OnE: State ur name gangsta, and ur bizzness...
They call me J. Osceola aka J dot O... And my bizzness is making good music that people can relate to and that will touch ur soul... Hip Hop to be more specific... (Though I don't like to be boxed in any one specific category).
TwO: So what different roles do you take on in the music making process?
Well right now I mainly am just the artist... Which entails writing all the lyrics... From the verses to the hooks... That includes any singing hooks (as I write for other genres r&b, pop, and rock). I also arrange all the songs and song topics... I also produce a lil bit... But right now for these current projects I'm falling back on the production to focus on being just the "artist"...
ThReE: Ok so you wear many many hats then! Seeing as how you are currently focusing on being an "artist", what types messages do you choose to convey in your music?
Yeah I wear many hats... Not only on the artistic side... But also on the business side... But that's a whole other conversation... LoL... My manager Roshawn Sanders "Ro" handles a lot of the business too though... Shout out to Ro! LoL.. But as far as being an artist is concerned, I'm very particular in the message I portray in my music. I used to be into the streets and I was walking down the wrong path w/the wrong people, but luckily God brought me through it and blessed me enough to be wise & learn from it..
So now in my music I don't wanna glorify the same things that I learned from, u know? And especially w/the way the music industry and the world is, the youth or just people in general don't really have a lot to look up to in a positive sense.. Its always "dope boy this", "money cash hoes that".. "Gangsta this".. Etc.. Which I ain't dissin anybody because to each his own, but when it becomes a fad and it ain’t real, is when it’s a problem.. So really MY music is what I believe and stand for.. My music is ME in every sense of the word..
FoUr: I can definitely see that from listening to your music, I noticed that you don't even curse in your music that's a real good look.
Yeah that's true.. I mean personally I just choose not to curse.. Because that's not part of my life, and my music’s just an extension of my life.. So it goes hand and hand I guess.. Plus I want everyone to be able to listen to my music.. From elementary school kids, to da homies on the block pushin, to your grandmother! LoL.. I don't wanna limit my audience at all..
I think a lot of artists think they can't make hot music or be considered relevant unless they follow what everyone else in the industry is doing.. Like they can't be themselves or something.. But that's what music is for.. Self expression.. So therefore that's why there's a lot music that isn't genuine anymore I think.. But like I said earlier, to each his own cuz I listen to music with all types of messages, cursing or no cursing..whether it be Jay-Z to Andre3000 to Kanye to Jeezy.. Good music is good music..
FiVe: Tell me some more about ur background because your name has a significant meaning. Why J Osceola?
Well.. My name does have significant meaning.. Growing up in Columbus, I lived in a lot of different places.. Mainly on the north side.. From Cleveland ave to Somerset, to forest park.. but where it all started was off of Hudson and Osceola Ave.. That was where I first fell in love w/hip hop and 1st started really really developing my own thoughts & views of the world.. It was also where I've been thru the most drama, from running w/the wrong crew, to "pushin", to getting shot at and stabbed, etc.. The reason all that was significant though, is because I learned from it and it made me into the person I am 2day.. So I have to show respect to the placed that "raised me".. Columbus & Osceola Ave..
SiX: Wow! You definitely have to remember where you came from. That's important to you making it to where your destiny lies. I also feel RESPECT is something that is majorly important, although I feel it's becoming lost in today’s society. Who do you respect, and who did you look up to along the way?
Yes ma'am! That's very important.. And even more important than remembering it, is learning from it, and respect it.. But coming up, I looked up to and was inspired by a lot of people.. I say when I first started rapping, some of my major influences were Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, Nas, Outkast, and BIG and Pac.. Also more recently, cats like Kanye, Lupe, and Andre3000.. Other than that, locally, I grew up as a shorty listening to The 3rd and Ruhl Ave.. The whole Elevator Music camp.. Their music to this day is some of my favorite of all time! Shout out to Elevator Music and the 3rd! Like the 1st lady of Elevator Music always says "Elevator Music is the best!".. LoL..
