Gelo became an overnight rap sensation when “Tweaker” dropped, and today, he exclusively reveals to Billboard the star feature on the “Tweaker” Remix. He shares how his hit came to life, why he chose to sign with Def Jam, debuting on the Hot 100, album plans and more!
Category
🎵
MusicTranscript
00:00We got a f***ing getting on there.
00:03Legend.
00:04That's like hooping with Jordan.
00:05They just had the best deal.
00:06Like, Def Jam was the most excited.
00:08Like, they had the best deal for real.
00:11They weren't just talking.
00:12Oh!
00:14Damn.
00:16That's a great question, bro.
00:18Damn.
00:19That's a stump.
00:21NBA gonna hit me up, like, but you can't say this.
00:30So, we gotta talk about Tweeker.
00:32Yeah.
00:38Going crazy out here.
00:40I guess, walk me through how this came together.
00:42Like, you know, what was the, when you started writing for it and then recording it?
00:46Like, paint that whole picture for us.
00:48Well, I had to, like, I always get, like, a little itch to write.
00:52Like, if I feel like that, I'm gonna go make some songs.
00:54I wrote it in the garage, but I was feeling, like, a certain way, and then I just got to
00:59thinking and writing and shit.
01:02That's what I came up with, though.
01:03But at the end of that, like, I knew that shit was gonna be great.
01:07Like, I was like, wow.
01:09So, you're like, this is a hit right here.
01:10I played it all the way home.
01:11I'm like, yeah, this for her.
01:13Like, this gonna be it.
01:15So, were you sending it out?
01:16Like, would it be, does LaVar get to hear it?
01:18Does LaMelo hear it?
01:19Does Lonzo hear it?
01:20I sent it to Melo, Zo, like, two of my friends.
01:24Like, nothing, it's gonna be spreading like that.
01:26Gotcha.
01:27And they all thought it was out of here, too?
01:28I do that with all my music, though.
01:29Like, I got other songs that I like more than Tweeker, but it's coming.
01:34And how long, I guess, before we heard it, did you write the record and record it?
01:39I wrote that, like, three weeks ago.
01:42Oh, wow.
01:43So, this is all fresh.
01:44That was one of my fresh songs, yeah.
01:45Gotcha.
01:46Gotcha.
01:47I got, like, a pack of four.
01:48I made four songs that day.
01:49Right.
01:50I think they all gonna do some damn.
01:52Where'd you find the beat?
01:53My boy found it for me.
01:54He live back home, like, by Chino Hills.
01:57His name's Pat, but he search up all the beats and stuff, and he'll link up with the producers,
02:03and then he'll send them my way and stuff.
02:05Oh, okay.
02:06So, he just finds them for me.
02:07That's what I do.
02:08So, that kind of just, like, jumped out to you, that one specifically?
02:10Yeah, they sent me, like, a pack, and then I'll listen to, like, ten beats or so.
02:13I'll pick, like, three great ones.
02:16Obviously, everyone says it has, like, this 2000s feel to it.
02:19Did you feel that, too?
02:20And, like, were you kind of on that type of vibe?
02:22Were you listening to that kind of music at that point, you know?
02:24Like, the 2000s didn't really cross my mind at all.
02:27Like, I was just in the garage going, hey, this shit hard.
02:30Like, I'll start.
02:31And how I make music, I'll do a little melody in my head.
02:33Gotcha.
02:34At first, like, I'll try to freestyle some shit, and then when I get comfortable, and
02:38I'll start jotting it down, like, when the verse come, like, oh, yeah.
02:41So, that's how, like, the chorus came together?
02:42Yeah, all the hooks and stuff.
02:44I always hum something in my head a little bit.
02:46Word.
02:47When did you find that, like, you noticed that it started to pick up real steam, like,
02:51on social media?
02:52And, like, was there any, like, big moment where you're like, oh, wait, wait, we actually
02:55have something going crazy out here.
02:57We got a legit hit.
02:59Really, after the day that I went on Neon's stream.
03:02That's where I was going to get to.
03:03I was like, damn, my shit was blowing up.
03:05My phone was going crazy, for real.
03:07And Neon hit me.
03:09He like, bro, your song going crazy.
03:11I'm like, all right, gang.
03:12I'm going to tap in with him down the line, for sure.
03:14Right.
03:15He cool.
03:16He cool, bro.
03:17That's crazy.
03:18You went on his stream before.
03:19That was random.
03:21I was like, all right.
03:22I'll pull up on you, like, Maitreyi.
03:23Gotcha.
03:24I was trying to do a stream, for real.
03:25Right.
03:26Think about it.
