 – Rollin: “College life is so weak swear I’m over it, tired of this apartment and these overages. Hope that tuition money well spent. All the time and other shit I could’ve did.” Where did you attend college? Although it obviously wasn’t the best experience what positives did you get out of it?

I’m still currently attending Middle Tennessee State University. I’m studying electronic media management, this song really doesn’t reflect my views on my school, but just how most people my age feel about the idea of being in school and being a student. It was inspired by Kanye’s “Spaceship”. I love MTSU, its great for studying mass communication and entertainment. I actually recorded some of this album in the school studios. They have great quality studios.

Track 8 – The Basics (Wants and Needs): “She want attention and that’s unfortunate. You need to be more focused on priorities. I mean you don’t even have self respect your vision must be distorted. It’s like how you gone be royalty and you can’t even be loyal?” These lyrics seem very personal. Were they inspired by someone in particular?

These lyrics are not inspired by anyone in particular. Just how I viewed some situations that I was asked for advice about.

Track 9 – Last Night: “Heard a nigga got murked last night. Got changed for the worse last night. Seen his face on the news and the family too. Blood dripping on the curve last night, over work last night.” Coming from a notoriously violent city like Chicago how often have you had to deal with death? How have you learned to cope?

Luckily I haven’t had to deal with death that much. I have lost friends to violence, but its bigger then Chicago. This is every urban city where lives are being lost everyday. There’s no way to cope with losing someone, especially when someone takes a life.

Track 10 – Be: “To anyone who been stressing, afraid of coming second. Just remember where your heart is and everyday is a blessing” If it isn’t too personal what more than anything is your biggest fear right now and how do you overcome the stress caused by that fear?

My biggest fear is missing a major music opportunity or not being prepared for an opportunity that I could benefit from. I just try to stay organized and prioritize so I always feel prepared.

With that being said thank you for the answers. I’m glad to have gotten a piece of your mind when it comes to the lyrics on the album. Before we wrap things up is there anything else you want to say?

Thank you for taking the time to interview me, and to anyone reading this listen to my album 21 (To Anyone). I put a lot of time writing this, it relatable, and truthful.

How can people contact you for collaborations or other business?