LISTEN: Oakland Hip Hop Artist Genra Lets It Flow On “Joe Pesc”

Oakland based hip hop artist Genra hits us directly in the chest with a smooth and outstanding new single ‘Joe Pesc.’ Displaying highly impressive flow, a keen sense of rhythm and lyrical design, and buttery vocal tone, Genra effortlessly navigates a righteous and in the word pocket, rhythmic wordplay mirroring greats Mac Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, and Missy Elliot. Glide is thrilled to share this new single from this must-hear talent.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the creative process of great artists whether in music, film or advertising. How does a person anticipate when their creative lightning will strike? Do they just climb their way out of creative droughts? Is it ok to lean on the creativity of others until we find our own? To help me understand my own process I’ve been reading a book by Questlove called “Creative Quest.” It has helped me to think differently about how to be creative at different stages of my life,” says Genra.

Genra · Joe Pesc

Genra · CRAZY | Produced by Jan Branick

Born and raised in North Oakland, John Gilchrist aka Genra has been around music for as long as he can remember. Coming up, his father would always play artists like Stevie Wonder & BeBe & CeCe Winans in the house.

By middle school, he began recording his own music on cassette tapes. During his sophomore year of high school, Genra started perfecting his craft. A friend gifted him a tape of ‘jazzy boom bap instrumentals’ and they became the music he started writing and shaping his style to. Growing up in Oakland people would listen to Genra rap and sing and would often tell him, “you have your own style, your own genre.” From there, the artist name Genra took root.

“I grew up on Bay Area music. I lived through the hyphy movement but I still loved Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief. That was the music I practiced. When I graduated high school I started modeling for Ford Models full time on a three year contract. I was in GQ, Nike, Levi’s etc. I met with a good amount of record labels who liked my look and writing but were unsure about the lane I was in. I kept making the music I love and it’s starting to pay off.”