Mafia Magazine
Interview Questions
Young Jay
Submitted by: Pook
King of his own Domain: Young Jay
A man’s castle is his Kingdom… A place of decadence and essentially immortality… But what about a this place that defines him... Think about the great Kingdom’s of the past---from early Kemet (Egypt) to Hip Hop’s own Roc Nation… There’s one place however, which hasn’t been as pro-claimed by the culture… The Northwest and its own, Young Jay will be the first to admit his castle and subsequent Kingdom is rooted deep in musical genres, most would rather overlook… Somewhat similar to today’s average hip-hopper, a much needed opportunity to pay attention to this side of the North (which is often under-sold and under-utilized)… Young Jay has made it his personal life’s obligation, for Hip Hop’s royal community to get familiar with a movement… That dates back farther and hits harder than the Pilgrims first hitting Plymouth Rock… Working diligently behind the mic, in the lab, and at shows across America---this Nine Side affiliate is the King of his own Domain! All you other “subjects” better be ready to battle for his thrown! From working with E40 to Twista and the likes of heavyweight DJ’s from coast to coast… Young Jay’s option for failure… Well…? Really isn’t an OPTION at all!
Pook: What’s good Lil homie… We been tracking you for hot minute and checking out your buzz… With all the artists you have had an opportunity to work with… What do our readers need to know about Young Jay?
Jay: I just want people to recognize the grind… We out here really doin’ it! A lot of niggaz frontin on what they actually doing… But I be out here getting it in… and the same with the rest of my Nine Side niggaz from Alaska to Washington DC
Pook: DC…shouts to Saint Anger…Wale and so forth youngin’! The transition in music that has occurred in the past several months signifies that Hip Hop hasn’t forgotten its roots (lyrics, heavy-string production, etc…). What are your first memories or roots in the culture?
Jay: I smoke too much weed so… I don’t have too many early memories, but I do remember being a lil one bumpin’ Public Enemy… It was like I was a political activist at the age of 5!
Pook: How different is the coastal sound from your perspective these days…?
Jay: I see my West coast niggaz getting it in! Yuh know… like Game, Nipsey Hussle, Crooked I, Jay Rock, and I actually just linked up with Young Money’s artist… Glasses Malone and he definitely holdin’ the West coast down…
Pook: You seem to have a genuine balance between the varied sounds you seem to identify with…any artists you haven’t worked with that you wish to?
Jay: There’s a million artists out there I wanna fuck wit… Like Gucci Mane, OJ da Juiceman, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, TI, Tech N9ne and Strange Music, KMK, Alica Keys, korn and I can keep goin’… I wanna get it in and do as much as I can before I die! I am not strictly rap I fucks wit it all…
Pook: And Mafia fucks wit it all…shout out to my BMF niggas, getting it! Shout out to Def Jam for 25 years in the game, shout out to Hoo Bangin’… Mack 10, shout to Murder One Clothing, Crunkatlanta, and so on!
Pook: Who is Young Jay and what are his aspirations for the future in music?
Jay: Young Jay is the Northwest! And as for aspirations… I just wanna do anything and everything I can before I can’t no more… I’m about networking and droppin’ 16 in different genres in different countries until I’m not only the best rapper out… but the most diverse! I want albums I drop to go diamond and until then… Imma keep progressing and keep killing off all these other rap niggaz! I’m not starving but I’m hungry!
Pook: As an entity… Are you more comfortable on stage or behind the music (no pun intended)?
Jay: My stage game and the way my music rocks the crowd is why I do this… When its show time its show time and niggaz recognize and that’s why I be doin’ shows wit niggaz like E-40, Twista, DJ Unk and the list goes… I mean, check out my videos and tell me I don’t rock…?
Pook: Describe your earliest memories of wanting to engage in the business. What was the draw and how do you maintain that feeling year after year?
Jay: I started this rap shit just freestylin wit my Yaktown and EBurg niggaz! And then I seen block niggaz I looked up to people like Craziness, Reality and Lil Danger (getting it in)! Actually in the streets… Movin’ units wit teams… Sittin’ on the biggest rims with the loudest beats… Stunntin’, so I started networking/stepping my game up and pushing mixtapes all over the country…
Pook: Are there any ventures that you are involved in to ensure longevity within the game?
Jay: Yeah, when I quit fuckin’ around with this mixtape shit… I’m gonna be dropping a album with my nigga Blaq $anta he like the Northwest Dr. Dre on beats… and its entitled Northwest Kingdom! And that’s why I’m dropping all these pre-album mixtapes, because I want my first album release to blow the Northwest up so we can get our place on the Map! We got next!
Pook: Well you came to the right movement! We got media’s next! If you were a rhyme burglar…what would you steal from the old school and bring to the new?
Jay: I would bring back the love! You hear all these niggaz beefin’… all the time!
Pook: What is the secret to your success or the formula for your creative energies?
Jay: My swagga and the way I approach people… I’m a nice nigga really… but I ain’t no pussy and neva get that twisted! And my creative energies come from the 9th dimension and good weed…
Pook: Of the artists that have shown you love…who do you think dropped the most jewels on you about the business, music, and making it last?
Jay: I think Tech N9ne’s DJ the world famous “chillest-illest” DJ Chill aka Young Chillingsworth has helped me a lot and he is actually out of the Northwest! Doing big things he always be touring whether he Djing for E-40, Tech or Luni Coleone or doing his rap thing… He has opened a lot of doors and he’s got me connected with these artists that yall niggaz wish you could fuck wit!
Pook: Where is the culture headed in the next 10-20 years?
Jay: It could go anyway! I just know I wanna be relevant!!!!
Pook: Our readers always want to know where they can get more… What more can Young Jay say on Young Jay?
Jay: I am the future! You can see it in my stage game… you can hear it in my music… and see it in my swagga!!!!!
Pook: Your final thoughts on the music and your career?
Jay: The music speaks for itself… So I’m not trippin’ if I don’t get signed! I move Units regardless… I stay lunchin’… !
Pook: What’s coming up next and where can we catch Young Jay live and direct ?
Jay: I got shows coming up with artists like Twista, Andre Nickatina, Keak Da Sneak… In cities like Portland, Missoula, and Maryland… I stay travelin’ and I’m dropping a new mixtape called Suga Duga Hollywood wit collabos! I’m workin’ wit artists from Dipset to Black Wallstreet and dem So Icy niggaz!!!!!!
Pook: In the words of “Varnell Hill”… Did you miss me???? Well, Mafia missed you and we hope you don’t miss Young Jay… The Northwest is never gonna be the same! Like another famous Jay, this Youngin’ is sure to make his Nation stand up and Rock for itself---to Unite his Kingdom, of course!!!!
Be at peace, even when the rest of the world is not! Appreciate ya’ll forsure!!!!