Artist Spotlight: Interview with JNIC Winner of the November Rising Star Best Song Showcase
wwwMyMusicMyLife.com
J NIC, you’ve just won the MyMusicMylife.com Rising Star Best Song Contest for November, 2014. You received over 500 votes from music fans for your song Patron. Tell us about the concept for the song.
The concept for the song is simple, just your average baller in the club point of view song you know. It’s definitely not my usual mixtape stuff, it’s commercialized a lot. I think this is why it has had so much success. I hit 1 million views in a week on it. My whole album is a really tamed J.Nic compared to my Mixtapes. I fell that I put more thought and emotion into my mixtapes than I do with a commercialized song. People just want to hear a hot beat and a catchy hook.
Many upcoming artist struggle with obtaining a real fan base. What strategies do you use to gain new fans and have them show support for your music?
I keep it 100 with everyone. I don’t lie on my songs is a big one. I don’t over dramatize or fabricate my past. I tell you who I am and if you choose to not like me or my music its part of the game you know. I can come out here and say that I walk round all day hustling and selling drugs and I’m a cocaine boss and who would know I aint? Rappers tend to lie. I’m just a different breed. I’m old school and I sound different so people become interested.
Tell me about some of your past accomplishments within the music industry.
I started recording in a garage with a web cam headset until I got noticed by my producer and it’s been all gravy from there on out. I have five mixtapes on Datpiff. Two got a 25k trophy for 25,000 downloads so that’s big in my eyes. If you look at the stats of my songs and some famous rappers, I don’t understand how I haven’t made it yet. Guess I need to sell out or get some more catchy beats and hooks haha
What do you feel sets you apart from other Hip Hop artists?
I tend to tell stories people can relate to. I have a different sound like I said. I rap about different things. I like to be intelligent. I have sort of a J.Cole vibe going in terms of being different. He seems to hit on topics most don’t and nothing is fabricated. Eminem is also a good example. Like Cole, he will tell u hey I aint a gangsta but I can rap. Meanwhile, you got drake talking about people catching bodies, come on man.
What single or project are you currently pushing?
Right now I’m finishing my Average Joe series, AJ3 is my next mixtape. I’m going to go all out because after this album I got a lot held in you know. I was making music that other people wanted to hear not what I did. So keep on the lookout for that man going to be insane.
Which artist have inspired you?
Oh man, see this is tough because in terms of emcees I don’t consider Eminem one. He’s in a different league, you know. So I’ll just say he’s definitely the best ever and his music I relate to. If we talking inspired though, my favorite emcee is Lloyd Banks, the most underrated ever man. I learned that you got to come up with punchlines that are funny but make people lemon face at the same time you know. I also use the (whip) too he does that Big L started. You know “I push a slick benz, I’m known to hit skins, get ends, and commit sins wit sick friends.” – Big L. When you be sounding like an automatic wit those rhymes. Fabolous is my second by far, to nice. I learned a lot from 50 business wise. There is a lot of emcees I respect but those three you can hear in me.
Who does your production?
Mark Cornell of hardwired studios and myself. Of course we make a good team.
What are some major misconceptions that you think people have of you?
When people hear I rap, it’s just the common stereotypes of you know hoes and money and cars and guns. Don’t get me wrong, I aint a saint and I say all sorts of crazy things but you can’t judge an artist until you listen. As far as what people think, I can care less. If you my fan you my fan. You don’t like it, there is a power button on the radio or a little x at the top corner of your computer screen. I did not get this far by what people think because in this world, not everyone is going to like you. When they(artist) get booed or have a hater typing hate they get discouraged. Ignore it and do what you love.
How can people get in contact with you and hear more of your music?
I’m just about everywhere man on DatPiff look up J.Nic.
Twitter: Jn1c
Facebook: J.Nic
Soundcloud: Jnic
Youtube: jman521t
