THA GIM: Ready For War It's a sunny day today in Fresno, Cali. And a new direction for one of Fresno's pioneer emcess. "THA GIM", formally known as "QUIKSAND" is on the bridge of releasing his first full length album as THA GIM entitled "Art Of War". So who is THA GIM? First let's go back in time starting in 90' where you would find Quiksand shredding a high school yard cipher at lunch. And later ripping freestyle sessions at the local college radio station on a then "Miracle Man's" hip hop show. He was like the hip-hop, thuggish- lyricist appearing on his crew " Kingpins Only" debut album with fellow crew member Killa Tay and others on a cut called "Ain't Given A F***". Quiksand later went on to being one of the first hip hop artists out of Fresno, Cali. to press and release an album (it was a six song EP) independently. He called it "Tha Session". Quiksand later went on to record many songs, living in L.A., to Sac, to Oakland and back, opening up for various hip-hop acts. In his home town he became a pioneer in hip-hop with a known name and industry buzz. But God had different plans for this young man off track in his spiritual walk. At this point in his personal life Quik had done everything from selling drugs to scamming and stealling what ever had to be stolen, to in his mind, survive day to day. His rap life wasn't paying off yet like he needed it to be. It was a couple of months before the new millinium was to hit. While the world spoke of the end, Quiksand indeed did come to his end and his begining. His 360. His revolution. And his morph began. After being in a cocoon that involved alot of reading, church, fasting, sacrificing bad habbits, studying and praying. What some would call a phenomonal, supernaturally charged emcee manifested into this earth realm. Releasing an off the radar EP entitled "Spoken Word" on his own Threatt Muzik imprint, THA GIM (the God in me) was heard. A year and some later it's time to drop the full length album debut, "Art Of War". Leading off with the single "Rize Up!", a lyrical/ spiritual cyclone with a Dr. Dre like production by Tha Madd Scientist out of Long Beach, CA. I was blessed with an ear full of the project. Although this isn't the review column I'm gonna let it be known to get ready, cause you ain't ready for what's about to hit you! If "gospel hip hop" has ever been put into a box, this guy just exploded it. No matter who you are or what you do, no matter what you believe or where you live. If you like or love hip hop music and have at least a teency-weency drop of faith, you'll feel this dude! The beats, top notch. The lyrics, top notch. The album, revolutionary. "THA GIM represents the spirit of hip hop, a God inspired art form birthed to bring about change", he says. Though it's sometimes hard to realize that in todays hip hop society. THA GIM elaborates on this issue on a song called "Souljah" where he states: "I shoot at ya' dome through chrome microphones/ Rap is like attack of the clones/ I'm like a saxaphone/ Soundtrack to my life/ motion picture, no script just deep scriptures/ My thoughts leek like ink....". Sitting and talking with this cat you wonder, is this dude real? Because although you would think he'd be all churchy the way he reps God and his savior, you realize he's one of the coolest, down to earth cats you ever met. In a real way. "I'm from the streets. And I've been an underground emcee in the music industry since 95'. I've been laced with game from all angles of life". This Fresno vet is focused. And he see's his position. " I feel like there is a position that nobody but me and my music can occupy in hip hop period! God is awesome. I'm just blessed to be an instrument", the modest yet confident emcee states while skipping through the finished version of his, "mighty seed", as he calls his album. He actually recorded the whole thing in Fresno at Pryimid Studios, where other acts such as E-40, Killa Tay, Planet Asia and Master P have done work. "My life is a trip man. Coming from where I've been and to straight 360. It's just crazy that my music is more powerful than ever. Doing what I'm doing and being real with it and it comming out high powered just shows me that I'm walking into what was already written and pre- destined for my life and career". This Gods son is "never scared" and ready for warfare. As he rymes on a cut playing: "I bring the word to the streets like promotional flyers/ my motion is quiet/ devotions I speek to the highest...." you get a feeling like something not of this world is spittin' out of this human beings heart and mouth. -words by, Jay T.