Jim Gittum is one of only a handful of people who can attest to the inner-workings of 90’s rap-powerhouse Death Row Records. As a staff producer for Suge Knight’s enterprise, the young Long Beach native contributed his talent to the careers of legendary West Coast names, including Tupac Shakur. Like most things built around hype, Death Row eventually suffered its tumble from the top, scattering its remaining talent into obscurity save the superstars like Snoop Dogg.
That could have been the end of Jim Gittum’s story: once a member of a notorious music family, now with nowhere to call home. He needed guidance. He needed prayer. He needed an answer. With a formidable resume in hand including his work with such West Coast mainstays as The Game, Keyshia Cole, KC Hailey, and Daz & Kurrupt, Jim Gittum parlayed his experience with Death Row into a puzzle piece within his larger destiny. He successfully composed music for major commercial entities, including works for Queen Latifah, and comedian Eddie Griffin. He further sharpened his skills by working on projects alongside of r&b artists including Tyrese Gibson, and R.L. & T-Low of Next, and with hip-hop producers Treach & Kay-Gee of Naughty By Nature fame.
Always having been a humble servant of God, Jim Gittum also continued to serve Him as a musician on the Los Angeles area church circuit. Though never having had any technical training, Jim’s talent on the piano has allowed him to successfully diversify his familiarity with his craft. “I’m not just a beat programmer,” he explains. “I can just as well sit down at the piano to compose my music, which I know is God-given.”
Collectively, Jim Gittum’s experience with the business of music could already be deemed successful. However, 2007 begins a brand new chapter in this musician’s story. Though always happy to write and produce for other artists, Jim’s quiet desire had always been to become a vehicle of his own message. He formed his company, Hell No, Inc., as an answer to the forces of nature that encourage failure, and produced an entire debut album entitled “The Vision,” before approaching record executives with his fresh approach to faith-based music. “I’m careful not to label it,” he says. “I’m Christian, and this is music by a Christian, but I can’t measure it against anything that’s been commercially successful before.” A risk? Absolutely. But Jim Gittum promises that he will measure his own success by the number of souls reached, rather than by record sales. His signature brand of hip hop is sincerely honest and thought provoking. His candid voice is coupled with flawless production. His content is both topical and traditional. Does Jim Gittum dance with the Devil? Hell No.
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