For people who don’t know you let us know a little about you if I was just meeting you on the streets and you was telling me about your music?
First off, my name is J-Key and I make motivational music for people with aspirations world-wide. My music is mean for the people who wake up in the morning and no matter what they do their day is geared for progress. I speak for the single mother with two or three jobs, the college student who gets the 4.0, and the street hustler that wont let you short him for a penny.
Back in the day you use to right rhymes with your brothers and friends how did those moments shape who you are today?
Writing rhymes with my brothers and my friends more than shaped who I am today. It is who I am today. My oldest brother Antwone used to stay up with me all night and write rhymes. Till 2 in the morning when I was 6, 7, 8 years old. As I got older, it was freestyling with the friends about everything to a teacher I thought was men to riding the school bus. When I realized it could become a real career my life got shaped around it. Everything I do now is based around music, making it, writing it, listening to it, and I love it.
Theirs a moment of truth in your life with music in 97 what was it that made you be like im doing this for real?
I was watching “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems” on New Years Eve and as the video played on MTV I was reciting every single word. Didn’t miss a beat. When the song got done everybody stopped and stared at me. My dad says “If you can remember your school work like you remember them songs you’ll get straight A’s.” I guess the attention put the icing on the cake. I always loved music, and I grew up watching both parents work two jobs doing things they didn’t like. I needed to do something I loved, something that wasn’t extensive on traditional schooling, and something that would get us out of low income housing. Yes, at 6-8 years old, I was thinking all of this.
Fast forwarding you career you came out with some mixtapes and music that got you to this point. How has that journey been so far?
The journey has been fun. Locking myself in a room to write over 100 songs in one year. From my first mixtape when I was 19, to 3 more within the next 12 months, I learned A LOT. And now I feel like I’m ready to break into the industry as an artist.
Let’s talk about this mixtape C-4 what’s the concept and direction of the mixtape without hearing any songs?
C-4 was named that after the explosive. Which is almost self explanatory, it means I’m blowing up. Thus forth the cover with me looking like I’m getting blown away from an explosion. It was a follow up to my first mixtape “The Spark” which was the start.
What can you say is your favorite track on the song?
My favorite track on the mixtape would have to be either “Work” because getting a chance to work with two legends like Nipsey Hussle and Glasses Malone was a privilege, but personally it has to be “Dreams Money Can Buy” or “Moment 4 Life”. Because they give the fans a look directly into me. Which is what a lot of artists lack now days, but something I’ve always been a fan of.
When someone downloads your mixtape C-4 what do you want them to leave with after hearing it?
I want them to leave with a thirst for more of my music.
What sets you apart from the rest of the Indie artists out their?
What sets me apart from other artists is the message I carry and the sound I’ve developed. You get more than just money, swag, and life from J-Key. You get life experience from J-Key because I’m a deeply contemplative person and it comes out in my music. I also make music thats more about influencing people to go out and get the money, and be something, versus telling them how much I have. My music is meant to be motivational. The sound is ever evolving, and never heard before. But that’s something you’d have to get from my original projects like “The Potential”.
What do you feel you can say “I Got Next”?
I’m definitely next. I have a web-series dropping in November. And a campaign of buzz records dropping starting 2013. The next year is going to be crazy and you will see me everywhere. Bet that. Go to www.Theonlyjkey.com for more info on J-Key and music from him. Go to www.StackingEndorphins.com for his clothing.