03:27Isn't that crazy now that, like, the streamers, the new gatekeepers, in a way, where, like,
03:30the new 106.5 radio stations.
03:31A lot of people put their music on there now.
03:33Right.
03:34They stream.
03:35And you get that immediate reaction to everything, because it's live.
03:37It's linked to everything now.
03:38Really.
03:39All the kids watch that stuff.
03:40Right.
03:41That's the new cable TV, in a way, for the kids growing up.
03:43You know what I love?
03:44That it took me back, that you intentionally, I'm assuming it's intentionally, premiered
03:48it on WorldStarHipHop.
03:49Like that.
03:50Oh, yeah.
03:51That was intentional.
03:52That's so, like, 2010, 2012 for me.
03:53That's just what I grew up watching.
03:54Yeah.
03:55And I'm like, damn.
03:56So I was like, you know what?
03:57Let me drop my shit on WorldStar real quick to see what happened.
03:58I just let them rock with it.
03:59Yeah.
04:00That's awesome.
04:01So that was your idea, as well?
04:02Yeah.
04:03I hit them directly.
04:04Like, hey, bro, pick this up.
04:05Gotcha.
04:06Let me do some damage real quick.
04:07What was LaVar's first reaction to hearing Tweaker?
04:10He asked me.
04:11He was like, how'd you come up with that shit, man?
04:15I guess all them times they called home and said you was rapping in class.
04:18He was like, I guess that shit paid off.
04:20I was like, I don't know.
04:21Right.
04:22We saw the video of him, like, cruising with the bucket on.
04:24Yeah.
04:25Bumping it.
04:26Yeah, he like, he happy.
04:27Let's talk about the Tweaker remix on the way.
04:30I guess, what can you tell us?
04:32What do we got?
04:33Who we got coming on there?
04:34We got Lil Wayne getting on there.
04:36Oh, man.
04:37Legend.
04:38The legend.
04:39Yeah.
04:40The GOAT, bro.
04:41The icon.
04:42New Orleans king.
04:43That made sense.
04:44That's like hooping with Jordan, bro.
04:45For real?
04:46I don't care.
04:47So, how was, I guess, connecting with him and, you know, reaching out to him?
04:50And what was his reception to the record?
04:52I didn't connect with him until he sent, like, someone show me, my managers and them
04:57show me his song.
04:58And then I was like, damn, I hit him up on the ground.
05:01I'm like, bro, your verse hard as hell.
05:03Like, that's what we was missing on our shit.
05:05But he was like, he was cool.
05:07He was like, yeah, brother, I hope you mess with the verse and all that.
05:10He was cool.
05:11That's awesome.
05:12But that verse is tough.
05:14Watch out for that.
05:15Yeah.
05:16That's one of the heroes right there.
05:17He back on that dedication type of song.
05:18Oh.
05:19That's what was flowing on him.
05:20You'll see.
05:21We love that.
05:22Looking forward to that.
05:23It was dope to see it, like, cut through with, like, you know, became a locker room anthem.
05:26We saw, like, the Cavs.
05:27We saw Dame shout it out.
05:28The Detroit Lions.
05:37And stuff like that.
05:38How cool was that, seeing, you know, just everyone show love in that way?
05:41I love that, like, my music spread to, like, the sports world.
05:44Because that's what I really grew up in.
05:46So, like, that's, um, I feel like that's my people.
05:48Like, whoever played the song.
05:49So, I'm like, it is hard.
05:51I feel like I'm putting on for the sports world.
05:54Uh-huh.
05:55Do you have, like, any favorite videos or memes that you saw that came out?
05:58Because there was, like, some really funny stuff on there that I thought.
06:01I reposted one of them on one page.
06:03One of the Ant-1.
06:04Oh, yeah.
06:05He was doing, like, Ant-1 little mixtape to it.
06:07He was, like, how the Jell-O got me feeling.
06:09And then, um, for, like, on a bigger scale, the Cavs.
06:13Yeah.
06:14When Dave Garland played my shit, I was like, yeah, that's hard.
06:16Because I see, bro, work out and stuff.
06:18Hard.
06:19He cool, dude.
06:20And then, um, the Detroit Lions, of course.
06:22Yeah.
06:23Put that Jell-O on.
06:24Yeah, put that Jell-O on in the locker room.
06:26Everybody be commenting that now.
06:27Yeah, put that Jell-O on.
06:28That's funny.
06:29I love, like, the LimeWire burn CD that said, like, LeAngelo Ball on it.
06:33I'm like, that.
06:34Me and my brother used to be on that.
06:35No, for real.
06:36LimeWire and FrostWire, bro.
06:37We was putting together some tapes, for real.
06:39Yeah.
