Not a lot of people know that there are a number of great hip-hop artists in the Coachella Valley—including Garcia Giant (Mario Garcia). He recently performed at the McCallum Theatre as part of the East Valley Voices Out Loud show; you can check out his music at www.soundcloud.com/garciagiant. Garcia Giant recently took the time to answer The Lucky 13.
What was the first concert you attended?
Camila and Reik at the Music Box in Los Angeles.
What was the first album you owned?
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Alabama Shakes, The Impressions, and PRhyme.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
There are a couple of genres I can’t particularly connect with, but I can understand why people dig it. Scream-o type rock, for example, was never really my style, but I know some people who like letting out frustration and pain in that way. It’s whatever vibe they connect with.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Alabama Shakes.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Young Thug.
What’s your favorite music venue?
The McCallum Theatre.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“It seems like blessings, keep falling in my lap,” Chance the Rapper, “Blessings.”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Immortal Technique was the first artist I ever heard tell a story rhyming all the way through. He was the first to open my eyes to a whole new world of expression.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Jay Z: “What’s the biggest lesson learned in your music career?”
What song would you like played at your funeral?
I’d be sad if I went now, but probably one of Beethoven’s sonatas. The moonlight joint is a vibe.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Literally have been there before, ha! Greatest album for me: Nas’ Illmatic.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Blessings,” Chance the Rapper. (Scroll down to hear it.)