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Keep an Eye
Out
An interview with J-cees-U
By Bob
Ignizio |
These days, rap artists
can come from just about any location or any background. So why not an MC
from Youngstown who grew up listening to country music before finding his
voice through rhymes? When rapper J-cees-U sent me his demo recently, I
was impressed with his honest lyrics and unique style. He does his
recording at home with minimal production, so the beats may not be as hard
hitting as what you hear on the radio. When you get down to it, though, the
essence of rap is in the lyrics and the style of delivery. In that respect,
J-cees-U is an artist worth paying attention to.
Utter Trash: Give me a
little background about yourself. Where are you from, how old are you, and
how long have you been making music?
J-cees-U: I'm originally from the great state of
Maryland born and raised in Brandywine Maryland for three years. My parents
moved me up here to Youngstown when I was three years old. I now reside in
the outskirts of Youngstown Ohio. As for my age, I don't care to elaborate
on it. I don't think it's an important issue. Well, look at it this way,
George Forman got back into the ring when he was 50 to box mike Tyson. He
did this because he could, not because of his age. But don't get me wrong;
I'm far from 50! As for my music, I really just got into it after my dad
died in July 2002. When I was 8 years old I got a set of drums that I drove
my parents nuts with. I beat them until they were beat! I also played the
harmonica while growing up. This I carried in my back pocket, and I played
it from time to time. Just 2 years ago I got a keyboard. That's about all I
can tell you about my music, other than what ya heard. I just got a guitar
from my father in law who passed away in 2003. I’m learning to play the
guitar and keyboard some, but I believe that I can write sing, & rap a lot
better than I can play.
UT: What's the
significance of your pseudonym "J-cees-U"?
JCU: I wrote down a whole bunch of names, and that one
seemed to stand out, so I went with it. It carries my initials, JCS, as well
as my dads, JES. My dad was always called Jay by his friends as a nickname,
and a lot of friends called me JC as a nickname growing up. I have a son
with the same initials, JCS. His first name is Jesse instead of Joseph and
rhymes with JC. As for the U, I would say this is my dad looking out for us.
It just seemed like a good pick for that name at the time. My son is now
starting his own band, taking after dad third hand.
UT: You mention in your
lyrics that you grew up around country music. How did you wind up getting
into rap?
JCU: I did grow up around country, & country around
me. There wasn't that much rap on the radio then like now. I have to say
I’m one of those people that likes all music. I’m not just honed in on one
type of music like a lot of people I know. When I was growing up, my friends
and I would have cut down fights with our words. But they had to rhyme. As
time went on, that all seemed to fade away. Well now that I get to hear a
lot of rap on the radio these days, I just seem to fit right in with it.
Well that's the way my mind thinks, anyway. It just likes to rhyme from
time to time. So I guess this is how I got into it without even realizing
it. Also, when my dad died I was putting some of his old tapes on to CD and
this got me thinking as well.
UT: Your approach to
rapping seems pretty personal and I don't really hear you trying to sound
like most of the popular rappers today. Who are your influences?
JCU: My approach to rapping is just me. I really don't
want to sound like anyone else but myself. That would be too easy. Yes, it
is personal, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all. My
influences, well first off is myself, and my dad. I like too short, Kid
Rock, Uncle Kracker, 50 cent, Marshall Mathers, Ludacris, JayZ, Dr Dre,
MissyElliott, not in any particular order though. I like a lot of country
music; a lot of artists influence me of all types of music. I like all the
rappers out there as long as they are enjoying what they do. Their stuff can
and should shine through.
UT: The production on
your CD is pretty sparse. Would you like to collaborate with someone who
could flesh out your sound more, or do you prefer keeping things simple?
Whatever your answer, why?
JCU: I realize my production on my first CD is shady,
but keep in mind I have done everything by myself. I would love to
collaborate with someone or just keep things simple for now. I’m pretty
flexible when it comes to that. So, my answer would be either way, it
wouldn't matter. If it's simple or complicated, I guess you could say I can
rap or sing it either way.
UT: Is this strictly a
home studio project, or have you ever performed live? If not, would you
like to?
JCU: This was done at home, just me all alone. So I
guess this is a strictly at home project right now. I've never performed
live, but I would like to perform live in due time if I ever get that far.
So for now I will keep grinding to make things better as a home studio
project. It would be cool to go to a real studio and lay down some tracks,
though. I think that would be the next step into this. I know this sounds
nuts, but it would be cool to sing one song, “Cold & Empty”, with Kid Rock
live. I don't know if I could, but it would be awesome. That song reminds me
of so much of what I’m going through right now. That's weird. It’s almost as
if it should have came out of my throa,t and its something I would have
wrote.
UT: Who do you see as the
audience for what you do, or is that even a consideration?
JCU: I’m not sure who would be my audience for what I
do, but somehow deep down inside I think if I got the chance, I could split
the world in half with my feelings and rhymes that I hide inside. Just a
little for everyone to get a cheer out of, you can say. Many people have
told me that I have a way to make people happy. So I’m guessing that's what
it would be. Yes, it's a consideration. I have one main goal right now, and
that is to let everyone in the world hear my stuff. If I could just make one
person happy with it or pull through a day, that's what really matters to
me, what more can I say.
UT: I notice that in your
lyrics you go out of your way to try and be respectful of women. Do you
think too much of today's rap projects a negative image of women?
JCU: I do seem to go out of my
way for women. This ones going to be hard to answer, so let me start here;
all my life I have been with one women and have never got hurt or had my
heart broke, but after the self release of this CD in 2003, it got broke
sadly to say. Well, yes, I got burned once in my life, but I still
remain strong somehow. Don't ask how cuz I just don't know. I still have
great respect for women, even the one that hurt me so deeply and I am still
trying to keep this together! I'ts hard but I'm not cut out to give in.
Never had to, don't intend to. Moving on, I don't think that today's rap
gives a negative image towards women. But I do see how it could now
that my eyes are open wide. This doesn't mean that I would lash out because
of what I went through, but if it comes to that, that's life. I'm
trying my best to keep things at peace and work my songs around that, People
can rap about anything these days. As long as it's coming from their heart,
that's all that really matters.
UT: Do you have any
interest in pursuing a career in music, or is this just a case of wanting to
express yourself and not really caring if you ever make any money off it?
JCU: I’m trying to pursue something here. I’m not
sure what, since this set back, but it has opened so many rhymes to my
thoughts that I’m sure if they get out they will be bought. Yes, I am
expressing myself, but if I can make money at it I will. Just remember, I
can easily go out in my back yard and yell to express myself. But that won’t
get my word out to anyone else, or help anyone pull through a bad day, or
give them a smile on their face to be happy.
UT: Anything else you
want to comment on?
JCU: I have been through so much in the past 2 years
that it can't even be taken as real. So the only way to get this reality out
would be to put my sheer emotions into a positive force. I think singing or
rapping is my positive road to succeed in something that started out only to
be a dream.
Visit the J-cees-U website.
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