Daily Inspiration: Meet Gino Bino

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gino Bino.

Gino, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Gino Bino and I first started to love rap music in the early 2000’s.

I’ve always liked rap music, but I think I really got into it more when I listened to Three 6 Mafia. They’re my favorite group, and I feel like you can still hear their influence in music today. I know that there are other people that came before them that are also influential, but for me personally that’s who I wanted to kind of emulate when I started to rap. Gangsta Boo is my favorite rapper of all time. RIP Lola!

But I remember writing my own songs as early as 8th grade. I would take their songs and write my own words, kind of like a “Weird Al” style. Except he would make funny versions of other people’s songs. I guess I did have some funny songs, but I would just make my own versions, funny or not.

And then in high school, I started to learn how to make beats, and honestly I’m better at writing than I am with the music, which is why I do consider myself more of a lyricist. I took it a little more seriously once I got to college and took an audio production class because I had all this equipment available to me.

I went to school for film, but my track was just all digital media related, so I was able to use their recording studio and I decided I would do a rap song as one of my projects. But because I actually went to school for film, music was still just more of a hobby at that time.

But right before my 30th birthday, I decided I really needed to take it more seriously. I’ve been talking about coming out with a mix tape since high school. And I was thinking, that was such a long time ago, but if it’s been a hobby this long, I feel like I just have to go for it. So that’s what I did.

I think that one of my one of the biggest blocks that I had was just, almost thinking about it too much. Because I remember that year, I started in January and I was thinking, I just need to come out with one song a week no matter how dumb it sounds. And it turns out that those were some of my best songs.

And after I wrote about four songs, I was thinking, let me take it a little more seriously, but I didn’t necessarily like how those songs ended up.

So I feel like I am more inspired to write when I really can feel it, or when I feel I really have a message. I don’t force myself to write anything, because I write the best when I feel inspired.

I don’t want to just come out with a song just to come out with it. I really write music as an expression of how I feel and that’s what I think is really important. And I feel like I respect hip hop in that way, where everything I write comes from my deepest thoughts and feelings.

A lot of people just want to make a hit song, but I’m not worried about making a hit song. All my songs are hits to me, and that makes it more worthwhile.

Sometimes I’m not completely sure if I have the voice for it. I guess it depends on which song you listen to, but I don’t necessarily think I do all the time. But the way I see it is, I’m gonna make the song that I wanna make. And even if I don’t have the voice, I think to myself, maybe it’ll be a reference track for someone else down the line. But when I write something, I just want to be able to say that I was the first one to say it in a song. That’s how much I believe in my writing. I don’t want to wait for someone else to say something similar, because that happens all the time. I’ll see something and go “I had that idea forever ago. They stole that bar from me!” So I want to be able to say that I put it out first and put a time stamp on it. So I do take the writing part very seriously.

But I also realize that it does take a lot of people to create these radio hits. It’s not just about the lyrics, it’s about the production, the instrumentation, etc. So because of that, I started getting into stand up comedy in early 2024. I feel like that’s the fastest way to get your writing out there because you really don’t need all those people involved. It’s you and the microphone and that’s all you need,

I mean, I might be wrong, but it seems like the fastest way to get your writing out there. Because I could write something today do an open mic tomorrow. I don’t have to wait to get a beat, I don’t even have to wait to record it. So thats why I’ve been trying to get my name out in the comedy world as well.

I do think that starting out rapping made it easier to jump into comedy because public speaking is a lot of people’s fears and, I definitely feared it too. Even when I recorded that first song for my audio production class, I wore sunglasses in the studio and kept my eyes closed because I was nervous.

But I remember in 2018 when I went to my very first open mic to do music, I was coming up with all the excuses as to why I couldn’t go, but something told me to just go for it. I got up and went to my car before I could talk myself out of it. I went by myself to this open mic I just found out about on Instagram. I didn’t know anyone there, I felt super awkward. Up until I was done with my two songs that I performed, and then it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I remember it was just a relief that they liked it. Because they could tell it was real. I really pour my heart out in a lot of my music,

And when I first did stand-up, it kind of felt similar. I never considered myself funny necessarily, but people would say I’m just naturally funny. I could be complaining about something, and I’ll say exactly what I’m thinking and people would find it funny. But I do prefer to actually write jokes.

