Emerging from Richmond, California, G Milli is an artist whose music is rooted in where he comes from, what he has experienced, and the people who helped shape him along the way. His story starts in the St. John’s Apartments in Central Richmond, where he spent most of his childhood surrounded by family, friends, sports, and a community that taught him lessons he still carries today.
Growing up, G Milli witnessed both sides of Richmond. He saw hustlers posted outside making money, drive-bys, police brutality, friends and family being lost at an early age, and even experienced being shot at. But despite everything happening around him, there were also plenty of good memories.
Sports played a major role in keeping him focused. He started playing basketball in elementary school and continued playing basketball and other sports through high school. It gave him something positive to put his energy into and helped keep him out of the mix.
When his parents separated, his mother moved to the South Side while his father remained in the neighborhood where G Milli grew up. Even with the changes at home, the community remained an important part of his life. He remembers the people he grew up with and the memories they created together as some of the best moments of his life. To him, the neighborhood was more than just a place. It was family.
Those experiences became part of the foundation for the person and artist he is today.
Music was already around him at home. G Milli’s father was a musician, and hearing his father’s songs gave him an early connection to music. He wrote his first rap in elementary school and spent years freestyling in class, at school, and during rap sessions with his homies. It wasn’t until around 17 or 18 that he recorded his first song.
His musical influences came from different generations and different parts of the country. He grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Usher, Keak Da Sneak, E-40, Mac Dre and Tupac, while also taking inspiration from East Coast and Midwest artists. As he got older, Lil Wayne became a major influence. Seeing Meek Mill alongside Lil Snupe and watching their freestyles and hearing Lil Snupe’s story gave G Milli another push. It made him believe that becoming an artist was something he could really do.
“I’m a student of the game,” he says, and that mentality shows in how he approaches his music. Rather than limiting himself to one influence, G Milli has taken pieces from many of the artists he respected growing up and throughout his journey.
His sound reflects that same range. He describes it as melodic street rap blended with West Coast energy, raw storytelling and an outside perspective. His music takes real-life experiences, struggle and ambition and turns them into cinematic, motivational records.
His journey has also been built in different recording spaces. G Milli recorded a lot of his music at The Shop Studios in Richmond and Jungle Life Studio in Vallejo. Other songs came together at his cousin’s house or a homie’s house, sometimes recording wherever a setup was available. His first project, Unforgettable, was even recorded in a closet.
That DIY approach says a lot about his journey. He didn’t wait for the perfect studio or perfect circumstances to start creating. He made music wherever he could and kept building.
Growing up, G Milli spent time at places that became part of his everyday life, including Hilltop Mall, Nevin Park, Berkeley, Atchinson Village, Frosty King, La Perla’s, The Rec Gym and R-Pal. A lot of his time was also spent at the homies’ houses and moving through different neighborhoods in Richmond. Those places and experiences became part of the environment that helped shape his perspective.
Now, G Milli is entering a new chapter.
His latest release, “Do or Die,” is his first stand-alone single of 2026. The record marks the beginning of what he hopes will be a bigger run of music. Rather than rushing straight into a project, he plans to release several singles first, allowing the music to build momentum before leading into something bigger.
For G Milli, it’s about giving the music time to simmer and building anticipation while continuing to give listeners something they want to hear. He also has his eyes on future collaborations with bigger artists, but for now, the focus remains on continuing to build his own name and sound.
Along the way, he hasn’t forgotten the people who helped him get here. He gives special recognition to his cousins Kev and Leon for taking the time to help him develop as an artist and teaching him how to record music. He also credits his mother and father for their support, musical taste and knowledge of the game.
He gives love to his siblings, his brothers, his lady, and everyone who has been part of his journey through the highs, lows and inconsistencies. Most importantly, he appreciates the people who continued rooting for him during the times when he wasn’t even rooting for himself.
