"My lyrics improve beats."
Talented and focused, are the two words that I would use to describe Jvion. I am in no way, shape, or form a "Hip-Hop head". I know what I like when I hear it. Jvion is by no means the typical hip hop artist that is dominating the mainstream. We are now bombarded with, as Ice Cube put it, "pop corn" rap. The fact that he is different from the Soulja Boy's and Hurricane Chris' is what probably hurts him when it comes to the elusive record deal, "Who needs a record deal, when yo' records real". Selling his soul to the industry is not an option for him. It is a take me as I am or do not take me at all deal with him. You have to respect that at 20 years old Jvion a.k.a Jeremie (with and IE) Lee Jones decided to rap whats real to him, despite taking the easy route. Its nice to see someone worry about their lyrics and not the next dance sensation.
Once I heard the song "Words of Encouragement" I knew he was going to be my featured artist. So I came up with the interview questions and just prayed he got back to me before Sunday, because I really did not have a back up LOL. I was excited to see a message in my inbox. He got back to me, I am very glad to say, and he even had a few questions for me.
[Brittani] How does being raised by a single mother affect your music?
Did you have a relationship with your father...?
[Jvion] Its affects me a lot. I respect women in every way, I refrain from calling them ho's and bitches, I don’t look at females as a "number", but more so queens in a strange society, and I dedicate a large amount of my music to the well being of women and right songs like "Respect ya’ self" to uplift women and send them a better message than what’s being displayed by artist nowadays. And yes I always had an on and off relationship with my father, in and out. He was one of those that didn’t care to be there for his children, but its no love lost, I’m grown and I made it without him.
[Brittani] Describe for those who don't know the streets of East Oakland, how did what you see influence your music?
[Jvion] I’ve seen crack babies, murder victims, I’ve been inches away from shootouts, I know over 10 people dead because of the streets, and a good amount in jail, some serving life. Where I grew up influences my music a lot because I don’t want the youth to go through the things people I grew up with went through, so I give others an outlet through my music. I know I’m constantly saying "The Youth" and I’m only 20 yrs old myself LOL, but when one wants to make a change, he or she has to grow up two times as fast.
[Brittani] You have a quote on your page that says, "I am not a rapper, I am not an entertainer, I’m a motivator, what makes you classify yourself that way?
[Jvion] Because rappers are nothing but entertainers, they do music to entertain their audience even if that means them deceiving their fans but lying and portraying someone their not. I on the other hand want to motivate others to be better people, therefore, I’m a "Motivator".
[Brittani] For a younger rapper you're very much a lyricist, while most "rappers" your age are making ring tone rap. Why did you decide to go above and beyond what’s goin' on in the rap game? Because you know a catchy beat and hook would get you into the industry......
[Jvion] Because I’m real and I don’t do it for the money, I do it a change. I don’t follow trends, I set them. Even if there’s a trend that’s in that I genuinely like, I’ll probably chose to do the opposite. I know I can easily get in the game, but I refuse to be fake to accomplish that...
[Brittani] What do you think of ring tone rap, do you think Hip-Hop will come out of this phase, or is it something that remains?
[Jvion] I hate ring tone rap. These artist don’t understand that their in a position to do remarkable things, simply because their the ones with the microphone in their hands, so they command all attention. Yet they chose to teach the youth dances oppose to our history.... if your not sending a positive message to our, then what are you doing? I can talk about this all day LOL but do I think it’s a phase? Yes, but its just a matter of when the phase will end, and that could be a decade from now... we will only know when it happens.
[Brittani] Who is the best rapper in the game right now?
[Jvion] Lupe Fiasco, there's no one in the game on his level. He’s super underrated but I know real music when I hear it.
[Brittani] What do you want your fans to take away from your music?
[Jvion] A positive message, knowledge, and self-respect. I want my music to be therapeutic for fans who are in need of enlightenment, and guidance. My music is composed to help people through rough times when they’re feeling down.
[Jvion] now I have a few questions for you... those are great questions, is this something you would like to do as a career? And how do you feel about ring tone music?
[Brittani] it is actually something I see myself doing...but you have to start small ya' know LOL. I have an intense passion for music so to be able to go on Myspace and hear something new and something that’s actually good is really enjoyable. I'm gonna' be honest I don't listen to a lot of hip hop because a lot of it just isn't enjoyable to the only people I can sit down and listen to are Common Kanye Jay-Z and Lupe and actually enjoy what I’m hearing because what they say is so real I can understand it completely. I don't know why they call it ring tone rap I wouldn't have any of those ringers on my phone LOL. I actually think its trash but I can't just blame the "artist" I have to blame the consumer to...if its something you don't want to hear don't by the music let the industry know that you expect more from your artist than wack lyrics but a catchy hook.... its fun to dance to in clubs but that’s it you wouldn't catch me listenin' to on my Itunes
[Jvion] I agree with you 100%, I hate that lean wit it rock wit it shit but when it comes on in the club I'm all over the place! LOL, but it would never be in my collection
[Brittani] LOL all over the place.... I will admit...I did the "Soulja Boy" in the club like everybody else but he could have kept the rest of that CD LOL
[Jvion] I did the "Soulja Boy" just last night at the club LOL, 4 real
[Brittani] my dad bought his CD which I thought was hilarious.... he has this one song called I don't even want to type it LOL.... its called booty meet, it pretty much sounds like laughy taffy if I was D4L or Fabo I would sue for copyright infringement LOL
[Jvion] they probably would have, but not even them choose to buy that crap LOL
[Jvion] 1 more question... what attracted you to my music?
[Brittani] I heard one of your songs on your personal page.... and I was like I know he has a music page...I’m attracted to your music because its different from what's goin' on right now I especially like your lyrical content and how you put your life into your music and its real...you don't rap about your life because its what consumers want to hear about you rap about it because that’s you. And I respect that
Jvion is one of the most gifted young emcees I've heard. The younger generation while worrying about "crankin" this or that, seems to have lost their way to becoming the next, or becoming even greater than, Jay-Z or Nas, Scarface, Kanye, and a host of other respected lyricist in the game today. Jvion is definitely leading the way. Trying the bring the young generation back on the path of Hip-Hop righteousness. Jvion is channeling a whole different era of Hip-Hop, and at the same time keeping it fresh While his beats are exceptional, his words of inspiration surpass all expections.Check him out on his Myspace page at www.myspace.com/jvion87
Brittani Cooper
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