06:40I don't know if we can say that.
06:41We all were.
06:43So it debuted at 29 on the Hot 100.
06:46I guess, what was your initial reaction to seeing you add a Top 40 hit out here?
06:50You know, your first day out, first swing at it.
06:53That's hard.
06:54I'm like, I'm proud that I put that out.
06:56But I feel like, personally, I got it.
06:58I feel like I can get on there a lot.
07:00I got some music, bro.
07:01Like, I listen to my own music.
07:04I send it to my homies and shit.
07:06People I send it to, they be like, bro, this is all I be listening to, for real.
07:10So I'm like, I don't know.
07:11I feel good about it.
07:12For sure.
07:13I'm just ready to see what happens.
07:14You got plans to do an album this year?
07:16Or, like, a full-body project now?
07:18Yeah, for sure.
07:19Yeah, yeah.
07:20Be expecting the album.
07:21So, for real, I got some songs to put together for y'all.
07:24Gotcha.
07:25So, like, how much percent of that do you feel like you have done?
07:27Like, is that a lot already in the stash or you're looking ahead?
07:30Me, personally, I feel like I'm done.
07:32Like, I gotta make three more songs.
07:34I'm just making songs for fun right now.
07:36Oh, okay.
07:37But I could put some, like, an album.
07:39It's not for fun.
07:40It's very official.
07:41Yeah.
07:42But, like, it's something that comes up that you do?
07:43Like, I'm done.
07:44I could put an album together right now.
07:45Right now.
07:46But I still want to, like, touch up some things and stuff.
07:49Put some new songs.
07:50Get some features going.
07:51Mm-hmm.
07:52Do you know what you want to call it?
07:54We've been chatting up.
07:55I don't know.
07:56I'm going to say that.
07:57I'm going to say that for right now.
07:58I don't know.
07:59It's a couple options, though.
08:01Do you feel any pressure to follow up Tweaker with another hit?
08:04No.
08:05Because you set the bar pretty high, Jello.
08:06Yeah, no.
08:07I like some of my songs better than Tweaker, like I said.
08:09Okay.
08:10I don't think so.
08:11I think y'all are going to like them more, too.
08:13He's confident.
08:14He's confident.
08:15I don't know.
08:16I don't know.
08:17Do you have, like, a dream collaboration?
08:18I guess outside of me.
08:19I would like to do, like, a tape with Youngboy, for real.
08:21There we go.
08:22Probably, like, a little collab tape.
08:23Okay.
08:24That could work.
08:25Ten songs or some shit.
08:26Yeah, that would be dope.
08:27I'm talking top tape, for sure.
08:28Top.
08:30How quick was the label process when you went to take meetings, and why did you end up choosing
08:35Def Jam?
08:36Well, my guys, Tony and D-Mo, helped me out with that.
08:39Like, we went to – they set up some meetings with all the labels, the main ones.
08:43And we just took them and had to fill everybody out, you know, like how that go.
08:48And then, I don't know, man.
08:50They just had the best deal.
08:51Like, Def Jam was the most exciting.
08:53Like, they had the best deal, for real.
08:56They weren't just talking.
08:58And they were ready to, like, cooperate with us.
09:00Like, we was telling them what we expect, like, what we need, what we want.
09:04And they was like, yeah, like, that's the move.
09:06Giving us feedback and shit that we was rocking with.
09:08Like, we can elevate this.
09:09Yeah.
09:10And, like, we put it together nice.
09:12That's love right there.
09:13For sure.
09:14You performed at the Detroit Lions game.
09:16I guess, talk to me about that experience.
09:23That was crazy.
09:24I had 70,000 right there.
09:27First performance.
09:28I just wanted to see what it was about, for real.
09:30Like, going to NFL Stadium.
09:32It was great.
09:33It was a great experience for us.
09:34Yeah, that was really cool.
09:35It was different, though, for me.
09:36Like, if I could touch some shit up.
09:38Like, I give myself a 7 out of 10.
09:407 out of 10?
09:41Okay.
09:42Yeah, but fans be like, bro, that's 10 out of 10.
09:44They loved it, right?
09:45I'm like, yeah.
09:46So, that's love.
09:47I'm glad y'all love it.
09:48Right.
09:49But I know I could do better.
09:50But that's a good start.
09:51Yeah, great start, I feel like.
09:52Jayden Daniels.
09:53Shout out to the Lions for bringing me out.
09:54The Lions, yeah, of course.
09:56KD reposted it.
09:57I saw, like, put up the Kevin Durant.
09:59And then Jayden Daniels showed love.
10:00Like, I guess, what's that like?
10:02San Bernardino.
