S1 E5 // Guest: Lil Silent (Hip Hop Artist / Founder of V.O.T.G)

Lil Silent is a rap artist from South Central who began rapping in the mid 90’s. In 1998 he was arrested & convicted of a case which landed him in prison for 17 years.

He is also the founder of the group V.O.T.G (Voice of The Ghetto).​ Check out all of V.O.T.Gs projects and links to their work on our website: 

www.TheInspirationofNow.com

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Transcript

Host: Timur Bootzin: 0:04

Welcome to the inspiration of now podcast. I'm your host Timur Bootzin and my goal is to inspire you through the different perspectives of each guest. Our guests will vary from musicians, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, athletes, artists, you name it. Each episode. I will be bringing on a new guest who I've been inspired by in one way or another. And want to share that inspiration with you. This season is proudly sponsored by Adam Audio, German precision engineered studio monitors for any studio size, shape, or budget. Thanks for joining us on this episode of the inspiration of now podcast. Today. I'd like to introduce our guests little silent, little silent. Welcome to the show.

Guest: Lil Silent: 0:47

What's going on Timur. Yeah, we're right here.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 0:49

So you're the leader of the rap group, V O T G, which stands for the voice of the ghetto. And your group is a rising rap group from the streets of South central LA. I love the messages VOTG puts out through their music and the story of VOTG. So once again, Thanks for joining us today.

Guest: Lil Silent: 1:06

Oh yeah, man. I appreciate it. And thank you so much for having me on, um, obviously I'm here. It's just me right now, but I represent everybody. You already know the group. We, we, you know, we have the same views and uh, you know, we've been through the same lifestyle and everything. So, you know, I don't speak for them, but whatever I say, trust me, they, they understand it and that, you know, we come from the same from the same struggle, so. Yup.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 1:31

Right. Well, thank you for being the representative of VOT. G tell us a little bit about growing up,

Guest: Lil Silent: 1:37

Up in the nineties and South central LA, what was that like a South central in the nineties? I mean, you know, I'm sure everyone has their own point of views and everything else, but the main thing was straight gangs, you know, gangs and, and obviously drugs, you know, uh, you know, so in the nineties was as far as for us in South central was a gang infested drug infested, whether you were either using them or selling them, that's what you see, you know, uh, graffiti. I mean, when you, when you grow up in that environment, you that's, that's all, you know, that saw you really care for, you know, especially if, if, if, you know, if your older brothers or in some cases, even people's parents are, were involved in that, you know, and that's all you see whether in your household or outside of your house. So as soon as you step out, that's all you see it's going to happen, where it's inevitable that you're gonna get involved yourself, you know, as you grow up it, you know, if, you know, as a kid, you know, when your brain is developing, it's pretty much what, what people put in front of you that you're gonna end up doing. So that the nineties was that, I mean, the nineties in South central molded, you know, the, the youth, you know, into bat and, you know, and it sucks to that, but it is the truth, you know, and, uh, it was all bad, you know, honestly, to tell you the truth,

Host: Timur Bootzin: 3:05

Right. It's just insane to think about how, you know, you grow up in an ad environment and you kind of almost, I'm not going to say forced, but it's almost, you know, inevitable that you'll fall in that lifestyle growing up in that neighborhood. I can't imagine growing up in a situation like that, where that's what you see every day. So, you know, considering that you grew up in that neighborhood and that environment, how did you even come across music? How did that, how did music tie into your life at the time?

