“It’s the struggle that creates the success.” – J-Mar @WELOVEJMAR
Listen to the interview: Episode #270 : A.V.A Live Radio Behind The Music with Jacqueline Jax
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2015/10/29/episode-270-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax
GETTING TO KNOW J-MAR from 1017 Mafia Gang
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio
My personal definition of success is..
achieving every goal you wish to accomplish in your life. Living your dream and waking up happy every single day. Knowing that all your hard work paid off and thanking God for helping you through it all. Being able to live off of what you love to do and take care of yourself well as your family.
One success story that I’m proud of…
I would have to say changing my whole life around, no longer getting into trouble and I started going to The Performance Academy for acting which change my life forever. A year later I got sign to my first agency which is Rascals Talent Agency. It’s been a blessing I’ve work with Halle Berry, done a McDonalds commercial and a lot more. Now I got my first Music manager and record deal. S/O to my agent Jacque Pedersen and my music manager OG Mack Drama love them both. I believe this is a great success story because not only is it true but it’s a story that changed my life for better not for worst. I use to get into a lot of trouble that I’m not proud of, I once was facing 15 years to state prison and a lot more. To me if it wasn’t for The Performance Academy, my music, my family and God I don’t know where I be right now. I would probably be dead or locked up in prison.
My over all goal for my life & career is…
To continue building my empire through fashion, film and music. Touching and sharing my talent all around the world and always giving back, to inspire people and make a change by helping the world to become a better place, a better home. Not just for my family but for everyone’s family. To me were all family no matter the skin color, culture or where you’re from. I see nothing but family.
3 Ways that I challenge myself and how each one moves me forward towards my goal.
1) Staying focus on what’s important always. How it helps because it’s true focus on what is important which are your goals, success, family not the haters or anything else. Put God first, than yourself than family.
2) Stay prepare always. That helps me because being prepare already you don’t have to get ready because you’re already ready.
3) Being the best that I can be. Not just as a artist but as a person period it helps me to build relationships in the business and a lot more.
It’s not just my album, it’s a group album with my new family 1017 Mafia Gang…
which is with 1017 Brick Squad Mafia which I just sign with. There’s Me, Banks, Suave, Menace, Dj Mellz, Bizeeee, Jr Wavey, Blacka Mane, Rambo, Jada, Dolla Ru, Jae Killz, Young Throwback and the boss the one and only OG Mack Drama and others. What’s great about this album not only that it’s the first album to ever do hashtags and make history but it’s the first album to come out from the label. What makes the album so special is that you get to hear all the artists from the label with their different styles and raw talent. We are all from different places from all around the world. You got me from Cali representing west coast, than you might have one representing London and another from New York, Canada and more. Your not just getting a album your getting different Hip Hop and voices and stories from around the world and that’s what Mafia Gang is about. Family, working together, succeeding as a team and giving the truth to the world and inspiring others to not give up and keep chasing there dreams no matter the loss or cost. Mafia Gang 1017!
I can’t speak for the whole squad but I will say this…
were just some young brothers that want to live our dreams and be able to take care of our families.
Marketing…
The label and all of us have been marketing it through our social media from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Radio Stations and more. The album did just come out fans can purchase the album which is called #MAfiaGang #FreeGuwop 1017 Mafia Gang which is to show respect, love and support to Gucci Mane. To purchase the album you can go on itunes, Google Play, Deezer, Amazon, Spotify and Rdio. Trust me you won’t be disappointed, it’s worth the time and money.
Music business…
I just got signed to a independent label and I’m still learning about the business. I’m still new to it so I can’t really say much but I will say this: it’s not as easy as people think it is. It’s rough, a lot of work, dedication, sacrificing, hustle, grind, non-sleep and pray that everything works out.
The pros I experience so far..
signing my first record deal, being recognize for your music, the fans and now I’m ready to take it to the next level and be able to live off of it and continue doing that in ‘till die but I feel my music will still be going to higher levels even when I do. I feel like my music will live on and be cherish forever.
The cons…
I didn’t know once your sign things start to change from friends, family and more. I work with certain music producers that didn’t charge me as much and now trying to charge me a lot of money now I’m with a label it’s crazy. People start to change on you, wanting to use you and start looking at you different and my favorite hating on you. The jealousy is very strong. There is alot of competition, everyone wants to be number one.
I over come the hurdles and pitfalls by…
praying, staying strong, focus, hungry, having a never give up attitude. One thing you must remember is now one said it would be easy and I’m not just talking about the music business. I’m talking about anything a person wants to accomplish in their life. It could be anything such as becoming a doctor, cop, a porn star LOL! I’m just saying, it’s hard you just got to believe that everything would work out and not give up. I will never give up because that’s how much my dreams mean to me. If anyone feels the same they wouldn’t either, no matter how hard the road gets. It’s the struggle that creates the success.
