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Big Gemini | History in the Making
Gemini / Photo courtesy of Edgar Hoill
Just call this man the mouth of the south, in more ways than one. A Texas native, Big Gemini is a double threat to the music industry. Combining skills of lyricism and singing, Gemini is truly, a two-sided talent. With extensive experience, proven pavement pounding and a record of making high-quality hip-hop and R&B tracks, Big Gemini is set to release his third album, the boldly and aptly titled History in the Making.
Born in Dallas, Texas Big Gemini was brought up in a proud, hard working Mexican-American family. The rapper/singer lived a relatively normal southern life as the second born son. Not particularly rich and not distressfully poor, Gemini’s family fell comfortably in to the working class category. “It was a cool upbringing. I’m not going to sit here and construct a fabricated story that I came from some bad environment,” Gemini offers. “My parents were good parents and they were able to get us out of the hood but like everyone else we still had hard times.” Gemini is very humble and honest about his legacy and that same truth comes across in his music. “I’m not going to bring glory to anything bad I may have done, that’s not my style but know I’ve experienced a lot throughout the years.” What is Gemini’s style is drawing on the myriad of real life tales he’s undergone and creatively incorporating them into the music.
Prior to recording his newest album History in the Making, Big Gemini released two CDs. His debut was titled 6:16 The Genesis (2001). “That was just me coming out as a young kid, angry and raw, very raw,” Gemini explains. “I kept it real and true to how I felt back then,” he adds. “When I listen to that album now, I know exactly where I was then.” Two years later, Gemini put out Product of Pain (2003), which featured the hit single “Crazy For You.” “I knew a little but more then, more about making hit records as opposed to just spitting,” says Gemini. “That’s why we did ‘Crazy For You.’” But it is his latest effort that shines the brightest. “This one, History in the Making, I know what it takes to make hits without sacrificing the music. Before there were a lot of influences on me, but on this album it’s 100% me,” Gemini boasts with pride.
The third time is the charm for this Gemini. With History in the Making, Gemini has finally come out about his dual abilities. “For the longest I tried to hide it,” Gemini says of his moonlighting as a singer while letting his rapping abilities stand in the spotlight. “I have always been writing raps and singing songs but I wasn’t ready to put it out there and release my whole arsenal.” So when he was told that he had to choose between the talents, Gemini never revealed that he could sing as well as he could rap. “I used to sing on some of the background tracks for my songs but I would tell people it was my partner for Austin, Texas,” Gemini laughs. But with this new album, Gemini is stepping out. “I write, rap, sing and do it all…” and he’s not afraid to show it.
Hooking up with his longtime producer Ace-1, Gemini recorded the single “Hypnotize,” a melodic, rhythmic, mid-tempo, hip-hop and R&B groove. “It was probably like around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning and I just got in and I said to Ace I want to make something,” Gemini recalls the recording session. “It was really something going on that night because like in 30-45 minutes it was done.” A party banger, “Hypnotize” is all about being mesmerized by that night club knock-out under that spinning globe.
Meanwhile, “Time to Stack a Million” is the official bravado boosting track. With its slight drudge pacing, the percussion banging track is perfect for the SUV booming system or the surround sound club system. “That’s what I’m on right now,” Gemini asserts. “I went through so much previously and now I’m here. This is what it is and that song is just on some hustle, go get it, mentality.”
And to further show his duality, Big Gemini has the song “The Light” on this album, which he recorded a few years back. One of his favorite songs, Gemini says it was inspired by a life changing experience he had of feeling the Holy Ghost at 17 or 18 years old. “I did this song before Kanye West did ‘Jesus Walks’ when people were still saying that you couldn’t talk about religion or spirituality.” As a previously released track, Gemini received tons of fan mail thanking him for helping others through tough times. With that in mind, Gemini is putting “The Light” on History in the Making so that more people will hear the meaningful song.
In conjunction with the Texas-based independent record label powerhouse, Upstairs Records, Big Gemini is set to release History in the Making. “This record is really all about strong family values and everyday life in the streets, the struggle of pain and the love of joy,” Gemini explains the dichotomy throughout the album. “My music is universal,” the rapper and singer proclaims, “I’m just trying to touch the masses.” And there’s no better way to do it than with History in the Making.
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