Every now and then there comes a new artist on the scene that I personally really take a liking to. Last year, I can name two artists of the top of my head that did that… Trav Williams and Nobody Famous. This year, the one artist that sticks out in my head the most is this dude right here… know:juander.
As both an emcee and a producer, know:juander has a talent that is rare amongst others. There are few that do both and even fewer that do both well. His latest effort, A Kid Love, beta [download], sounds to me like a young Kanye in his prime. In fact, I’ll even go as far as putting A Kid Love, beta up against College Dropout any day of the week. If know:juander is putting out music this good already, you can only imagine what he’s got in store next. Whatever his next project will be, I’ve already extended the offer to put him out on HiPNOTT Records… welcome to the fam!
Let’s get to know know:juander after the cut…
Where You Reppin:
I’m holding down the greater Little Rock area. Arkansas baby! I also gotta say though, I’ve lived all over and I’ve got roots in Hawaii and some time in Louisville, KY so I rock with the HI peeps and the whole midwest. The A-State is home however…
Introduce Yourself:
My birth name is John Pickens, otherwise known as “know:juander” I’m an (extensively) talented guy. I’ve been involved in art since I was a youth. The path took me from painting and sketching to writing poetry (where I was also published) to playing trombone for four years, back to painting and graf and then I got into graphic design. In high school I got into rapping. And back in December of 2007 I got into beat making. I’m always trying to extend my creativity into different avenues and that is who I am. I also have clocked in as a military Paralegal for the last four years. So I live a fairly full life.
Current projects we should be looking out for:
Well I just dropped the A Kid Love, beta tape [download]. So I’m pushing that one pretty hard. I got two features on two different tapes coming soon; one from Skavenger of the Destruments crew and the other on a tape by DJ Semaj… and I killed both tracks. I’m also 1/4 of a newly formed collective of musicians called The Cosmic Souls consisting of Nefarious!, who did some joints on Epic Failure (Amor Jones), Juno Complex, and Time Travel. Me and Time Travel are working on a tape right now and that may or may not be the next tape you guys get from me. I don’t want to be like so many cats in the game now making all these false promises. I will say, though, that I am working my ass off and the fruits of that labor will be heard every time I pick up the mic.
Previous work that we should know about:
Other than the AKLB… I have dropped a beat tape entitled Wet Shoe Strings alluding to the fact they were my first set of beats when I was still getting my feet wet. It’s available on my website (www.juanderings.com). Also I did a beat on my brother’s last effort, Almost an Album, (Grip H) which was a dope tape period.
Main musical inspirations:
Wow. My biggest inspiration has and always will be Nasir Jones. In my eyes he is top 3 to ever speak his mind. Others include, in no particular order, Black Thought, Elzhi, Mos Def, Qunicy Jones, J Dilla, 9th Wonder, ?uestLove, Phonte Coleman, Dwele, Slum Village, ATCQ, De La, Organized Konfusion, Slick Rick… it’s too many to name. And added to that would be the Funk Brothers of Motown and Gable and Huff and the work they put into Philadelphia Intl.
If you had to pick one song that defines your career to date, what song would that be?
I would say “Painting a Still,” from A Kid Love, beta. The song has so many parts that are beautiful within the rhyme itself. And that’s what I want my music to reflect; regardless of what the surface shows, there will always be more underneath to appreciate and connect with.
Why should the readers and fans give you a shot and listen to your music from here on out?
They shouldn’t. (let me explain that)… Well… I think the reason people have no faith in most of what people call “music” these days is because they “gave” everybody a chance; nothing earned. And now we’re stuck in a situation where most people don’t recognize good artwork anymore, whether that’s music or not. I do believe they should listen to it and if they connect with it, reach out. I’m a person just like anybody else. And I want so much to connect with people who feel the music and the message. I’m a humble dude though, and that’s the most important aspect of who I am as an artist (and a person). And if there is one thing that makes someone decide to give me a listen, I feel like that should be it.
What’s next for you?
Only God knows. For what I can control though, more hip hop music. More beats… I’m planning on going back to college in the fall and exploring the culture of Jazz. I want to make my knowledge of music deep, so education is key in that pursuit and I also want to be as dope as the Premo’s Dilla’s and Black Milk’s in music.
Desert Island Hip Hop: If you could only take one record on a deserted island with you, what album would that be?
