| Where are you from? |
| Florida. |
| How do you like
it there? |
| Warm weather, old
people and cockroaches. What more could I ask for? |
| What records have
you put out? |
| Two solo albums and
a rapcore side project called "Peace Of Mind". |
| Can you introduce
the readers to your albums? Like what's on there,
what you talk about, who you were working with,
etc. |
| "7th Ave."
was my first album. It features Cross Movement,
Knowdaverbs, Grits. It's basically my intro. to
the industry. Most of it was done independently
and then I got signed and it was beefed up and sent
out. My second album was "Collaborations".
It's just that: a collabo. type LP. Not every song
is a collabo. but most are. If you want to know
more, the best thing is to go to www.kj52.com. |
| What records have
you been on? |
| Too many to list! |
| Can you give us
a rough number on how many? (smile) |
| There are at least
20-30 or so. |
| Have all these
collaborations been due to people asking you to
be on a track, or did you go out to get on peoples
song? |
| A little bit of both.
When I first started I was just really trying to
get out there. So I jumped on anything. Now I'm
a lot more selective. |
| The 'scene', is
most often referred to as 'Christian Hip Hop'. Now,
as I understand it, this term is not really enjoyed.
Why? |
| Personally I don't
really care either way. Call it what you want. |
| There are other
terms like 'faith rap' or 'holy hip-hop'. Would
you like either of the two better? |
| Uhhh 'faith rap' sounds
a little cheesy. 'Holy hip-hop'?? I'm not sure.
Like I said: labels aren't really an issue with
me. |
| But you understand
the need of some people that have to call it something? |
| Definitely. That's
why I don't bug out or make it my personal crusade
to banish the word 'Christian hip-hop'. |
| Could you be uncomfortable
with the term, if it'd separate you too much from
the secular hip-hop? |
| Yeah, I see the point
but I look at it like this: good music is good music.
No matter what label you slap on it. I just try
to do that and leave it at that. |
| Do you feel like
there's a 'circle' or a 'scene' of like minded people? |
| Definitely. It's small
but big enough to support small conventions, radio
shows and the like. |
| I never heard anyone
mention conventions, so what can you tell us about
those? |
| There's been smaller
sized scattered conventions over the years but the
most I've ever seen at these have been 200-400 people
at the max. That's also why you haven't heard of
them. |
| Is the 'scene'
mainly national or is there also a local one? |
| Both. It seems like
every town I go to, big or Podunk, seems to have
someone rapping. |
| Is it just a 'circle'
or an actual 'support network'? |
| It's more of a circle
than a network, except for those who are really
working hard and are selling units. It's too small
to really support. Most cats are part time in it |
| Including you?
Are you part time in it too? And if so, what fills
the rest of your days? |
| Nah. I've been full
time for three years or so. |
| Does the circle
make it easier for you? |
| No, it takes a lot
of hard work. |
| Does beef exist
in this 'scene'? |
| Yes, unfortunately.
But nowhere near the level of the mainstream side. |
| On your album "Collaborations"
you have a song called "Dear Slim". Maybe
you can tell something about that, and also how
this song is perceived. |
| It's perceived many
different way but ninety percent is positive. It's
just basically me writing to Eminem from my perspective,
dealing with issues that I think are relevant.
|
| Who do you see
as the pioneers of this Christian hip-hop? |
| SFC, PID, Apocalypse,
Dynamic Twins, Freedom Of Soul. |
| Who do you see
as leading figures today? |
| Grits, Crossmovement,
John Rueben, Gospel Gangstas, T Bone and myself. |
| How do you see
your role in it? |
| I'm just doing my
thing and try to be faithful to what God wants me
to do. |
| Is it more important
to you to be considered to be a good artists, or
to serve God with your art? |
| Both. |
| How do you see
the level of attention that your music, and the
one of the 'scene' receives? |
| I think it's a little
more accepted than the average artist, because I've
been embraced by the mainline average everyday kids.
That's helped me to go a little farther than the
average group |
| What do you mean
by 'mainline average everyday' kids? Are they still
hip hop fans or do you mean, that you reached a
lot of non-hip-hop fans? |
| Not necessarily the
hardcore serious hip-hop fans, just everyday kids.
