Detroit rhyme vet Guilty Simpson has been making consistently great music for decades, regularly collaborating with some of the most renown emcees and producers to create one of the best discographies in hip-hop. Matt Horowitz recently spoke to Guilty Simpson to discuss his Guilt EP from earlier this year.
How did you first meet the good people at Man Bites Dog Records and decide to release your recent album, Guilt, together?
We made contact back in late 2016, I think, about the record and I recorded it in 2017. All these songs are about five years old, but I can proudly say they’ve aged well; the whole record. But, yeah, we met online and stayed in contact to get it done!
What is the intended meaning or significance behind the title?
It has a couple of meanings. In the simplest way, it’s how people refer to me – it’s shortened from “Guilty.” The album cover to go with Guilt is in reference to the state of our country. It’s so much going on and everyone is so separate, it weighs heavily on our people. Not to mention that the United States’ affairs effect the rest of the world. So, when we travel abroad we come into contact with many people. Many times, they wanna talk about the state of the US. I’m proud to be where I’m from, no question, but it’s a level of guilt associated with being from the US when things are so crazy! It’s a ripple effect!!
Who else appears on Guilt, and who supplies production?
Jason Rose, Bronze Nazareth, my guy, Oh No, and the legendary Prince Po, as well. It’s only seven songs, so it’s a short record, but well put-together.
What was the writing, recording, production, creation, etc. process behind Guilt like?
My process is my process. I vibe to the beat to get a feel for where I’m going and, then, I smoke it over and cut the music off. I write a large portion of what I do in silence, and then, I eventually, cut the beat back on and piece it together. My process has been mostly the same for the duration of my career—that’s how I do it. Since we all live in separate states, I just go to the studio and do what I do on my own.
I see that Guilt was executive produced by yourself and R.M.L. (Man Bites Dog Records). Are you still producing some of your own material, and do you have any plans to release your own beats?
I’m still in the embryo stages when it comes to making my own tracks. I understand it’s a process and I want to respectfully get into it, so I’m not just “pushing buttons,” if that makes sense. I still plan on developing the craft until I’m good enough to share my music with people. Until then, I’m just going to keep my head down and keep working. I’m not ready to share my music just yet.
Can you tell us a little bit about the striking black-and-white front and back album cover?
I think the black-and-white imagery is effective because even though we are in modern times, some of the beliefs our country is operating by is the old way. We are modern people following laws that weren’t even intended for my people. Black-and-white coloring symbolizes the “same old, same [old]” and how far we still have to go.
While creating Guilt, who or what would you readily cite as some of your greatest sources of inspiration and influence?
I was still fighting my way out of depression; this was 2017, so Sean Price’s death was still fresh. My song “Float On” touched on that subject a little. I was just trying to stay focused at the time, but I was struggling and still struggle. My influence and motivation was my family because that’s who I do it for.
What were some of your favorite moments from shooting the videos for “Go Where I Please,” “Linchpins,” and “Make It Count” from Guilt?
“Go Where I Please” was the only video that I physically stood in front of a camera and shot, so I would say my best memories were at the studio with my guy, Geno XO. My mans, DJ Butter, had Syruz Grizm (another talented Detroit artist) come shoot the video and made it happen. We were, actually, multi-tasking because I was in the studio doing features for some other music and they got it done. Always good times when I’m around my guys.
How do you think your overall sound and style has changed, evolved, grown, and progressed since your last proper solo album, 2015’s Detroit’s Son?
I just feel like I keep evolving as an emcee. Since rhyming isn’t based on physicality, I still feel like I’m on the incline musically. Not to mention, me trying to develop as a producer, if I develop that lane fast enough, maybe, I will still be good enough on the microphone to produce my own project.
Do you have any immediate plans to release proper follow-ups to Detroit’s Son, OJ Simpson, and/or The Leonard Simpson Duo’s LSD produced by Katalyst, Madlib, and Leonard Charles, respectively?
Yes, yes, and YES! I want to do follow-up projects with all three producers. I feel like they are all incredible in their own right. And even more than that, I consider all three friends, so we will always have a working relationship to bring new music to people.
I would be remiss if I ended this interview without asking you this again: Do you think we’re any closer to finally hearing the sessions for your scrapped album with J Dilla, The Verdict?
I will never say never, but so much time has passed that every day, I doubt it a little more. I sure hope so, though.
What do you have planned for release next?
I have more music on the way. I’m going to stay creative and release records whenever I feel like it. A lot of people my age grew up watching artists follow a totally different model releasing projects once every four years; but, now, music is disposable and we have to adjust with the times, at least me. I’m a creative person, so I create. I’m gonna drop music when I want!!
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Guilt is out now – stream it here. Follow Guilty Simpson on Twitter and Instagram.
Matt Horowitz has been a hip-hop fan ever since he first heard Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) back in the mid-90’s, which positively or negatively changed his life ever since, depending on who you ask. He single-handedly runs online music publication The Witzard, and has been fortunate enough to interview Eothen ‘Egon’ Alapatt, Guilty Simpson, Ice-T and Mr. X, Dan Ubick, Career Crooks’ Zilla Rocca & Small Professor, Cut Chemist, and J-Zone, amongst countless others. He enjoys writing about and listening to hip-hop, Punk/Hardcore, and Indie Rock on vinyl with his lovely wife, while drinking craft beer, red wine, or iced coffee. To paraphrase both Darko The Super and the Beastie Boys: “Already Dead fans, they want more of this… I’m a Witzard like my man Matt Horowitz!”. Follow Matt here.