Joe-G and Rhymistress

Joseph Gilmore AKA Joe-G has had visions of becoming a successful rapper since he was a teen. He had a minor success with Crucial Youth Productions when he was 16. He opened for the legendary Lenny Williams and spent time in the studio with Digital Underground’s Shock G. Other artist’s projects forced his albums into the background, and the resources began to dry up. Fatherhood at 16 redirected his focus to his growing family. He raised his 2 girls until he had to create a new living situation for himself. He moved in with his terminally ill uncle and served as his caretaker until he passed away.

Some time later, he dated and married Tahtyana McClinton after a whirlwind romance. They had plans of starting a new family and he was preparing to return to music. Tahtyana was diagnosed with Lupus and he spent the two brief years of their marriage taking care of her deteriorating health until she passed away suddenly. Joseph fell into a deep depression, refusing to eat or drink until he was near death. He found a spark of hope in the desire to write, and wrote a song dedicated to his late wife. The song came out so well that he wrote and recorded four more.

Enter S. Donella Jones. The two met at the Oakland Main Library where they discussed writing a screenplay together after learning that they had a love of writing in common. They worked on several writing projects, and Joseph decided to share with Donella his rap persona “Joe-G”. She was blown away by the talent and lyrical flows from this quiet unassuming young man. She began to suggest ways that Joe-G could revive his career. She showed so much enthusiasm that he asked her to become his manager.

Despite never having managed an artist, she threw herself into the role. She also shared her old dream of doing spoken word as Rhymistress. The result was the two of them sitting down to write and creating several mix tape masterpieces .Joe-G encouraged Donella to rap as well, as he felt her vocals and lyrics fit well with the genre. Many shows, a listening party, 4 completed mix tape albums and 56 songs later, the two fell in love and have emerged together as Joe-G and Rhymistress. They continue to make beautiful music together in spite of the struggles new artists face in a saturated market. The addition of Donella’s 3 grown offspring to the mix is helping the two build with graphics, art, media and music through a collaboration with her son’s Jayphace Media company.