The Return Of G. Dep

After spending more than thirteen years behind bars, Harlem rapper Trevell ‘G. Dep’ Coleman was finally released from prison on April 4th 2024.

The self-proclaimed Ghetto Dependent joined Bad Boy Records in ‘98, and unleashed his debut album Child of the Ghetto in ‘01.

On December 15, 2010, Coleman walked into the 25th Precinct to confess to a cold case crime, the murder of a Queens man in ‘93. G. Dep was ultimately sentenced to 15 years to life.

How does it feel? Being free finally after more than 13 years of incarceration?

It feels good, it feels great. It’s a Blessing to be home to be able to be in society, with friends, family and loved ones.

During your prison stint did you stay in touch with the music? What about your peers and friends in the industry?

I did stay in touch with the music. We had a prison kiosk that allowed us to download certain things and listen to music. So I stayed abreast with music for the most part. I listened to the radio and watched videos when they came on. I was in touch with some industry people for the most part.

What’s the very first thing you did upon getting out?

The very first thing I did upon getting released was hug my mother. I then hugged my family, and we all went to get something to eat at IHOP.

I know it hasn’t been long that you’ve been a ‘free’ man but have you plotted your return to music yet?

Yes, I definitely formulated an idea of how my music should come together and be put out.

Of course I have to address the ‘elephant in the room,’ Diddy — As a protégé and former Bad Boy artist, what are your personal thoughts and opinions about the sex trafficking allegations that’s been made against the embattled mogul?

Well, I don’t know what is going on with that. Obviously I was incarcerated, but like you said they are allegations.

Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?

I want people to witness the universe when they listen to my music.

If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would have to say Rick James. Why I would say him is because he had an over-standing of music. I just think that he would make any song the best song it would be.

If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?

I would have to say right now from my experience and what I know “Summer Jam.” In addition, I haven’t experienced “Coachella” but I would like to!

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?

Yeah, I mean Hip Hop has always been in a state of emergency. Because it is always the voice of (the) people. So there is always an urgency when it comes to Hip Hop. The state of Hip Hop represents the state of the people. I have no concern, I like where it is going. It is becoming more expressive and that’s that.

What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?

I feel the key to my longevity will be always continuing to learn and be open to new things, new sounds, staying in tune with the youth and their thoughts on things.

Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

We do have a book coming out soon titled: “Credible Messenger” The Memoirs of Trevell G. Dep Coleman.

To date, what has been your biggest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

My biggest career moment I had was the first time I heard my song on the radio Hot 97 that was my biggest thrill. Also, putting out the Influential album which was recorded over the phone.

What’s an average day like for you?

It’s eventful; a lot of times I have things I have to handle as far as parole, employment…I am still doing music, in the studio. A lot of times my days are really full.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…

Well, I interact with fans accordingly; I reciprocate any energy that is being projected towards me. I am just thankful for anybody that is listening to any of the music or paying attention to anything that I am doing. I just try to be gracious.

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?

My favorite part is being able to create songs. Being able to express an idea and make it into a song that possibly can resonate with other people as well as myself. There is really no least favorite part for me.

Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?

I see myself successful in whatever I am trying to do. At this point, face it…if you are doing something you are already successful in doing it, but in ten years you should be successful in its self.

As for the immediate, what’s next for G. Dep?

For the immediate just look for the new G. Dep Album Off The Count.

Lastly, “Let’s Get It,” “Special Delivery” and its equally infectious remix “Special Delivery (Remix)” are bonafide Hip Hop classics — How did these particular compositions come about? Who came up with their concepts? And, please describe for me the overall studio vibes on those fateful days?

So, yeah, “Let’s Get It” came about from the producer named: Yogi, who was working for Bad Boy, he was a Hitmen. He thought that I needed an uptempo song. So he gave me the beat, and I wrote it in one night in my hallway steps. I was living in Lenox Terrace at the time. The rest is what you hear and what it came to be. One day I went to the studio, Black Rob was with me, we was booked to record the song. I did the song, Black Rob was feeling it, he said, “let me get on it and ad lib it.” That’s why we have Black Rob all on the ad libs on that. Even in the beginning when he says: “I’m a Rottweiler.” Special Delivery came about just kinda the same way, I had the beat for a while. We used to have a beat-pool when you just grab CDs and listen to the beats. So I was given the CD, I listened to it, I had it for a while. It didn’t really jump out to me at first, I just had it sitting around in my apartment. One day I listened to the CD again, and I really actually admit that was one of the beats when I went though the CD the first time, I said, “WoW, this beat is kind of dope.” I said, “okay, I’ll listen to it later,” it did come about maybe a month later I finally got around to it and listened to it again. The beat came on and I said this beat is really dope, it is really hitting, so I just started writing right there. Then I took it to the studio, it didn’t have the female in the chorus for a longtime, it just had “special delivery” in the chorus. When it was time to put the album out, the A&R said, “look, we need to fill this chorus in with something else.” He asked me if I had any ideas, I said, “oh, nah, I really didn’t think about it.” He thought about it and said, “well, how about we have a female say this or that or this or that?” And that is how it came out to be the way it is: “I want that, I need that like that” stuff like that. So the “Special Delivery” remix, it was just a transit move, remixes for the songs. We just thought of the best artists that could get on there at the time. People that fit my vibe, those was the artists that was on it, those were the artists that was wanted, those were the artists they thought would be best. Shout out to Ghostface, Rest in Peace Craig Mack and shout out to Keith Murray. The studio vibes usually is always serene, that is usually how the songs are able to come off the way they do, if everything is controlled for the most part. The vibe was great for all three of us.