GOLD: A One On One With Quentin Miller
“Winter 2014… I was just another guy working a job he hated with a passion for music…. And somehow found myself on the phone with One of my idols.. i told him i worked in a bakery and his exact words were “Fuck that, your destined for greatness”… Hearing that from someone that I’ve been studying since 2009, bar for bar…. Theres no way to describe that..Most of the project was done before i came in the picture.. i remember him playing it for me for the first time thinking “Why am I here?” like.. what does he need me for?? The answer is.. Nothing… I watched this man piece together words in front of me… I watched him write/ replace bars 2- 3 at a time on 6pm in NY.. I witnessed him light up, go in and freestyle madonna…. I took notes from the best in the game….I remember him Showing me the thank you notes in NY before the album dropped.. Showing me the QM, telling me they put me on the credits (Ghostwritter???) … He attached my name to something that touched the world.. When nobody would pay attention, drake saw something in me and reached out… Of all people… drizzy.. Two artist in exact opposite spaces in their career.. We came together and made something special.. I am not and never will be a “ghostwriter” for drake.. Im proud to say that we’ve collaborated .. but i could never take credit for anything other than the few songs we worked on together .. Thats all i have to say on it.. back to this 1317 shit…” – Q.M. via TUMBLR.
Fast forward to January 17th, 2017 and we’re on this “1317 shit” with Quentin Miller. As an avid admirer of the complexity of Quentin Miller’s music and journey, there was no better way to introduce him to the readers of vashtie.com than taking the time to sit down with him one on one.
Raised in Atlanta, Quentin Miller is a member of the group WDNG crashers, He came into the public eye after collaborating with Drake and played a major role in some of your favorite songs: “No Tellin'”, “10 Bands”, “Used To”, and “6 Man. Outside of his writing success, Quentin Miller stands alone as an artist with bars and beats that are liable to blow your brains out.
After all of the Drake noise calmed, the rapper continued to work. But while focusing on himself, WDNG Radio, and WDNG Crashers–a duo consisting of himself and Thaddius “TheCoolisMac” Callaway–he was injured in a serious car accident that resulted in the amputation of his leg. Moving forward, with tenacious and optimistic spirit, Quentin Miller has finally healed from his accident and is ready to share his art with the world by proclaiming who he is and what he’s made of.
As he kicked off his first official tour, the Gunmetal Grey tour, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to experience this career milestone and also touch base with him backstage.
Check out the interview below:
Pennie: Your manager, Coach Cam,told me that you guys love Houston, Texas. What do you love most about Houston?
QM: The hospitality, everybody is real chill. Houston is a great place, the people are just great.
He simultaneously throws up ‘the H’ while responding.
Pennie: Who is your favorite H-Town OG? I know you have a song with Trae Tha Truth but is there anybody else that is your favorite?
QM: I’m fuckin’ with Riff Raff. There are a lot of legends from the H though.
Pennie: Yeah he is! I used to see him all the time by my house. The same color braids, the same color everything. He has been that same person since day one!
QM: Yeah, we’ve watched him grow online.
Pennie: How are you feeling right now? How is everything going? How is your leg?
QM: Everything’s good, I can’t complain. Moving Forward…
Pennie: Did anything change for you, perspective wise, when the accident happened?
QM: Showers take longer. Changing my pants is a little more of a task.
Pennie: What was the inspiration behind Gunmetal Grey the album?
QM: When I got my prosthetic leg, the protectest asked me if I wanted black or gun metal grey and of course, I said gun metal grey. It kind of describes where I’m at right now. It’s a rough rugged place…a rough rugged start.
Pennie: Life is a journey and you’re already there. You’re doing amazing things right now but what is it going to take for you to have that “Mama I made it” moment?
QM: I mean you know like..I’m just like any other artist. I look at the Grammy’s and stuff too but I just want the work side of it, I’m not an “out there” type of person. I just want the work to be in the conversation that’s all.
Pennie: Yeah, you’re not really about the accolades and the followers. What do you want your true fans to know about Quentin Miller as a person?
QM: He’s a real person, he’s a real artist, and he is not a writer. He is an artist.
Pennie: How has the tour life been going?
QM: This is actually the first day. Houston is the first day. Unfortunately, Dallas got canceled. This is my first tour, this is my first time just getting out there and touching my fan base and seeing who they are so this is interesting for me.
Pennie: Where are you excited to go next?
QM: New York.
Pennie: New York! I LOVE NEW YORK.
QM: New York, L.A…really all of the places. Man, like I said I’ve never really touched my fan base before. I don’t even know what they look like. Today at my pop-up shop, just getting to shake hands with my fans and stuff and getting to see who they are.
Pennie: Coach Cam was saying there was an overwhelming amount of people there, more than you expected.
QM: Yeah, cause you can look at the numbers on SoundCloud and YouTube and stuff but those are just numbers on the screen at the end of the day.
Pennie: Did a fan say anything that just blew your mind today or made you feel really really good?
QM: Nah, I mean I am getting a lot of love. I am appreciative of it. For real, man…because I remember a time when nobody was listening to my shit. You know, so it is a beautiful feeling to know that people are accepting your art, fucking with it and riding with it. It’s a beautiful feeling.
Pennie: So what’s next after the tour?
QM: More WDNG radio, another WDNG Crashers album. Last year the accident–we were supposed to run WDNG last summer but the accident fucked up the whole WDNG Crashers plan. I don’t know how people feel about WDNG, but we take it very seriously. I’m just ready to show people how serious we are.
Pennie: Everything happens for a reason, though, is there anything else you want to share with us and your fans?
QM: Shop opening soon online. Get your merch! Shredded Metals out now. Gunmetal Grey is out now!
After the interview, Quentin completed a soundcheck before heading to his Airbnb with his team for a bit of pre-gaming before his set. The show was hosted by TopShelf Texas Shows— who’s notorious for throwing some of the best shows in the south and giving up and coming artists platforms to flourish, including local artists YK, Rudeboy Bambino, and PatrickxBlue, who opened the show. DJ Jon Rambo also held it down on the one’s and two’s and kept the crowd live and energetic.
When Quentin finally hit the stage, his entire team rallied behind him with encouragement. I was lucky enough to observe this backstage–before and during his performance–as everyone assisted him in shaking off his nerves. Literally, we were all backstage damn near Harlem shaking the nerves away.
All in all, the Harlem shakes were worth it because his first tour set was a complete success!
Quentin Miller having potential is now an understatement.
I witnessed the fan love he spoke of in the interview as the crowd enthusiastically recited every lyric to every song–old and new. The energy just felt right, the venue was filled with passion, and the talent Quentin Miller possesses is undeniable. His story and lyrical content serve as an inspiration to always rise above the BS and beat the odds.
To keep up with Quentin Miller and his squad click here.
Twitter: @Quentin_Miller
Instagram: @quentinmiller__
Quentin’s Gunmetal Grey tour also has a few more stops. Check out the dates below to see if he’ll be in a city near you.
