LGP Qua
LGP Qua
LGP Qua is a young rapper from North Philadelphia who has has been developing a strong presence on social media with his motivational raps. The Philly MC has garnered a strong following from a lot of celebrities who love the message he spits in his music. LGP’s music is differs from the norm of rapping about taking drugs and killing. LGP is doing the opposite and trying to wake the youth up by being their positive voice.[1]
Early Life
LGP Qua (Qidere Johnson) was born and raised in North Philadelphia in the early ’90s by a loving mother. He attended Edward Steel School for his elementary education. LGP Qua showed love for music at a young age. He took music seriously after learning greatly from the 18 months he spent in Prison[5]. LGP gains inspiration by listening to the likes of Meek Mill, State Property, JayZ, Tupac Shakur, The Lox, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and J.Cole. He knew he wanted to rap and change the game. So he has patented the term “Voice of the Youth” over the course of a year in 2018.[4]
Career
Lgp Qua started releasing songs in 2018 but has been doing freestyles before then.
His “Walk” freestyle is perhaps his best-known.
In it, he touches on issues affecting young people like teen pregnancy, youth-on-youth crime, and gang violence.
“Snap Mode” and “Race” embody the same quality delivery, and even the rapper’s older work, including “want my shawty back” and “They Still Sleepin on Me” are indicative of a self-starter with a great deal of potential.
That same tight, tone-consistent flow is present throughout each of his tracks, stylistically reminiscent of that of Meek Mill – loud and punctuated. Other viral freestyles are unnamed but contain the same conscious and stylistic elements. Especially given his age, the Philly native’s superior rhyming style is a welcome surprise. He is definitely head and shoulders above his peers in that regard.[14]
In March 2018, LGP Qua dropped a track and video assisted in production by William, “Insomnia,” where he takes viewers on a trip down L.A.’s infamous skid row neighborhood. His body of work focuses on a positive message for young fans and has captured the attention of some greats like JayZ, Nas, and Snoop via social media, with Jay reportedly offering him a $1M record deal with Roc Nation in January 2018. The same year, he released a remake of Philly legend Meek Mill’s politically-charged track “Stay Woke” and just like Meek, he didn’t hold back. The young rapper brings up some real-life struggles and experiences of growing up how and where he did saying: [13]
“We come from the bottom where the sun doesn’t shine at / we ain’t use to yes because where I’m from you get declined fast.”
He gets real but still manages to invoke a sense of hope and positivity while educating the youth on the importance of staying socially conscious.
He’s gained an endorsement working with Foot Locker, pushing the “Before and After Bite” campaign with Nike Air Max. Qua has created a song and music video centered on the campaigns theme. Also he received state and city honors at his former elementary school, Edward Steel School. [15]
Personal Life
LGP Qua is also respected for his generous heart toward his own community.
He was given citations by Philadelphia councilwoman Cindy Bass and Senator Shariff Street after giving away nearly 1,000 pairs of sneakers to students at Alice West Fleet Elementary School and Simon Gratz Mastery Charter School through a partnership with Puma and Foot Locker.[5]