Hands down it’d be Fantastic Vol 1
Any shout outs or last words?
First thanks (Kev) for the opportunity to speak on this large of a platform. Second for the album post, but most importantly the feedback you’ve given has been well appreciated. I want to say thanks to ALL the blogs and youtube heads that’s been plugging me and showing me love. I did like 1300 downloads in like 11 days, which says that some people still believe in hip hop. To all my Europe heads and the cats in Australia, thanks also. I also have to show mad respect to my support system in music, Grip H and Rhyme the Old, Blue Scholars (Geo and Sabzi) and of course my new family the Cosmic Souls Collective and JansportJ. I wish I had a cousin named Ray-Ray, so I could’ve shouted him out too. Haha.
Last words… take hold of the culture and be a part of it. There is SO much great music out there; artists that need to be heard. The hardest part is putting the music into a tangible form. After that… we all have a responsibility to the culture to make sure it flourishes. A lot of us say we “miss what hip hop was” but we don’t want to do the work of getting it back to where it is enjoyable. Let’s do that.
www.juanderings.com
www.twitter.com/knowjuander
www.myspace.com/knowjuander
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice interview. I really liked the album too. definitely looking forward to hearing new stuff in the future
This guy is a beast I really enjoyed his music. I havent been this hype about a mc since lupe fiasco. Most of his rhymes seem to fly over a lot of folks heads much like Lupe Fiasco I also downloaded something of his called The Perfect Median Great Ep as well.
Please do your self a favor and give the drummer a little bit because this guy is point on with the ryhmes and beats.
Oh and if you really love music pay attention to the way this guys implements bass the all over the track. I love how he lays down the base and the extra small things within the beat. Some artist rely on the beat to compliment his craft. But with this guy its the other way around He compliments the beat. Don’t get me wrong the beat is on point but when
know:juander rides the beat its on heavy ride. Do your self a favor and download this its dope very dope.
congrats lil broham!!!!!
oriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight….
keep grindin bro it is gonna take u places
Dope dude. Sounds like Elzhi without the punchlines. Voice and Flow. Has that kid head symbol that Dillas Shining LP has on his cover too. Has a track that has almost the same hook structure as “Transitional Joint” ( Pause that Tape). Hes got a track like Black Milks “Give the Drummer Some” ( Drummer…a little bit). He even changes his flow up a bit similar too. Dopeness. Kevin allways picks these original artists up. GREATNESS!
That’s the homie right there, good to see him getting the shine he deserves.
proud of u my dude! lets keep workin!
Damn observer LOL! i didnt notice that till now about the symbol and the hook etc!
P.E.A.C.E.
Good interview. know:juander is the first emcee from Arkansas I’ve listened to lol. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for all the Love and Support. Kev, once and again bro… thanks for the platform. I’m gonna keep at it. I got some new stuff on the way… some “transitional” joints… lol. Once I’m done moving and situating myself… maybe yall will hear some new stuff. but thanks for inspiring me to keep doing what i do.
very very interesting name
would love for an explanation on that.
a kid love biter
Sean Deez – “very very interesting name
would love for an explanation on that.”
The best I could figure out was his name is John, the spanish version being Juan. Know Juander is a play off of “No wonder”. Know Wonder has been used before. The colon could be that he pulled the name out of his ass. Who knows?
Either way…good music. Nice post. Look forward to seeing where this guy goes.
good call adm, I figured “No wonder” that much
the colon is the piece that has me intrigued
buhahaha at observer…nice play on words…I checked the album out and I was feeling it…style is reminiscent of Elzhi (which is great considering that El is one of my favorite emcees)…John can put together a dope song…THE END
Know… Play on words for “no”
the (:) is utilized to make the name a statement… as in to ‘know’ yourself… Or in this case to know the emcee.
Juander combines Spanish version of his name with a play on the word “wonder” as stated before.
Admin note: some artists study the people they admire. No different from a Kanye studying a No I.D. Regardless of how much a person studies though… Talent is exactly that… And studying doesn’t give you that; only direction. So continue to observe. This guy is going places.
dude is dope. i peeped his tape as soon as it hit the net, and was super impressed. has been getting play ever since.
definitely looking forward to know’s next release
This man is the truth, plain and simple.
Does anyone have his wet shoestrings jawn? Its no longer on rapidshare, and I’ve been lookin for it