Social Media…
I like social media because it helps build your fan base, network for business and advertise anything your doing like music, acting and let’s you connect with your fans and so much more. The only challenges I would say on social medias are the haters but who cares you can always block them. So it doesn’t matter I guess, but the social media rules! Also you got to watch out what you put up on social media as jobs and cops are monitoring now. I’m just saying you don’t want to lose your job or go to jail. Trust me it’s place you don’t want to go to, I know how it is- its hell!
Singles vs an album…
Well it seems like today releasing singles do better than releasing albums for most artist today than it was for artist back in the days. With so much change in the music industry with social medias, bootlegs and stuff. I’m not saying it made it more difficult, there are artists still selling millions of records but with all the changes it made it harder for albums to be sold no one really buys cd’s anymore. To me singles are appetizers and an album is a full meal so I’m for both I guess because the singles give the world a taste of the album before it comes out. It is supposed to make the world want to go buy the album so I support both singles and albums. All these free music downloads and crooked companies are stealing money from artists and labels. I know free is all good and stuff but you got to remember us artists bust our ass off to make these songs to live off of we got mouths to feed and a whole family to take care of and bills to pay just like anyone else. How would you feel if someone stole your work and gave it out for free? You wouldn’t like it. It feels like slavery all that hard work for nothing. Receiving no reward, no freedom it isn’t right.
One marketing strategy is to use social medias like Twitter, Instagram and more…
Since that plays a huge part of marketing now. Networking- making those connections with different radio stations, venues, shows and a lot more. Just keep working hard and grind also working with iTunes and other companies helps. The label and my manager will do all that, my job is to make the music but I like to be part of the business decisions. I believe every artist should and has a right to.
I started writing music at the age of 10…
and what inspired me to start writing music was watching as a kid seeing 2pac, Biggie Dr Dre, Ice Cube and many more on television even the news with all the killings and more happening. Well as my own experiences and what was going on in my own family life also my friends.
Let Me Know…
Written by me and beat from Music Producer Uriel Soto Jr.
My song let me know it’s a party song even though my lyrics are talking about the government, the struggle, pain and everything else. It still makes you want to turn up, dance and groove. To me it just has that 90’s Hip Hop feel which most miss when Hip Hop was at it’s highest and that’s what I want to bring back. The funny thing when I went to go record it in the studio in Hollywood the music producer Uriel Soto Jr and owner Donny Baker of the studio didn’t like the original beat. So what we did since I already wrote the song we decided to record over the original beat and have the music producer which is Uriel Soto Jr recreate the beat and lay my lyrics on it. I won’t forget that day because they were like it’s going on a album and your with a label now and everything has to be professional and that’s how the beat and my song “Let Me Know” was made. A lot of work and changes but it was worth it.
I just want to share my pain…
and what I’ve been through and make good music that others can relate to. I would like people to be inspired from my music and hope that it helps them through rough times and more. I just want to make a difference and bring the truth to the world even if it gets me killed. From the crooked government, violence, wars, struggles and more going on, I just want the world to know that J-MAR understands what y’all going through. I understand the pain of not having a job, going to court facing a lot time, being shot at or robbed, being locked up, and more because I remember going through that myself. That’s what you can expect from my music the truth, the voice of the people.
I live in southern California O.C and L.A …
and the music scene is crazy it’s where Death Row and Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eazy E and many more big names came from west coast. The places to go well there’s always Hollywood supper club and many other fun things to go. To be honest if you haven’t been to Cali you got to come and find out for yourselves. Cali is my home so I love it no matter what LOL!
Tell me about one fun thing you like to do that can be music or non-music related. I love to party whenever I can and I love women with a passion I can’t help it but if not I just love being in the recording studio making hit.
I would love to have 5 minutes alone with…
2pac because to me he was the best artist ever. He was the voice of the people and young generation. Musically he inspired me in so many ways not just with my music but to stand for what I believe in and also to not forget where I came from. He also inspired me to always give back, help out and fight for what is right- which is justice and telling world the truth about what’s really going on which we don’t see with our government and more. I love other artist as well but he is the one that inspired me the most. A true musical genius, whom I wish I had a chance to work with, may He R.I.P!
Being current and trendy…
I don’t believe there is too much emphases on being current and trendy. I just do me, I don’t follow trends or anything. To me as an artist you should just be yourself. Do You, because at the end of the day you got fans by being yourself. Like Drake, he got his fans by doing what he does in his way… same with Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams and many others. So I’m not following anything or anyone I’m just doing me J-MAR.
I am most afraid of…
I would say failure never succeeding in life, never seeing my dreams come true. No matter what I have to say those three words. I did it.
Social Media:
YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/user/JMARTHUGPOETRY
Twitter is @WELOVEJMAR
Instagram is @WELOVEJMAR