Artist: Bobby Gonz
Song: “Time in Space”
Label: Getaway Muzic/Venice Music
Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop
Bobby Gonz honed his craft while serving a life sentence in prison. Incarcerated at 16, the San Jose, CA native turned to music to lift himself up and help himself unlearn the distorted beliefs that raised him. It was this inspirational, honest music that got the attention of fellow conscious rapper Common and producer Scott Budnick, who advocated on his behalf, leading to Governor Jerry Brown commuting his sentence due to his rehabilitative efforts. The song that helped make this a reality was the powerful “Time in Space”.
Musically somber and lyrically reflective, Gonz dives down deep into the choices and psychological space (“being defined by the hood”) that led him to a life in prison. But through the track’s narrative, hope springs up as Gonz “gets his act together”, and finds himself meeting rap heroes and overcoming the core beliefs that once metaphorically imprisoned him. It’s a truly inspiring piece of music, and the perfect signature track for an artist on the rise who has the potential to be a massive inspiration to thousands. Bookended by live recording from Gonz’s performance opening for Coldplay, it’s a testament to how far he has come, and just a small sign of how far he’s likely to go.
Check out this stellar track in our Check This 2022 Playlist on Spotify or Apple Music!
The Indy Review 