|
THE PROJECT
The New York City trio of Jah-C, King Gutta and Supa Nova form The Project. This talented young squad's music ranges from up-tempo party smashers like "Yeah", to thoughtful social commentary like "Home Sweet Home" which touches on the real issues of gentrification.
At the Pre-release Event in January for Brown Eyez Magazine, The Project was among the crowds’ favorite. I knew that I had to sit down with this group and pick their conscious brain. With the busy world these days I was not able to sit down with the whole group. Fortunately, technology was on my side and I sent questions to Jah-C, the Producer and a MC in the group who handles the majority of the production work. Reading the responses to the questions impressed me more than the group’s performance, but don’t just take my word for it see for yourself: |
B-E-M: How would you define Healthy Living?
Jah-C: Healthy Living for ME is doing unto others as you would have others do unto you! Being grateful and keeping the Most High present normally leads to moderation and peacefulness which I strongly believe paves the way towards mental, spiritual and physical health!
B-E-M: In what ways do you keep yourself healthy?
Jah-C: I am very active in all three realms that govern human reality. I constantly sharpen my mind through reading, endeavoring in music and collaborating with others, keeping my thoughts keen and poignant or more simply Healthy. My spirit is enriched through faith and tested by the world constantly as is everyone else’s! Succeeding in life shows us that spirit is moving in the right direction and is healthy! As far as my body, I love sports, walking, and moving.....constantly. My diet isn’t the best, but I do my best to counter my love of burgers and fried foods with rigorous physical activity to stay healthy!
B-E-M: How long have you/your group been doing music?
Jah-C: The Project came together in 2001 when I left school with the feeling that my purpose was to unite others through music. I've been a mc since ‘98, that’s when I started taking my love of lyricism a bit more seriously. I've been full-fledged producing for 3 years now.
B-E-M: Who were and are your influences?
Jah-C: My influences are too great in number to name but I'll touch on some that clue you in on where I'm headed. First, my immediate family influenced me, through their support in raising me and seeing to it that I was safe and nurtured. Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Jay-z, Biggie, Nas, Common, Mos Def, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Green Day, the White Stripes and many, many other successful trailblazing musicians. Finally, my environment may be my greatest influence.
B-E-M: What current artists do you support?
Jah-C: I support the aforementioned names, The Dugout Crew, The Nuclear Family, Cool Calm Pete, Zero 7, Air, Outkast, and various other great musical acts.
B-E-M: What are your ethnic backgrounds and how has your backgrounds influence the music you produce?
Jah-C: I am Ghanaian American, born in Brooklyn raised in Harlem. The rhythm and dance in my music comes from my mother's African roots and I am proud of that. I feel like her genes make me able to create understand and feel music. My NYC roots provide my music with individuality; grit, style, and weight all of which are adjectives I believe adequately describe New York. Supa Nova is of Panamanian descent and born in Brooklyn, Guttah is from Harlem.
B-E-M: What do you want the world and more specifically the black community to get out of your music?
Jah-C: I want the Black community to get the spectrum of human experience from The Project. I want them to see the many sides of our community and for them to understand that sacrifice and working together is the way to uplift. I am a man of action, so while I love to rap consciously and talk about the ills of society, I prefer to embody a message as opposed to verbally deliver it. In other words: I don't talk about it, I be about it. I want the community to get that if we take positive action together and we can all reap the positive benefits together!
B-E-M: How do you (and the members of the group) view commercial hip hop?
Jah-C: I am signed to a label and my album will be available in stores, so we are commercial, we are engaged in commerce. Anyone trying to make money from music is commercial. People who make music with the only thing in mind being money get ignored by me, they don't cater to me- they cater to those who like that sort of music. I'm not judgmental of people, their lives or their work; I praise God and am imperfect. If I don't like the music, it simply isn't my taste.
B-E-M: Let's talk about the issue of selling out. What do you think of artists that "sell out" for the game?
Jah-C: In a country like this one I laugh when people use terms like selling out. Some of us are so self-righteous, as if our tax dollars aren't contributing to the war in Iraq! As if we don't bear guilt and sin as well. Some people sell out and they deserve our pity for they know not what they do. It’s up to those that do not sell out to keep Hip Hop alive, in order to appreciate the good, you need the bad, all things need be balanced! To those who do what their soul feels is wrong just for money or fame, I hope they learn a valuable lesson and more importantly I hope that they don't hinder someone deserving from getting their shot.
B-E-M: What advice would you give aspiring artists?
Jah-C: To the aspiring artist I say this: Being a good person is the oldest trick in the book, which is why it works. Working smart can out do working hard! Always be prepared and humility can carry you through life with a smile!
B-E-M: What community service projects have you been involved in or what projects would you like put into your communities?
