Check Out John Wes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Wes.

John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all began in Douglas, GA; 912, Coffee County. The population was small enough to know everybody you saw and my late mother, Tamiko Stewart, longed to show me and my sister the world she experienced as a child because her father was from Rockford, IL.

Her drive and ambition led us to 7 years in Chicago before we moved back to GA to spend my aunt’s last 2 years with her due to cancer. From the change of location to the separation of family and the experience of new cultures, by the time I got back to the south I had one hell of a story to tell but I never knew how I would express it. Luckily, I had a foundation of the church in my childhood so music and energy were nothing new to me, I just hadn’t tapped in yet.

I believe I wrote my first official rhyme during my senior football season at Ware County High, located in Waycross, GA. I wasn’t the fastest or the strongest so the NFL became unrealistic the higher I elevated in school but I found something that gave me that same feeling in my soul. The closest I got to the feeling of a touchdown was the feeling of successfully executing a freestyle for more than 10 seconds lol. It was so similar to being a running back because you have to find your path and move without hesitation.

The moment you think too long about a decision, you’d either get tackled on the field or choke from running out of words during a cypher. When I left Waycross to attend Jacksonville University in 2012, everything changed. I had never known what it felt like to be surrounded by people who believed in their dreams, specifically the music. I found a squad, we made moves and began to brand ourselves amongst campus and social media as the next big thing.

The college journey continued to progress and like every group of friends, few get to see longevity. It was sad to see my close friends either drop out or change schools but it put me in a position where I had to ignite the fire within me without the help of what I thought I needed. I had convinced myself that the group effort was what secured my future but I immediately learned that I could only win if I was right within. This mindset helped me turn a hobby that I was skilled in into a career I couldn’t live without. While balancing this possible career and school and a full-time job, life hit me on my blind side and I lost my mother 2 months after I graduated to a heart attack.

I took that pain and it pushed me to do what she did when I was younger, go cover unknown territory and I landed on the east side of Atlanta. The culture there helped me understand that it’s not about what you say and portray, it’s always been about what’s real. Anyone can believe they’re a star and they’re meant for greatness but when you’re surrounded by a proud community that loves their culture, if you don’t have results you’re just another person claiming fame.

Applying the knowledge and experience I learned from there, I came back to Jax to get closer to my family as I built one of my own and began to tapping back into everything. My passion had always been what gave me the final push as I faced darkness and now it was more than necessary I dive deep into what I considered my purpose because I knew I would be held accountable if I didn’t inspire the next generation that deals with difficulties of not knowing there is more.

I spend my days now inspiring and uplifting anyone that seems to be boxed into the darkness of their trauma, trials, and tribulations because it was what I needed. What better way to serve your people than to be everything you needed rather than become a part of everything you needed to stay away from. Coincidentally, inspiring myself helps me to inspire others and it’s a constant cycle I use to make what I feel is some of the best music in the southeastern region; soon to be in the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, life will test you because it is so easy to hang it up and count down until your time comes. In my opinion, the biggest struggle has always been conquering the mind. I sit back and think about the decisions made and the time spent and I can confirm that most of them just came from bad mental health or improper guidance.

Not having the strongest relationship with my father and being away from my family growing up always had me in an environment where people wanted to know who I was and I could never give them a solid answer. Why? Because there was no straightforward answer. For a while, I was just a survivor. I survived amongst my people, I survived amongst other races and I adapted to cultures the same way I adapted to the new schools I would attend as we moved around a lot. Choosing a career that requires you to know who you are in order to stay sane was a challenge for me.

I would either get lost trying to appeal or gain my self-confidence through experience. It took me about 5 years of trying to be what everyone else wanted as a rapper to understand that wasn’t important because I was tired of falling short. At that point, I began to make the best music I’ve ever made because its authenticity was 100%.

Finances are forever an obstacle for the up and coming but the lack of resources breeds creativity if you want it bad enough.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“I rap” lol. I specialize in making hip hop music but my love for music, in general, opens up the door for me to execute whatever I’m presented with. I’m known for my fluidity on instrumentals but my wordplay and delivery make my music exciting. I have an undertone of R&B that’s present in all my music and it allows me to keep a soft side as well as remain groovy, unlike your average battle rapper.

Lyrically, I thrive when I’m aiming to paint a picture of what’s on my mind but I can get rowdy if that’s the focus. If you’re not nodding your head, the mission wasn’t accomplished. What separates me from others is honestly my love for instrumentation. I was blessed with an amazing group of talented friends that help me make sense of my musical visions but I trust the music.

I understand it carries me. I understand that a complete track is a conversation of passion between the producer/band & the artist. If the convo is good the music is great.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Anyone that wants to work with me, shoot me an email at wesgangww@gmail.com I’m down to work with anyone as long as the time isn’t wasted. Follow me and DM me on Instagram @johnwes_. Anyone interested in supporting me financially, my cash app is $wesgang.

The biggest support action for me is just telling someone else why you enjoyed my music. Word of mouth has always been effective and hopefully, I’m making an impact strong enough to make someone spread the love.

Pricing:

• Performance: $100
• Performance w/live band: $1500
• Feature: $100

Contact Info:

• Email: Wesgangww@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnwes_/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCYk4tEV5k-qnsFrAuaWs09A

Image Credits
@Couldbenino, @Isitjules, and @avacloudz