From the ghetto to the dispensary with the new GZ

When we learned that De La Ghetto had not only released a new album, but was also bringing cannabis products with him, we knew exactly what to do: WE HAD TO INTERVIEW HIM. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to one of the most iconic voices in reggaeton, so without a second thought, MR. SENS grabbed his suitcase, boarded a plane, and landed in Orlando.

There, amidst creative vibes and the warmth of the studio, they opened the doors of the great GZ's musical headquarters to us, and what began as an interview ended up being an intimate and revealing conversation about music, cannabis, and what's coming with this new project that promises to break the mold.

SC: Thank you for having us in your studio

GZ: Welcome, this space is where everything happens, we record, we create, it's like my man cave.

SC: We heard you were coming with a new album, a new musical direction, and we had to reach out to talk to you about it. Tell us about this new project: Daylight

GZ: Daylight is out now, it's a 7-song EP. In my 20 years in the music industry, this is the first time I've released such a short production, with so few songs.

I come from an era where albums had 10 or 15 songs. But I know we're in an era where things move so fast that I think sometimes people don't have time to listen to an 18-song album. So, as we said, we're going to release a 7-song EP. And that puts pressure on me to not disappoint.

Because sometimes when you make bigger albums, there are two or three filler songs, the kind you just throw in there to fill space. I think this is one of the most refreshing productions I've done in the last four years. Daylight is a very summery, very Caribbean, very Latin concept.

SC: This proposal comes with a creative image that I find super interesting; it's like an island with several worlds within it. Tell me about it. Do you feel it represents you? Do you see yourself in it?

GZ: Yes, the design is an island that forms my initials, GZ. The intention is that when you listen to the EP, you're transported to the island, and each song represents different areas of the island. There's La Perla, the party scene, etc. And yes, it represents me. It's a concept we've been working on since last year, around October. And we already have the second EP coming out soon, called "Moonlight," which is like a continuation of "Daylight."

God willing, it will be released by the end of July, and the idea is for it to be a continuation of Daylight. Ultimately, it's like an album, but released in two parts. Two EPs that, when combined, form an album; they have their own continuity.

SC: What inspires you to create your music?

GZ: I draw inspiration from the different parts of the world I've visited, the food, the culture, different Zazas. It depends a lot on the muse, how I wake up, what's happening that day, what's going on around me at that moment. It's something that comes spontaneously; you might be taking a bath or looking for something. I like to cook at home, and sometimes that's when inspiration strikes.

SC: What's a day like with GZ?

GZ: I get up, get ready, make breakfast, and treat myself. Meanwhile, I like to listen to my music; I like reggae, dancehall, and when I'm in my own space, I listen to my own music. Sometimes I go back to the old school, Hector el Father, Yaviah, the classics. And I like that creative side because it's me, you know.

Before music, I worked in the kitchen. So, when I'm cooking, ideas just come to me. And it's always been like that.

It's been 20 years in my career, 20-plus years of using, and thank God I've never had any problems with it in my daily life or work; it hasn't affected me. On the contrary, it's helped me a lot. Also, there are times when I like to quit and do a detox for two or three weeks, and then I go back.

SC: Tell us about your relationship with cannabis and why you're doing the detox?

GZ: Some people do it to get inspired, to relax, to calm down. But you also do it with your friends, and there are times when you spend all day doing it, and night comes, and you haven't accomplished much. And the reality is that in my genre, that dynamic is very common, and when I feel like I've "got a little beat over," I like to cleanse. Add to that the fact that I travel a lot, so sometimes I don't eat well, I don't rest well. So, to take care of myself, I like to do that detox every now and then. You have to consume consciously, like you said.

I consume what I need for my day, sometimes a little before going on stage, sometimes not, but always after the show is over and I get off the stage. That's when I do!

To tell you more, I even did it with my mom, and as a mother, at first it was a little difficult because she was afraid I might get hurt. But she built that trust with me to avoid that very thing. And she would tell me, "If you want to do it, you tell me and you do it with me."

