When it comes to dropping an album or mixtape, you should never think ‘better late than never’ because music is always changing and evolving. One minute you’re hot and the next minute you’re not. Nevertheless, for Jay Rock, his debut album Follow Me Home was late but for good reason. Jay Rock had considerable success after being signed to Warner Bros. In 2007, but the release of his album seemed to be a long lost dream. But that dream was finally realized in 2010 when Jay Rock decided to leave Warner Bros. and sign with Tech N9ne’s Strange Music. His long awaited album was finally released this month. His decision to leave a major label for an indie is an example of how making decisions based on knowing where you want to go in your career is never a bad thing. He could have suffered the fate of other great rappers who have came and went rapidly but Jay Rock was confident in his music and knew what he wanted. The lesson here is that sometimes taking a step back can move you two steps forward.
– Johnnie McKinzie, aka Jay Rock, was born on March 31, 1986 in Los Angeles, California in the Watts neighborhood.
– He grew up in the Nickerson Gardens projects and was a Blood gang member.
– Jay Rock was once arrested on a gang injunction due to his involvement in gangs but was not charged with any crime.
– His favorite movies include New Jack City, Total Recall, Boys in the Hood, Sugar Hill, and Steven Segal movies.
– He grew up listening to Biggie, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Eminem.
– He also grew up listening to classic soul that his mother would play such as the Temptations, Dramatics, Isley Brothers, Johnny Guitar Watson, and B.B. King.
– Jay Rock has been rapping since he was 13 years old.
– Jay Rock created a buzz by releasing mixtapes and was signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Bros. in 2007.
– Many people compare the sound of his voice to The Notorious B.I.G. and Shyne.
– He said the first time he went into a studio it wasn’t a studio but had a tape recorder in the living room.
– Jay Rock is a member of Black Hippy which started by always being in the studio together with Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul, and Schoolboy Q.
– Jay Rock and Game met from growing up and being rappers in the same neighborhood.
– He believes that rapping on other artists mixtapes is a good way to increase your fan base and get your name out there as an artist.
– Jay Rock went up to Lil Wayne at a show at Universal Studios and introduced himself and told him that he wanted to work with him.
– After meeting Lil Wayne, he called to work with him but Lil Wayne was in D.C. on tour so Jay Rock and his crew flew to D.C. and knocked on his tour bus and booked studio time with him.
– In 2008, he released his first single All My Life (In the Ghetto)featuring Lil Wayne and will.i.am produced by Cool & Dre.
– The original version of All My Life (In the Ghetto)featured Kendrick Lamar.
– Jay Rock contacted Dj Quik to do a finished mix of All My Life (In the Ghetto)because he was unsatisfied with the original quality.
– In 2009 he released the song How to Rob 2009.
– In 2010 he was featured in XXL Magazine’s Top 10 Freshmen and XXL named him one of the Top 13 Most Street Artists.
– Jay Rock was named one of MTV’s Breakthrough MC’s.
– Jay Rock was featured on Omarion’s Hoodieand performed with him on 106 & Park.
– He was featured on Flo Rida’s album Only One Flobut the songs were cut from the final tracklisting.
– In 2010 he released 3 mixtapes From the Hood to the Cover of XXL, Tales from the Hood 2, and Black Friday.
– He toured with 50 cent and other artists on The Invitational Tour in late 2010 and he toured on the Independent Grind Tour with Tech N9ne, E-40, and Kendrick Lamar.
– In 2010 He left Warner Bros. and other labels offered him a deal but he decided to sign with Strange Music.
– Jay Rock says that he left Warner Bros. because it wasn’t working out business-wise.
– His debut album Follow Me Homewas released on July 26, 2011.
His advice to other artist trying to come up: “All the artists out there, do what’s right for you man, make sure you do what’s right for you. You got your team behind you, Make sure your team is behind you 112 percent. All the negativity, get all the negativity shit out and just stay positive. And do what you want to do. And do what you feel you want to do deep down inside your heart. And don’t let nobody tell you and throw you off your game. If you know it aint right it aint right. You gotta make other moves. Or do it yourself. It aint hard man. You gotta look at other successful artists independent that’s doing they stuff. Artist like E-40, independent, been doin his thing for years, Shit look at Tech N9ne. You can do it. If they can do it you can do it.”
Post by: Rosie J – music marketer
@StudioDiva