Hip Hop Artist J. Irja

If there is one thing people want to see in their favorite artists, it would be to see the growth an artist goes through as they hone their craft.

Probably no local artist exemplifies that better than J.Irja.

The hip hop artist has shown so much growth in all aspects of her music, from her lyricism to her stage presence and performance, it is hard to fathom she is the same woman that tried (unsuccessfully, depending on who you asked) to hold her own against the artists at Spotlight back in 2006. Her persistence paid off then, and it has continued to pay dividends now.

In many ways, though, she is NOT that same woman. Oh she is still the woman that uttered the phrase “little white girl but I’m not afraid” on her hit “Blessed with the Curse”. But she is far removed (thankfully) from the woman that released the song “Ching” back in the day. But now, the single mother of a five year old daughter is stronger, more confident, and it shows in everything she does.

She has branched out on her own, leaving Spotlight behind and determined to turn J. Irja in to a powerful global brand. The future holds so much for her, you can tell as she sits with me at Harmony Café over a cup of coffee that she can barely contain her excitement for 2014.

While no longer with Spotlight, she retains certain connections to her time in that camp. She still rocks the “Spotlight” tattoo on the side of her head, and still carries with pride the “Spotlight Queen” moniker, (a decision she touches on in the interview). She has no regrets for her time with P-Nice and the boys. Like everything she does, it was a lesson learned.

Judging from the sneak preview I got of the video for her new single “Psycho”, she has learned her lessons VERY well.

What is going on in the life of J Irja?

There is a lot going on right now, especially with my music. I am exploring a lot deeper sides of myself and I am excited to share it with everybody in this upcoming year.

What has changed in your musical life?

Everything has changed. I had to go deeper and take the filter off of my music and really say what I want to say. Certain things I felt that I could not share before that I am ready to share. And I don’t have anyone dictating my music, so I can say what I want to say.

“Don’t wait for a perfect moment; take a moment and make it perfect.” When it comes to your music, what does that statement mean to you?

That statement means a lot to me, especially the second part. There is no perfect time; you have to CREATE the perfect time. The perfect time is whenever you are ready, in my opinion because you only have one shot. I want people to see me. I had to take a step back and fully develop myself and bring myself to a new mental, spiritual and emotional level in order to really express myself.

What are some of the changes you have seen in the music landscape around here since you started?

I think it is cool that since I started there is a lot more white females coming out and rapping, which is cool. There are a lot more independent females taking their music a lot more seriously. They are putting out a lot more mixtapes when before it was just singles coming out. I noticed resurgence in videos and artists taking their music to a more professional level, doing a lot more promoting. It’s exciting to get the area so more attention.

What are some of the things that could be improved?

In this area I have noticed it especially, but it’s in hip hop everywhere, just be real, man. Everyone is sick of hearing about the car you don’t drive and the money you do NOT have in your bank accounts. You know what I’m sayin’? It’s like bro; you got the Wal-Mart Money Card and not the American Express Black Card. I call it ‘wish-list rapping’. There is a lot of it in this area. I just wish people would be more true; I want to hear about your struggles. Tell me something about your real life story.

What caused the move away from Spotlight?

Anyone that has been in the music industry knows, you grow, and you change. I simply outgrew the situation I was in and knew there were bigger and better things out there for me. It’s part of my history, and I appreciate the experience I had and the things that I learned, but I know it’s time to do me.

The things that you learned through that experience, how does that help you now?

I learned a lot of very valuable but very, VERY expensive lessons through my experience. But I also learned a lot. I learned a lot about the industry and politics of the industry, and how people function from P-Nice. I learned about videos and how to structure things from Coop. I also learned a lot of deeper things, but I am going to share THAT in my music.

How do you handle the haters coming at you?

It’s funny, because I have been asked that question before, and I just don’t handle them. I just don’t think about it; I don’t let bother me. And when I DO think about it, I look at it as ignorance and confusion. Really, they love me, but they don’t know how to embrace me. The hate is always going to motivate you, and if you don’t have haters, you aren’t successful.

With the split from Spotlight, why keep the name “Spotlight Queen?”

Because it is part of my history. I have been called a lot of names in my life. For example, I used to be called Lady X, but no one is running around saying ‘you can’t call yourself Lady X anymore’, you know what I’m sayin’?

You are branching out into other avenues. Talk about those moves.

I got a lot of things coming up in 2014. Some things I can’t talk about yet, but there are a lot of things, especially fashion-wise and entertainment-label wise that are coming up that are going to be pretty big. And I am really focusing on repping for the ladies in the upcoming year. That is another reason for the move from Spotlight. I couldn’t really do female empowerment movement where I was.

Do you plan on staying in this area, or are you going to move to a bigger market?

I am barely in this area as it is now. I am in St. Louis, or Chicago, or Indy or Iowa. I am all over the place. I don’t broadcast a lot of my moves, because people obviously tend to copycat me, but it’s all good. I am not in this area very much. I have been traveling a lot, meeting a lot of cool people and making a lot of a cool connections.

Talk about Psycho.

It is the most dear to my heart single thus far that I have made. It is about me unleashing my different personalities and taking off that filter. For all the people asking ‘what happened with this’, or ‘what happened with that’, well, through THIS song, you are going to know. I am speaking through the music and I am going to tell my story.

Tell me about Triplegreen Wireless.

My partner, Apollo Creed, started that and I joined up a few months later. It is something we had been talking about for years, actually. I met him through doing music some years ago and we had been talking about it for a while. He opened the electronic store, and I am adding the expansion, which will be fashion. It’s gonna be hot.

You seem to be very hands on with your career. Where did that knowledge come from?          

