Q: What’s up?
A: How are you? I appreciate you taking the time out to interview me. It means alot to me and my fanbase.
Q: As a rapper what do you feel like you can bring to the table in the rap game?
A: A diverse outlook on the way music is created and the interaction i want to continue to have with the people that love my music. To elaborate i believe that artists should keep in contact with the people that make them famous, the fans. Artists tend to blow up and rope themselves off from the other local artists that haven't had a shot yet. They only tend to focus on who's on their success level at that particular time. I feel that its wrong to do that and they should (for a smaller fee) still work with the up and comers.
Q: A lot of people say “Hip Hop saved my life” is this statement true for you?
A: I wouldn't say it saved my life but it kept me extremely occupied. It helped me meet some important people but helped me lose some equally important people in my life as well.
Q: Do you believe Hip Hop is dead or once was? If so, why? And how do you feel as though it was is resurrected?
A: I feel the traditional way people got successful is dead. Hip Hop as a whole is suffering because we are losing our outlets which once gave us a voice like MTV B.E.T. and radio. I remember rushing home from school and work to see the new videos and the new artists tryna come out. Thats not the case anymore. Unreal reality t.v. has taken over. They are even shutting down hiphop websites now as well. Radio especially west coast radio is all PAY TO PAY and because the music industry is suffering we cant get on the radio which gives artists a huge audience. It gives the artists hope that they can provide for their families and encourage other new artists to grind to achieve that goal. Knowing we cant get on radio doesnt give us much to work towards careerwise these days.
Q: What motivates you? And/or → Why do you rap?
A: I'm motivated by life around me and the feeling that i get that i'm right on the edge of actually blowing up. When i send the listeners links to my music and they say they love it its very motivating and encouraging.I dont send my music to people i know unless they are in my direct network (my dj and actual family) I send my music to new listeners so i get honest feedback. The local hear about me via someone else like "Yo Noah's first music video has over 18,000 youtube views" i don't tell them because they will confuse informing them of something with bragging so i dont bother. I rap because its a part of me and who i am. I express myself in song format.
Q: What do you think makes a rapper “great”?
A: When he not only has all the elements like a good flow, beat selection etc but when he is humble enough to take time out to address everyone in a non-hollywood manner. If i can respect an artists motives and mind as well as his music he or she is great in my opinion.
Q: How did it feel to first hear your music on the radio?
A: it was insane. I was arguing on the phone with the mother of my children in 2005 when my song came on. We both immediately stopped fighting and started celebrating. Being on the radio has the ability to change peoples lives which is why its so important.
Q: Your top five favorite rappers are…? Why?
A: Big Daddy Kane because he's the one who influenced me to rap. Drake because it seems like all his music is enjoyable. Theres too many things about drake i think are dope. 50 cent because of what he did in his music career in such a short time with his buzz and business decisions. Juelz santana because his voice and his delivery always get me hype. Finally Ludacris because he's not in a box musically and can create all forms and varieties,from fast rapping to emotional,club or street.
Q: If you could collab with anyone right now who would it be?
A: I would like to collab with Drake and Jcole on the same record. If you listen to the songs i have with Crooked i, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, and Knocturnal it would obvious that i can pretty much lyrically compete with anyone. So having those two on one record to test my pen game would really be epic!
Q: There are many types of rap from gangsta to old school, from west-to east-coast. Do you see yourself stagnant in one stream of rap or are you branched out?
A: I'm considered to have a bi-coastal flow because i was born and raised in new york and moved to cali. So i still have somewhat of an east coast accent. I have collabed with some up and comers and hot relevant artists on both coasts recently in order to maintain my popularity.
Q: What are some words that describe you in regards to your music?
A: Inspirational,witty,motivating,clever,talented,hungry and most of all Tireless. I released 5 albums in the last 365 days "THE MISSING PROJECT", "THE INCINERATOR","THEY LABEL ME A MONSTER","THE EXPENDABLES",and "CINEMATIC"
Q: Do you prefer to freestyle or write?
A: I prefer to write because i am better at it.On the right beat in my zone though i can really do damage freestyling though.
Q: As of right now what do you feel like is your best song?
A: I cant answer what a feel is best because they all are so personal to me. I can say that N E WAY U WANT is my most successful do to all the youtube plays though.
Q: If you could collab with any producer who would it be and why?
A: Dr.Dre because i live on the west coast and if i can have everyone where i live at in my corner what would stop me? I have a very unique mind and an even more interesting approach to my tactics and strategies when it comes to my music career.
Q: What is a normal day like for you?
A: Arguing with the mother of my kids, being on twitter promoting till i get locked out (twitter jail) during my lock out i either record,do interviews,advertise on another social medial outlet,make business calls, give advice to other unappreciative artists,spend time with my kids, and at night i head out to the big shows to network. Shouts to J COLE for giving me his contact info (type in Noah Jones and Jcole on youtube)
Q: What does it feel like to perform in front of a nice-sized crowd?
A: If they are feeling you then its amazing! If they aren't it can be a very tense and nervous moment that feels like time stands still. I had a few of those in my earlier years before i learned what type of records are best to perform in front of a crowd.
Q: What has the most influence over what you talk about in your songs?
A: My past,present, and future!
Q: What are some words of encouragement you would say to anyone else trying to make a come-up in the rap-game?
A: Invest in yourself and spend money on getting yourself out there to the masses. Getting things free wont get you far in the entertainment industry. No one wants to work with a broke ass artist who brags on what they got for free and uses other peoples hard work to sneak in the game without earning it. Get your Buzz up and make yourself popular.
Q: What can we be looking out from you in the near future? Mixtapes, singles, videos?
A: I have quite a few videos in production but i don't wanna spoil it so currently i have a video for N E WAY U WANT which was filmed in Montreal Canada. Next i'm releasing MONSTER featuring Charlie Clips, an up and coming battle rapper with an equally impressive resume from New York. The song was produced by Jimi Kendrix a multi-platinum producer that has worked with Jay-Z, 50,Cent and a list of other greats. After that i'm releasing a video for a song called Patron song which features producer/singer Sheven who plays the drums in Bill Cosby's rock group. since i released 5 albums in the last 365 i'm focusing on getting my visual out there and promoting my current work. So no mixtapes in the immediate near future but random songs and freestyles will be available.
