"They asked on TV if Hip-Hop was art or poison. Hip-Hop is art that has been poisoned." --- Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan (Allhiphop.com)
Shawn Jackson Interview for Spyn Cycal Myspace
Why should the public be paying attention to Shawn Jackson?
Well, I pride myself in being an artist who's rules are no rules. I think we're in a time in the game where ethics are no longer in play. I don't do the whole underground mainstream thing...how can I when I can't trust either? I'm an old testament mc so I follow the hip hop commandment of not biting and eat my veggies and all that. With that being said, I'm an everyday person in my spit...I've lived the hood life as well as the good life..I've lived in the west coast as well as the east...I had a good parent and an absent one..I'm pretty balanced and honest with myself so for that I'm pretty relevant to the common cat from all walks of life.
How long have you been on your hip hop grind?
I've been spitting since '85 but going at it hardbody since '95 or so.
You first introduction to hip hop was?
People ask me that all the time and I don't remember what song or where I was...I just remember inheriting old Blowfly, Sugar Hill records and all that...I was pretty much exposed to the world the same time hip hop was. Before I really talked I would pull out every pot and pan in my mom's kitchen and bang on them joints for rhythm without my brain knowing what rhythm was. It was just in me...it didn't seem new back then because I was new myself..it just felt right. The first rap I wrote was my remake to La Di Da Di...you know, just change a few words here and there and call that shit your own. But that taught me freedom in words and sound at a young age the way they laid that down over 20 years ago. Kane is the dude I wanted to be like though...shit, I thought I was that nigga.
It seems that you have surrounded yourself with some pretty talented folks. DJ Mekalek (Glow In The Dark Records), Newman (Giant Panda). How did you guys connect?
Well, Mek and I have been cool since '98,'99 or so from Providence, R.I. He was actually one of the only radio dj's that would play the music of the group I was in at the time. He was always the dj at every event and I was always on the bill since the scene was so small. The first time I remember us working is when he wanted us to rock a mixtape he was working on. Fast forward to 2005, I touch down back home in L.A. Where Mekalek and the rest of TM had already relocated...Mek tells me his boy is a fan and want's to meet me...that boy was Newman. The first night we met at a TM, GP show he gave me a beat cd of his where the first beat was our first single.."GO!" The rest is history.
Speaking of Newman, you guys have your own group "New Jack Hustle". What's the story behind the group, and the name?
Well, to be honest with you, we didn't really plan to do a group venture thing. That's no longer my comfort zone. Once I recorded the "GO!" track, I wanted to submit it for my album..I don't think Mekalek and a couple of other cat's were feeling it so Newman's like "let's put that shit out ourselves." Of course I'm down...so in that same conversation he asks "what would we call the group?" Almost instantly I just said New Jack Hustle. He's the new and I'm the jack and this is our hustle...why not?
On your Myspace page you list emcee and ghostwriting as your job description. In some hip hop circles ghostwriting is still taboo. What's your take on the practice?
Damn that's a good question. I don't know, I think an artist should be able to be creative and come up with their own lyrics...at the same time, I know how it is when somebody hears me vibing to a beat and they say, "yo, you should flip the cadence like this" or "you should flip that old hook to this..that shit would be hot!" Sometimes you do that..that's what music is, people have different translations. That may not be someones strongpoint. Those ideas have helped me in the past so I'm not mad at it too much. Cat's that come up with their own stuff are more horrible nowadays so to me it doesn't really matter if the foundation of the culture aint strong right now....but truth be told, the ghostwriting thing is what I plan on making my bread and butter with..that's all. It's a hustle.
As of right now the industry doesn't seem to favor the Indie cat. Despite the lack of available outlets to display your music as well as resources, what keeps you going?
If I could quit, I would have a long time ago honestly. I think of friends who are married with kids and a house and making their annual six figures and think, "damn, if I chose that path I'd be straight right now!" However, I also think that if I don't have a goal to achieve anymore what's the point of being here?? That's what I don't envy is the fact that I didn't give up on what I said I wanted to do since a shorty...and I quit a lot of things I said I was going to do while coming up. This is hard work man...when you think of me going at this for about 13 yrs or so and think about the chapters in life you go through(friendships, relationships,births,deaths,financial gains, financial losses), you're living in dog years at that point. Shit still makes me happy though to record that one banger that you didn't even know you had in you...that makes it all worth it.
When can the public expect a full length album from Shawn Jackson?
Should be out by spring of '08 the latest. I won't be one of those cat's who never drop.
According to your April 2007 URB article, you admit to being a label whore. What was/were the label(s) of choice between 1990 and 1998?
HHMMM...let's try to put it in one outfit. A Sir Benni Miles stocking cap under my tie hat(WREKX N EFFECT joint), a champion hoodie under my brown carhartt vest, my black college sweat pants with some 40 below tims..that fit sounds disgusting. For the record, my quote on that article was I'm a label whore without any particular pimp...I wish they printed it because I felt so clever when I said it.
Last words?
Eye's up...I'm coming to get it!
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Spyn Cycal The Movement is about separating those who claim to be about Hip Hop music, from those who really are...
Spyn Cycal The Movement is about creating an outlet for those artists who create great music and continue to stay true to the art form despite the fact that their music may never reach major label status, nor major market media status... ie radio and television.... They do it for the love (and a little bit bit of money... Hey, they gotta eat too!)
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2 ALL MY FANS AND SUPPORTERS THE TIME HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. RALEIGH N.C'S FAVORITE M.C NEW SINGLE CHUNKY MONKEY AND, MY ALBUM (MR. WORLD PREMIER) ARE NOW AVALIBLE ON I-TUNES, AMAZONMP3 AND, NASPSTER MUSIC STORES! ALSO IF YOU BUY THE ALBUM AND, SEND PROOF OF PURCHASE TO MY EMAIL (NEMIZ33@YAHOO.COM) I WILL PERSONALLY SEND YOU A "PERSONALIZED" AUTOGRAPH PICTURE TO YOU SHOWING MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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I'm makin' my rounds and tryin' to reach out to all my myspace homies. I have a lot, so if I haven't hit u up in a minute...my bad!!! But bang back and let me know what's cookin on your side...I hope all is well. Check out my new single, "Lose Control"...available on ITunes and all other major distributors shortly...
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Support Independent Music! Discover What Real Hip-Hop Is! Attend Sacramento's First Annual Hip-Hop Awareness Festival. If you would like to participate, we are still looking for: DJs, Emcees, Battle Rappers, Hip-Hop Dancers, Visual Artists/Live Visual Artists, Spoken Word Artists and Community Sponsored Booths -- Food, Beverage and Product! This is a great opportunity to get your name out in the community. For more information: www.myspace.com/sachiphopcongress or e-mail me @ ubomag@gmail.com. I have a media kit and press release available! See you there!
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Thanks for being a Friend! Just reaching out to let ya know that VIBE VERSES is Back!
VIBE VERSES is a talent competition that provides a FREE opportunity for unsigned and undiscovered artists to showcase their rapping talents.
Contest begins: Tuesday, November 4th, at 1pm EST Deadline for entries: Sunday, December 15th, at 12 am EST
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3 easy steps gets it on with VIBE and show us what you got! Check out www.vibeverses.com for all the details and be sure to put Your Vid Up!
Yea, drop them off...good job on the non-prof. too! I would like to talk with you about something else too if you can give me a call after the holiday.
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