New Interview with J The S

Recently, Boston emcee J the S has been all over the scene. With a new project in the immediate future (My Will) and a monumental release (The Last Days) geared for next year, I sat down with Jake to discuss a whole heap of topics. We touch on the typical music things but we also step outside the normal realm and discuss politics, marijuana, teaching and community outlook. J is much more than a rapper and it is so good to see him finally getting the proper recognition. We have heard him with the likes of Joell Ortiz, Ras Kass, B.o.B, Kool G Rap and so many more, but this is a different side to Jake. All emcees should take notice because regardless of what the Chinese calendar says, 2009 is the year of the Snake!

Beads: When you dropped When in Rome it seemed like the awareness of J the S rose through the roof. How have things changed since then, industry-wise specifically?

J the S: Yeah that project was important in getting my rep up to where I felt it should be, even though I want so much more. But yeah, now I’m just on more websites, more radio play, mad more fans know me. Industry wise, shit’s definitely helped because now we got more attention from labels, DJ’s, industry cats, the buzz just grew. So yeah, I’m happy for what it did. And now people are anticipating more from me to come.

Beads: After listening to that album I was blown away. You touch on so many topics including; religion, politics, the streets and the industry among others. What inspires you to make music?

J the S: So many different aspects of my life, or life in general. The situations me or my peoples be in, my family been in. Whether its politics, crime, drug dealing, street shit, love, heartbreak, cooking dinner, lamping with my fam, playing chess, ladies, the whole realm of Snza. The state of the world, and our society, shit’s ugly, and that inspires me, or fuels me. But I go through my waves of creative shit. There’s alotta shit that does the opposite of inspire me, like this music industry full of bloodsuckers, fake ass people bullshitting, the meds they got me on, shit like that. But you got to find your muse. Sometimes I get stuck and head out of the city to get my mind in another place to write.

Beads: We recently saw you drop the single, “Another Round”, which is featured on the new release, My Will. What can we expect from this project and when can we expect to have it playing through our speakers?

J the S: Well the “Another Round” video is out, feat. B.o.B. and it’s been getting mad shine on all the websites, getting me alotta love and attention. My Will is another “street album”, even though I hate that term, and I hesitate to call it a mixtape, cause it’s more of an album that any kid’s mixtape. But it’s hosted by DJ Warrior & Mr. Peter Parker, featuring appearances from B.o.B., Kool G Rap, Donny Goines, Emilio Rojas, and another big name or two we wrapping up now. It’s just more evolution of the Snake Man as we prepare for The Last Days album, which is coming along beautifully.

Beads: Seeing your grind and hearing your progression in the music makes it clear that you are one of the most talented emcee’s in this game. What is your ultimate goal with, My Will?

J the S: Thank you for the kind words. My Will is a means for me to show the people that I gets better with every song, and I’m striving to be as creative and original as possible, giving the people more of an idea of who J the S is, what my mystique is, what the aura is all about. Getting them ready for my magnum opus, The Last Days so I’m touching on some topics that are going to be on that album, issues we’re facing as people right now, and showing my growth as a musician and songwriter. And just to give yall real quality music to vibe with amongst the pollution we dealing with now in our ears.

Beads: You are an artist who progressively improves with every release. When in Rome was as solid a project I’ve heard in a while. How much of an improvement is My Will when compared to your previous work?

J The S: My manager is mad honest with me, which is critical to an artist’s progression, cause if you got yes men working for you, you stay gassed, and lazy, and never really improve or grow. But he was bugging on how much better it is than When In Rome. And not that that record wasn’t dope, it’s just I been going in so much, and getting my mind on another wavelength to make my new shit. My man Mr. Peter Parker likes to say that I’m in my own “Snake World”, just my own zone, and I been creating the best shit I ever have. The constant big progression is real evident in everything from the writing, lyrics, beats, topics, ect. You hear it as soon as you listen to the project, guaranteed. A game, no summer school, ya heard?

Beads: Being from Boston, like yourself, I see first-hand how messed up our musical scene is and I also see how slept on you are throughout Boston, specifically by other artists. Why do you think this is happening?