And it’s crazy that all my interests like film, music, or comedy, kind of worked out the way it did. I don’t see them as different things necessarily. To jump from one to the other was just a natural progression for me. And I always loved the feeling of world’s colliding. That’s why I like listening to mash ups, too.

And I’m forever glad that I did that, because through music, I was able to work with Judi Jai on producing her mix tape. And speaking of world’s colliding, I was really just a fan of Bad Girls Club and I just had to see her when she was in my city. I had just asked her for a feature, but I had no idea it would lead to us having an ongoing working relationship. Eventually, I went to Atlanta for the album release party and it was really amazing to have the song playing at the club. I can’t wait to go back!

But at the same time, I always hear people say that you have to “focus on one thing and really stick with it” to be one of the greats, but I kind of like that I dabble a little bit here and there. I see it as being well rounded.

So, that’s what I’m doing now. As of right now, I have four shows coming up soon that have already been booked. And I’m working on editing my music video for my latest song “Comedian.” Two of them are comedy shows and two of them are music shows.

I’ve just been out here trying to find opportunities anywhere I can. I’ve performed in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, even Texas. I haven’t performed in Atlanta yet! But that is for sure going to happen in the near future.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not always been a smooth road because sometimes I will go to places and see that it’s mostly a popularity contest. You probably couldn’t tell from my music or my comedy, but I’m actually very shy, so networking is something I’ve struggled with.

But that’s why I appreciate that the internet has made it easier to connect with people all over the world. I don’t have to go to the event in my city to meet people that I may or may not mesh with. But I don’t necessarily see my shyness as a bad thing, I think if anything it helps me choose quality over quantity. I’m sure I’ve missed opportunities from being shy, but I’m glad I can say that when I decide to go for something, it’s because I REALLY wanted it that bad.

As shy as I am, if I can work through that in my mind to approach you, then I must have REALLY wanted to work with you. And if I don’t want it that bad, then so be it. I think as long as you’re doing what you love, you will end up meeting the right people anyway. It’s inevitable.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a rapper and comedian. I specialize in being real, wearing my heart on my sleeve, and showing a unique perspective. I’m known for surprising people. There aren’t many gay filipino rappers, so that alone makes people kinda do a double take. People are surprised to find out I’m gay, even.

But I’m most proud that people realize I’m not just doing it to hop on a bandwagon. A lot of rappers come out and you can tell they’re trying to sound like someone else. I’ve heard several people say I have my own style, my own flow, and so I know people respect the artistry, because they see that I do, as well.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t rap or do comedy to be popular. I do it for me, and people can see that I don’t just follow the crowd. Especially with stand up, I’m not afraid to give my ‘hot takes’ on certain topics. Sometimes I can tell that the audience doesn’t like what I’m saying, but I say it anyway, because I believe in making people think. Other comics will give
me advice like “you have to learn to read the room,” and I do to an extent. But if the audience is offended by what I’m saying, I sometimes think they are the ones that need to hear it the most. I’m not afraid to be unapologetically me.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being able to express myself and have other people really feel what I’m saying makes me happy.

Maybe it’s because I’m shy, which I think has a lot to do with society. For example, in school they kind of reward you for just sitting quietly in your seat. Actually, in 3rd grade, my teacher moved my desk right next to hers because I talked too much. Maybe that’s when I started to become shy.

But that’s why I also love writing in a way where I can say 3 things in one sentence. I’m a big fan of double, triple, quadruple entendres. So being able to come up with a catchy way to say all these things in one line, and for people to really understand it, makes me feel like I’m making up for all the times I stayed quiet in the past.

The bottom line is, communication makes me happy. In work, in relationships, in life in general, being able to communicate your thoughts and feelings in an efficient way makes me the happiest.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @daginobino
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/daginobino

Image Credits
Chrissy Perez
Angel Penn