These were the days when warring factions of the US gangster-rap scene lived fast and died young. Tupac and Biggie Smalls both paid the ultimate price for living up to the image of the gangster icon. Slain in the midst of guns, drugs, thugs and … cool beats. But one rapper defied the odds, managing to live like a gangster, make music and help a junior Australian barrister find happiness outside of his working life.
Terrance Quaites, also known in the rap-industry as “TQ”, was very much a part of that late-90s musical scene. Raised in Compton, California - the birthplace of N.W.A. – TQ gained music-industry notoriety after his song “Westside” charted across the globe (YouTube clip here). Although TQ was raised by doting parents and a loving family, his real education came from the streets, where the first wave of hip-hop music became the soundtrack to his life. By the tender age of 16, when his mother found a gun in his room, TQ had already distinguished himself as a gangster thug.
But TQ’s passion for music evenutally lifted him out of criminality and into the midst of international music-stardom, in the process creating a song that would lead an Australian barrister to meet, and “click with”, a woman he would go to incredible lengths to please. This is a story of rap & love and should serve as a timely reminder to all those readers still counting recent stock-market losses that there are, indeed, more important things to worry about. Music & Romance first, Work & Cash second.
We first became aware of the story a few weeks ago when we received the following tip-off from an anonymous source:
This is an anonymous email about one of my employers, Paul Folino – Gallo who is a 4th year 28 year old barrister from Sydney. In a grand romantic gesture for his love interest, he contacted Los Angeles based R&B singer Terrance Quaites (who performs under the name TQ and I believe charted in Australia in the late 1990s). The background to the story is that Paul and his love interest both love TQ’s music. Well, I discovered that Paul contacted TQ and together the barrister and R&B singer rewrote one of TQ’s love songs. Paul arranged for TQ to record and send the re-written version just in time for the love interest’s birthday! TQ remarkably obliged and today the CD arrived at Wentworth Chambers. I for one thought it newsworthy and a testament to the fact that being a lawyer and being romantic aren’t mutually exclusive propositions.
Who would have thought, a lawyer having a life outside of the office?! Nope, romanticism and lawyering aren’t mutually exclusive, but we think most of our readers can probably take a leaf out of Paul’s book and show that important someone that they care.
We emailed Counsel Folino-Gallo, firstly congratulating him on his fine taste in gangster-rap, but also to clarify the story. We received the following response (edited):
Hi,
Well, I must admit, this was the last email I was expecting to be lurking in my inbox on an idle Wednesday! I understand that ignoring your email won’t necessary result in me escaping the attention. So it seems as though I’ve been well and truly thrown into it by one of my thoughtful colleagues… It definitely wasn’t intended to attract so much attention, I have had phone calls from all sorts of people. First, the recipient of my gift is someone I’d describe to be a woman I’m romantically interested in and with whom I have a great deal of history. The background to the story is that TQ is an artist who we both really liked, and, given that we both independently enjoyed his music before we met, it became one of those unique ‘things’ that we shared and has some significance to our relationship. So, whilst I was trying to come up with a thoughtful gift … the idea struck me.
In the midst of our day to day grind, I think we all tend to get a little self involved, and forget about showing those around us how much we care. I thought that I’d arrange something fun, to show her how special and important she is. To me a thoughtfully written letter is worth so much more than a piece of jewelry, and I know that to be the case for her too… I contacted TQ with my idea, through the network of his agents and managers, message got through to him and he kindly obliged. I wrote some lyrics that referred directly to her and I, and TQ incorporated those into the existing song and recorded them in his LA studio.
After a lot of correspondence and late nights owing to time differences, as he was on tour between cities, I received the CD this week. I can confirm it was well received (a few days ago), as one would expect, she was very taken by the lengths I had gone to in order to make it happen. She loves the song which I think speaks more to the sentimental significance of the song as opposed to any literary merit or underlying talent that I have as a songwriter.
We responded to Mr Folino-Gallo, asking him several other questions, to which he replied:
In answer to your other questions, I admit it did cost a small fortune to make it all happen, however, given that it was recorded in a studio, re-produced and remixed from scratch, I can hardly cavil with the cost. Besides, it’s only money and made her smile, so it was completely worth it in my view!
I do have it on good authority that it was far less expensive than his usual appearance fee. I think that he was uncertain as to how to respond to what I could have only imagined was seen as a pretty audacious request, so the prospect of deciding what to charge me for obliging would have been [a tough process]. It took a heap of co-ordination with flights from Alabama to Los Angeles and recording during his birthday… I don’t think he actually profited from it at all, but merely covered his overheads.
He wouldn’t consider himself a gangster and I certainly wouldn’t. I think growing up in South Central Los Angeles did present its fair share of adversity, but he is self-aware and his music reflects the idea that you can’t really sell yourself in the marketplace as being ‘from the streets’ or a ‘gangster,’ this is particularly so once you have enjoyed any level of commercial success. So his music has evolved from the gritty street ballads, to other aspects of his life that are more relevant to his existing circumstances. My estimation of TQ is that he’s actually really laid back and humble… a great guy with a big heart.
Have a great day.
P
An FS hat-tip to you, Paul. We hope you got the girl!
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I’ve seen him appear in court before. He’s a good counsel to boot.
Jin Quan – shouldnt that be a good counsel to booty?
That’s not how women think. A romantic gesture touches the heart not the gonads.
“Besides, it’s only money and made her smile, so it was completely worth it in my view!”
What a gorgeous story!! I hope that every male out there – lawyer or not – learns how great in can be to take considered time for a loved one. She’s one lucky woman.
I’ll have to say though, the best American men outshine the best Australian men on how to treat a woman they love. Way higher on the courtesy and consideration scale.
@Lady Marmalade – you know this because you’ve had them all?
@Nasty Cyril – I was waiting for a rise from you!
I expect it’s the competition in the US, approximately 310 million by official count – makes it a competitive place for business and relationships.
Men there seem to also communicate well and are respectful of a woman’s prerogative.
You don’t need to have them all when you’ve known – in your own opinion – the best.
Counsel, I hope many sweet nights follow.
@Lady Marmalade – touche!
Btw, Lady M, Mrs Cyril has it pretty good: We shave eachother’s backs, and I even let her sleep in the house the other night!
I’ve seen him appear in Court too. He’s very good on his feet. It’s hard to think it’s the same person. He’s appears so serious in Court.
We could use a few clones of him in our office that’s for sure.
could of had him, but he couldnt handle me
My wife sent me a hyperlink to this webpage, I’m guessing flowers from the servo will no longer qualify as foreplay.
TroubLe, I wonder what it was about you he couldn’t handle? Was it your poor grammar? Or the fact that you pride yourself on being hard to handle? He’s out romancing a woman, she is probably loving it, and you’re on here writing a comment about how you could have had him. The smiey face suggests to me that you miss the point.
Hahaha I am so very glad that my comment irritated you enough to write what you did. I think you are taking yourself a little too seriously.
Get over yourself. It was a harmless, playful comment. Have a lovely day Tommo
(How’s that for grammar? Coming from the one who can’t spell “smiley”)
@Anonymous – He is really hillarious once you get to know him. It’s just that he’s also really smart which makes him come across as being intense, especially when he talks about work.
A partner who worked at my firm used to brief Paul.
He’s the person you want to hate because everything seems to come to him so easily, however you end up with a crush on him because of how generous, laid back and genuine he is.
A few of the girls here had long faces when this article was circulated in the office this morning.
I hope this girl knows how lucky she is. He’s definately the guy most girls dream of ending up with! I hope it all worked out for him, he deserves it!