Guest: Lil Silent: 3:36

Yeah, well, the, the crazy part is that, you know how I said, gangs and drugs go hand in hand, but also music does, because you can either, in them times you can either use music to feel fuel you to do bad, or maybe, you know, I mean, depends on, on what type of music you like. You know, some music is inspiring, but the music that we were listening to, it was inspiring, but inspiring us to do bad, you know, because we're, we like gangster, rap. Yeah. Growing up as a kid, I mean, gangster rap didn't exist. You know, I was just like funk this goal and Spanish that my parents used to listen to. But when the night, when the nineties came through all that was popular at the time at where at least for us was gangster rap, you know, we were listening to gangster rap. And I mean, it's, it's uncensored. So they're talking about, you know, violence since I was already seeing all this. And I was kind of influenced by my older brothers to me that, I mean, that that's the music that I was relating to, you know, and, and at the time it wasn't even a question what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a gang member, you know, like as sad as it sounds, you know, like that's, you know, but when you're a kid, you're not thinking of the consequences, how bad it's gonna get in the future. You're just thinking like, Oh, I want to roll around with what my brothers, I want to go out there and, and, you know, and, and hang out with them, you know, want to go with the, you know, I see them with girls, I see them, you know, drinking and smoking their little weed. And it's all good to me. It's, it seems like fun, you know, uh, not knowing the true consequences, you know, behind all that, but the music, you know, to me in my heart, you know, for some reason from even though the, the little attention I did pay in school, I did, uh, I love to rhyme and I love words and, you know, just creating stories, you know? And, uh, I guess that's where, you know, uh, where my connection came with music was like, you know what? I, if I can get an, a for my essay at school, I think I can get, I can write a verse for my homies and they're going to like it. So I wrote a song, I wrote a few verses and whatnot. When I felt comfortable enough, I presented it to my friends, to my homies on the street. And the reaction was from them at least was great. You know, they, it, yeah, they, they, they pumped me up to make some more, and then that's how I started. I just will go back home, make another one. And then another one and another one. And, and before, you know, it, that those cassettes I was recording just started kind of spreading out or catching words were word of mouth, and people would ask me, and let me have one of your tapes. I heard it from this person, this person. And that's how the root of, of, you know, my name as far as little silent rapping started spreading out. I see.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 6:27

Wow. That's super cool. And how old were you at the time?

Guest: Lil Silent: 6:29

So I'd say I was probably like 15 or 16. Wow.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 6:34

That's amazing that you start at, you know, 16 years old and you have the support of all your other friends who are giving you that encouragement to keep doing your music. And so, you know, you're getting known and things are really happening.

Guest: Lil Silent: 6:48

Yeah. So I'd say 97, a few months before the year 98, some local guys, you know, they had some money, they knew about me and they, they wanted to put money on me, you know, they're like, you know, we've been hearing you rap, we heard your tape on the street, and I think we can do something with you. And, uh, they took me to a real studio in Hollywood, you know? Well, yeah. They took me to a real studio, so awesome. You know, they were kind of hyping me up, sending me a, we can do something with what you're doing. And so, yeah, they paid for the studio time. They had me record about three or four songs, I believe. But, um, I was like, Hey, you know what? Cause I was so deep into the whole gang stuff that I even told them, like, you know, like if, if we, if we really want to do this, like speed it up because that's one, my leg, I'm too deep into this gang stuff. And I, I felt in my heart that I wasn't gonna last long on the streets because it was so crazy. It was a nineties, you know, it was too crazy. Like people weren't lasting very long, you know, people weren't making it past 21 and I was already, I was already 19. So I was like, Oh, you know, I felt like I had a short time to try to do something with my life. And, uh, it wasn't even, not a few months after I went to that studio that I ended up, um, catching, uh, some felony cases. So that was 1998. And, um, I didn't see the streets again till 2015. Yeah. About 17 years to be exact.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 8:18

Wow. Wow. Like 17 years is 17 years is almost like my lifetime I've been alive. So, you know, I can't imagine how you felt and how much, you know,

