Meet Q Smalls | Gullah Rapper & Gullah Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Q Smalls and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Q, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Well being Artistic and Creative is very vital in todays way of life. In Hip Hop Today whats being promoted more by Artist and major record labels is sex, money, drugs and killing. As a Gullah Native From Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the land on the “First Free Slaves in America” my elders were an are til this day the most creative people for our Aboriginal Gullah Culture and many natural ways of living. As I set out to peruse my dreams as a Rapper, adapting to my inner self an being who I was born to be a Young Gullah Rapper The Coast Boy King opened up my creative mentality.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My Art as a Musician is oriented around the Gullah Culture the “First Freed Slaves In America” in the Low Country of South Carolina on the Sea Islands. As a Native Islander From Hilton Head Island South Carolina the Young Gullah Rapper and Activist, what sets me apart from many rappers and activist today is that my music and messages focuses on Educating all youth and adults about the Gullah Culture through Music with Education, positivity and unity without using Profanity, so we can bridge the gaps within all walks of life. What makes me very excited is when Im able to have events with elders and youths where we all party and learn together without feeling as though your to young or to old to have a great time with one another. Getting where I am today took a lot of patience, self awareness and Family Love. Was it easy, not at all from researching my history to learning many other aboriginal family tales and asking my elders about unspoken stories took a lot of patients and felt like at time I was opening old wounds that never healed. I was able to overcome the uneasiness by putting it all in my music and creativity by learning about our Gullah Culture’s past, in the present, so we can have a brighter future. The major lesson Ive learned on my Journey as a Young Gullah Rapper and Activist is to fully love yourself, Love those who love you and learn as much as you can from the past in the present to live a brighter future. The world should know “Coastal Kings & Queens” of The Gullah Culture needs everyone to help preserve our culture.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Hilton Head Island (Da Gullah Gullah Island) were definitely going to take a ride to the beach soak up some sun an kick back and relax. The first meal I would have to take them to is my Cuzin Tracie’s Restaurant Called “Da Shack” for some Authentic Gullah Food. For drinks we would have to stop by the iconic Frosty Frog Cafe for some amazing daiquiris and also to Posiedon Coastal Cuisine for drinks, food, and live Entertainment from Yours Truly an the great Dj, DjOj. Hilton Head Island Is very prominent when its come to Food with more than 250 restaurants, theres well over 20 parks to enjoy the nature of the island, also for activities its endless to golfing, horse back riding, zip lining, lots of safe bike paths to enjoy the breeze. I would definitely introduce them to some Natives from the island who speak in there own Language which is Gullah combined with African and English dialect something like the creole language in New Orleans and lastly Theres over 20 Barrier Islands thats connected throughout the Gullah Geechee Corridor We will definitely have endless places to go in a week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would First have to Give Credit to my Gullah Geechee Culture and my ancestors before me for the many sacrifices they’ve indoor throughout building the Great United States of America. I also have to give recognition to my 3 Gullah Queens, Great Granny Rosalee, Grandmother Melvadine, and also Tiffany Bryan for teaching me that theres no such thing as a life thats better than yours. Lastly I have to give credit to my Villages were I was born and raised Hilton Head Island and St. Helena Island for our close net families and tremendous ways of Natural Living.

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Image Credits
ReedMySoul September Red