J The S: Ha. Boston is my home, favorite city on the planet, but we got to lotta issues in our hip hop scene. Since no one has really blown since Edo back in the early nineties, even though you got cats like Term and Slaine doing big things, we haven’t gotten much shine for our hip hop. So cats are scared. Cats are scared that there are only X amount of slots for Boston artists in the game, and that the bigger industry will only fuck with a couple of us, if any, so everybody seems worried that it may not be them, but the next man. That insecurity leads to less unity, more division, more competition, more hate. It’s very clicky, and I’ve seen alotta bean artists start to buzz, drop big records, and a year later, they nowhere. Maybe a reason I was slept on is because I ain’t come in on anyone’s back, no co sign from no one, and I didn’t kiss ass or ride dick to get love like so many cats round home do. So they don’t want to show me love if I aint doing it to them first. Lil kid shit. But I never cared about what the other rappers or producers really thought, as long as the fans felt me. And that’s why my shows stay drawing people, why my songs stay on the radio, requests, why my CD’s move. And I roll with my own peoples. All the love and support I get now is because I earned it the old fashioned way, and I am making big moves and good music now, its undeniable, so cats are starting to show the love they know they can’t deny. Cats be popping out the woodwork now like, “Oh let’s do a track” or “let me throw you some beats” or “let me play your record” which is cool, cause I’m all for keeping this music thing moving. It’s just funny how that shit works. Love to all those who support me, and mega oil love to those who had my back from jump.

Beads: On a large scale how much does it affect you when your home town sometimes shows less love than other regions? You have a very strong buzz in many regions and we have heard you on records with a lot of big rappers, so does the overall love and buzz outweigh the negative?

J The S: The overall love always outweighs the hate. It has to, that’s the bottom line in this music. Do you want to just make music that only matters in Boston, or you want to make music for the world? You got to know your own goals. I’ve played shows across the country. I’m on radio across the country, internationally, all over the internet, so I know there’s a bigger world out there than home. And I got mad references and lines in my joints that only cats from bean are going to get, because that’s part of me, and that’s for my Boston people. But like I said, I’ve always got love in Bean, but mostly fans, like getting stopped in the street, or in stores, signing autographs, shit like that. But now many more Boston artists and industry cats are recognizing what I’m doing, showing respect, and there’s a bunch of cats that’s I’m digging and they get that same respect from me.

Bead: In my opinion, you are one of the most well-rounded emcee’s in the industry today. You have a vast knowledge of a lot of things and you always seem to say what you like, when you like. You have a lot of controversial material, regarding politics and religion, but you aren’t ignorant in your views. Have you always been interested in politics and religion?

J The S:  I strive to never be ignorant. I got an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and truth. I do say a lot of shit that people label “controversial” but it’s just actual facts, and that’s the scariest shit of all. That’s why they bugging. And I’m just saying it, but it lives out there, it’s real out there, not just in J The S’ music. Some shit I say might catch people’s ears cause it directly correlates with their lives or their views or feelings, or it catches the ears cause it’s something they never heard no one say, or say it that way, or they ain’t ready to hear it. When I was much younger, I always knew I was righteous, I knew what was really good and what was really bad, my folks were on some ill shit. But I was a young teenager, too into getting fucked up all of the time, chasing girls, skateboarding, doing crazy stupid shit to ever read a book or really get on the shit I’m on now. But when I was 17 or 18 I read a book or two that changed my perception. I stopped some of that other shit and started reading a lot, investigating shit, learning more, building with different types of heads. I just couldn’t stop myself.

Beads: With an election underway, will you be voting for the new president?

Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted prior to the U.S. Presedential elections.