10:03Yeah.
10:04I don't know.
10:05I just like to see, like, especially because Jayden Daniels from, like, my area down there.
10:09So, it's like, I just like seeing my people do good, for real.
10:13Yeah.
10:14He killed it.
10:15That's what I'm saying.
10:16Like, I would expect him to get a ring one day, type.
10:18Best rookie I've ever seen at QB.
10:20Okay.
10:21Boys.
10:22For sure.
10:23And KD, my dog, bro.
10:24Like, hey, D-Hawk.
10:25Yeah.
10:26Matter of fact, UCLA and shit.
10:27Legend.
10:28Yeah, legend.
10:29I saw Cameron trying to blame you for the L right there, man.
10:31For the Lions.
10:32So, they were trying to pin it on you.
10:33Man, I ain't hearing that.
10:34I'm not hearing that.
10:35No, I can't even give them love.
10:37Like, shit, I should be mad.
10:38Like, damn, y'all lost on my time.
10:40You feel me?
10:41Like, hey, y'all just try to turn the fans up, man.
10:43For sure.
10:44That was a very disappointing loss, though, I gotta say.
10:46Disappointing.
10:47I don't know.
10:48I didn't see.
10:49If you could have Lonzo or LaMelo on the remix of Tweaker, whose verse would you take first?
10:52Melo, for sure.
10:53So, okay.
10:54But Melo has a day.
10:55Like, he'll have a great verse.
10:57He'll have a GOAT verse, bro, but he'll have, like, eight misses.
11:00Like, he gotta get warmed up.
11:02So, he's gotta get warmed up, shoot a few threes up, and then he'll hit one.
11:05And one from half court.
11:06If he taps in, he taps in.
11:07I will say that.
11:08You know what I'm saying?
11:09Okay.
11:10And Lonzo did the cover art, right?
11:11Yeah, yeah.
11:12He put that together for me.
11:13I had a little photo on my album, sent it to him, and then he touched it up.
11:16That's cool.
11:17With the Tweaker part on it.
11:18That's cool.
11:19Do you send ideas, like, off him and stuff in the studio or anything like that?
11:22Or, you know, sending him stuff as well?
11:24No, I write.
11:25We both write our own shit.
11:26Okay.
11:27Like, I write all my own music.
11:28He write his.
11:29But I don't know how I said that he wrote it on there.
11:31Yeah, how did that even come about?
11:33That really just came out of nowhere, right?
11:34I don't know.
11:35I'm not about to be like, I wrote it.
11:37Like, I don't care, bro.
11:38He didn't do it.
11:39But yeah, I be writing my own music.
11:41Do you feel like, like, fame prepared you for stardom in a way?
11:44Like, you know, just already being used to this, and you're like, alright, I can dive
11:47fully into it.
11:48Yeah, it helps.
11:49A lot.
11:50Because since babies, my pops always had us in the spotlight.
11:52Like, we flexing in front of 30 people and shit.
11:55Show me muscles.
11:56Yeah.
11:57Like, I don't know.
11:58I just never been, like, shy like that.
12:00Like, class, you know, the little presentations.
12:03Right.
12:04People be nervous.
12:05Public speaking.
12:06I never felt that.
12:07Yeah, I got you.
12:08I'm just chatting.
12:09I don't know.
12:10That's how I came up.
12:11So, it doesn't feel new for real.
12:12When was the first time you beat your dad one-on-one in hoops?
12:15I don't even know, bro.
12:17I played him when I was a kid and got, like, he whooped my ass, bro.
12:21He was too big.
12:22He was like 300 when we was little.
12:24Playing G-Line.
12:25He like, yeah, this is what a man game like.
12:27Like, he talk crazy.
12:29But, I don't know.
12:30I ain't really played him like that.
12:32Or, okay, maybe in high school or something it had to be.
12:34In high school, I could for sure dunk him.
12:35Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
12:36He had to take a step back.
12:37But he's talking crazy.
12:38Like, he be like, man, I'll bust your ass.
12:39But, like, I could though, bro, in high school.
12:41You remember the first age you dunked at?
12:43Yeah, I was 13.
12:44Oh, shit.
12:45That has to be the best feeling.
12:46Two hand.
12:47Yeah, I hung on the rim.
12:48You know, I had to get a little swing.
12:49As someone who's a short king, you know, 5'10", I'm my best day.
12:52Yeah, bounce, bro.
12:53I threw it off the glass in the 8th grade.
12:55Hey, I could dunk on, like, an 8-foot hoop.
12:58Hey, that's how we started out though.
13:00Me too.
13:01I started out on the little hoops.
13:02That's where I'm still at.
13:03All the neighborhood kids.
