Kanye West is a work of art. An art that has honed its craft since the beginning of time and still remains true to its roots. But before all the clamoring buzz, his rise as a public figure, and consequent record-breaking releases, Kanye West began in a modest origin with a rap group called Go Getters in a four-walled room.

As the world today might await with unblinking eyes to witness West making a comeback to the record industry, it would be a nice jump on the time capsule to know where it all started. 

Who were Go Getters?

Ye has known music as a second mother tongue and even today, the language breaks barriers to connect with the world. Years before he ascended to the throne of his undisputable reign in the musical landscape, the ‘Donda’ rapper stepped into the world of harmony with a Chicago rap group during the mid-to-late 90s called Go Getters. The squad comprised a budding Kanye West, GLC, Timmy G, and Arrowstar.

The collective circled an extended crew as well, including Really Doe, Malik Yusef, and Rhymefest, while the group’s managers were Don C and John Monopoly. As per the lore, this ensemble was set in motion the very day that West crossed paths with Monopoly in 1990. And according to the latter, he had “quit making beats nine months after meeting Kanye West because he was so good”.

While the beginnings may sound like a chronicle, some time was yet to elapse before Go Getters took on the name.

Before Go Getters

The squad managers, John Monopoly, and Don C, despite being cousins, ran into each other not before 1995. The duo formed a company called Hustle to continue with their musical pursuits around the birth of Go Getters, but an unprecedented problem followed in regards to their pal, West, who wanted to join the company. At the time, West inked a contract with a company as a solo artist, which meant that his desire to join Hustle was a tough crack.

To let Kanye West roll and jam with their musical ventures, the genesis of Go Getters happened as an idea of a go-around. For this, the purpose was binary- the gang had become his family and because of his state of affairs, they could not put him out as a solo artist. Hence, even with the desire to push Ye’s initiative, the tracks always read in credits “Go Getters featuring Kanye West”. But to secure the rest of the members, the company was not required to look too far.

Go Getters unite

One of the prime-time members of the group, GLC, was previously part of a duo team with Andre, better known as Birdman. From then on, GLC, Andre, and Arrowstar came together with West to form Chicago Outfit, having known each other from Grammar school. GLC, on the other hand, also shouldered the responsibility of completing the squad and approached Timmy G, and Really Doe.

Initially, the gang members worked out their ventures at Kanye West’s home. But shortly after, they had to shift their undertakings to Craig Bauer’s Hinge Studios. Amidst these transitions, the group also had to change their name from Chicago Outfit, since a collective already had been using the label first. It was John Monopoly who manifested the name Go Getters when his uncle told him about the story of a real hustler.

Soon enough, the managers gained Bauer’s confidence and struck a deal that helped them carry on the studio work. Even Bauer understood in pretty little time that Ye was a frontrunner for the creative process of the squad. Then onwards, step by step, the team began accelerating to the spot where they could radio-feature their records. And who comes to the rescue? DJ Pharris.

Go Getters and DJ Pharris

The man who remains a part of West to this day was also one of the starter-pack entities to bring him out in the world. DJ Pharris, who has been working on Ye’s ‘Vultures’ streaming from day 1, being an active part of his musical resurgence, flaunted his musical flare back in the 90s. The rapper had met him through Phillip Edwards, West’s then-manager. Pharris was the first one ever to play a Kanye West production on the radio called ‘Uh Oh’.

Keeping in mind how he has been leading several track streams of ‘Vultures’, there is no doubt that the dynamic duo has found a home in each other through their long haul of friendship. After all, “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”. However, getting the song to feature on the radio was not a cakewalk, and the group members went to a great extent to achieve traffic. So much so that Monopoly led a picket line outside a station to get people to hear it.

Although it is ironic how the world today awaits his music with undying patience, it also attests to how long West has come along. But turning back the pages with that, the members also felt that their works were mainly a reflection of the hardships they were facing.

Go Getters’ philosophy

Go Getters and its works were no-nonsense talk. And unlike Ye’s solo ventures, this effort had an edge of authoritative discourse. GLC explained how their team often looked to “escape” with their music because of where they had come from. He said how West’s mother used to let them in to record songs, which was basically a getaway from the “warzone” which was the “Auburn Gresham neighborhood in Chicago”.

The area was plagued with violence and somehow they resorted to their music to introspect the hardships. Considering how their motive was unfaltering and their commitment was sky-high, what ultimately happened to the Go Getters?

Go Getters- a ship rocket

As per Monopoly, the group was edging on the touchstone of cracking a big deal with Elektra Studios in 1990. Their big meeting with Merlin Bobb, however, did not go as well as they planned. Therefore, the fumble was inevitable. But Monopoly was not ready to give up the efforts that soon. As a result, he made several trips to New York City to establish connections and be present in the industry’s sights.

Monopoly even recalled dating this woman from American Airlines who helped him with flight passes, which led to the near-signing with Richard “Younglord” Frierson’s label. Although ultimately, the group could not crack a big record deal, their central figure, Kanye West, took hold of the jets and winged away. 

Kanye West and Go Getters

Around that time, West started his work with Deric “D Dot” Angeliette, a former member of Puffy’s Hitmen production team. Soon, his career as a beatmaker took flight, and he moved to New Jersey, and Go Getters became foggy. Although GLC remembers Ye’s determination to take the group on his ride along, the same did not happen.

Eventually, the members sent him records, and he would work on them. But his steps to stardom were only a few miles away, and with his move to New York, the same was confirmed. Yet still, even today, the group admires his dedication, his success, and the fond memories that they created. As “fans of the art”, it remains that the squad is as big a fan of Ye’s as the globe. 

Did you know about the connection between Kanye West and Go Getters? Let us know in the comments below!