We All In - Jay DaSkreet: Exclusive Interview only at #V2
WE ALL IN
His snares echoed through the school halls. His voice able to quiet a crowd and effortlessly capture a room. Jay Knew his gift at an early age and pursued it at a gamble. He grew up fast, and was determined to have everything for his family that he didn't have. His story begins in the chilly nights of Chicago Parks. Busting out freestyles with the older Mc's trying to hold his own. Now he's making History at the Harrah's Casino. See Jay plays to win. And right now he is all in. So know that, at his table you go to place your bets! And we are all in on Jay. This is the exclusive interview of JAYDASKREET.
BE SURE TO STOP MUSIC PLAYLIST AT BOTTOM
1.Tell us about Jay DaSkreet?
A: I was born on the south side of Chicago, IL. and mostly raised in Mississippi. So that makes me a city boy with a country mouth. I always have had a deep passion for writing and music. Artist, writer, poet, parent as well as the oldest my mom's four children and my dad's two.I have always been a natural leader and have excelled at pretty much everything I have ever been a part of. I have a bit of a tattoo addiction and i'm into horror movies. I am the proud father of two kids (a boy and a girl) and no ladies I am not single... I am spoken for. I Am very goal oriented, stubborn and headstrong but as an artist I feel those are some of my best traits. I love hard and I am deeply in love with music.
2. You grew up in Chicago, how is the life and culture different from where your located now?
A: I learned so much from the city before I left it. Things happen at a very fast pace and there are a lot of ways to get into trouble. When its good though its one of the best cities in the world as far as I'm concerned. Its a lot more laid back in the sip. Southern hospitality has definitely become a part of me. In the Chi cats don't feel obligated to speak when you walk by. Especially if they don't know you. People in the sip know how to enjoy each others company on a different level and I love that. The music scene here is on the rise and just waiting for us to break into the market.
3. So tell us the story behind the name Jay DaSkreet?
A: Well... Initially it was Jay Street. It actually came from me being a stubborn at an early age. I remember I got into one of those arguments with my mama and she was like ' If you don't like what I got to say you can get out of my house". So I grabbed my gear and I left. Needless to say it wasn't easy and even though I could have went home at anytime I wanted to prove a point. So I stayed with homies and wherever. I remember cats would be like " Where Jay at?" and my homies would be like "Somewhere in da streets". So when I started doing open mics and battles that was my name, but when I tried to copyright it there was like a bagillion "Street's"! So me and Slim decided to add a Da to Street, but that's not how we pronounce it in the south. We say 'Skreet'. So we went ahead wit DaSkreet and It just felt right...
4. When was the "this is it" moment for you and hip-hop? When did you know this was what you wanted to persue?
A:I have always loved hip-hop but I remember seeing a video once of Twista freestyling while he was jogging on a treadmill!! I was literally amazed because it was doper than I had ever heard most cats spit standing in one spot! At that moment was when I started to fall for the culture. Then I remember not too long after first moving to the sip I was in the bathroom with some homies trying to dodge class and they were just throwing out sum bars and laughing and I dropped like 10 bars outta nowhere. Everybody got quiet. I mean like dead silence and then they was like do it again!! After that it was the cafeteria almost everyday and the band bus and it was the feeling that came along with it. I played ball and I was in the band and good at both but when it came to actually flowing it was like I was always the MVP! It helped that I always had a thing for writing poems.
5. You had a band scholarship and didn't take it why? Do you regret it, also do you still play?
A: I was offered a full free ride to Alabama A&M through my old high school principle and I declined it. At the time I had a decent job and I was pulling in more tips than my check was and I thought school would get in the way of pursuing music as a career. I cant really say I regret it because I believe that things happen the way they do for a purpose but if I could do it over I probably would have taken advantage of that oppurtunity just because so few of us get the offered something like that. I do still play from time to time but only for fun.
6. Top 5 greatest MC's dead or alive?
A: Notorious Big, Mos Def, Eminem, Nas and Jada Kiss
7.You are a father now, how does it feel balancing your career and fatherhood. And is it a struggle to keep relationships happy. Its alot of groupies and alot of room for jealousy. How do you balance it?
A: As far as balancing my career and fatherhood I don't feel as if its really difficult because both of my kids' moms are very supportive of my goals and what Im trying to do. We all have an understanding with each other as long as I don't lose track of my responsibilities as a father. As for keeping relationships happy is a bit of a different story because there is always some show or appearance or studio session so it gets hard to spend that quality time with one another. Then you have the "groupies" which is something I only recently admitted to having. In my opinion its harmless unless you feed into it. I have female fans and they are going to say and do what they feel when it comes to me but it is my place to limit how far that goes and to act accordingly. Plus my girl trusts me so we have an understanding and I definitely love her for that.
