Relentless Aaron: The Art of Storytelling

At HipHopDX.com we pride ourselves on having the best writers anywhere on the Net. I cant speak for the rest of them, but if this is truly their passion then Relentless Aaron is the personification of both drive and talent meeting on expressions highway in an artfully done collision. For Aaron [real name DeWitt Gilmore], his artistic release came at a time when his physical was imprisoned in an actual prison. The Father of Urban Fiction pled guilty to a bank scam in which he was counterfeiting checks. While in prison, the father of two had a realization he didnt want his life to continue down that wrong path. Fueled by renewed passion, Gilmore learned everything that he can about writing and formalizing stories. He churned out thirty books and upon is exit of prison came up with the name Relentless Aaron. The name came to him to describe his work ethic and his favorite ball player -- Hank Aaron.

Now the street lit author du jour has signed a 14-book deal with retail giant Wal-Mart. In another interesting turn, Relentless has also signed a deal with 50 Cent and his G-Unit Books. The prolific writer sits down with HipHopDX.com as he talks about how prison changed his life, the critics of street literature and how his family has stood by him through it all.

DX: When you were in prison, what encouraged you to start writing?
RA: It was seeing four stabbings taking place right in front of me. There were other activities, like locks on belts being swung on people. It was seeing the bodies laid out on stretchers that changed me from war mode to peace mode. I had been celled up with one of the dudes and when its like that you kind of have to have their back. If you dont, then youre viewed as the enemy. I had his back, but one early morning when they opened the gates, it became like a mini-war. Like I said before, guys got taken away, my man did too, but I didnt know what ended up happening to him. They started separating folks and starting locking people up in segregation. I just noticed that you had to change how you think. Theres always someone bigger and faster. It was just time to leave the tough guy shit alone and become the hummingbird.

DX: Society tends to look at black men as criminals already, so having done time and are now successful with crafting out books how does society look at you now?
RA: Its funny, because on one hand you have people who admire you for whatever reason maybe theyve been through it or know someone who has. So, Im holding up the torch on that end. But you have people who are in prison right now who are proud of me. But on the other hand, you have the whole army of haters authors that have been struggling for years, the other ex-cons who came out with a book and werent as successful. It just exists in the universe. I really buckled down and studied how to put out killer books. I had a cohesive storyline. I studied this under the gun. So, because they were unaware on how to do it, I got the hate. You have the writers who dont even have any books written and they are just a critic and theyre not feeling me. I have a wrath. No one has ever went from behind prison walls to Wal-Mart signing a 14-book deal! Never has a person come home and signed a deal with 50 Cent and G-Unit Books and multiple movie deals! Im with the top Hip Hop management company. Its about hitting hard because Ive taken all this time to learn my craft. They [fans and critics] love Denzel [Washington], but will hate on 50 [Cent] but the both of them can sit down and take pictures together and have no problem. I dont wish any ill will on anyone who hates on me, but I hope that people learn to be aware about what Im doing. They dont even read the books, but they already pigeonhole me.

DX: There are many critics of the street lit genre who say various things about the culture. What do you think is the issue that people have with street lit?
RA: I think that when Hip Hop came along people were appalled by how disenfranchised people created such a culture between things that were and things that already existed. This new genre didnt conform within the rest of the world. It wasnt Barry Manilow or Dolly Parton or Dionne Warwick. This was Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. It was a culture clash! Thats whats going on in the book industry. Its easy to come out with a book nowadays; its as simple as you sitting in front of your computer and writing out your wildest fantasies. I tend to go with saying that, Once upon a time, we were hung for even having the want or the desire to read. Here we come years later with James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston who can write a cohesive book and it can be followed. There is power within the written word! You can share this work with the world by means of publication and circulation. It is a scary thing for people who are a part of the establishment. I saw a book called Cunt in Barnes & Noble the other day. Thats a brilliant title! Those lines of demarcation are being blurred. Its all about how people react to it. Were now living in the Don Imus world and anything goes.

DX: How hard was it to promote your books around the country and howd you come up with the idea of the promotional van?
RA: Promoting the books at first was pretty easy. I was doing business with Black business owners and consumers, so I already knew who my demographic was while I was writing. I cant really say for sure, but we are the sum total of our thoughts. The things that would take people ten lifetimes to learn, I have learned. I am a sponge for information and I utilize 90% of my brain as opposed to 10%.

DX: Your family at the time had already went through the trying period of you being imprisoned, but now had to cope with your dreams how did they handle that at first?
RA: Well, at first it was hard. It was hard to believe someone coming out of prison because you have all these naysayers. The universe as a whole is discouraging. It was a stretch. It was real difficult, but I was headstrong and determined to make it. I just knew in my mind that I was going to have a book and it would be a best seller. In doing, I had to back that up and educate myself on the book industry. I had to study how to write a story. I had various experiences, so it was a synch for me. I overcame whatever the naysayers had to say. I built it up regardless. I had people who did believe in me. This friend of mines since I was 18 [years old] had embraced my plans and ideas. His faith was unwavering; even after seven years of being in prison. He had given me money on my commissary, but in all that time, I hadnt seen him.

DX: Before the book deal, what was the most difficult thing about publishing/writing your books?
RA: Overcoming the stigma of being a self-publisher. Theyll look your book over, right, then ask if its in Barnes & Noble. I say, Does it matter? But thats what I had to go through. I call them Teflon building moments. These negative commentaries or situations fuel my strength. Im doing something thats not usually done or is usually frowned upon. Im being a salesman. Im walking into an area where people have gotten hoodwinked, not necessarily in the book field, but in sales in general. I remember seeing the play Oklahoma. Theres a kaleidoscope that salesman was trying to sell, but it was bullshit. He was selling himself to the girl who was the buyer. This was decades ago, but what Im trying to say is that sales is a bad stigma. Anything outside out of the normal approach [Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart] is frowned upon. Im living my dream when Im out there.

DX: I read in your bio that Bill Duke plans on directing a movie trilogy based on Push. How did that make you feel?
RA: It was amazing to be endorsed by such a goliath within the movie industry. Whenever hes directing something or acting in a movie, he has a credibility about himself thats plainly visible. It makes you proud that youre rolling with such a titan. He supported me. Hes on tape saying very nice things about me. This is Hollywood coming to Small Town, U.S.A. This is prior to him giving me money. He understands that Im an alchemist; that I turn chitlins into chicken. I had finally met LL Cool J for the first time and he applauded me on my books. It was really one of the best moments in my life.

DX: How does street lit appeal to the masses when it seems as if very few people are interested in reading?
RA: I think the movies are going to make a big difference. I know that But in order for you to cross that line to be able to reach people of other colors, you have to be a diverse person yourself. The content wont change, but as a writer, youll be talented more than just a storyteller. We dont live in an all-black world. Its not real you know what Im saying?

DX: When coming up with your characters where do you pool your inspirations from?
RA: Mainly from past experience and things that Ive been and have gone through. Whether its family or friends, thats the only way that I can be genuine is to actually know the feelings and to relay those feelings to others. Also, being in prison gave me a perspective on human emotions that other people might not have.