We recently caught up with rapper Jay IDK to discuss new music and what inspires and motivates him to create his craft.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from anything, man. It’s kind of a boring answer, it is just my life. I make lots of music while I’m moving. Like when I’m walking I’ll just come up with a tempo and just hum a melody or when I wake up, but my inspiration really just comes from pretty much anything. Whatever I see.
Outfit #1 – Hat by @AlexYoung.LA Jacket by @MrCompletely Shirt by @TheKooplesOfficial Jeans by @MrCompletely Rings by @424inc @HanCholo & @ChromeHeartsOfficial Shoes by @AndroidHomme
So is this more like your life experience or someone else’s?
Both of them. I can write from many various people’s perspectives in addition to from my own.
What are your goals for your career?
I want to be a household name. Like a very big artist, like superstar status. Like the status of Jay Z and Kanye. It’s something I look forward to doing. That’s like one of my main goals. Not just getting good and making this a career it was one of the goals in the start and now it is a career the next thing is taking it to the next level.
Outfit #2 – Hat by @TheKooplesOfficial Jacket by @MrCompletely Shirt by @KhndStudios Watch by @TheFludWay Pants by @LeaseOnLifeSociety Rings by @424inc @HanCholo & @ChromeHeartsOfficial Shoes by @AndroidHomme
What are you doing to take yourself to the next level?
Lots of hard work. Quite a lot of just studying some great people, people I want to be. And just finding new and innovative ways to market myself. Grow a fan base that will last endlessly.
You say you are trying to grow your fan base that will last endlessly and you want to market yourself, what are you doing to build your brand and put out your music to create this fan base?
I want to have a reputation for being very consistent with my music and showing progress every time I drop something. So I go the extra mile with everything I do. But building one-on-one relationships or making music that my fans will connect with more than anything. Not just making hot music but music that people can relate to, music that people can remember for years.
Love the new song Trust Nobody? With that song in mind, are you working on new stuff now, a new album or something you just dropped?
Yes! I just dropped that song but I’m working on a new album. And it is going to be a really good man. I got lots of good feedback from my last project. That’s the reason why my career is a real career now. But this next one is going to be another step above that one. People who are listening to unreleased material say they see lots of growth in what I do and even with Trust Nobody there’s lots of growth in how I approach the record from production to just my vocals, it is how I project my voice. All of those things have grown significantly.
As far as your work ethic, you say you are trying to improve, and you must evolve to be better and you must have a good work ethic. How would you describe your work ethic?
I believe my work ethic is inhuman. I do not think that’s normal. I believe I believe that’s unhealthy, in a great way. I do not think that many people can do everything I can do at one time and be as focused as I’m. I try to avoid lots of things that don’t have anything to do with advancing my career and that I enjoy lots of that. I just focus on music 100% of the time. That’s how I would describe my work ethic. I do not think that’s normal.
What do you feel sets you other than other artists?
One of them is that last question. My work ethic. I believe, like I said, not many people have it. And then my knowledge of rap, from its history, I can tell you the history of how it started. I believe that is what sets me apart. I’m really a student of what I do and I actually have a passion for it and that I have a passion to be the best.
Most people will compare your rap style to Kendirick Lamar, do you think that’s accurate or would you compare yourself to others?
I mean not really I can see similarities why people say that. Everyone compares when they come on and right now I believe he is among the best doing it so that’s a good comparison, But I believe I’m absolutely me in lots of ways. I believe lots of people will see it, particularly with this new project.
Outfit #3 – Hats by @AlexYoung.LA Necklaces by @Jay_IDK Tops by @KhndStudios Shorts by @KhndStudios Rings by @424inc @HanCholo & @ChromeHeartsOfficial Shoes by @AndroidHomme
You are on tour. What do you like most about touring?
Ability to build with the fans. Quite a lot of times I go on tours with other people and it is cool because I can go and be capable to manipulate a crowd that is not necessarily mine. So it is confirmation that, whether it is a performance or my own music, something is powerful enough to grab people’s attention and get them to focus and listen to whatever I must say. Really building relationships with fans is what I enjoy the most.
Where can we find your music?
Jayidk.com
Soundcloud: Jay IDK
Twitter: @Jay_IDK
Instagram: @Jay_IDK
Snapchat: Jay_IDK
Team Credit
Photography by Ashley Walker @AshleySkyWalker
Wardrobe Style by Raphel Young @AlexYoung.LA
Shoot Producer Heather Ovieda @HeatherOvieda
Interview by Devrysha Rogers @Dev.Rog