The one's who are buying everything out there from
rock to pop. Most are hip-hop fans they are just
not into the culture. |
| Does the 'scene'
impose restrictions on the way you do your music
(i.e. obligation of a certain positivity, etc.)? |
| A little bit... |
| In what way? |
| Well, there is a certain
amount of spoon feeding that you have to do in this
industry. Meaning the way you look, talk, songs,
etc. |
| Does being a believing
person prevent you from centering your mind around
bling bling, and other evils of today's mainstream
hip-hop? |
| Of course! I have
a whole different frame of mind. |
| Does this mean,
that this could be a reason, why your rap seems
to be upholding the values of hip-hop more than
the mainstream rap? |
| Probably. Most cats
in our biz are a little more centered on the elements
cause we don't have to be distracted with the regurgitated
themes prevalent in hip hop. |
| How have you been
introduced to hip-hop? How's your hip-hop history? |
| I grew up on it. I
was breaking as a kid. Later on got into the conscious
side of things, like Public Enemy and BDP. But I
always loved the party aspect too, like Kid-N-Play,
etc. |
| Do you think that
your music, also considering the strength of the
Christian movement in politics, that in terms of
major success, will be getting very big, very soon? |
| It will depend on
the industry and the artists behind it. |
| Is there an audience
that is especially supportive to the records and
performances, more so than the secular hip-hop audience? |
| Yeah. But it's taking
time to dig them out. It's coming along. We're not
where we need to be yet, but we are getting there. |
| How do you view
the current political influence of conservative
Christianity? |
| I don't even pay attention
to it (smile). |
| It's not followed
in your community, that the current president is
a strong conservative Christian, who is basing his
actions on his Christian moral? |
| If you mean the Christian
community then yes. I' m glad to have my President
believe the way I do. But morality is morality,
plain and simple. I'm glad in that aspect, but I'm
somewhat removed from politics. |
| Do you feel that
the youth has some misconceptions about Christianity
and about being a Christian? |
| Definitely. But it's
more our culture than anything. They think you have
to be a certain way when it's not even biblical. |
| What's the biggest
service Christianity offers to your community? |
| The life changing
message of Jesus Christ. It can change others the
way it changed me. |
| How important is
it to you to work with likeminded people, as far
as the strength of faith concerns? |
| It's important, but
I try not to pigeonhole myself neither. |
| Do you think it's
possible to write sermons as raps? Or raps as sermons? |
| Possibly?? |
| To word it different:
While many speak about their faith and beliefs,
few seem to give something like a Bible studies
rhyme. How come and how do you see that? |
| Well, you can take
some of my stuff and turn it into a Bible study.
But it might be hard to just write a strictly Bible
study rap without it sounding cheesy. |
| A lot of people
seem to separate between faith and religion? Do
you? |
| Yes. Religion is rules
and regulations followed out of tradition or obligation.
Faith is a personal relationship. |
| Does this mean
that Religion, including Christianity, could have
flaws? |
| Religion yes. Christianity
no. |
| How much of an
awareness is there about the differences of people's
religious background: Methodist, Catholic, Baptists,
etc? |
| I do events with all
kinds of denominations. |
| What's your opinion
on other religions like Islam, Buddhism, etc? |
| There is elements
of truth in all religions, but I believe Jesus is
the only way. |
| How do you deal
with scientific findings that dispute what's written
in the bible? |
| I would have to look
at each one individually and deal with it that way. |
| So you would be
willing to consider that there might be some error
in the bible? |
| Would you be willing
to consider that there is none? (smiles) I believe
that there could be minor copying errors in manuscripts
over the years. But I believe the originals are
infallible. Trust me bro, I've researched this thoroughly.
I didn't come from a church background, I came from
a atheistic, skeptical non Christian upbringing.
Whatever particular errors your speaking on I would
have to deal with on a one on one basis. |
| Do you feel like
an alien in your circles: in the circle of hip-hop
as well as your circle of faith as being hip hoppers? |
| Yes, unfortunately.
Sometimes you feel like you got too much church
for the world and too much world for the church. |
| Do you listen to
rap that's outside of the 'faith hip-hop'? |
| Yes. |
| Would you be doing
rap, if there'd not be this 'faith rap' that you
could do? |
| Probably not. |
| Why not? |
| It's not the reason
why I do this. Only what's for Christ is going to
last, in my opinion (smiles). So outside of that,
it's wasted time for me for the most part. |
| A lot of you are
married? Do you think that's a coincidence? |
| I am. I think that's
cause believers honor the institution of marriage. |
| Okay, to wrap this
up, thanks and please end this with your final comment
as well as shout outs if you'd like to. |
| Shout out to tadah
and Urban Smarts. Thanks for the hookup. God bless... |
| »
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