Artists you should know: Tha GIM

Tha GIM recently returned home from getting honored at the Holy Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta on Jan. 18 and 19.

So we caught up with the Fresno rapper (whose name is an acronym for God In Me) to find out about his experience and what's coming up for him this year.

Congrats on the Holy Hip-Hop Music Awards honor. How did that come about? Well, in the world of holy hip-hop/gospel rap, I've made a pretty good name for myself on a national scale, and I'm one of the major artists from Cali in their eyes, so they saw fit to honor my contribution and grind. It was a blessing being acknowledged.

What was the experience in Atlanta like for you? It was good, snowing, but good. I was in and out the next day, though. I got a thing called "Tha GIM Chronicles" on YouTube, where you can check out the trip in brief.

How important is networking at an event like that? Well, Atlanta is like a hub for what's called holy hip-hop. There's a lot of media, artists and fans, so me being from out here, it's in my best interest to take advantage 'cause, like I said, they know I rep from Cali, so it's just part of the grind and part of reaching people on as big of a scale that you can.

It seems like every year you're making move after move. What's your secret? Ha! God gave me a vision, and it's big, and I'm a part of it, so I gotta grind and fall in line, ya dig? I'm a student to many things though, and the music industry is one. I know what has to be done, so I try my best to hit the marks. It's just starting though really.

You've also done a lot of touring. Is there a certain show or locale that you are most proud of? Yeah, man, touring the boroughs of New York. I saw some big stuff out there, and I was touring with a hip-hop legend, Kurtis Blow, which made the setting just right. I got to hit up Sirius Satellite Radio and do an interview that ran the whole month of June, which was black music month.

What's on the schedule for Tha GIM in 2008? Just more grinding, growing in ministry and prepping the release of my next and best album thus far, called "This Iz My Life." I'm pretty amped. The paperwork ain't done yet though, so I don't wanna get too ahead of myself on giving details, but it will be in retail nationwide if all goes well.

For music and more: Go to thagim.com and myspace.com/thagim.

Know a local musician that more people should be familiar with? Send the who and why to Mike Osegueda, mosegueda@ fresnobee.com.