Jasiri X is one of the most vocal rappers making Hip-hop with an overt message in the spirit of Public Enemy, X-Clan and Boogie Down Productions. The Pittsburgh emcee tells AllHipHop.com and the Ill Community how such a Hip-Hop artist can make politically-minded music and still get to the money.
When I wrote the song “Free the Jena 6” I wasn’t looking for fame or
fortune or to “get on.” I simply wanted to tell a story I felt, at the
time, was largely being ignored by mainstream media. I wanted to record my
frustration with the lack of response from the Hip-Hop artists from
Louisiana. I had no idea
the song would touch the nerve that it did, nor did I ever think it
would be
posted on AllHipHop.com, played by Michael Baisden
When the jury delivered a not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case, I
was
flooded with emails from fans asking me to address this injustice.
Although I
struggled with the decision, for fear of becoming the “tragedy rapper”,
I felt like other artists would be afraid to truly address the situation
in a
strong way. My response was a song and video (directed by NYOIL) called
“Enough is Enough”. The day the video dropped, I booked my
first show in NYC and was contacted by BET to record a spot on Rap City
called “Spit Ya Game”. It was once again verification that people
want to hear music that speaks to our hurt and pain as a people. While
so
many other artists were scared to rock the boat, I was shaking the hell
out of
it and beginning to have more and more success. But, inevitably when it came to
“getting a deal” the argument was always the same, no one wants to
hear music with a message. I needed a way to show there was a demand for
quality Hip-Hop that spoke about more than just “gettin money” while at the same time
continue to build a fan base. The idea for “This Week With Jasiri X” was
born.“This Week With Jasiri X” came out of a desire to not only create a rhyme
and
video every week, but music that would talk about topics going
on in
our communities, as well as, all over the world, far more important than the
average
mindless rap song. It seems the industry has this idea that every hip-hop fan is a
superficial 17 year old with little to no intelligence, so it encourages
artists
to “dumb it down”. I decided to take the opposite approach, and
knowing that the average radio station that claims to be the “home of
hip-hop” probably wouldn’t play it, I uploaded it to Youtube. (That’s
what
so beautiful about the new technology available to artists like me. We
can
bypass the traditional gatekeepers, who are often wrong about what’s
good
music, and take it directly to the fans.) I just happened to rap about
the news at a time when now President Barack Obama began his historic run to the White House. People
everywhere, young and old, were tuning in to stations like CNN to watch
the
drama unfold. Obama, Sarah Palin, John McCain and the collapsing economy
provided more than enough subject manner to address on a weekly basis
and the
crazier the news got, the more views I received. Once again going
against the
grain and providing good intelligent music lead to more recognition. and by DJs all over
the
country. I never dreamed the song would help mobilize thousands of
people to go
to Jena and
that I too would be there, being thanked personally by the young
brothers and
their families. The outpouring of love received from Hip-Hop fans of
all
ages reaffirmed my commitment to making music with a purpose – other than
just
“gettin money.” But, I also learned the power of being part of a truth
that is bigger than you. With no manager, publicist, record label, or
team I
was being interviewed and my music played by some of the largest radio stations
in the
country. With no booking agent, I began traveling and doing shows. People
demanded a
CD, so I pressed them up myself and sold thousands – The Power of Political Poetry.
I know, I know, it’s the music BUSINESS at the end
of the day…even “conscious” artists wanna get paid doing what they do. And since I
took a
non traditional approach to the music I wasn’t afraid to take a non
traditional
approach to “gettin money”. As the success of “This Week With Jasiri X”
began to
grow, I found myself getting more and more messages from teachers saying
they
were using my video’s in the classroom. I had already gotten a few bucks
talking
to educators about the power of Hip-Hop, logically, I thought, what about putting together a
program
of my own? So, with the help of my wife, we submitted a grant request
about
teaching teens how to use media and got our first check. Next, we applied
for a
fellowship with the August
Wilson Center
for African American Culture. Not only did I become one of the first
fellows, I
was the only Hip-Hop artist. The financial support from the August
Wilson Center allowed us to step the
game up for Season 3 of “This Week With Jasiri X”, which was directed by
Paradise the Arkitech of X-Clan, and also put out the CD “American
History X”
for free. Early in Season 3, I got a call from a friend that works for
the Heinz
FoundationWandering Worx Entertainment, a media
company based out of Canada, for my album “The Ascension” produced by
Rel!g!on, which drops in August.
(the largest in Western PA)
suggesting I send something to them, and guess what? We got that grant
too! Not
only were we able to get even better equipment for Season 4, but also get
paid
per episode. Not stressing on the money part of it also allowed me to take
my time
when choosing a label for my next project, before ultimately deciding on
I typed all that to say this, the writing is on the
record company
wall. Especially for new rappers trying to get a deal. If you do get
signed, it’s
a terrible 360 deal where you’ll make even less money. Plus, the
dissatisfaction
with what the radio deems as rap music is at an all time high. Fans are
looking
for something fresh and new. Don’t think you gotta be some carbon copy
of
what’s “hot” to make money in this industry. Don’t ever think you can’t
speak
truth to power and be successful. Our latest video “Just A Minstrel”
just
became our most watched video in a few days. Hip-Hop fans were so happy
that we
articulated what everybody’s thinking about, which is how ignorant the music has
gotten.
I can’t imagine what the response is gonna be to the Season Premiere of “This
Week With Jasiri X”, called “What if the Tea Party was Black?” which
drops June
23rd. So, instead of tryin to “get on” get up, get out and get
involved in your community and speak out on the issues that affect them.
You
might actually find a faster path to achieving your dreams…and “gettin
money”.
You can see watch the groundbreaking series “This Week With Jasiri X” at www.youtube.com/jasirix
and make sure to tune in for the Season Premiere of Season 4 “What if
the Tea Party was Black” on June 23rd.
