We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gengis Don. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gengis below.

Gengis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about growing your team – how did you recruit the first few people, what was the process like, how’d you go about training and if you were to start over today would you have done anything differently?

As a freelance musician and producer, i’ve had to operate as my own business since the beginning. When i first started my professional career, there was no team. It was a lot of trial and error in finding the write people to add to my team. Finding the right management was like finding a pair of jeans that fits you correctly. The hardest part is knowing that no one is going to go as hard for you as you are, but also looking for that person that believes in what you’re doing almost as much as you do. Then there’s finding and connecting with like minded artists who are on similar trajectories as you. A lot of people make the mistake of trying to build with artists that are already established because they see that they have something cool going on. That 9/10 never works because those same artists usually have their click that they came up with. There’s also the back end of the music industry: Finding my lawyer and booking agent was a process that I learned a lot of lessons from. Your lawyer should be there to make sure you don’t get screwed over with contracts and negotiate on your behalf. Trusting that they have your best interest at heart is something that comes with time and developing a working relationship.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Gengis Don graduated at the top of the class from the School of Hip Hop. As a drummer, producer, songwriter, & engineer, Gengis combines his deep knowledge of Hip Hop and his study of jazz/improvisational music to create the music of Gengis Don & The Empire.

Described as the love child of Jazz & Boom Bap, Gengis Don has a sound that represents today’s social climate, while staying true to his roots in groove and Hip Hop. A Brooklyn native, Gengis grew up listening to New York artists like 50 Cent, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Notorious B.I.G., Fat Joe, Nas, and Jay Z. Those influences are evident in his gritty, unapologetically dirty, sound on drums.

At just 27 years of age, Gengis has worked with some of the world’s best artists, drumming and producing for: Solange, Bilal, ASAP Ferg, Standing on the Corner, Klein, keiyaA, Melanie Charles, Anna Wise, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Marquis Hill, Christopher McBride, Alina Engibaryan, Portugal The Man, Pink Siifu, & many more!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To give a voice to the voiceless. I’m very open about my mental health struggles, especially as a black man and I want my music to reflect my journey in transparency and honesty. I know my story, while unique in itself, is very familiar to others and i want to be able to represent other’s in my music.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The unwavering faith that what you’re doing has a purpose and will work itself out, no matter what. That’s a hard concept to grasp for a lot of people who aren’t creatives. You almost have to be a little bit crazy to be a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: gengisdon.com
• Instagram: @gengis_don
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GengisDonEmpire
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk3e_IFLKCIbiZJFGGa47Lw

Image Credits
@Ebar