13:04Yeah, right.
13:05Have a little dunk contest.
13:06No cap.
13:07We was cranky.
13:08Three on three.
13:09Little hoop.
13:10That's what it's all about.
13:11Would you rather win a Grammy or have the Hornets or Bulls sign you tomorrow?
13:14Oh.
13:15Damn.
13:16That's a great question, bro.
13:19Damn.
13:20That's a stump.
13:21That ain't no stump.
13:22I'm going to hoop, nigga.
13:23I'm hooping with Zoey though.
13:24Or Melo.
13:25One of them.
13:26Shit.
13:27I know I could be cold, bro.
13:28And I'll put some music out.
13:29Shit.
13:30We'd be double whammy.
13:31NBA gonna hit me up.
13:32Like, you can't say this.
13:33How does your pops feel about, like, you, I guess, pursuing music and, like, you know,
13:34really attacking that?
13:35I don't know.
13:36He happy.
13:37Like, he's just happy to see us all doing what we do for him.
13:38I don't think he...
13:39I don't know.
13:40I don't think he's mad.
13:41Nah.
13:42Nah.
13:43I ain't mad.
13:44Yeah.
13:45You know, I talk to him.
13:46He's saying cool.
13:47So, yeah.
13:48We'll be checking in.
13:49Obviously, your dad's a great entrepreneur.
13:50Do you have, like, business ideas of your own that you kind of want to kick off this year
13:51or in the future?
13:52Yeah.
13:53Of course.
13:54Like, I got a business idea.
13:55I got a business idea.
13:56I got a business idea.
13:57I got a business idea.
13:58I got a business idea.
13:59I got a business idea.
14:00I got a business idea.
14:01I got a business idea.
14:06I got a lot of, like...
14:07I think strategically.
14:08Especially, like, with the music and stuff.
14:09Like, when I'm going to drop, how I'm going to make stuff, when I should have stuff done.
14:12Yeah.
14:13Like, I think, like, more like that type of line.
14:15All right.
14:16Okay.
14:17How often do you, Zo, and Melo talk?
14:18Like, is there, like, a group chat between the brothers?
14:20Yeah.
14:21We be on FaceTime and shit every other day for real.
14:23Is there, like, a reality show coming up?
14:25I saw you guys on the Angel Reese pod kind of teasing something.
14:28Oh, yeah.
14:29I think so.
14:30I think it's in motion right now.
14:31Oh, shit.
14:32Okay.
14:33We'll see.
14:34That wasn't being courtside.
14:35Like, seeing your brother's face off.
14:36That had to be cool.
14:37Yeah, that's lit.
14:38That was fun.
14:39That was like a little...
14:40Right?
14:41That's like...
14:42What else was that?
14:43Right?
14:44A little Kodak moment for real.
14:45Kodak moment, right?
14:46Yeah, man.
14:47Yeah.
14:48That was really cool to see.
14:49Especially you having your moment and them.
14:50Monzo back.
14:51Melo falling too.
14:52It was good to see them hoop.
14:53Felt like we was in the backyard.
14:54Right.
14:55Right.
14:56That's cool.
14:57Did you ever have any moments of doubt?
14:58Like, seeing your brothers hoop in and, like, you're waiting for your big break to come through?
14:59Oh, no.
15:00I ain't never doubted myself.
15:02Like, even growing up.
15:03My whole life.
15:04Even if something, like, terrible.
15:05Like, I always told myself, like, bro, I'll never just be, like, regular for real.
15:10I don't know.
15:11So, you're like, I always had something coming.
15:12Something.
15:13Like, this shit.
15:14I don't know.
15:15I always knew I was going to get M's and be big or something.
15:18Yeah.
15:19I can't just sit out.
15:20How would you say that fatherhood's changed you?
15:22I just...
15:23I care about my son way more.
15:25Like, I know it's bigger than me now.
15:26Yeah.
15:27So, it's like, I don't know.
15:28I be...
15:29They always in my mind.
15:30So, I think that things are a little harder.
15:31A little different.
15:32Yeah.
15:33I just carry myself a little different.
15:34So, I can show them the right shit.
15:36You know?
15:37For sure.
15:38For sure.
15:39You know, crazy ass kid.
15:40What would you say your main goal for 2025 is?
15:42Probably to have the biggest album out and to be one of the biggest rappers.
15:46Probably top rapper.
15:47Top rapper.
15:48Yeah, top rapper.
15:49Coming from the goats.
15:50The new stuff is one, man.
15:52Tap into that new stuff.
15:54I appreciate you coming through, though.
15:55I appreciate it, bro.
15:56Bigger things coming.
15:57No cap.