[ GMAN AND RIZK ] productions

Check our archive of GMAN & RIZK media press clippings

Vancouver Sun September 2008

SBC Business 2008

SBC Business September 2008

Versus Vancouver March 2008

Vancouver Sun March 2008

Infamous Oct.2007

Knowshow Mag Sept 2007

Faces In Fashion In Canada- Sept/2007

Peace - Aug/2007

Freshnessmag.com - May 2007

Beyondrobson.com - February 2006

Hype1.com - February 2006

Pluscratch.com - September 2004

Vancouver Sun - September 2004

The Province - January 2003

Clubzone.com - January 2003

Clubvibes.com - January 2003

+plu(s)kratch.com - January 2003

Westender - October 2003

The Province - October 2003

Concrete Powder Annual - August 2003

GMAN & Rizk feature in Ion Magazine

GMAN featured in the April 2003 issue of Peace! Magazine.

Gman & Rizk featured on VanCityHipHop.com - February 2003

Gman and Rizk own the game. You hear their names on the radio, and you see their logos all over the place. VanCity's hip-hop scene has blown up, and is still blowing up because of these individuals. Urban clothing, promotion, parties, events, concerts, you name it, they got it locked. These guys have been a part of about 60% of all urban shows in Vancouver in the last 12 years.

GMan (Garret Louie) started out as a DJ spinning parties back in the day. Rizk (Rob) was bBoying for a group called 'What the Hell' with dJ FlipOut and Swollen's MadChild. These two, starting in the early 90's, ended up accomplishing a shitload. Check out this resume:
...Nominated for 2001 and 2002 UMAC (Urban Music Awards Of Canada) for Best Urban Promoter
...2002 Nightlife Guide Best promoter
...2001 Spectrum Award Best Clubnight.
...6 years straight Grande Wednesdays @ Sonar
...4 years International Fridays at Wettbar (Atlantis)
...Started Shine Nightclub @ 364 water street.
...GMan runs a Canadian Distribution called Timebomb Trading Inc. for Canada which distributes lines such as Freshjive, Etnies, Es Footwear, Emerica, X-Large, NC Collective, Dragon Optical, and 32 Boots.
...The are the guys who hooked up the concerts. Artists like Method Man, Redman, Snoop, Dre, Eminem, Roots, Grandmaster Flash, Black Sheep, and Beatnuts to name a few.

They paid their dues. Y'all wanna know how? Here's a behind the scenes.

So how'd gMan and Rizk start out? Just dJing parties for the love of hip hop? What's the deal?
I (GMAN) went down to Cali for a tradeshow (related to the distribution biz I have) and Madchild came down and brought Rizk, which is where I first met him. The tradeshows down in Cali were clothing and streetwear tradeshows but they were a place where you could go to these crazy parties with all types of hip-hop vibes going on. When in Vancouver, Rizk would show up at my parties and I got to know him a bit. He then threw a couple of jams himself, which were kind of weak (sorry Rizk) but a good attempt. Because I have a crazy day job (the distribution company), I knew I would need help, as I was just offered a full club night at the Red Lounge (now a parking lot). Our partnership started with one of the most infamous hip-hop nights at the Red Lounge called El Famoso which ran on (and off) for about 4 -6 years.

So you been promoting for how long now? Did it take a lot of hard work, or did you just get big break?
I started promoting in 91 and Rizk started with me about in 1993. I would say that promoting is extremely hard work. One of the hardest things I have ever done for sure. I am seen a lot of promoters come and go over those years, and I do not know of anybody in Vancouver that has been doing it as long as us in any genre of music. Anyone can do a basic club night, but to have it packed full house 6 years in a row is tough. Also to be able to sell out 85% of the shows you do takes a grip of hard work.

Your passion for hip hop music, style, and culture has influenced VanCity's growing hip hop scene. What do you have to say for yourself? How the fuck did you do it?!
Well Rob is a b-boy at heart and he DJs, and I DJ as well so for sure we are passionate about what we do. When it comes to syle, its all about style for us when it comes to designing flyers and marketing events. We try to come off a little different and not your typical marketing for some of the jiggy stuff which can get pretty cheesy. Like I think in the 12 years we have done events we have never put an almost nude girl on a flyer, we try to stay clean and keep our graphics strong. As for us influencing the Vancouver culture…we are not trying to school anybody or change the wheel, but it is important for us to bring and educate people where we can in the hip-hop market. For example with Vancouver's first urban radio station hitting the market now a lot of people are just learning about urban music..to them Puff Daddy is old school. That's why we did something like the Battle Royale inside of a jiggy nightclub. Basically to give a lot of the new kids a taste of some of the elements of hip-hop and educate them on MC'ing, turntables, beat boxing, and b-boying. Just to let the people know we are into other types of music that hip-hop was influenced from. I'm into everything from Jazz, Latin, Funk, Reggae, R&B, soul, dancehall, down tempo, bit of house, punk, rock etc…Rizk likes most of the above as well as Brazilian jazz, afro soul.

