Who he is: Guilty Simpson, whose given name is Byron Simpson, is a Detroit rapper attracting the international spotlight. His debut, "Ode to the Ghetto," is being released Tuesday on California indie label Stones Throw, with an accompanying CD-release party Tuesday at the Shelter.
"I have a bigger platform in general to say what I want to say," Simpson says about joining the label, which is known for a cerebral and soulful -- yet streetwise -- approach to hip-hop. Among many critically acclaimed artists, it had a long association with deceased Detroit rapper-producer Jay Dee, a.k.a. J. Dilla.
"I think when they signed an artist like me, they wanted something a bit more edgy, to go a little more urban and street and grimy. I think it's a good marriage. I'm not a commercial artist, but I am not abstract. I put it in your face as opposed to presenting something with a hidden message."
Age: 32.
Home: Simpson lives in Dearborn Heights. He grew up on Detroit's west side and graduated from Benedictine High School in 1994. He attended school in Birmingham, Ala., but returned to Detroit to pursue music.
On his lyrical roots: Simpson took up rapping at age 18. "We used to practice at this place in Highland Park called the Dungeon." He joined the 12-person rap crew the Almighty Dreadnaughtz. "I started working on solo stuff because we needed somebody to generate the buzz. I still work with the crew. Hopefully, I can bring interest to the Dreadnaughtz. I give them a lot of credit for making me who I am."
On his technique: "I think it came with time and other songs that I was on. I used to yell when I first started out, being young and not having mic control. My natural voice is so deep. When I look back, it was trial and error. At one point, I was rapping with a higher-pitched rap voice that didn't have much depth to it. Just listening to the recordings, I fell back into my own voice."
On his producers: "As long as I bring my cadence and style, it's up to the producer to capture that." Simpson's album features production by key names such as J Dilla, Mister Porter (better known as Denaun Porter of D12), Black Milk and Madlib.
"All of them are cut from the same cloth as Dilla," he says. Simpson credits Dilla for instilling confidence in his lyrical ability. "He taught me to take pride in who I was and not to try to shape shift into anything else. He knew what kind of beats I needed to bring out those elements. He wanted me to be me and not to compromise who I am or to cater to the industry. He taught me how to be a trendsetter and not a follower."
On his writing process: "Usually I get ideas in weird places. I might be driving. It might be 3 or 4 in the morning. I don't think it's necessarily a set formula; it's a feeling. I might listen to a beat, and it might move me. I like to rap about things I see -- that's why I give Detroit so much credit to what I do. I focus on what I see. I like to rap about truth, as opposed to relying on metaphors and similes."
On his sound: Guilty's voice is unmistakable -- deep, rhythmic and percussive. His consonants are punctuated by his bass tone. He delivers his verses with fervor and intensity with a lyrical approach that's poignant and raw.
"The Real Me," produced by Black Milk, is reflective of Simpson's identity issues and is a track he cites among his favorites. He deals with matters of the heart on "I Must Love You": "Beyond MC-ing and hip-hop, it's weighing the pros and cons of staying in a relationship." The title track, "Ode to the Ghetto," is stark and forlorn.
