Philly's Gillie Da Kid dishes on Soulja Boy, music and his college education

At first, the dimly lit studio, dubbed "The Batcave," at 3rd and Callowhill where Philly rapper Gillie Da Kid records didn't have the feel I was expecting.

No record labels or shiny awards hung from the walls. The production board and monitors were simple and seemed almost old school. What I'd later realize was that this was the purpose of Gillie's character.

From his casual look of a white tank top, jeans and the interesting choice of a Chicago Bears hat, since he's a big Eagles fan, to his welcoming hug when he greeted me, the North Philadelphia native embraces a relaxed lifestyle despite his many accomplishments in the music industry.

If you're still not quite sure who I'm talking about, Gillie was recently involved in a Twitter feud with Soulja Boy, which was reported on philly.com in early August.

From that single incident over the Internet, celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman proposed a match for Gillie and Soulja Boy, which was slated for late October until Soulja Boy recently pulled out of the gig.

Feldman told me that Soulja Boy was initially all for the fight, talked a big game, and was even set to train with Floyd Mayweather Sr. It's not clear why Soulja Boy backed out, but Gillie is still set to fight against reality star George Weisgerber or 'Tailor Made' from the reality show "I Love New York." The details are still being worked out, Feldman says, but either way, Gillie's signed his half of the contract.

But this isn't the beginning of Gillie's name. The 30-year-old rapper, born Nasir Fard, was originally a member of Major Figgas in the '90s and then later signed solo with Cash Money records. In 2006, it was rumored that he'd been ghostwriting for Lil Wayne, long story short, that eventually lead to a falling out among Gillie, Lil Wayne and Cash Money. Gillie recently signed a $2 million deal with Relumae Records owned by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali.

All of that aside, Gillie still finds himself a target of Soulja Boy's anger, for what originally seemed to be about older rappers not giving the younger guys their time in the spotlight.

Gillie's biggest record to date, he says, "Get Down on the Ground," released in 2008, was in fact remade by Soulja Boy in "Get Down" in 2013, so he's not entirely sure why there's a beef, since it's evident that he's a fan of Gillie's style.

"You're remaking records of mine. I don't understand that. His biggest hit record, you don't hear that today."

When asked about the Twitter rant, Gillie didn't seem to approach the situation with much urgency or even consider paying it much attention at all.

"For me, coming from the streets, there's just certain things you just don't say. I'm not gonna pistol-whip a man if I don't have intentions to do that."

Part of the argument included Soulja Boy, 24, threatening to kill Gillie, and still that didn't seem to scare him.

"Me personally, I'm never gonna tell somebody on Twitter that I'm gonna kill them. And use eight gun emojis! I don't use emojis. Emojis are for women."

Feeling no real threat about the violence directed at him, Gillie turned my attention to the music being made today by the younger rappers, Soulja Boy included.

He took a real jab at the newer, younger guys emerging on the scene and was adamant that the only young artist making real money today is Drake.

"The music is not good in this era, let's be honest. My advice to them is to make better music. They make here-today, gone-tomorrow music. They're not making timeless music. I feel like I'm cut from a different cloth than that."

Coming into the music industry when he did, Gillie says it's now just about being able to adapt to how the scene is today. With the changes in music and how artists interact with each other and the fans, he's confident he's able to that.

"You just gotta learn to change and adapt. I'm very good at adapting. I believe that me going to Cabrini College changed, you know, really made me into a chameleon."

Multiple times throughout our conversation Gillie expressed how he attributes everything he's done to his four years at Cabrini. Studying business, playing basketball, and being on the track team helped him see the world in a new light, he says.

"As a young black kid straight outta the ghetto and to place them in a 95% white environment, it was very eye-opening for me."

There's no doubt in his mind that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. It was those years that made him well-rounded, he adds, and most importantly, he learned to just be himself in any environment. He also made it very clear his best times were in college.

"White folks just really know how to have fun! We had a rule in college when you get sh---faced drunk, you better not pass out with your shoes on. If you do, anything can happen to you. If the lacrosse team wins the championship, they all run around the whole campus ass naked! That sh-- is crazy!"

One thing he was never a big fan of doing was the beer bong, though. He said he did it once and "it was the worst experience of my life, unbelievable," he joked.

Gillie wasn't hesitant about comparing his college life to life on the streets of North Philly. A Ben Franklin High School graduate, he still looks out for friends and family at home and acknowledges how blessed he is.

He was recently involved in a veterans memorial ceremony at Washington Square where he shared the significance of his song "Make It Home" on his "King of Philly 3" mixtape dedicated to soldiers he knew that never made it back home and even to those who lost their lives in the street.

"I like to look at these youngin's on the street as soldiers, too, because they have a soldier mentality. They also don't really have the ability to lead or think for themselves. For us, it's a surprise when you know someone who hasn't been shot. So the best thing that's ever happened to me was definitely going to Cabrini College.

It's no doubt that Gillie appreciates what life has taught him and he continues to learn as the music industry changes as well as approaching different opportunities presented to him.

From his recent movie career with roles in "King of the Avenue," "The Wrath of Cain" and working alongside Steven Segal in "Force of Execution" to hitting the studio with Will Smith, Gillie knows he's been lucky to meet so many people across many industries.

Recording in Philly is obviously a huge part of not only Gillie's career but many others. He pointed out that The Batcave is where all Philly artists record.

"Everybody as far as artists in Philly, records outta this place. Meek Mill, he started here. Beanie Sigal, Freeway, even the young guys, Santos and Kur. This is kinda like the main studio in the city. I got my album, comin' 'Welcome to Gilladelphia,' that's what's up next."

To reiterate my initial observation Gillie prides the studio as having more of a family feel to it, no $100,000 board, like other studios use, he says.

As far as Gillie's concerned, he's proud of where his college education has taken him and trusts where it will take his future. He sure didn't want me to forget that.

"Me comin' outta the heart of North Philly and goin' to that type of environment, I swear was the best sh-- that ever happened to me. Believe that."