Blatantly Blunt

For those don’t know tell us who you are and what you would consider to be your achievements in the music industry so far?

Well, my name’s Jae-r. It’s all of my intials, so it’s no bogus name! I’ve been rapping for about 3 years now. In that time, I’ve done two mix-tapes up to date. The first one entitled ‘A Stroke of Genius’ and the second one which is almost finished called ‘7 Magpies’. That should be finished mid January. We’ve also linked up with American rapper from Pennsylvania. High intensions, we did a collabo with them too, fan base is growing out there.

What would you has been your biggest track so far to date and does it have a music video on You Tube?

I had to think about this one ‘coz I got quite a few. But I would say it would have to be one of my personal favourites off the new mix-tape called ‘Rules we Live by’. It’s so fresh and it talks a lot sense. It’s like, where I live, our everyday life, how I was raised, the code of conduct, the rules we live by, like for example, we don’t’ snitch on somebody. We can take it to the streets and deal with the issue there, keep the feds out of the equation. In terms of a video, I’m getting that put in there in a hot minute. Its going to be shot where I live, Wandsworth. Got to keep it close to home!!

Who produces your music and what record label are you on?

Well at the moment, I’m working on my own label. Class-A Entertainment. I got a good team behind me supporting me the best way they know how. I got a good promotion team and a sweet set of artists. So it’s like a family really. They’ve been on this C.A thing from the get go. For the ‘7 Magpies’ mix-tape, I gave it a go at producing it myself. I had to learn. I don’t like depending on people, nagging them for beats, so I took a step and gave producing the record myself.

What are your thoughts on digital distribution? Is MP3 really the way forward?

Music can be bootlegged so easily nowadays. To be entirely honest, in the day and age we’re living in now, I think the internet is the way forward. I had my mix-tape selling on iTunes and Amazon.com I think it’s harder to sell cd’s in a music outlet like HMV for instant. People are getting lazy! Why would they walk down to the music store to purchase your cd when can do it from the comfort of their homes and order a copy on line? Its messed up but that’s the way it is. And music is a business. It doesn’t really matter how good your music is, but it does help, but its about who you know in the music industry, not what you know. It’s a matter of finding a balance,a cadence of knowledge. You got to have a good network to make money especially know so many of us are doing it.

What subject matters and concepts do you cover in your songs?

I discuss those touchy subjects that others may be afraid to talk about. Everything I’m giving you is exactly what I’m going through, been through and I have experienced. I try to tell you it straight without dressing it up. For example, on my new mixtape, I’ve got a song called, ‘The Pressure’. I expose a lot of stuff about my life and childhood, times I got caught up with the law. When I was at my lowest and I was looking like I was on way out. Also, I like talking numbers, I always have done. The first mix-tape was called A Stroke of Genius, but it was also called Friday 13th. It had 13 tracks and more to the point, what I was talking about was relevant to the title. It was really a technical record. The average listener probably wouldn’t know what the fuck I was talking about. But then a hip hop enthusiast would quicker understand what I was trying to get across. You should listen to ‘Voices’. Track 12 on ‘A stroke of genius’. I’m talking in the second person but also talking to as if I’m hearing something talking to me, telling me not to do certain things. It’s an interesting concept that I have never used before. Weird, I know. And that’s what makes me a different I guess.

Tell us about your latest release.

Well like I said, 7 Magpies set to drop mid January. Its half way finished. It’s a bit more explicit than the first one. It’s more of my feature artists on it. Tyrone Green on, my big brother Tonie Strikes, look out for his mix-tape coming up next. ‘S.18’. BlueS. The boy got skills, look out for him on the major league. You can hear that on the Myspace. Details are down below

Outside of music how do relax? What other things are you into doing?

When I’m not making beats, I BMX. Yeah, been up and down the UK riding, doing a few competitions. I know, bit of a weird one. Like me of all people, I don’t even know how I got into it. But it helps calm me down though. It’s a cool way to pass the time. Wherever there’s Jae, the BMX tags along. Go and link a couple girls, you know, do my thing, then I roll back home and I’m back on the Mac!

What can people expect to hear from you in the near future?

Im working on this pop/rock tune. Its crazy ‘coz it has a jazzy feel to it with a twist to it for the last verse. It’s going to be interesting to see how it turns out. I’m always working on music. The next one is going to be called ‘Category Other’. Its definitely going to be more commercial without selling my soul.

Where’s the best place to buy your music?

You can buy the first mix-tape on iTunes. Also, you can request a copy from the myspace. If not then you can contact myself or my promotion team.

Are you on all the social networking sites? MySpace, Facebook and Twitter?

Yup, check out the myspace www.myspace.com/class-aentertainment
comments all welcome!!!

Interview questions by Jonathan Miles