You can’t talk about Chicago Hip Hop and not mention Abstract Mindstate.
While casual listeners may name-check such luminaries as Common, Kanye West, Twista, Shawnna, or Lupe Fiasco, those who are in the know know that Olskool Ice-Gre and E.P Da Hellcat are architects of the foundation of Chicago Hip Hop.
Even with a nearly two-decade-long gap between their classic 2001 debut, We Paid Let Us In! and their inspired and spirited recently released follow-up, Dreams Still Inspire, Abstract Mindstate picked up right where they left off their specific brand of dope beats and thought-provoking rhymes.
N’DIGO recently sat down with Olskool Ice-Gre to discuss the re-forming of Abstract Mindstate, his thoughts on the emerging AI technology, and the growing new genre of Hip Hop that he created called Adult Contemporary Hip Hop (ACH).
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Greg “Olskool Ice-Gre” Lewis?
Greg “Olskool Ice-Gre” Lewis: I am an unwavering, unapologetic, relentless dreamer who refuses to quit!
Did you always know you wanted to do music as a child?
Yes! I come from a family of gifted musicians (on my Mother’s side), so I grew up around music.
What, if anything, else did you dream of doing for a living?
Honestly? Well, “the dream” for me came at such a young age that the only other thing I remember also being a dream was to travel the world and ride roller coasters, lol. It sounds hilarious, but to this day, I label myself a “roller coaster cowboy”. It’s a term that comes with specific details of how you ride. The funny thing is the term “roller coaster enthusiast” is real and applies to people who do it for fun as well as a profession, so a much younger Ice-Gre was on one; I just didn’t tap all the way in like I ultimately did with music.
What was the a-ha moment for you when the universe affirmed that you had chosen the right path in pursuing music?
Wow…I’ve done a million interviews, and that has never been asked…ever! The a-ha moment for me was when the crowd responded to seeing me in action. Me and my best friend since high school, had a group/crew called Peace Posse. We performed for the very first time in the backyard of my aunt’s place on 56th & Shields. Her sons (my cousins) were some of the musicians I alluded to earlier. My cousins threw a jam session for the neighborhood and highlighted Peace Posse as the rap group. I learned a lot of lessons that night, but the most important was music is for me. I laugh as I reminisce on it because Peace Posse had a decent buzz in Chicago thanks to Pink House (R.I.P) at WKKC and Ramonski Luv at WGCI. They both showed us major love on their radio shows back then. It really went there after we recorded a Hip-hop song called “Time 2 Party” with Farley Jackmaster Funk. That’s a movie in itself, so I’ll stop there, lol.
Tell us about your group Abstract Mindstate.
Abstract Mindstate is Chicago’s premiere male/female Hip Hop duo. We are the Wonder Twins of the Windy City. We are the group that took the underground above ground in Chicago at a time when it was virtually impossible to get support without a record deal. Abstract Mindstate are pioneers who are revered as Chicago legends by many. Before social media, we were front runners of the independent/DIY movement. We raised the bar for live performance during Chicago’s golden era as well as branded ourselves (before the term) with our logo and merch in a way no other artist was doing at the time. Abstract Mindstate created a blueprint and paved the way for amazingly talented artists like Chance The Rapper to do what he does and how he does it in Chicago specifically.
After the group split, please discuss some of the separate endeavors you pursued.
The group didn’t officially split, exactly. We did go on hiatus…a 16-year hiatus, to be exact. During that time, I never left the business. I kept myself busy and in the mix as the very first A&R of (Kanye West’s record label) Good Music. I started managing talent. I founded Honest Management LLC, a full-service entertainment management and production company in Los Angeles. I returned to Good Music as an A&R and creative collaborator with Ye. I worked on a number of albums such as Ye, Kids See Ghosts, Nasir, KTSE, and Daytona, all now affectionately known as “The Wyoming Sessions.” I produced a docu-film about my group called We Paid Let Us In! The Legend of Abstract Mindstate. I’ve also shown up on a few music documentaries as well.
Please tell us about the day that Kanye told you he wanted Abstract Mindstate to get back together and what happened from there.
That day was surreal. He called me early in the morning and said, “I know the artists that I want to represent (his new label) Yeezy Sound (later shortened to YZY SND),” For he and I, this was par for the course as far as him bouncing ideas off me. Now, I had a few names in mind that I thought I’d hear, but he said, “Maaaan Teyana Taylor and Abstract Mindstate,” and stopped. I thought he had a slip of the tongue and was about to correct himself, but he didn’t. He waited for my response, so I asked, “Are you serious?” He replied, “Yes, bruh.” I said, “Maaaan, do you think the world is ready for some forty-something-year-old rappers?” He said, “That’s exactly what they’re ready for. Abstract Mindstate is gonna heal people and save lives. We’re the elders, dawg, we gotta teach these kids, and Abstract Mindstate music has always been about that.”