Guest: Lil Silent: 8:33

How much just the lost everything, you know, like I lost having my family around with me. I lost whatever I thought I had. I lost. So, you know, it was kind of hard in the beginning. I had writer's block. I wasn't writing anything. I said about 2002, even though I might've wrote a rhyme or two before that, or a verse or two, because of whatever was going on. I was, you know, it was a couple of my homies had died, you know, in, in those first beginning years when I got busted. So I would write a verse here and therefore for my friends that passed away and all that. But, um, about four years later when I ran into some guy in there in jail that, that, um, he brought up the fact that he had my cassette on the street recently to like, you know, so I'm in there for four years and some guy, a young way, younger guy than me, and he's telling me, Oh, I met him. And he's like, yeah, I know you, like you rap is like, I'll tell him. Yeah. He's like, Oh, I had your cassette. I was like, all right, cool, cool. You know, I'm thinking he's from, from, from my area, you know, from LA South central, which was my tape by that time was already popular in my area. So I thought, so I thought only there, but he's like, no, I'm from, um, uh, I don't, I don't remember if it was San Jose or Stockton, but they're in the same, the same area, uh, like central Cali up going up North. Yeah. So I'm like, Oh wow. Like I told, how how'd you get my cassette way over there? He's like, Hey man, like we've been bumping it. Like the homies been headed out here, we've been bumping in. So to me, um, I was amazed, you know what I'm like? Yeah. Like even though, yeah, even though it's only halfway up the state, but in my mind, I'm like, I never thought I, it

Host: Timur Bootzin: 10:12

To travel that far. It's crazy.

Guest: Lil Silent: 10:14

And it's a cassette and mind you internet wasn't around yet. You know, this was actually all cassette. That song physically drove all the way over there, you know? And then, uh, so, you know, to me, that was amazing. I was like, wow, that's cool. That's cool as hell, man. Like, I'm like, all right, cool. And that inspired me, honestly, that day I went back home and I mean, why over there we call it home. But I went back to my cell and then, uh, and I just started riding again and inspired me to start writing again. And I'm not gonna lie to you from that point on. I don't think I, I stopped, uh, writing, you know, that's the day I chose, even though I still had, this is 2002. So I got to 15 that's I still had what 13 years left, whatever it is. That's not a lot of time left, you know, but I was like, you know what? I have to, I cannot, you know, let my talent go to waste. So that was the turning point for me, where I decided whether I write a song here and there does it matter. I know in the next 13 years I'm going to have a whole bunch of them stacked up. And by the time I get out, I'll be ready for whatever the case may be. Right.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 11:21

Wow. Wow. That's, that's amazing. I love it. I love it.

Guest: Lil Silent: 11:26

But the whole thing about a, a group thing that, that, which I'm on now, the whole veal TG group, cause mind you, in 2002, my nephews were just little kids. I wasn't, they weren't even, I wasn't even thinking about them yet. I was just thinking about myself and what I can do with my own talent. But as, as the years went on my nephews, they grew their own talents, you know, their own musical talents. Some of them do beats. Some of them rap, you know, melodies, whatever, you know, that they just got into it. Just the way I did it for the love of music. And then come maybe about 2012 or 13, they started mentioning it to me that AI, we can do beats or I can rap. And that's where I started thinking about the next step, which was what we're on right now, you know, like, you know, bringing my family, which were my nephews telling me that they had musical talent and getting them involved in what I had planned, you know? And, and yeah, it turned out that, um, at some point I, I like, you know, I'm going to create a group and bring my nephews in and whatever other friends they might have had, that, that, that could help us out. And yeah, that's how I went about man, that right. And yup. And I started, I started plotting it from there. Wow.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 12:42

I love that. And that's truly inspiring cause you're using all the resources you have available to create this group. Yeah. So we're going to take a quick break and here's a message from this season sponsor

Guest: Lil Silent: 12:55

This season

Host: Timur Bootzin: 12:56

That was proudly sponsored by Adam audio. Adam audio was founded in 1999 in Berlin, Germany. Since then the company has been developing manufacturing and distributing loud speakers in the field of professional audio. You can find precision atom, audio monitors and world-class studios around the globe.[inaudible] when they got his life. My brother[inaudible] mom's heart skips a beat when I'm sat on the street on[inaudible], I'm the one in the sale, 19 years old dad, I can bet that they're not my nephews. One, a bang that just set us back[inaudible] the kids could continue. Welcome back we're with our guests, little silent, we just heard a little bit of South central state of mind, one of my favorite songs and also the song we made the music video too. It's really powerful to hear you talk about your life through this song and some of the struggles you personally had to overcome, but what I'm curious about little silent is what is a challenge or an obstacle you and Vott had to overcome as a group.