I also looked up to another local artist Wallabe from The Reallest Records.. He is a natural hustla so he grinds hard for the music! I respect that tremendously! But real talk, other than that, the main influence of music is LIFE and ALL its experiences! Life is like the author of my music, and I'm just like the translator from my perspective.. lol
But as far as respect in society goes.. That a whooooole other topic! Society has lost respect, morals, honor, and a whole lot of other stuff! What society views as "acceptable" has become farrrr tooo acceptable! But like I said that's a whooole other interview! LoL
SeVeN: Lol yes it is another interview! I agree wholeheartedly... Speaking of Elevator music and other artists, how are you feeling about this C.O. Unity (my name for it) movement? (Artists, DJ's, promoters, sponsors, etc)
I feel like the whole C.O. Unity is a beautiful thing!! But to be real, the unity that is going on between everyone, has recently JUST started happening within the last year or so I would say.. If that.. LoL.. I mean before hand Columbus was really "clicked" off in the music community.. I mean it still is somewhat, but like I said within the last year, its changed. It used to be a lot of cats making music acting like they didn't wanna support anyone doing the same craft as them.. and a lot of cats won't wanna hear this, but a lot of cats making music were really actually hating on other artists.. LoL..
Now, its coming together and people are working together instead of against each other.. Basically cross promoting and sharing each others audiences & fan bases.. Which is beautiful because I feel like that's the one thing that separates Columbus from other major music cities is the unity.. I mean Columbus has MAD talent! (There's also A LOT of wack music.. But that's another interview too.. LoL)..I mean look how St. Louis came together.. And Houston.. And Miami.. Etc..
I feel like the unity within the C.O. is a BIG step and will put us on the map very soon in the music industry.. I think the reason behind a lot of the reason behind the unity now are networks like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc, and all the online blogs.. Communication is key and these networks allow us to link very very easily..
EiGhT: (BTW C.O. Unity is being (tm) as we speak...)I believe in the movement, for real. Like Jay-Z said "I put my ni**** on, my ni**** put they ni**** on, now we somewhere foreign sippin on sumthin" haha. Now what you said at the end brings me to another point all 2gether. Social networking is very important to an artists success these days. The Internet and blogs are making getting a deal and selling "records" less of a necessity. More and more artists are making, producing and distributing they're own music. How do you feel about getting a deal and do you think it's worth it?
The social networks... I think they are great tools to promote artists music, get their name out their, and network with the right people... So I definitely think it’s a great thing for those people / artists who take advantage of it. But on the other hand, it can be a disadvantage because once it comes down to getting a deal or selling records, it hurts the artist at times b/c it seems as if record labels don't want to put as good of a deal on the table unless the artist already has a major online following.. And also when it comes to record sales, obviously if people are able to get ur music online w/o having to buy a physical record, that will (in turn) decrease record sales... So it’s good if ur properly taking advantage of it! Its new era of technology that artist must keep up with!
NiNe: I definitely agree with the fact that social networking has its ups and downs especially for a music artist. So given these potential deterrents, what keeps you going? Why music?
As cliché as it may sound, music is my passion... Music is my love... Music is my life... That's the main thing that keeps me going. It’s the one thing that you can freely express all the emotions, feelings, and thoughts you have and never have to think twice about it... There's no better feeling than artistic expression fa real. I mean a lot of people do it for the money, the fame, the flashy lights and all that... which is coo I guess... But I feel as if ur heart isn't rooted in it, if you don't love it as if its literally part of you, then all that will fade and it will show in your music... the money and jewelry and fame and all that is just the icing on the cake.
TeN: Last question... At the end of the day what is it that you want your fans 2 know about you?
At the end of the day, I want my fans to be able to relate to my music, my perspective, and my story... I want my music to provide a fresh perspective on what's "cool", what's considered "hot" and inspire people to better themselves... I want my fans and just people that hear my music in general, to understand that u can be yourself and you don't have to glorify negativity to be considered "cool" or have dope music... I guess at the end of the day, I really want my fans to know that my music is a direct reflection of myself, my life, my experiences, things I've seen, and my perspective.. So I want my fans to know... Me...
BONUS: Do you have anything coming up in the near future that we need to look out for?
I have A LOT of things coming up in the future... On June 19th, catch me performing at Summerjam614 at Skully's (High St.)! The show is gonna be CRAZY! Also I'm working on like 3 projects... 2 mixtapes, one to be released around the beginning of July 2009 (with JWork / http://www.jworklimited.com/ / shout out to the whole JWork FAM!). Also my album "Blind Man's Movie" is scheduled to drop next year 2010...
Other than that, you can catch me on Power 107.5FM (shout out to Konata of Team Osceola, Misty Jordan, City, and Paul Strong) and also one of my singles "Compared to Me" on WNCI 97.9FM (shout out to Maxwell of Team Osceola). Other than that, I hope to solidify a record deal from a couple different offers that are on the table. Also, check me out on http://www.josceolamusic.com/, www.myspace.com/josceola, www.twitter.com/josceola, and on Facebook: J Osceola
