By: Michael G. Reel
Changing Our Narrative
Rapper and writer Devin “DEVEY2G” Bell grew up in Watts, the inner city neighborhood of Los Angeles. He has worked with artists that include Nipsey Hussle, Kurrupt, Kevin McCall, JayRock, and YG. During one of the few remaining days of Summer 2019 DEVEY2G chatted up his new music project THE RELAPSE exclusively with Reel Urban News.
Our on-camera interview and profile with DEVEY2G took place in his childhood stomping grounds, the Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in Watts.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard of the big homies, The Watts Prophets; they started rap. That’s a heavy influence. You’ve got JayRock coming up out of here. You’ve got so many others like FlipSide/OFTB and Low M.B. THE RELAPSE is my gumbo project. That’s what we go through and see over here plays a major part into what I’m putting in the music.”
Nickerson Gardens was, according to DEVEY2G, the family home. “Grandma thought she owned this thing. She didn’t want to go nowhere else. She was here since she came from New Orleans. I used to pull up on 112th and Compton Avenue, pull in the L.B. lot – Grandma was right there.
DEVEY2G described his grandmother in a way only a loving grandson can. “Grandma was my thug grandma.”
According to DEVEY2G, there was no way to avoid danger when he grew up in Watts. “You ain’t escaping this violence, you just learn to play in it. You learn little stuff along the way, but you really never know when your day might come.”
When you hear the project title, THE RELAPSE, you automatically think of something negative. For DEVEY2G, that’s not the case at all. “A lot of people may think its relapsing into drug paraphernalia – but it’s on me going back to what I used to be. Back to self – you know what I’m saying?”
Prior to the release of THE RELAPSE, DEVEY2G wrapped a sold-out Canadian tour with rapper FETTY WAP. “Every night was full of energy – it was a beautiful experience. As soon as you hit the stage they’re going crazy.”
In between rapping, recording and touring, DEVEY2G managed to write and publish his first book, “21 Thoughts,” available on AMAZON.com. “In my book I wrote the quote, ‘You got to go through it to get to it. If you don’t go through something, how will you get to something?’”
Like so many the world over, DEVEY2G was shocked by the murder of rapper and friend Nipsey Hustle. “He was big bro man. When I met him, it was through music, but he had already gone to school with my people, my cousin at Markham Jr. High, so by the time I met him he already knew me through the streets.“
Speaking with Michael Reel, Reel Urban News, DEVEY2G expressed his hope for urban global communities. “I hope for the best but prepare for the worst. That’s my hope.”
