G4 Jag & IM'PERETIV "Alive!" Interview | OTH Magazine Exclusive

So today we have the pleasure of talking to one of the hottest artist and producer duos doing it, G4 Jag and IM’PERETIV, welcome back. You guys are prepping for your highly anticipated album “ALIVE!,” what can you tell us at this time? 

G4 Jag: Alive! It is a long time coming! Like IM’PERETIV says things happen when it's meant to! I was busy, he was cooking, we met in the kitchen and figured out a nice thanksgiving meal for the people.

IM’PERETIV: I’m really excited about this project. ALIVE! has been in the works for some time now, and we’re finally getting close to the finish line. Rome wasn’t built in a day—everything happens when it’s meant to. G4 and I first connected in 2020, and since then we’ve released a few singles and shared glimpses of our chemistry through online freestyles. But a full-length project from the two of us has been long overdue.This album is about intention, quality, and making a real statement. It’s 10 to 12 tracks deep, features some dope guest appearances, and is mixed and mastered by my guy Jamie Kuse, a JUNO and Emmy Award-winning mix engineer, at Nova Studios in North Vancouver, BC. I think people will understand what we’re about the moment they press play.

Tell us about the title and why chose the name “ALIVE!”? 

G4 Jag: ALIVE! marks the beginning of a new chapter in my career and the closing of the Survivor Series era. This is my 15th album, and I wanted it to represent a rebirth, the start of a new run where I’m fully claiming my space in this game we call Hip Hop.I’m from Harlem. We don’t just survive, we LIVE. We’ve always lived.ALIVE! is the essence of who I am. It’s that fly talk with both feet still on the ground. It’s the current state of Hip Hop. It’s the feeling in the air in Harlem. ALIVE! is G4 Jag. I’m a monster out here, and I’m ALIVE!

IM’PERETIV: G4 came up with the title Alive, and I was fully with it from the jump. I usually let the artists I work with take the lead on naming a project—especially when they’re the ones writing the lyrics and bringing the vision to life vocally. That said, I’m always involved in shaping the overall direction, and sometimes I’ll build off their ideas or suggest something if it feels right.In this case, the music, the energy, the lyrics—everything pointed toward a feeling of survival, resilience, and presence. From the beat selection to the tone of the verses, Alive made perfect sense. It represents where G4 is at, where the culture’s at, and the energy we wanted to deliver.I did throw in one small creative touch, though: I added the exclamation mark. Ayo G4, I’m gonna need that royalty cheque for the exclamation mark!” [laughs]

You've been steadily releasing music leading up to the album, including tracks like “Stopped Chillan,” “Apple Pie,” “Circus” featuring L-Biz, and “Better Days” featuring MercyDaHarlemKid. How has the response been from fans so far? Has any one track stood out as a fan favorite?

G4 Jag: The response has matched the efforts! We are excited and its reflected in our respective fan bases. The bloggers are chattin’, The people’s interests are beginning to peak, We are creating the climate we want for this release, Staying consistent is the key. 

IM’PERETIV:The response to the releases so far has been really solid. We’ve received support from platforms like Real Late with Peter Rosenberg on Hot 97, Shade 45, and even landed on Insomniac Magazine’s Weekly Top 10. It has been great to see our individual fan bases connect and grow together. I believe both G4 and I have gained new supporters with each release. One moment that really stood out was when G4 performed “Better Days” live for the first time, before it was even officially released. This was at the official Rochester Jazz Fest after party at Water Street Music Hall. The crowd started repeating the hook back to him, even though they had never heard the track before. That was a powerful moment.Also, shout out to my guy @norman_voorhees (IG) out in British Columbia. He’s been consistently letting us know on social media that he’s patiently waiting on this project — that kind of ongoing support means a lot. He’s told us his favorite track overall is On the Boards, but from the recent ALIVE! drops, Stopped Chillan takes the top spot for him — “that beat is bananas.”

What about for yall, what's each of your favorite tracks from the project and why? 

G4 Jag: I have a feature with my west coast brother Sirreal, I love the energy on that record from the production to the bars, it gives me that feeling, we are ALIVE! Anything I do with Mercy Da Harlem Kid is special because he’s my brother, same momma same daddy type shit, anyone who is Fly Family is my brother, but me and mercy had to share socks and shit, so our bond on record is always going to be authentic. Shout out to the whole Fly Family. We take this Family shit SERIOUS. 

