Atlanta hip-hop community rallies behind Grip Plyaz

? I first met https://twitter.com/gripplyazGrip Plyaz in East Atlanta Village back in 2008. The tall, lanky, scruffy MC, and I had coffee, did an interview for Rolling Out Magazine about his new mixtape, Grip Hop, and then proceeded to hit up the now defunct Rare Footage, where I photographed him sorting through T-shirts. In the time since, I’ve watched the man born Quentin Hood serve as a sort of Obi-Wan Kanobi to the city’s next wave of indie rap artists. (It was Grip who convinced Trinidad James to release “All Gold Everything” has his lead solo single). Shortly thereafter I caught up with the proud father and ATL music ambassador for Cashew Co., after he’d battled back from homelessness (his house caught fire), and brief hiatus from making music.
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? “I mean it’s just something I want to do,” he told me about why he decided to return back to his passion with Purp, Wind & Fire, after losing so much. “I like the music. Why the fuck am I going to give something up, like my dreams and my goals and my aspirations up? Can’t stop that.”
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? This week I learned that Grip was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, more specifically pleomorphic sarcoma. Word is he’s known for some time, but only recently shared the news with his friends in the local music community. Due to his health, Grip hasn’t been able to perform or clock in at the day job. He wasn’t expecting what happened next: “Get Grip Good,” a GoFundMe page created by Grip’s close friends to raise money for transportation and treatment costs. ”Grip isn’t asking for help, his friends are,” reads the message for the fundraiser. “If you’ve ever had a beer, a conversation, or are just a fan of his music here’s your chance to help a good dude.”
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? Created on Aug. 16, the fundraising goal was set for $2,500. At press , that number has already climbed to more than $8,000. The man who has made a living by sharing stories with others, found himself speechless.
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? “Words can’t even describe the feeling,” Grip told CL via text message. “When you’re goin’ through a storm, you’ll never know who’s rockin wit you. God is good!!”
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? To donate to Get Grip Good, click here.