About Me
I remember when I used to run around the house with my brothers, sisters and cousins and my mum would call me asking me to ‘do that dance you do’ at family gatherings. I would stand there pretending as though I was combing my hair impersonating Elvis Presley.I was eight years old when I really began to listen to music, during this time I was attending Boarding School. See my life wasn‘t that simple; I was put in a foster home, children’s home and when my parents decided to take me back they had to go through the ’system’. That situation didn‘t improve as I continued doing the same shit so they sent me to a Boarding School in Devon. It was here I was exposed to all types of music; Pop, Rock, Disco and a small percentage of Soul music, coupled with the fact that I was one of eight black kids living at school in the countryside away from familiar surroundings.During the holidays at school, I was at home and it was here that I listened to as much Soul music as I could; Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Midnight Star, Barry White (R.I.P) and any other Soul artists who appeared on Top of the Pops or gained airplay on the local radio stations.It was the mid 80’s when I was introduced to Electric Boogaloo, I was fascinated by the people who were Body Popping and Break Dancing. Yeah, I did all that, just couldn’t get the hang of the Windmill, Electro 1-12 came out I think, ‘cos that’s all I had.Back in the 80’s I wanted to play football professionally but my Social Worker said I wasn’t ‘good enough’ although she had never seen me play. So when I left school I turned to music because of this woman who knocked my confidence immensely. This was actually a blessing in disguise and also when my love affair with music really got serious, whenever I was feeling down music was always there for me when no-one else was.Listening to Run DMC, Kool, Moe Dee, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, Special Ed, Kwame Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and Rakim..…the list goes on.It was 1989 when I was inspired to bust my first freestyle. One of my boys came around with a beat that his brother had made, I put it in the tape-deck, pressed play and listened. My boy began reciting a rhyme that he had previously written, when he finished I took over, once I had finished my rhyme I felt like ‘DAMN!’.
I had never written a bar before but after that I was on a high, the next day I started a group called ‘Strictly Business’, my name was Ike Cool Gee back then. There was also Little G now known as Michael Maddix, he was the second member and T.N.T completed the group.Our first talent show was hosted by Tim Westwood and up until that point I had never stepped foot on a stage, anyway, we performed a track called ‘Fight for your Right’ and won…no prize though…but it was cool, we didn’t let it get us down...we won!!
That gave us the incentive to persevere, which, we did until we met a guy who owned a record company, I can’t recall the company name. We were signed to them for a minute, I left the group the record company went bankrupt, contracts in the bin, so now I’m solo but I kept in touch with Little G.When I left the group in 1991 I had a break, I concentrated on getting my head together, tried a college ting and continued writing.It’s 1996 and I’m back to performing, this time with a friend of mine called Skitz D now known as Esskayeye and Michael Maddox - collectively known as M.M.P (Madd Mobb Productions) and hit the Club Circuit as a DJ whilst promoting ourselves. Five years later I ‘retired’ from Djing and decided to pursue my dream as a rap artist/producer.My musical inspirations:Chuck D -I would listen to him which, was a good thing as he was teaching me about my culture something that I wasn’t being taught at school.Teddy Riley -This man is a genius, he basically ruled the 90’s with his production. He is my all-time favourite producer and I would like to follow in his footsteps.My Music - STRAIGHT GUTTAMy Style - STRAIGHT GUTTA ‘cos I represent for the GUTTAMista Gee’s Performances:June 1989 -Dingwalls
December 1990 - Horizon Nightclub
June 1996 - South Bank University
February 1997 - Camden Palace and Hackney Empire
July 1997 - Club Extreme
1997 - 1998 Open Mic Nights @ Bug Bar
July 1998 - West Indian Club, Coventry
June 1999 - Open Mic, Stonebridge Complex
July 1999 - Open Mic, Iron Bar
July 2002 - High Wycombe University
May 2003 - Woodys Night Club
June 2003 - S.P.I.T @ Camden
July 2003 - Marian Community Centre
May 2004 - Queens Park Community School