You have no idea the experiences and memories I have with my mom, when we did things together and shared them; we cooked, she told me about the music of New York. We created a really beautiful bond. And believe it or not, that's when we started to experience those mother-son moments. That's when our relationship grew even stronger.

SC: Tell us about your first time.

GZ: Long story short, it was in Tennessee. I went to see my brother and stayed with him for a year. One day I went to some friends' house, and I'd already tried it by that point, but I'd never been high, and it was a crazy thing because I saw everything, like, WOW. Everything was under control. It wasn't that I felt out of control, but I felt different.

I remember calling my brother because he was going to pick me up. He was studying at university at the time, and he's a bit stricter. I was scared because I thought if he saw me like that, he'd say something. So I told him I was going to stay with my friends and to come get me the next day. And it was incredible. I saw the world as brighter, and music felt different. I felt like a creative side of me had awakened, a side that was dying to get out. And from that moment on, I said, "I see the world differently."

The truth is, I grew up with my grandmother and her sisters in a very Catholic household. So cannabis was bad, it was the worst thing ever, just like crack and heroin, that's how I saw it. But you grow up and you learn. For example, I didn't like Bob Marley's music because I didn't understand it.

And when I started listening to everything, everything changed; I began to understand his music. I remember that it was like an even bigger awakening for me in music. For example, I was a salsa fan, but then I became even more of a salsa fan because I understood the music better. And I won't deny that it also helped me get away from the problems I was going through at the time and evaluate the path I wanted to take. So, personally, it also helped me a lot in my life.

SC: Speaking of cannabis, we know you're venturing into the industry with some products. Tell us about them.

GZ: That's right, we're releasing two products in this first drop. We have the GZ Blueberry PÂTÉ with 100mg of THC.

And we have GZ MILK CHOCOLATE, "GODIVA's competition" hahaha. Also available in 100mg THC.

I wanted to bring a quality chocolate product. Because I've tried many chocolate products and they taste very grassy, so I wanted to bring something that tasted more like chocolate, that gave you a different experience, more milky, creamy. I didn't want it to be something like, "Okay, I'll eat it to get the effect, but it tastes bad."

But I'm telling you, you have to be careful with these. They're 100mg of THC and they taste really good. I tell people because they taste so good they wrap themselves up and eat the whole pack in one go.

SC: Why did you decide to start with edibles?

GZ: I always wanted to be in this industry. When I started in the genre and began traveling to Los Angeles, California, where it was already legal, and I started seeing the stores and dispensaries, I was like, "WOW, what is this?" because in Puerto Rico, things weren't like they are now. And after 15 years, look how things have changed. I didn't think Puerto Rico would adapt to this, and look, here we are.

And what's more, they're bringing in quality products. I'm not just talking about mine, but there are quality products out there. But mine are something else entirely, hahaha. And my recommendation: if you put a little bit of the pâté together with a little bit of the chocolate... WOW!

They were manufactured by Dulce Vida. And I won't deny that other people approached me before them, but when I saw the quality of Dulce Vida's work and product, I knew they were the ones I wanted.

SC: Do you have more plans within the industry?

GZ: Yes, we want to develop other products like vapes, THC and CBD gummies, and others focused on patients with specific conditions, tinctures, etc. Next steps: GZ flowers. But let's take it one step at a time.

SC: One of the important things in an artist's career is the social work they do, and we know that you have a project underway that must be very special to you because it's where you came from, La Perla. Tell me about it.

GZ: GZ LIFE is a foundation through which we are helping to revitalize various sectors in Puerto Rico, supporting young people in music, sports, and education. We've already started in La Perla by remodeling the court so we can host basketball, volleyball, and other tournaments.

And not just for La Perla, but for San Juan in general. So we'll be opening soon, so I invite you to stay tuned to our social media to find out. We're going to do something really cool, NBA-style, but with a hood vibe.

SC: Thank you once again for having us. And I'd like to tell you that our motto is "we make sense," so we'd like you to tell us something that resonates with you.

GZ: For me, what makes sense is "Be you, do your own thing"

Do what makes sense to you.

Mr. Sens

Editor in Chief

@mrsenskin