Let's talk about the parties. As soon as a bunch of us turned 19, ready to hit the club, people told us that sonar is "good on Wednesdays." (It's still dope). No ads, no flyers no nothing. That's like the best fucking word-of-mouth passed around about a hip hop nightclub. What's the secret here?
Well you heard about it through word of mouth, but before you maybe somebody got hit with an e-mail, a flyer, poster, radio ad, or the 20 other ways we hit up people. The night has been strong for 6 years solidly packed. That can work against you sometimes as people always want to find something new. We just have had to re-invent ourselves every week.

What makes your style different from the other DJ/Promoters in Van?
Well every promoter has their crowd and steez and I'm not going to knock them. I guess with us I know we are bringing something to the table as far as quality, acts, DJs, out of town DJs and events…not just opening the doors and it's the same DJs week after week.

We're in our 20s and we already know shitloads of people who are growing in Vancouver's hip hop industry, males and females who wanna rap, make beats, make websites, make videos, start dance crews, dj parties, etc. What do you guys think of the scene now in 2003 compared to when you guys first started?
The scene now is way more ripe for people to start stuff up than it was when we started. Back then there was only one urban night a week, and now there can be up to three or more a night. Its definitely growing so its a lot easier to be seen and heard. Granted a lot more competition, so if you are doing something, you can't front and you must have skills.

Well, you think its gonna decline, or soon be Canada's number one hip-hop spot?
I don't think things will decline, but only get better. I don't know about being Canada's #1 spot. I think due to our population, it will be hard to be number 1 for hip-hop. Also our proximity to New York which is a hub for hip-hop. Vancouver is just different, a different vibe, a different culture mix etc… We don't have to be number 1, just be what we are.

Being in the industry so long, do you see any trends in VanCity's urban scene that's been changing, staying the same or whatnot? Kinda like ever since Swollen Members blew up, a lot of people been rockin gear like RDS and Circa.
Well I have to correct you on Swollen because they have not worn Circa for a year, they are on DC Shoes now. They also wear a lot of Freshjive and X-Large. Swollen is a little influence to some of their fans, but I think that skate fashion- especially in the west coast- is big and that's because we are so casual out here. RDS is also from Vancouver so you will see that a lot out here, not as much across Canada. I see Vancouver will do some things their own way, but on the whole (don't anybody be offended by this but its generalizing) Canadians follow what the American culture is, mixed with a bit of Europe. Canada is not know as a fashion icon in the world and usually follows trends and lines out of New York, LA, Japan, or Europe. I am in the fashion business so I know this. As far as a sound goes, I give much respect to Canadian artists shaping their own sound. Swollen is totally original and that's why they blew up. Kardinal, Rascalz have their own flav which is a bit of West Indies mixed with Canadian flavs. Loving the K-os sound as well. There's too many to name. But really you know how West Coast was hot (with NWA, Snoop, Dre), and the East has always been hot, then Down South, and Mid West etc…I think its time that Up North had its time, and artists that are original and not biting some other steez will have a better chance of making it.

True that. I think you travel lots. What do you guys think seperates Vancity's style from other cities?
Well, I think Vancouver has more Asians than other Canadian cites. Also Vancouver's underground hip-hop scene is more skater/snowboarder influenced. Other DJs and acts love coming to Vancouver because it is just good vibes, no attitude or too many "know it alls" in this city. If there's anything else you want the people to know, by all means hook it up.

Basically to end it off, I would like to thank all of our supporters and anybody that has ever come out to one of our nights before. We truly appreciate it!! [GMAN] Check us out at Grande every Wednesday at Sonar 66 Water St or Int'l Gold Fridays at Atlantis 1320 Richards st. Say you read this and I'll hook you up for g-list at gman88@shaw.ca