Bio:
Gage Langstaff, known by stage name 12GAGE is a 23 year old rapper from Ogdensburg, NY and currently resides in Jacksonville, FL. 12GAGE has been rapping since the age of 6 years old. His father, a former local radio personality, had Gage practice freestyles at their local radio station.
17 years later after endless written versus and perfecting his craft, Gage is slated to release his first album titled Dragonfly 44 on 4/4/2017. This is the first big release as he reaches in his top secret highly coveted vault. 12GAGE has voluntarily leaked two tracks including the title song Dragonfly 44 and his potential no-hook single Greatness.
What is your background? tell us where you grew up and some information about your upbringing/experiences as a youth
A: I am from Ogdensburg. NY, a small town just 5 minutes from the Canadian border. Ogdensburg is run down and has only two prisons to keep the economy going. However, the inmates from those prisons stick around and linger on as mostly bad influences. We have seen meth labs exposed, drug rings busted, overdoses on the regular, and even murders that have been unsolved to this day. I grew up in this city and moved when I was 20 years old. It’s a town that I don’t frequently visit due to my bad past there. I’ve seen my mom be a victim of abuse multiple times growing up and my dad get incarcerated in front of my own young eyes. It made me become a man very early on.
At what moment did you know that music was part of your life and what feelings did you have towards making an active impact with your music?
A: In all seriousness it says I have been listening to Tupac in my baby book starting at 11 months old haha. I truly knew that I was made for this when my dad, a local radio station host, had me practicing freestyling in his studio since the age of 6. It was our version of father/son catch. It was our only connection. My father is still incarcerated but I know he still feels my music in there.
What artists inspired/influences you and if you could collaborate with any artist (alive or passed) who would it be and why?
A:. Mark Battles will be on the DRAGONFLY 44 album so I’m very excited about that. I have huge aspirations to be a part of the Fly America movement. I also would love to work with Andre 3000, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Kendrick, and Rick Ross.
What do you think about the current state of hip hop/mainstream music?
A:. I believe there is still a lot of lyrical talent out there, it’s just going unrecognized due to how saturated hiphop is. Everyone thinks they can rap nowadays because they hear mainstream rap entailing good beats and very basic lyrics that lack depth.
Currently, what projects do you have in the works that you are most excited about?
A: My album Dragonfly 44 will not only be my first album, but it will be my first piece of work released to the public after 17 years of writing and practice. With the album’s deep concept and powerful message, it will be sure to change a few lives out there for the better.
What are your short term career goals within the next 6-10 months?
A: Short term I would like to focus on building my brand and really getting marketed. I plan to drop my first album within this timeframe too. Lastly, I want to start touring and be able to stop this 9-5 job.
What are your long term career goals within the next 2-5 years?
A: In 2-5 years I want the name 12GAGE to be international. I will invest as much time daily to make this happening. In timeframe, I don’t want finances being the one thing to hold me back. I want the world to quote my lyrics and use them as a tool for motivation no matter what rough time they’re currently facing.
If you had one song out of the catalog you have created to show a person what song would it be and why?
Dragonfly 44. Dragonfly 44 is the best metaphor I have ever come up with. It is a galaxy that is the same size as ours but it’s full of entirely dark matter and filled with only one percent of light. The metaphor is that life is full of darkness or dark matter but we have to chase the one percent of light or we will never progress on ourselves or our goals in life. Dragonfly 44 is the title song of my album and will really set the tone on how deep our mind let’s us go while we are searching for answers.
To the person who had never heard of you what is it about your music and story that you would tell them to entice them to be a supporter?
A: My music is the first of its kind. My music could play on today’s radio and actually have a meaning to it. You will be able to replay the same song 100 times and find a new deeper meaning in a different line each time. My music will rip out your heart, make you depressed, and be ready to take on the world all in the same day. It’s a rollercoaster ride that only the realest people can handle.
If your music could be described in five words what would those five words be?
A: 12 Gage changed my life
What do you bring to the game that is unique and different?
A: I’m a white rapper that doesn’t sound like a stereotypical white rapper. My dad’s poetry background mixed with my ability to do voice impersonations is truly something different. I was literally made to pioneer my own style.
To the aspiring artist who is considering a career as a musician what lessons or advice would you give them to inspire them or to uplift them in the journey?
A: Just be you. Everyone has a unique fingerprint and the same thing goes for the mind. If you’re you and people like it, you will make it. If not, and you know you gave it your all then you have no regrets and can move on. I’m in that same boat right now, wondering what if but at least I know I have given it my all. At least for now.
What are your social media profiles and where can people purchase/download your music?
You can purchase Dragonfly 44 on iTunes and stream it on Google music, tidal, Spotify, apple music, etc.
Social Media links:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/
SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-
Twitter:
@OfficialXIIGAGE
What are your final words you would like to say to people that you have left out?
I wouldn’t be who I am today without all the struggles that I have been through. I am severely depressed but my music keeps me going.