Rob Jay dropped off his new Video Rob is Dead Sampler and I got the exclusive interview Check it out!
Floss: Here at IA, we want to reach out to all types of musical talent and your no exception…How you been?
Rob Jay: I've been blessed and highly favored. I don't have any complaints, and even if I did nobody would want to listen. But overall I'm pretty happy with how everything is going and excited about where I'm headed.
Floss: For those that aren’t familiar with the Rob Jay brand, can you explain your inspiration to want to get involved in music?
Rob Jay: I think for me getting involved in music was just a result of me evolving as an artist and a person. I was always a rapper, but as a kid and young adult I didn't have the courage to step out there and say this is me. I was scarred of stepping into my destiny, so I did things that would keep me close to it, without me actually having to do it. I would manage artist, write poetry, book shows, shoot music videos, work at record pools and music conferences. I didn't have to heart to do it at that point in my life, but I eventually grew stronger and wanted to express myself more and finally I reached a point where I didn't care what anyone had to say, if people thought I was wack, nothing mattered anymore because I was going to go crazy if I didn't follow my calling, literally. So I took a leap on faith and started recording and God took care of the rest..That's basically how I got involved.
Floss: How long have you been perfecting your craft?
Rob Jay: I started rapping in 6th grade. I lived on the Southwest Side of Houston but I went to a magnet school, Lanier, that was downtown. So I had to catch the bus at like 6:30 in the morning. I don't know why but somebody asked me to rap one day and from that point on I was always rapping on the bus. I spent years freestyling before I ever wrote anything down so that helped me think at a much faster speed. Another thing that developed my craft was my love for reading. When I was young my father would make me read lots of books, before I could go outside and play I had to read and write book reports. And not kid books either, real stuff ,Naim Akbar, and this is like at age 11. My mom she used to always buy books on things I was interested in. So she helped me fall in love with reading because she made it fun. Anyway, over time the books, combined with the freestyling and the traveling that I did just gave me so much subject matter and I developed a strong command of the English language. But to answer your question I've been honing my skills for about 14 years.
Floss: Now you've stated that you started off making/ directing videos why the switch to music?
Rob Jay: Self expression, that's the biggest thing that made me switch. I thought doing videos would allow me to express myself as an artist, which it did but in a very limited way. The biggest misconception about music videos is that it's just an artistic vision of a director etc. Music videos can be artistic, but the director's job isn't to show how good he can direct, it's to promote that song and that artist. I couldn't deal with that any longer.
Floss: Whats the biggest difference between the two?
Rob Jay: I express myself through words with music, with music videos it's more colors and visuals. So if I'm hurt, I can just say on a song I'm hurt, either through a metaphor or direct statement. With a video I'd have to use dark hues and stuff like that. Also everything is faster. i can make a song today, I can make a mixtape next week. But with videos everything takes extensive planning.
Floss: Most rappers live at the studio, is that the same mind frame you have?
Rob Jay: I'd like to but unfortanely my work schedule and managing all of the other aspects of career kind of keeps me from living in the studio. I like to go occasionally but just knock out alot of work while I'm there,
Floss: How long does it take you to write an acceptable 16?
Rob Jay: Usually around 25 minutes
Floss: Do you help the producer come up with the picture your trying to paint, or do you just listen to the track that is provided for you?
Rob Jay: When I was working with Smitty and Ryan Marrone out in L.A. we had that relationship where I could just have an idea, no lyrics and they come back with something. Sometimes I'd tell one of them a story and they come back with a track for that. But the producers I've been working with lately, Jonh Dew and Maestro, are more the type that provide beats they make stuff that they feel like I'd be good on but it's different from when I was working on my last two ep's.
Floss: Can you name future projects that your currently working on?
Rob Jay: Video Rob Is Dead- which will be my first ever mix-tape. and The Art Life EP Vol.2 which will be the third ep of the Art Life Trilogy. Both of those will be out this year. After that I'll be putting out The Art Life Catalog which is going to be every single original song that I've recording since beginning the Art Life Movement.
Floss: What is your vision for H-Town hiphop scene?
Rob Jay: I want to see more support from the city. We don't support each other enough, then when people get the first bit off attention from someone outside of Houston the whole city wants to hop on the bandwagon. I would like to see more leaders on the hip hop scene, and I think we have to raise the bar as far as skill. If your gonna be out here make sure you can spit, because you can't just be out here taking up space. I want to see new artists that represent different sides of the city. It's more to Houston than, Codiene, 84's, candy paint and slabs
FLOSS FIVE1.Favorite up and coming MC - I really don't have one, but I like B.O.B.
2.Oilers or Texans - Texans
3.Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat - Street Fighter (Ryu)
4.Artist you would love to work with? Janelle Monae, Lupe Fiasco
5.Hidden Talent - Culinary Arts, I'm nice in the Kitchen
And of course i couldn't leave you without a quick sampler, Rob Jay's music
Rob Jay - Video Rob is Dead sampler
