Clarksville, Tennessee native Tim Gent has been honing his musical craft for 5 years. The culmination of all that work was presented to the world earlier this year with his official debut project Clarksville Nights. The 16-track album was made to capture life in Clarksville for all that it is, good and bad. Beyond painting that picture, the project follows Gent's maturation from boy to man, starting off with tracks focusing on chasing girls and ending with tracks that have more meaningful messages. The project was well received by the hip hop community and even served as a source of pride for his hometown which rallies behind the C.H.I.E.F. lifestyle. Read on to learn more about Gent's experience living in Clarksville, the creative process behind Clarksville Nights, and what he has been doing since dropping the project.
OK-Tho:
How do Tim Gent and Timothy Gentry Jr differ?
Tim Gent:
I feel like there's no difference .. Timothy Gentry Jr is the name my parents gave me.. People called my pops Gent when he served in the military so I kind of just bit his real name and his nickname lol ..
OK-Tho:
What music influences you both within and without hip hop?
Tim Gent:
R&B and Gospel... and whatever genre you'd place Daft Punk in... I really just love the creativity they have..
OK-Tho:
How is a typical Clarksville night spent?
Tim Gent:
Back when I first graduated it was full of good weed and good raps.. Parties on the weekends... fun shit.. Now days when I'm not with my son and my ol lady, I'm w my guys and we're creating.. Lil Whiskey, lil NBA Live 2004 and the beats..
OK-Tho:
What was the biggest challenge you faced making Clarksville Knights and how did you overcome it?
Tim Gent:
The biggest challenge for me was deciding which songs I wanted to use to depict the city I'm from.. I had about 40 or so I was working with.. I had to decide which songs I wanted to let go before the release of the project and some of those songs I really made strictly for the tape so.. making those decisions really
OK-Tho:
Does all the positive feedback you have received from Clarksville Nights make you feel content or does it push you to want to create more?
Tim Gent:
I gotta keep moving forward man.. Even if it was a bunch of negative feedback, I genuinely love doing this.. The good energy is just a plus for me.
OK-Tho:
How has the Clarksville community responded to the project?
Tim Gent:
They're really behind the movement man.. Those who aren't, I'm unaware of them.. But for the ones who enjoy the tape and the CHIEF movement me and my brothers are pushing, they let it be known..
OK-Tho:
Can you talk about the clip from “Akeem’s Interlude” and the events or emotions behind the track?
Tim Gent:
The clip was from an interview that came from the Mike Brown situation... but I had wrote Akeem's interlude after one of the positive figures within my city had passed away.. Akeem "The Dream" Williams.. he had a light man.. and it shined bright.. and I felt like the clip came from what was going on at the time... Akeem wasn't murdered but the song was just for everybody who's lost at least one person near and dear to them..
OK-Tho:
What is the best aspect of Clarksville, TN? The worst?
Tim Gent:
The best thing to me is that I've been here so long.. I just love it man.. it's a military town so it's mad diverse... I've met so many different kinds of people here and it's not even a "big" city.. There's a lot of talent around here and I've known a majority of the people here for many years so it's a real family type of feeling.... If I had to touch on the negative things man I just feel like there's not much to do around here man.. You gotta go to Knoxville or Nashville or Chatt or Memphis to even do something fun that isn't hitting the parties or the clubs.. not enough recreational things for the kids in the city... which usually leads to kids getting into foolish shit.. but that's just my thoughts though...
OK-Tho:
When you are in the middle of a project, what do your days involve?
Tim Gent:
I treat the days like any other day.. I'm definitely thinking about the project.. I'm rotating beats that have no words to them over and over and over again just trying to create the flows and concepts.. usually whatever sticks I'll make a memo of the melody or a few words.. but that's just throughout the normal day... I don't lock myself in a room or get high or drunk to make music.. I just enjoy my regular day and have it on my mind while I'm going..
OK-Tho:
You have mentioned you are soon to be a father. Does the fact that your kid may one day hear your music ever influence your writing?
Tim Gent:
I'm officially a father as of September 4, 2015.. I thank God for him too... but honestly I just always mention him now.. I can't even help it.. but I haven't changed my thought pattern as to what content I place within my songs.. I've always been the type of artist that even if the song is fun or I created it just for the feeling, I still try and say something meaningful..
OK-Tho:
How have you been spending your time since dropping the project?
Tim Gent:
Working on the next endeavors.. Videos, Shows, The next project, features, etc. Really just keeping the creative juice flowing man.. I've also been selling the CHIEF apparel.. That also helped with getting the city on board .. That merchandise gives them something tangible along with the body of music provided..
OK-Tho:
Are you still working at AT&T? What’s the worst customer interaction you ever had working at the call center?
Tim Gent:
I am lol... I no longer work the call center.. I'm actually a salesman now lol... but man the worst experience while I was there was when this lady was tripping out about her internet not working man.. she was cussing and carrying on about how loyal a customer she was she was calling me all types of shit.. and when I wanted to help her she wouldn't let me lol... so she finally let me assist her and her internet was turned off in the damn iPhone man.... worst call ever man...
OK-Tho:
What was it like making the music video for “It’s Like That”? Are there any other visuals in the works?
Tim Gent:
HOT AS FUCK OUTSIDE... lol... but na it was mad fun.. Case and Devo are my brothers so anytime we all get up it's a fun time anyway, but it was pretty hot outside... We definitely have some more visuals coming though... we've got Paradox next I believe and AntiDope as well..
OK-Tho:
What is the concept behind C.H.I.E.F.?
Tim Gent:
Catch Height In Every Fall.... It's a lifestyle me and my brothers have been living by since 2011 man.. My round T.Clark (featured on my track Selective on SoundCloud) is who coined the slogan and it's just been the way ever since man.. It's really just about finding high places within your lows, finding some simplicity within the clutter and the muck and the bullshit and really just noticing the silver lining in the dark clouds man... real positivity shit lol..
OK-Tho:
What are you beliefs when it comes to charging for music?
Tim Gent:
In the illustrious words of the great Kendrick Lamar, " DICK AIN'T FREE " .. lol I really feel like some aspects of the money being brought into the art form is bad news but honestly, one day I don't want to be working for AT&T man... I don't want somebody I barely know dictating my hours and when I can take off and when I can leave early.. I've worked all types of jobs man since I graduated high school and quite frankly the shit sucks man lol.... I got a family man..
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