Today we’d like to introduce you to Double G.
Hi Double G, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Northeast Baltimore City, and music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory is seeing Brooks & Dunn in concert when I was three years old. They even signed a photo for me that hung on my bedroom wall for years. As I got older, I was the kid rushing home to watch music videos on MTV, buying CDs with money I earned cutting grass and shoveling snow, and downloading songs off LimeWire during the dial up internet days. Looking back, music was always shaping who I was long before I ever imagined creating it myself.
At the same time, baseball was my first love. I played all the way through college at Stevenson University, where I still hold school pitching records and was scouted ahead of the 2015 MLB Draft. For years I truly believed baseball would be my career. When that chapter came to an end, I found myself searching for a new purpose.
Around 2015, I started performing at parties with my friend Jack, who played keyboard while I grabbed the microphone. The response from people around me made me realize I had found something special. I bought a basic recording setup, spent countless nights teaching myself through YouTube tutorials, and slowly built everything from the ground up. I was not only learning how to write and record music, I was also learning how to market myself, build a brand, and create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
That mindset eventually became Up Next Entertainment, the independent label and brand I built to maintain complete creative control over my career. Over the years, I have been fortunate to collaborate with artists I grew up listening to, build a catalog with millions of streams, and develop a sound rooted in authentic storytelling, motivational music, and songs that create real connections with listeners.
This year became the biggest chapter of my journey so far. I wrote and released “The Lou,” a tribute to the city of St. Louis. On the night it was released, the St. Louis Cardinals played the song throughout Busch Stadium during their game against the Boston Red Sox in front of more than 30,000 fans. The Cardinals’ scoreboard crew even called it their “song of the summer.” The story quickly spread across social media, especially on TikTok, and St. Louis fans embraced both the song and my journey. What started as one independent artist taking a chance turned into one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. A few months later, I was invited back to Busch Stadium to perform The Lou live before the Cardinals took on the Atlanta Braves and then throw out a ceremonial first pitch. As someone who spent years chasing a baseball dream before finding music, standing in a Major League Stadium with a microphone in one hand and a baseball in the other felt like my entire journey had come full circle.
Today, I am still proudly independent, still creating opportunities instead of waiting for them, and doing it all with an even greater purpose. Becoming a husband and father has changed the way I define success. More than anything, I hope my story reminds people that you do not have to follow someone else’s blueprint to build something meaningful. Stay authentic, stay patient, create your own opportunities, and never stop believing that your biggest chapter may still be ahead of you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Looking back, my biggest challenge was having to reinvent myself after baseball. For so many years, that was my identity. When that chapter ended after college, I felt lost and had to figure out who I was without the game that had been such a huge part of my life.
Once I found music, I quickly realized that talent is only a small part of the journey. As an independent artist, I had to learn everything myself. Recording, marketing, promotion, video editing, graphic design, booking shows, networking, and building a business all became my responsibility. There was no label, manager, or big team behind me. Every opportunity had to be created through years of consistent work.
Life also brought challenges far beyond music. Over the years, I’ve lost some of the people who meant the most to me, including my best friend Citro, my diehard supporter and friend Jeff Will, my cousin Tommy, my grandmother, my Aunt Sandie, and my Uncle Randy. They weren’t just family and friends, they were some of my biggest supporters. Those losses changed me as a person and as an artist. They taught me not to take a single day or opportunity for granted, and they inspired some of the most meaningful songs I’ve ever written. Music became more than a passion. It became a way to heal, honor their memories, and hopefully help others who are navigating loss themselves.
Patience was another lesson I had to learn. When I first started, I thought I would release a song and it would instantly take off. Instead, I have released well over 100 songs, and if I’m being honest, I only consider a handful of them to be true successes. That used to frustrate me. Today, I see it differently. Every song taught me something, helped me improve, and became another brick in the foundation I was building. When one song finally reaches new listeners, they discover an entire catalog behind it instead of just one viral moment.
There were also times when the support wasn’t what I hoped it would be. Some people believed in me from day one, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. Others didn’t really understand the vision until they started seeing the results. I’ve learned not to take that personally. Success has a way of changing perspectives, and I’ve realized that the most important belief is the one you have in yourself.
Now when I look back at everything that led to moments like performing at Busch Stadium, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch, and sharing my music with people around the world, I’m grateful I didn’t quit during the years when it felt like nothing was happening. Music has taught me that this is a marathon, not a sprint. If you stay authentic, keep improving, and refuse to give up, incredible things can happen when you least expect them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an independent hip hop artist, songwriter, entrepreneur, and the owner of Up Next Entertainment. I perform under the name Double G (also known online as @DoubleG410). Since “Double G” is such a common name, I adopted @DoubleG410 to create a consistent brand that’s easy for fans to find across Google, streaming platforms, and social media.
At the core of everything I create is storytelling. I want every song to make people feel something. Whether I’m writing about overcoming adversity, honoring loved ones, creating a motivational anthem, or building a song around a city, sports team, or brand, my goal is to create genuine connections through music.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t wait for opportunities. I create them. Instead of following the traditional path and hoping someone discovers me, I’ve built relationships, found unique lanes, and created music that reaches people in unexpected ways. My song “The Lou” is a perfect example. What started as a tribute to the city of St. Louis grew into a relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals. The song was played throughout Busch Stadium on release night in front of more than 30,000 fans, the Cardinals’ scoreboard crew called it their “Song of the Summer,” and the momentum eventually led to me performing live before a Cardinals game and throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. Before that, another one of my songs, “How Bad Do You Want It,” was featured on CBS Baltimore, helping introduce my music to an even wider audience. Those moments reinforced something I’ve always believed. When you stay authentic and think outside the box, opportunities have a way of finding you.
I’m also proud that I’ve remained completely independent throughout my career. I’ve learned every aspect of the business, from marketing and branding to video editing, graphic design, and social media. Staying independent has allowed me to build Up Next Entertainment my way while maintaining complete creative control over everything I release.
More than any stream count, award, or media feature, I’m most proud of the connection my music creates with people. The messages I receive from listeners who tell me a song helped them through a difficult time, motivated them to chase a dream, or simply made them feel understood mean more to me than any statistic ever could. That’s why I continue to make music. If someone walks away from one of my songs feeling inspired, understood, motivated, or simply reminded that they’re not alone, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think luck definitely plays a role in life, but I also believe we create a lot of our own luck. Opportunities are everywhere, but if you’re not prepared when one comes along, it usually passes you by.
Looking back at my career, someone could say I was lucky to perform at Busch Stadium or throw out a ceremonial first pitch. What they don’t always see are the ten plus years of work that led to that moment. The hundreds of late nights writing songs, releasing more than 100 records, teaching myself the business, building relationships, and continuing to show up even when the results weren’t immediate. When the opportunity finally came, I was ready for it.
The same is true for every interview, collaboration, and media feature I’ve been fortunate to receive. I don’t believe those things happened by accident. They happened because I spent years preparing for opportunities I hoped would eventually come.
At the same time, life has also brought its share of bad luck. Losing some of the people closest to me, watching dreams change, and facing setbacks taught me that none of us control everything. What we do control is how we respond. Those difficult moments shaped me just as much as the good ones and gave my music a depth it never would have had otherwise.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success isn’t built on luck alone. It’s built on preparation, persistence, and showing up every day. When opportunity finally knocks, that’s when people call it luck.
The harder I’ve worked, the luckier I’ve seemed to become. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doubleg410.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doubleg410
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doubleg410
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/doubleg410
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3udWgqhKwgHH79nuxHH2YM