Guest: Lil Silent: 14:20

Yeah. Uh, yeah. One of the group members, uh, Lokes the P he kind of got caught up in, in some mess that, I mean,

Host: Timur Bootzin: 14:28

Quick little silent. Uh, just so the audience knows Lokes[inaudible] he got caught up with the law and had to go to jail. Yeah. So how did that affect you in the group members?

Guest: Lil Silent: 14:37

It did dampen the mood, you know, like we were doing good. We were, you know, like we're all on the same page. And then when that happened, we, it was just like, wow, like now what, you know, I like, not only did they take him, but they had took our, all our equipment, you know? And, uh, and yeah, they didn't just take your equipment. They took all your hard drives with all your music and your instrumentals and beats on that. Yeah. So, uh, we were just like, wow, what do we do next? Like, like, is this it? Like, but at that moment, I didn't think it was over, but I knew that we had to start again from scratch, you know, because I was like, we don't have no equipment. We don't have one of our stars from the group. And then it was just a whole roller coaster, emotional roller coaster, and all that about wa you know, whether we're gonna get to see him again or not, you know, because, uh, you know, the seriousness of the whole situation. And then, uh, it was just, uh, it was just, that just came out of nowhere. It was like a hurricane just blew your house away, you know? And then, um, but nah, man, I'm not gonna lie to you. We, we probably that, that, that next morning we kind of felt well, we're just kinda like down and out, but come the afternoon. We're like, you know what, man, fuck that, like pick your head up and let's get back to it. Like we have another computer over here and, and little trudge, you, you know how to do BS quick. So get a beat going and let's, uh, let's get back into it

Speaker 4: 16:05

Back on the ground with getting our shine. We spoken to pioneer.

Guest: Lil Silent: 16:26

And then, um, yeah, we, that same day we did a song. It was called[inaudible], which is like, like free logs, the polite, you know, let's get our boy out of jail. We've like, like I said, we, we just used it as a, um, we use that whole thing as inspiration kinda sorta man. Like we just were like, you know what, we're gonna, uh, fuck that. We're not gonna, we're not going to stop. This is not going to stop here. You know, if anything, we're going to do it in his memory. Right. He still wanted to be involved in the whole thing, you know, because we will talk to him, you know, pretty much on a daily basis when we could. And then a, um, so he was riding. I mean, you know, you got nothing but time in there, so you right. You, right. You know, especially you going through emotional stuff, emotional roller coaster, like I said, and then makes you want, it makes you think a little more, more deeper and thoroughly through your, your whole feelings and emotions. So yeah, he was riding and then, uh, you know, a little trust, you know, the, you know, he's self-taught, but he's pretty much like he's becoming an expert in what he does, which is a super talented producer. Yeah, yeah. A little trust. He's great producer music producer. Yeah. Yeah. So he he's, he sees her he's up on what he does. And um, yeah, we started a recording, looks the piano over the phone, connected them to the computer and try to do the best we could with the, you know, fixing the sound. Obviously it's not going to be the best cause it's through a phone, but I mean, it sounds good enough where people can understand what he's saying and can feel, you know, what he's talking about it. Right. And yeah. So we dropped a few songs where he's on it from, from, from the jail phone. Hello, this is a prepaid call

Speaker 5: 18:29

From central jail to accept this call, press zero.