J The S: There is this line Saigon has, he a very talented intelligent cat and he said “I can’t vote and that’s something I don’t regret/cause for the poor folk they ain’t done shit yet” and That line always stuck with me. He was saying he can’t vote because he’s a felon, like many of my friends and peers. I don’t have a felony charge on my record, so I can. But sometimes I think about, like really think about everything I know about this new world order in action, the secrets of the ages, how and why this shit was set up, and I bug out like fuck it why? When I’ve voted the last two elections, I voted Green Party. Uniformed heads try and hate like, “that’s why the Democrats lost and Bush won”. But that’s bullshit. We can’t have a real democracy with these two, almost indistinguishable parties. But this go-round imma vote for Obama, a democrat. I feel strong that his presence, more than any actual changes he could accomplish, his presence in office will be vital right now. It will inspire, change minds, and open doors. He symbolizes change and hop, and hat is something people need to feel significant, to feel that there is any chance of improvement from the hell we in now. There are truly troubled times ahead, and I don’t know if even if he elected he can change some shit. Some damage is irreversible at this point.

Beads: In Massachusetts we have a question on our ballot regarding the decriminalization of marijuana. Listening to your music it is clear that you are an advocate for the legalization of marijuana. Why do you think the government is so apprehensive to legalize weed?

J The S: I wish I could speak on this from a more educated standpoint. I mean, for one, they tax cigarettes and alcohol, so they get paper off that. Those are both inelastic goods, meaning heads are going to buy them no matter the economy. I wonder would weed operate the same way? I think there are still a lot of stupid old politicians who think its evil, so they spread that ‘gateway” drug, reefer madness fear to concerned citizens through terrifying news broadcasts and shit. Plus, the War on drugs, although a failure, and expensive for the American taxpayer, is lucrative for the government financially, as well as for attacking “undesirables” as the government would state behind closed doors.

Beads: Back a few years ago, I heard that you where a teacher and a person who was involved in the community. What was the best part of teaching?

J The S: Sharing the knowledge, any form of it, simple to complex, with another young human being, and watching them manifest that knowledge. Witnessing your righteous intentioned deeds succeed in front of your own eyes. So often we feel like we strive to do good, but never see the result.

Beads: Was teaching more satisfying than making music?

J The S: Ha. That’s a close one. MAKING the music is incredible joy, but the business and industry side is horrible. So Teaching, I guess.

Beads: Are you currently involved in any community projects?

J The S: As my career has gotten more serious it’s been real hard for me to stay as involved as I have been in the past. I was doing this pen pal program to young middle school kids at the Timilty middle School in Roxbury. I recently donated and participated in Cindy Digg’s PEACE Boston campaign, rich had marches, shows, events and released a compilation CD and sold T-Shirts to raise awareness about the rapidly growing rate of violence in Boston, as well as to raise money for the gravestone of a mother who lost her son to violence in the streets. I was also working with a program Citizen School’s helping on a panel about their Hip Hop school program they have in various Boston schools, teaching kids’ music, and business.

Beads: One thing I respect about you is the fact that you have a very strong manager and crew of people around you. Can you explain to the up and coming emcee how important quality management is in this industry.

J The S: It was hard because I didn’t always have that until recently, so a lot of the shit it took me to get to that point was me working real hard. But only so much I could do. So I’m very thankful and fortunate to have a good manager in a good place, some big Commercial radio DJ behind me, a good publicist, a great street team, my man who is doing promo for me hard, people with connections, it’s lovely and I thank all of them for seeing the Snake Man’s vision and walking with me through the mist. Almost every successful artist has a team behind him. It gets hard to do all the music, and network, and promote, and manage. The more cohesive and motivated your team is the better. Just make sure they share your vision.

Beads: We couldn’t sit here and fail to mention, The Last Days album release date. When are we going to get the official album?

J The S: Ahhh…the money question. Me and my executive producer have been going in on this album. Taking our time, with it, making it right. I would say look for it in spring 2009.

Beads: Any shout outs before we get out of here?

J the S: All my dogs locked behind the walls…Lord Touch, Maze, Caype, hold your heads. The Greater Good; Amadeus, Prone, Speks, Karas, Blend, and Dom. My manager Jonathan Master, Peter Parker, my publicist Dove, and my main man Beads! One love

• J The S on MySpace
• June 2008 Interview with J The S

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