8. So take us through what it takes for Jay DaSkreet to come up with a verse, like what is your process?
A: When it comes to my writing in general my process is simple. I only use what "feels" right. I start with my topic usually and how it relates to me. Then I try to word that in a way that others can relate to where Im coming from. I also feed off of my personal mood and whatever track im using or if im not using a track to write at all. With my feature verses the process is different in the sense that I try not to hear what the artist featuring me is using. That way they get a genuine feature from me and that way the people that hear it will get the originality of each artist. I just get there concept and point of view and go from there. Life is usually my motivation.
9. Walk The Line, fist major mixtape. Its moving extremely well. What inspired the concept?
A: The concept was born from my experiences in my music career. I have always battled with making what I feel is good music versus what is the general public's view of good music. On one side of the line you have me at my purest. Deep, lyrically inclined and profound. On the other side you have that me that my fans are begging me for. A cocky, shit talking monster on the microphone. Then in you have the mix of the two that makes everybody happy in the middle. I felt the only way to make a successful project would be to "Walk The Line" between the two so that was the goal when creating that project
10. If you could set up a dream tour, and a dream feature. Who would you pick up?
A: A dream tour for me would be my Know Good Family and all of my hometeam labels and affiliates and we would be recording and writing with each other inbetween dates and hooking up with premier artists in each city while on the road. Like Wale in D.C. Big Sean in Detroit etc... and if I could have my dream feature I would pick up Musiq Soulchild because I have a song that I wrote with his voice in mind and he is one of my favorite artists of all time.
11. For people who havent listened to your music before describe to them your style and what you hope to deliver to the industry.
A: My style is dope lyrics and thought provoking songs as well as a sense of humor. I am very confident which sometimes is confused with being conceited but I feel that a little cockiness is needed to be a good MC. As far as what I hope to bring to the industry... I plan on bringing the essence of hip-hop back. Im not going to do something just cause he did it. In fact I may do something completely different on purpose. It is my goal to bring integrity, competition and creativity back to game. I wont rap about a porsche that I don't have. I will bring back the radio edit so you don't have to hear a whole song full of blanks and bleeps. I will bring back the real remix. Not the same song with a new feature. I want to show the hip-hop community that those of us that still respect the craft.
12. Any achievements or accolades that you would like to make known?
A: Top ten finalist in K97 next big thing competion, (number 6 to be exact), First underground rapper to ever have a performance in the Harrah's Casino in Tunica, Ms. In fact I am the first rapper period. If not the first one of the first artists from my hometown to ever perform in the Hard Rock Cafe, a feature in Twenty4Seven magazine. Along with countless battles and open mics won...
13. You were signed to Dream Inc. but the deal broke off? Shady business plague the label?
A: There was never any shady business at Dream Inc. The founders of that label are actually my homies and we consider each other brothers. At the time we were growing at different speeds and we each took the time out to grow and mature. I am still Dream Inc. at heart and its all love as far as Im concerned. In fact the Ceo Duane Bell aka Japan has recently teamed up with Know Good in order to strengthen both brands. Look forward to seeing sum new collabs in the future.
14. Any shoutouts? Upcoming ventures and mixtapes? Where can viralvoice find you?
A: Well I have plenty of shoutouts... I would like to shoutout Trackman Lesure and the Machine, My Slim Production family, My Know Good family, Start2Finish, The Shootas, Luv Jones, The Memphis Queens and PNK as well as some of the producers that I am currently working with like Tre-Eighty, Jay Threat, Mystro, I Fly, Trackman and Slim Pro. I have features coming up wit Japan, Stoney BlueFlame Spitter, Bee Dee Swaggna, RN$, Trackman and Latoya Bright to name a few. I'm in the process of recording 'The Detour" and an EP that will be named later and we will be recording the visual to "What It Do Girl" in less than a week. My next major project to release is a complete joint project with Queat Harris entitled "Exodus Tunica" which will be complete very shortly. The first single is entitled "God Where You At?" As far as where to find me I am on twitter @SkreetLuv5, on facebook @Jay Daskreet, Instagram @Daskreet as well as on www.knowgoodent.com. If all else fails just like the name say you can find Jay in da skreets!! Expect Greatness!