IM’PERETIV: Honestly, I love all of them, but “Circus” and “Better Days” really stand out to me.“Better Days” is special because G4 previewed it on Instagram Live back in 2020. It was one of the first times I ever heard him over one of my beats, and even though it is only just being officially released now, it still hits. Good music is timeless. That track was an early sign of the chemistry we had, and it is dope to see it stand the test of time.With “Circus,” G4 just goes off. There is a celebratory, triumphant energy to it that I really love. Adding Fly Family’s L-Biz on the hook at the very end was the cherry on top. It is unexpected at first, but it really rounds out the track. I also had the chance to watch G4 write and record that one in person, which made it even more meaningful.Another standout for me is an unreleased track called “Speak Spanish.” I was in the studio for that one too and got to witness G4 write and record it on the spot. He actually told me later he was not really feeling the beat at first, but he gave it a shot because I recommended it. In the end, it became one of his favorites from the whole project. That session was cool for both of us because G4 got to showcase his skills as an artist, and I got to step into my role as a producer, not just making beats, but arranging, sequencing, and bringing the full vision together. Not that there was ever any doubt, but in hip hop, egos are part of the game. Sometimes you have to show and prove.

So what is it about each other and their music and style that makes y'all blend so well and create great music together?

G4 Jag: IM’PERETIV is one of the most genuine and passionate producers i ever worked with. Usually I ask for anywhere from 1k to 2.5k for a verse, which may not seem like much to the industry, but my valuation is to ensure my time isn't wasted, and the other parties involved are invested into what I have taken 20 plus years to build. IM’PERETIV has been on a similar journey and consistently building his value and brand in this industry along with some very sharp god given talent. Secondly IM’PERETIV cares about the artist's sound which is HUGE for me. When IM’PERETIV creates a G4 JAG folder, it's all beats with G4 JAG in mind, i dont have to shuffle through 27 files, each production is catered to my sound. 

IM’PERETIV: I first reached out to G4 on Instagram around 2019 or 2020. Funny enough, I hadn’t even heard much of his music at the time. What caught my attention was a piece of cover art—he had this cherub wearing a plague mask, and I had a design with a cherub holding Uzis. I messaged him half-jokingly saying that we should do a project just based on our cherub aesthetics.Over time, our relationship developed, and with that came a deeper understanding of each other as people, as artists, and of what we are both aiming for sonically. G4 raps well, and I make beats for rappers who rap well. It’s really that simple. I understand what kind of sound he is looking for, whether it's tempo, mood, or energy, and I tailor what I do to bring that out.“ALIVE!” is, in G4’s own words, his "Lord Mobb era" sound. It captures that underground, raw essence. But we are already thinking ahead and planning to explore other sonic directions together, like a more mainstream feel or something rooted in that classic Harlem vibe. Our chemistry works because we both push each other, and we both know when something feels authentic.

I know yall are very busy and eager to get back to prepping this release, so before we go, why should the fans be excited about “ALIVE!” and support it when it releases?

G4 Jag: If you never tapped in with my career, it's a fresh sound, it's some music you can get some money too!!! If you're in tune with G4 JAG, then this is a huge chapter in the Survivors story. Its THE END, we are starting a new chapter, LIVING, we are past SURVIVING, and this music is the representation of that, records like APPLE PIE, reflecting on the position of life we are currently in, and hopefully setting a goal and standard for anyone that's on their survival journey. IT'S NOT OVER FOR YOU, LIVING is on the other side of SURVIVAL, and YOU CAN DO IT!!!! KEEP GOING!!! 

IM’PERETIV: Dope music. Dope raps. Great lyrics. Great beats. Authentic. Raw. G4 brought bars, lyrics, and real emotion on this one. It’s a project that feels cohesive from front to back, nothing sounds forced, just real chemistry and intention. We’re also planning a vinyl drop and some exclusive merch to go along with the release, so there’ll be something special for the collectors and day-one supporters. If you’ve been following our individual journeys, ALIVE! is the natural next step. 

Please leave us with your social media and booking information. 

G4 Jag: Booking Information Lordmobbg4@gmail.com 

Everything G4 JAG on ig/facebook @g4jag…

merch g4jag.bandcamp.com JUST google G4 JAG and enjoy the experience!  

IM’PERETIV: You can find me on all social media platforms @imperetiv. For beat sets, DJ gigs, or production inquiries, hit me at imperetivmusic@gmail.com.