Featured artist: J-Luv Da Prince - On A Mission To The Top
Below is a short interview with the upcoming underground artist J-Luv Da Prince.
How did you decide to become an artist?
J-Luv Da Prince: I got started while I was going back and forth to Houston, Texas, visiting my cousin Jason Daniels, but we called him Iceman(R.I.P.). In fact, it was on my birthday. He threw a party for me and invited me to a studio, where he had been recording at with some other family. A beat was playing and I was sitting on the couch freestyling. Well, he heard me and told me to jump in the booth and spit something. At first I wasn’t with it, cause I was a little shy at the time. But he managed to bribe me in the booth for a favor. It took a few times, but ones I started feeling my surroundings a little more, I was getting more control of myself. From that day on, it was a wrap. Since then, any mic I could get on, I would. As far as R&B goes, which I do also, I started singing at 18 years old. It was a talent show going on in high school and I wanted to impress a female that I liked. Yeah, I know, typically for a teenager. It wasn’t that I couldn’t sing, I was never serious about it. When I was on the stage though, I was surprised on how my voice sounded. Better than I thought it would. So I decided to do R&B also. I couldn’t stop rapping so I decided to pursue both.
The best advice I have been giving and im sure im not the only one is, ”be yourself” and do you. Don’t try and mock or imitate any of these mainstream artists, whether its Hip Hop or R&B. Make music that you feel in your heart and only talk about situations that you go through in life, and nobody else’s.
What about concerts? Do you play live?
I played my first gig in five and a half years, last month and I have another coming up on the 13th of June. I love playing live. I love seeing the reaction of the crowd.
Best punchline you ever wrote?
”I’ll be your Taye Diggs, something like your better man. I’ll keep my arms around you, something like your letterman. And I admit you change a fool girl you create a man. Show me the era of my ways that’s how you discipline.”
What are you currently working on? Did you release something in the past?
As of right now, the team and I, are working on a project entitled, ”The Association”. I’m working with over 30 artists, around the world for this tape. The plan is, every song will be me collaborating on every song, which will have over 30+ tracks on it. So far, I have released 9 mixtapes, since 2011.
Last but not least: Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
No I wouldn’t sign a record deal. I speak my mind at all times, on these industry rappers and how they got to the spot their at. Yeah, hard work pays off, but at some point in their career, they sold out to get a bigger push. Independently, I can release what I want, when I want, say what I want in songs, and the money comes right back to me. The sky is not the limit for me at all. They (industry artists) have limitations to what they can say on record or at that moment in time, their career can be over. For people that have heard my music, no I don't hold a thing back. If its something my fans want to know, then im a give it to them straight. I try not to sugar coat anything. That wasn’t the way I was raised. Let's be real, honesty terrifies people, probably more than anything else. It also helps a lot of people. I stay indie, I control my career to the fullest. No one else. Yeah, I understand the big money is industry, but what if I told you my message was deeper than that? Yeah, im out to make money doing this music, but I'm not just focused on the money. Being indie, I choose when and where my money goes. Being industry, you can lose your money in a instance and won't know it. One day its here, the next its gone. Some artists need to put their minds to work and realize its not all about fame. Even if you're by yourself with no family, you still taking care of one person, yourself. Some people have to think before they do things.
Any last words?
I just want to shout out my team, Makai Entertainment, for all the hard work that they are putting in. From designs, to the engineering, and promotion. I do whole lot behind the scenes and if it wasn’t for them, nobody would know J-Luv Da Prince. As for me representing a city, I don’t. Yeah, it might sound harsh, but that’s just how I feel. It’s a long story and I talk about it in my music at times.
Where can we contact you?
J-Luv Da Prince: http://www.iamjluvdaprince.com/
Thank you for your time. We wish you and your career the success it deserves.
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This interview was done by Amanda Aselia, a long time blogger and entertainment journalist specialized in the underground hip hop music field.
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