Soon he, and his engineer, Noah Goldstein, and I were sitting in the studio, literally digging through three hundred tracks from earlier Wyoming sessions. Out of those three hundred, he chose a hundred that he had Noah put in a folder. He told me, “You and E.P. should be able to find yall album in that.” The recording process was extremely relaxed because we recorded in his studio or studios he set up for us as well as other acts. What most don’t know is Abstract Mindstate was part of the Wyoming Sessions as well. We had our own setup, engineer, and workspace as well. Ye was very hands-on with us in terms of how he scrutinized every bar I wrote, every song idea, and how he made sure we sounded like he remembered. We recorded for a couple of years, which resulted in twenty-five fully produced Ye songs. Eleven of those became what the world received as the new return album Dreams Still Inspire.
You’ve also recently spearheaded a campaign to create a category of Adult Contemporary Hip Hop in regard to award shows. Please tell us more about that.
This is something I’m very proud of. Adult Contemporary Hip Hop (ACH) is a genre I made up twenty-plus years ago, but I never campaigned to make it a real thing until 2020. I always said Abstract Mindstate is Adult Contemporary Hip Hop, but I kinda kept it low until we came to the close of Dreams Still Inspire. I knew the album was dropping in 2021, so I began talking about ACH in our interviews, and by then, I came up with the idea of proposing it to the Recording Academy to have it added as a category at The Grammys.
During our documentary screening tour, I introduced it as well as shared my plan during every Q&A. Soon after that, I joined the Recording Academy as a voting member, found out how to present my idea, wrote a proposal, and pitched it. As well-received as it seemed, it was ultimately passed on. Instead of giving up, I pitched the idea to another award show in Los Angeles called the Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA). It’s an offspring of a much more established awards show that’s been in existence since 2009 called the Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA). Award shows like these will become the most relevant for creatives because merit is based solely on quality, not quantity, and they’re about the independent artist. The creator of both awards ceremonies started as an artist himself, so he saw my vision.
Adult Contemporary Hip Hop has nothing to do with age and everything to do with sound. It’s about the sound of a recording and encompassing the traditional aesthetics of Hip-hop music with an emphasis on the boom bap, soul, lyrics, and storytelling from a fictional or non-fictional perspective. The purveyors of the original sound should be rewarded. Cats like J Cole, Kendrick, Joey BadA$$, Cordae, Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, Chika, Rapsody, and several more all are Adult Contemporary Hip Hop because of their sound. I gave the very first award for Adult Contemporary Hip Hop to Roc Marciano and The Alchemist for their album Quantum Leap.
How do you maintain your mental health and/or self-care?
I maintain my mental health by communicating my thoughts so things don’t build up. I sometimes sit still and be quiet. I keep myself surrounded by positive energy, people, and thoughts. I exercise regularly. I chose to eat healthy. I practice intermittent fasting, and I travel often. Travel is not only a passion of mine; it’s also therapy. One of my practices is taking a call every Monday with my friend, DJ Self Born. He and I have labeled this practice “Daily Bread.” It’s simply us speaking positivity and productivity into our lives. We build on our wants and heart desires, then speak them into existence. We discuss what has to be done to reach these goals and hold ourselves accountable. I read as well. I’m heavily into material related to self-improvement, financial advancement, and motivation. I’m a published author and speaker with a book currently available on Amazon called I Refuse To Quit! The Autobiography of A Dreamer.
What are your thoughts on the emergence of AI technology and how it will affect the entertainment business?
I’ve been speaking on this for quite some time. I’ve even spoken on panels as a music pro, and this question is a serious one. I love the idea of being able to serve your fanbase all over the world from a central location. It allows entertainers to reach their audience in places that physically may not be convenient, safe, or allowed. I’ve heard ideas of virtual concerts with avatars that may be next level, but it needs to be the actual entertainer doing it, not a program. The part of AI that I dislike with a passion is voice technology. It’s another way to rip off creatives and, for the highest IP a person has, your actual image or voice. Our voice and image is the only thing that truly separates us from each other. Once the entertainment industry can own a person’s voice and image, the actual person becomes unnecessary. I feel the AI voice thing should be banned or highly regulated for very specific use. I don’t use hate, but I hate voice technology. It’s going to create chaos; mark my words.
Can you name a book that changed or really impacted your life?
It’s a book I read some years ago called The Millionaire Next Door. It’s pretty much a case study on millionaires and decamillionaires. It gave me the insight I needed and felt about the lifestyle of the wealthy. I always felt I’d be myself regardless of my financial status, and what this case study showed me was people tend to judge a book by its cover. Most think the affluent are overindulging in caviar, champagne, and diamonds. When the truth is, really wealthy individuals are as normal and regular as what’s been labeled as middle-class society and enjoy all the same things. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a position to enjoy the perks that come with the lifestyle of the rich and famous, and those experiences validated what I read.
What are three of your all-time favorite albums?
De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising
Prince – Parade |
Nirvana – Nevermind
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Hip Hop isn’t my favorite genre of music.
Best advice for aspiring artists?
Spend more time branding yourself and less time trying to sell your music.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“Closed mouths don’t get fed.“
What’s next for Olskool Ice-Gre?
I have something in the works with film, music, and technology. The film part is related to distribution opportunities, the music is Abstract Mindstate-related, and the technology is a start-up situation I was brought into that I’d love to see pan out. I will continue aligning myself with the above board winners and being a change agent in the various areas closest to me. My goal is to motivate, inspire, and educate by any means necessary.
For more information on Abstract Mindstate, please visit www.abstractmindstate.com.