I have been doing music my whole life. I was BORN in this shit. I started singing when I was three. I started walking around with a flute before I could even play it. I played my whole life. I have always been hands on with my music. As I began to grow and get a serious career, I wanted to know everything. My brain is like a sponge for this shit. I have to be a part of everything.

What would you be doing if you WEREN’T doing music?

I would be raising my daughter. She tells me she loves mommy in the music business and wants to be a famous singer like her mom. I am going to do everything I can do to make this female label and pass it on to her when she feels she is ready.

If you could talk to that little girl that was you in Timmins, Ontario, what would you tell her?

Trust your instincts. Never doubt yourself. If I wouldn’t have second guessed myself, I would be so much farther right now.

When all this is said and done, what do you want people to say about you?

‘Damn, she really changed the world with her music’. I want to pave that path for females. And bring females together. Just like MC Lyte is doing. I want to be a part of a bigger movement. Especially here in the Midwest. There are a lot of areas are suffering right now and I think it will be really important for programs like that to reach those areas and I want to be a leader in that.

Hip Hop Artist Jamal Shane

If you are expecting some bullshit from Jamal Shane, you will be sadly disappointed.

Unlike some of the local hip hop artists in the Green Bay and Fox Valley area, Shane isn’t worried about whether or not he is wearing the right shoes, or rocking a bunch of gaudy bling. He is not overly concerned with how many women want him or how many free drinks he and his entourage can get.

In fact, Shane’s main concern isn’t even his music, all though the Grand Rapids, MI native bust his ass to put out music that is fun, unique and most importantly, REAL. No, for Jamal Shane, the main concern in his life is his five year old son.

“My son has been in the studio with me since he was a week old,” Shane said. “He loves to record. He wants to do his raps.”

The 36 year old single dad has earned the title of veteran in the hip hop game in this area. Since bursting onto scene with the group The HeatHolders in the early 90’s, Shane has pretty much seen and done it all. And although he has been in the game for so long, he still is a very active part of the hip hop scene, and is looking to expand hip hop to the lofty perch that it deserves.

And he is bringing the future, in the form of his young son, along for the ride.

Jamal Shane. You know the name.

What is going on in the life of Jamal Shane? What you got going on right now?

Well, my main concern right now is raising my son. I am full time single parent like many of the people that like my music. So that is what I am on. Kinda putting my music on the backburner for the most part right now. I am still on the scene doing music, though. I am also working with some artists out of California.

Describe your music.

The best way to describe my music is a different kind of hip hop. I got roots that go all the way back to the 80’s. I am from Michigan, and Michigan is a little bit more east coast than it is on this side of the lake. My style is pretty much is me.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Awww, Shit…D.O.C. is one. Paris. The Devil Made Me Do It. Remember that? Spice One was one of move favorites too.

When do you first fall in love with music?

I would have to say since 1989. I Went to my first concert in ’89 and I recorded my first song as well in ’89. I was 12 years old.

As a fan, what was your first concert?

Metallica. This neighbor of mine had an extra ticket.

Tell me about Heat Holders?

That is an old group that I was in. We all grew up together for the most part back in Grand Rapids. When I moved here, I found out it was good so I ended up bringing all my friends up here. My whole crew from Grand Rapids. Once we got here, we got our studio established and started making music. We hit the scene and started doing all kinds of show back in the early 2000’s.

Tell me about the Deluxe 920 Magazine cover.

For me, I had been rapping around here for so long, even before the Heat Holders and the publisher of the magazine blessed me with a phone call one day. She said that she would love to have me on the cover. I was blessed. I got to meet a lot of cool people.

Talk about Intended Hit Crew Productions.

That is something I put together since Heat Holders is now defunct. I enjoy working with other artists. Even more than being solo. I got myself a wonderful beat guy; his name is Con Krucial. He is amazing with music. And I hooked up with a couple of MCs that I respect. Lunatic Poet formerly of Duce Duce Entertainment. And outstanding MC. Working together, we are making a collaborative effort to make good hip hop music.

Name an artist, alive or dead, that you would want to do a song with?

Of course Tupac, but I would LOVE to do a song with Redman.

You are making a mixtape of our all-time favorite songs. What is the FIRST song on it and why?

The first song on there would be “Gotta Get Mine” with MC Breed and Tupac. That song is just one of my favorites. I just love that song.

One song that describes your life.

It would be my song “Whatever it Takes.” Why? Because it is all about my pain and struggle with being a single dad. It is pretty much what my life is right now.

What are some of, in your mind, the good things about the music scene in this area?

One of the good things is how many wonderful artists are coming out of this area. And how open it is for people that WANT to come out and want to do it. And how other people are open to them. People talk about that there isn’t a lot of love around here, but when you look at it compared to other scenes there is.

What are some of the things that need to be improved around here?

More recognition of non-clicks. There are a lot of clicks within this music scene.

Best performance you ever gave.

Did a dope performance up at Main Stage with Dubceez. That was pretty dope.

Worst performance you ever gave.

Probably one of the recent shows I had. I was performing some of my new songs where I am rapping fast, and my wind isn’t like it used to be.

“Don’t wait for a perfect moment; take a moment and make it perfect.” When it comes to your music, what does that statement mean to you?

To me it means don’t miss the moment. I have been rapping and writing for over 20 years now. I am an older cat. I am pushing 40. I write in that moment. I take my emotions in that moment and put it in the song in THAT moment.

Who are some of the local artists that you listen to?

One of my favorites is Stream of Conscienceness. He needs more recognition around here. P-Nice is pretty dope with it. IIlluminosity. Those two young cats are pretty cold with the flow.

When all this is said and done, what do you want people to say about you?

I want them to say that ‘he was a dedicated original artist. A good father and a stand up dude.