Guest: Lil Silent: 19:04

The fact that you guys could even record Lokes to pee over the jail phoning, just keep pushing forward is truly inspirational. And yeah. So what I'm curious about, what was the motivation for you and the entire group that kept you all pushing forward and not letting this obstacle of Luke's to going away to jail, stop you all the motivation was pretty much that we were four years into it. All right. I believe. And why? I mean, we're, weren't going to let that go to waste, you know, because we always kept faith that he was going to come back. So he's here now. So he, you know, we proved his innocence and everything else, but you know, we wanted to keep it going, you know, like that, that was inspiration. Just the fact that we worked so hard to get to where we're at, right? Yeah. I think that mindset of not stopping, no matter the challenge is such a big part of your group success, just simply because of that mentality. I love it. You know, I want to play one of the songs from VO TG had to do bad from the album. The world is a ghetto

Speaker 5: 20:46

[inaudible]. Wow.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 20:48

I love that song just because of the message you put through it. It's just so powerful. And that's why I love your music and the music and the messages Vott puts out. So tell us a little more about what this song means to you and the verse had to do back.

Guest: Lil Silent: 21:03

Yeah, I think, I mean, even before hearing the whole song, just that quote alone, you know, like that quote alone speaks volumes had to do bad in order to do good. It's pretty much kind of like my life story, you know, before I got out of jail or, you know, like I was just doing bad, you know, like I had no, like I didn't see a future for myself. I didn't, even though I was already rapping and everything, I honestly didn't see a future for myself. Like I honestly, I felt that my, my desk, my destiny was die or, or, or go to jail for life. That's what I was prepared for, honestly, in my heart and my mind and my soul was ready for that, that ending. And then, uh, and I, and it did happen like that, but luckily I ended up getting a second chance. I, I went to jail for a long time, but I had a date, you know, to get out. I didn't have life. So I was just up to me to carry myself well enough in there to, to make it out, you know, because don't get me wrong just because you go to jail. Doesn't mean you're in a safe Haven, you know, like, no, it's still ugly in there. You can still catch a life term in there. You can still get killed in there. You know? So, you know, you have to have a good head on your shoulder, you have to carry yourself. Right. You got to make the right decisions and pray that, that you'll make it out. That, that, that plays, you know, and, uh, yeah, it's pretty deep,

Host: Timur Bootzin: 22:29

Right? Yeah. That's, that's very deep, very deep. And you know, so, you know, everything that you've been through and all the, you know, everything you experienced, it's now you're able to take that and turn them into super strong and meaningful messages through your music. Do you think your music can make a difference? And is that part of why you and VO TG create music to make a difference?

Guest: Lil Silent: 22:52

Yeah, I think we, we can make a difference. And I think we honestly, like I've spoke to people that, that they've told me that, that, I mean, they've been through some hard times and that they, they listen to our music to get through it, you know? And, uh, to me that's pretty much what you just said, you know, and that validates the fact that, that, that it does, you know, our music does touch people in, in certain aspects of whatever they're going through. Of course, you know, we don't talk about every aspect of, of, of life because we probably haven't been through everything, but we've been through enough to reach out to the people that, that, that been through what we've been through, you know? Right,

Host: Timur Bootzin: 23:35

Right. No, I love that your music has affected people and that it's making a difference in their lives. It's great seeing that different perspective and how your music can create new as well. So now we're present day 2020. It's been about five years since the groups started, but now we're faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. How are you guys adapting to that? Yeah, man, we, we,

Guest: Lil Silent: 23:57

I have been working through the pandemic as well. It didn't stop us because luckily for us, we do have a home studio and whether the governor says, Hey, stay home. Well, guess what? Then we'll just stay home and keep working, you know? Yeah.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 24:11

And again, as we're, we're hearing, you know, I love that you guys are creating opportunity through challenges. So even though there might be an obstacle in the way, you're finding the opportunity in that obstacle to keep creating content, which I love. And I think all our listeners can take away a lot of inspiration from the stories you've told us today. So thanks again, little sign for all that great inspiration. So the way I like to conclude each episode is I asked the guest to bring on an inspirational or motivational quote they've been inspired by and what it means to them. So little silent, what was the inspirational quote you prepared for us today?

