By Billboard Wire Staff
In the world of hip-hop, authenticity is currency — and GB Gutta Da General is as real as it gets. Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, the rising lyricist embodies resilience, grit, and purpose. His voice represents a generation that learned to survive chaos and transform it into creativity. From 11th Street to Lincoln Terrace Projects, GB’s come-up is more than a story — it’s a testimony.
Billboard Wire: GB, take us back to where it all began. What first sparked your connection to music?
GB Gutta Da General: Music found me early. I was just a kid trying to figure out life, and it became my outlet before I even knew what that meant. I grew up between two places — 11th Street and Lincoln Terrace Projects, what we call LTP4L. My grandma’s house sat on Gandy Drive, right across from Burrell Memorial Hospital — the last Black hospital in Roanoke. My roots run deep in that neighborhood. I was born into the block, but music gave me something to hold onto.
Billboard Wire: The Gainesboro area has a lot of history and culture behind it. How did that environment shape you?
GB Gutta Da General: Gainesboro was special — it was our own version of Black Wall Street. There was pride in being from there. But by the time I was growing up, the crack era had already hit hard. You saw hustlers, addicts, flashy cars, and fast money every day. As a youngin’, I was just soaking it all up. Even though the streets were teaching one kind of lesson, the older heads still told us to move with loyalty and purpose. That stuck with me.
Billboard Wire: Family and loyalty seem to be core themes in your story. How did they influence your path?
GB Gutta Da General: Family was everything, even when things fell apart. Pops got locked up, and like most kids, I wanted to make him proud. My brothers and I had to grow up fast — we learned loyalty the hard way. In our world, betrayal wasn’t an option. That code still guides me today. My GB and LTP family are more than just people I came up with — they’re part of who I am.
Billboard Wire: You’ve said music never left you, even when life got rough. What made you fall in love with it in the first place?
GB Gutta Da General: I remember hearing “Jam On It” — that record hit different. It made me want to rap, to create, to speak. From there, I was battling in the neighborhood, beatboxing, performing anywhere I could. People started recognizing me for it. At first, I didn’t take it serious — I thought they were just showing love. But the more I wrote and performed, the more I realized this was my calling.
Eventually, we were opening for major acts, and I knew then — this wasn’t just a hobby. This was destiny.
Billboard Wire: What was your first big moment in the industry?
GB Gutta Da General: I got a chance to connect with Uptown/MCA Records in New York — this was back when Puff was still interning there. That was my first look at the real industry. Being in the studio, seeing the energy, the creativity — it changed me. The deal didn’t pan out, but it lit a fire that never went out. I came home more motivated than ever.
Billboard Wire: You went through some dark times after that. How did you push through?
GB Gutta Da General: I hit a low point. I doubted myself heavy. Then I linked with a crew called Broken Kings — real ones who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. We started throwing shows, sometimes getting booed, sometimes blowing the roof off. There was one night that turned into a riot from how wild the crowd got — not violent, just energy. That moment proved we had something special. People started paying attention.
Billboard Wire: What do you think your early life taught you about navigating the music industry?
GB Gutta Da General: That your circumstances don’t define your ceiling. I’ve been locked up, I’ve been broke, I’ve been counted out — but I never stopped pushing. Every loss, every mistake, it gave me something to say. I came from 11th Street and Lincoln Terrace, but my voice goes way beyond that now. That’s the message — your pain can build your purpose.
Billboard Wire: What’s next for GB Gutta Da General?
GB Gutta Da General: Legacy. I’m focused on showing the next generation they can flip their story. I’m still repping GB and LTP, but it’s bigger now — it’s about empowerment. If my music can motivate even one person to change their life, I’ve done my job.
Billboard Wire: Any final words for your supporters?
GB Gutta Da General: Yeah — appreciate every single person that believed in me from day one. This ain’t the end, it’s just another chapter. The General’s still leading the way.
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