Jah-C: I myself would like to see affordable daycare, Pre-K education, recreation centers, and life training all integrated into community centers in every minority dominated neighborhood in this country, with funding from government facilities and no need for a college degree to work. Poor people helping poor people receiving help from the rich to do it! I'll be the hood Robin Hood, I'm not just going to rap some conscious stuff then go live a self-centered life, that would be a crime most heinous.
For more info on The Project check them out on MySpace: www.myspace.com/nroproject
Jah-C: Healthy Living for ME is doing unto others as you would have others do unto you! Being grateful and keeping the Most High present normally leads to moderation and peacefulness which I strongly believe paves the way towards mental, spiritual and physical health!
B-E-M: In what ways do you keep yourself healthy?
Jah-C: I am very active in all three realms that govern human reality. I constantly sharpen my mind through reading, endeavoring in music and collaborating with others, keeping my thoughts keen and poignant or more simply Healthy. My spirit is enriched through faith and tested by the world constantly as is everyone else’s! Succeeding in life shows us that spirit is moving in the right direction and is healthy! As far as my body, I love sports, walking, and moving.....constantly. My diet isn’t the best, but I do my best to counter my love of burgers and fried foods with rigorous physical activity to stay healthy!
B-E-M: How long have you/your group been doing music?
Jah-C: The Project came together in 2001 when I left school with the feeling that my purpose was to unite others through music. I've been a mc since ‘98, that’s when I started taking my love of lyricism a bit more seriously. I've been full-fledged producing for 3 years now.
B-E-M: Who were and are your influences?
Jah-C: My influences are too great in number to name but I'll touch on some that clue you in on where I'm headed. First, my immediate family influenced me, through their support in raising me and seeing to it that I was safe and nurtured. Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Jay-z, Biggie, Nas, Common, Mos Def, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Green Day, the White Stripes and many, many other successful trailblazing musicians. Finally, my environment may be my greatest influence.
B-E-M: What current artists do you support?
Jah-C: I support the aforementioned names, The Dugout Crew, The Nuclear Family, Cool Calm Pete, Zero 7, Air, Outkast, and various other great musical acts.
B-E-M: What are your ethnic backgrounds and how has your backgrounds influence the music you produce?
Jah-C: I am Ghanaian American, born in Brooklyn raised in Harlem. The rhythm and dance in my music comes from my mother's African roots and I am proud of that. I feel like her genes make me able to create understand and feel music. My NYC roots provide my music with individuality; grit, style, and weight all of which are adjectives I believe adequately describe New York. Supa Nova is of Panamanian descent and born in Brooklyn, Guttah is from Harlem.
B-E-M: What do you want the world and more specifically the black community to get out of your music?
Jah-C: I want the Black community to get the spectrum of human experience from The Project. I want them to see the many sides of our community and for them to understand that sacrifice and working together is the way to uplift. I am a man of action, so while I love to rap consciously and talk about the ills of society, I prefer to embody a message as opposed to verbally deliver it. In other words: I don't talk about it, I be about it. I want the community to get that if we take positive action together and we can all reap the positive benefits together!
B-E-M: How do you (and the members of the group) view commercial hip hop?
Jah-C: I am signed to a label and my album will be available in stores, so we are commercial, we are engaged in commerce. Anyone trying to make money from music is commercial. People who make music with the only thing in mind being money get ignored by me, they don't cater to me- they cater to those who like that sort of music. I'm not judgmental of people, their lives or their work; I praise God and am imperfect. If I don't like the music, it simply isn't my taste.
B-E-M: Let's talk about the issue of selling out. What do you think of artists that "sell out" for the game?
Jah-C: In a country like this one I laugh when people use terms like selling out. Some of us are so self-righteous, as if our tax dollars aren't contributing to the war in Iraq! As if we don't bear guilt and sin as well. Some people sell out and they deserve our pity for they know not what they do. It’s up to those that do not sell out to keep Hip Hop alive, in order to appreciate the good, you need the bad, all things need be balanced! To those who do what their soul feels is wrong just for money or fame, I hope they learn a valuable lesson and more importantly I hope that they don't hinder someone deserving from getting their shot.
B-E-M: What advice would you give aspiring artists?
Jah-C: To the aspiring artist I say this: Being a good person is the oldest trick in the book, which is why it works. Working smart can out do working hard! Always be prepared and humility can carry you through life with a smile!
B-E-M: What community service projects have you been involved in or what projects would you like put into your communities?
Jah-C: I myself would like to see affordable daycare, Pre-K education, recreation centers, and life training all integrated into community centers in every minority dominated neighborhood in this country, with funding from government facilities and no need for a college degree to work. Poor people helping poor people receiving help from the rich to do it! I'll be the hood Robin Hood, I'm not just going to rap some conscious stuff then go live a self-centered life, that would be a crime most heinous.
For more info on The Project check them out on MySpace: www.myspace.com/nroproject
