Page 42 - Poze Magazine Volume 66

Griff Galexxzee

Griff grew up in the projects of downtown
Toronto (Regent Park). Griff was a very hyper
and active child. His older sister used to play
records from U2, Tears for Fears, Michael
Jackson, Duran Duran, Sting and the Miracles,
which seemed to be away to help Griff settle
and calm down. Sadly, in 1997 Griff’s sister
contracted a virus and passed away. By the age
of 15 Griff was inspired by artists like Nas, DMX,
P Diddy, Mase and Bone Thugs N Harmony.
Many of Griff’s friends were involved in rap/ hip
hop music and introduce Griff to that genre. His
friends use to come over after school to his
house to record over cassette tapes of other

artists instrumentals on Griff’s older brother’s
Karaoke machine in the basement.

Griff never took part in the recording sessions
or writing lyrics. Since he was very shy. Until Which was produce by Griff also featuring one of
one of his childhood friends decided to not Griff’s childhood musician friends Promise, who
allow anyone to leave the room until each had introduced Griff to Drake and put him on the
person in the room that day, would write a song. Although, Griff was not as skilled as a rapper,
song even if they were not a musician. That his Engineer also good friend T.J Habibi,
point on, Griff discovered his writing abilities encouraged Griff to keep going as well as Griff’s
and enjoyed writing and started writing lyrics best friend also hip-hop artist Prestege. Griff
as away to express himself since he was started to pursue music more and was rejected by
introverted. At the age of 19, Griff worked local radio stations flow 93.5, the number 1 urban
behind the scenes as a music producer being station in Toronto.

influenced by producers like Timbaland and Dr
Dre. Producing beats for his friends and other Feedback his producing skills was his strength and
local Toronto artists. rapping needed work. Griff being motivated, he
At age 21, Griff began recording in the studio for started listening to artists like 50 cent, Jay-z Kanye
the first time. Operating under the stage name West, and Lil Wayne, artist that were on top in the
“DCG”, which stood for Dark Chocolate Griff. A hip hop scene during the early 2000’s. Friends and
nick name he had during high school due to his family noticed the improvement in Griff’s style and
dark complexion. During this time, Griff was not flow as DCG. Griff was making music as a source of
established as a recording artist but had entertainment and release until he lost both his
collaborate with a 17-year-old Drake at the time parents to health reasons. Dad in 2007 to a stroke
on song titled “This world”. and his Mom in 2009 with cancer.