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

Pain, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Well I’m a very observant person and have a habit of retaining the little details in whatever or whoever I find intresting, so learning the craft for me comes more from experiences and observations. I think me having a real passion for music especially hip-hop or anything hip-hop related gives me somewhat of a leg up cause i genuinely want to learn as I live it. Knowing what I know now I don’t think there’s anything I could’ve done to speed up the process and im not sure if would want to, with the way technology had changed things it kind of took away that “get it from the mud” experience or having the knowledge to work around situations. I think the only real obstacle I had was not going to school to actually learn the craft where as I rely more on my networking and people skills to surround myself around people within the craft willing to learn or show me little tricks, and for those that didn’t, I studied and watched took a little here and there and made it my own.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Not sure how to approach this because im like swiss army knife, but I’ll say for me it starts with the arts, music, hip-hop, and my overall love for it all, how visually and sonically art in any form can evoke certain ideas and emotions. I don’t remember the first hip-hop song I ever heard but I remember the first time listening to “Poor Georgie” by Mc Lyte and listening to the way they sampled the Supremes, Michael Jackson, and The S.O.S which was all songs I remember cleaning the house to with my mom growing up. Even tho at a young age I didn’t fully understand the song, I still was able to comprehend enough to know that what Mc Lyte was saying was some heavy stuff. I will always credit Poor Georgie for being the reason I fell in love with hip-hop. Fast forward a little bit to “Protect Ya Neck” by Wu-Tang Clan and it was like nothing i ever heard before, and when Method Man says “The smoke from the lyrical blunt makes me (cough).” Man that line fucked my head up and that’s when i told myself that i gotta get inloved in hip-hop in anyways possible. I’ve always been into poetry and the power of words which led me into writing my own poetry and short stories, I would draw little pictures to go with it, I guess finding a way to tell a story through art has always been a thing for me. Even when it came to school projects it wasn’t uncommon for me to somehow incorporate art into it, or putting book reports or personnel projects into interview formats, anything to be different from everyone else around me. I never really gravitated towards whatever was deemed popular or what was supposed to be liked by the masses and I liked going against the grain and going with the flow of what felt right for me, most people around me would call me a rebel for that, and maybe they’re right. Cause when it comes to me as a rapper, i always hated waiting to put songs out or rapping to what was handed to me rather than what I wanted so i began to release projects myself and putting myself in studios wherever they may be, can honestly say I’ve recorded a song or verse in every state i’ve been to. It’s pretty same for the artwork, my first project I paid someone to do and then felt like I can do it myself so about 98% of my music or projects cover art I handle myself which got me doing some artwork and making logos for others. Now as far as me becoming a Podcaster and becoming a writer for “Overtime Hustlin”, I think it started when I would post album reviews on Facebook which I called “Real N**** Reviews or RNR”. They kinda started picking up steam before I ended up doing a year in prison, and when I got out i kind of got back to it which led to me being a guest on numerous podcasts where I continue to give my unfiltered hip-hop opinions. Fast foward to me being a consistent guest on “Wingn It” which is a podcast slash variety show, then I became a co-host on the show bringing my “RNR” segment along with me. Those “RNR” portions of the show led to me writing hip-hop articles for “Overtime Hustlin” and starting “The Playlist” which is a podcast where my homie Jay and I play and critique music mostly from independent artists. To be honest being able to give unapologetic opinions about music I think sets me apart from most, relationships I have with other artists never waived the way i speak about music and I certainly have no issues with my opinions burning bridges and trust me I’ve burned a few. I think my audience and people that knows me understands that my honest opinions are rooted in tough love with the hopes it pushes and motivates.

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

For me the most rewarding part of being a creative that actually does multiple things, would have to be the respect I get from my peers and artists I look up to. As a rapper that loves lyricism I enjoy walking in rooms full of other lyrists and getting my salutes and head nods. As a creator of artwork such as cover art, logos ect.. I guess knowing that other people like the artwork enough for me to some for them has certain warm feel to it. Now as Podcaster, I like people knowing that with Pain Gusto you never really know what I’m going to say or feel but know that when I speak, it’s all genuine.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I don’t know if there’s a actual story to how I built my audience but I do belive me just being true to self and willing to go on the ledge with my ideas and thoughts is what makes my audience grow. I also think the fact that I don’t care about streams and views draws in a certain type of audience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: pain.gusto
• Twitter: @paingusto
• Youtube: @paingusto

Image Credits

All images and photos by Pain Gusto