2 Gz interview with Greg and John.

Sports talk. Mohawk. Kobe talk.

Tuesday and Wednesday graveyard shift fatigue owned me and I failed to make it out to 2 Gz barber shop. Thursday I drank plenty of Mountain Dew, so I was more than ready to do the interview.

 

2 Gz is owned by Greg and Gino; hence the name 2 Gz. They're not real gangsters, but the cuts they give are dumb tough. So dumb tough, 2 Gz has kept me coming back for over 7 years. They're located in east Houston(North Shore) and have been luring their customers back for the past 15 years with dope hair cuts, first-rate customer service and plenty of candid, yet insightful sports talk. That being said its only right that I bestow my 2 Gz potnas(Greg, Gino, John aka School) the first interview EVER on freshestLettuce.com.  

 

Where you guys from?

John - Northside. The Riverwood is the neighborhood. Its off Homestead.

Greg - I grew up on the east(Houston) in Woodbrothers. Me and Gino came up together.  

 

How long have you been cutting hair?

John - I've been cutting hair since 1990. So just about 19 years.

Greg - I've been cutting for 25 years. I started when I was 12.

 

Whats the wildest thing you've ever seen in the barber shop?

John - I may not be able to say the wildest thing on tape, so I'll give you another story. The owner of a shop on the SW side got into it with another barber and locked us up in the shop. He was trying to get away from the angry barber, so he went outside and locked us up INSIDE! He held us there for about 20 minutes until the Nigerian barber calmed down.

Greg - Niggas fighting! Its the barber shop, if you can think of it, its happened in the shop.

 

Southside cats have their "south side" signature cut. Are there any signature cuts that brothers from the east side wear?  

John - We cut african-americans, whites and hispanics, so I notice that the east side wears alot of designs, tapered fades and razor fades. African-americans tend to stick with the line designs and tapered fades. Hispanics go for the razor fades and star designs; you know Houston Astros and Houstone.

Greg - They can have all the signature cuts they want. I'll cut anything you want. A 2 Gz cut is a signature cut in itself. Some still wear the bald fade, but not many southside fades. If you want one I can cut it though.

 

What do you think of the comeback of hightop fades and mohawks?

Greg - Back in the days those were the style; flat top, ramp, wop, Mr. T. You had to be a bold brother back in the day to rock a mohawk.  

John - Everything comes and goes in cycles. What they call the mohawk today we were calling a Mr. T, cause thats who we first saw wearing it. I didn't wear the mohawk. I wore the semi-fade with waves on the top. One thing that I don't see coming back is the jheri curl.

 

Do you think Dallas can bring the jheri curl back?

John - Dallas would be the only city to bring the curl back. They kept finger waves alive for the longest. Dallas is kind on that pimp tip, so I can see them wearing it.

 

Who do you think would rock the best mohawk in the shop?

John - I know I wouldn't wear it!  Gino would wear it though. Hes a experimental barber. He likes trying new styles. I know Greg wouldn't try it.

Greg - Gino! He'd probably try it, but cut it off in a day or two.    

 

If you could cut any celebs hair who would it be? 

John - I've already cut people like Dante Hall, Wesley Wright(Astros pitcher) and Solomon "Shazam" Conner(H-Town). If I had the chance I would probably choose Barack. I'd be nervous at first, but he seems like he is down to earth.

Greg - Probably Jamie Foxx. He'd probably have some good stories.

 

With Kobe Bryant recently winning his fourth NBA title, where do you think he ranks amoung the greats?

John - I don't like Kobe. Personally hes an asshole, but he is the greatest player of his era. I'd say hes right behind Jordan.

Greg - He has to be up there among Jordan, Magic and Larry. Alot of people dislike Kobe, but you have to give him is respect, because he has four rings.

 

What does he have to do to surpass Jordan?

John - There is nothing Kobe can do to overtake Jordan. They were both the greatest players in their era, but they played against different competion, so its difficult to compare the two.

Greg - I don't think he can pass Jordan. He would have to win three more championships, win more than one MVP and win two dunk contests.  

 

What are you jamming in your car right now?

John - R.Kelly mix, Charlie Wilson, new Babyface. I listen to lots of Magic 102, but not much country music.

Greg - I bumping that new Rick Ross. That "Magnificent" is a classic.

 

Any side hustles people should know about?

John - I've got a travel agency called Caldwell Travel, so if you need to book a trip I can make that happen for you at a discounted price. If you need movies I can help you with that as well. Also I sell hair care and skin care products.

 

Note: I didn't get to interview Gino, because my daddy needed his dialysis that day.

 

Double note: Voluntary or not, Gino will get a mohawk next time I visit 2 Gz.

 

Triple note: John mentioned the name Houstone in this interview. Unless you have a death wish, DO NOT tatto a Astro's star underneath your eye. Houstone is a Texas prison gang.