Guest: Lil Silent: 24:47

Well, this quote, I said it on one of my reps, you know, so I read this quote like many, many years ago, cause this wrapper, I wrote her a long time ago, but I chopped it up and set it my own way. But, um, um, the actual quote is, um, if you do not make peace with your past, it will keep showing up in your present. You know? So, um, my song, I say, uh, uh, I made peace with my past to make my present better. Uh, meaning if, you know, as far as I'm speaking for myself, like, um, if, if I wouldn't allow my past, like to keep haunting me or to, or me blaming my past for any misfortunes or any, uh, anything that that's not working out for me, you know, at this time as an adult now, and then I, um, you know, how, how am I ever going to grow? You know, like how, how am I ever going to understand that, that, that life goes on. And, and, uh, so, um, and this is not just for me, it's for anybody, man. You have to make peace with your past. You know, as far as like me, I'm going to explain myself like, okay, I lost 17 years of my life, you know, uh, you know, and along the way, you know, like I lost a lot. I mean, I lost opportunities. I lost, you know, I, you know, I never, you know, I'm not married to this day. So obviously I lost that opportunity to, to live, you know, that, that type of life, you know, to have kids from, you know, years ago or whatever, who knows if I was on the street and I'm never went to jail, might've had, you know, kids now I met, I had a family that you never know what my life would have been. You know, if, if I didn't want it took him that turn. So, uh, and I used to stress about that in jail. I'm not gonna lie. I always think like, fuck, I wonder what, what, what my life would be, but you cannot, I mean, that's the, that's your past? That, that that's not, you shouldn't think about something that doesn't even exist, you know? Like I had to make peace with the fact that look, man, that, that's just, what if, what if, what if, nah, man, like what if nothing like I, I was loyal to the streets and the streets got me in jail and guess what? I paid the cost and it is what it is, you know? And I can not

Host: Timur Bootzin: 27:06

Cry over spilled milk. Yeah. That's a super powerful quote and you know, really resonated with me and, you know, thank you for sharing that quote, little silent. I'm so glad we were able to meet and work together. And with the whole group, you know, we've been able to work on projects, including music videos, and other various projects. And we're now working on a new upcoming project, which is a documentary about Veo TG, which I'm excited.

Guest: Lil Silent: 27:32

Oh yeah. I'm, I'm very excited. And honestly, like it was a blessing I had met you a couple of years ago. I mean, the stars were aligned, man, because at the end of the day, it's gonna, there's going to be big things, you know, in the future for all of us and hopefully everything works out. And then, uh, yeah, we had that video, a successful video and then, uh, this next project is even bigger. So hopefully everything goes well and we can get that out as soon as possible to the people that that are filling.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 28:04

Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, thanks again for being on this show and uh, I appreciate your time and we'll see you all on the next episode.

Guest: Lil Silent: 28:11

Thank you for having me Timur.

Host: Timur Bootzin: 28:14

I want to end this episode with the song"Go How We Go" from the album Lost Angels by V.O.T.G.

Guest: Lil Silent: 28:22

SONG playing

Host: Timur Bootzin: 29:01

I hope you took away a new perspective and motivation from our guests. I want to thank Adam audio for being the season sponsor, RU productions for creating our theme song and Michael P. Cox For mixing and mastering this episode. I also want to give a big shout out to the podcast"What Bubbles Up" for inspiring me to create this podcast. Big shout out to Barry and Phil. On Season two, we will be taking questions from our audience that our guests will answer. Go to our website, the inspiration of now.com to see how you can submit your questions. I look forward to our next episode and I'll catch you on the next.