To be perfectly honest, I know just about nothing about how to “make it big” in the present day rap industry. I don’t even listen to rap. However, when I found out that one of my bosses at my part time job was working towards a career in that field, I was intrigued. Knowing nothing at all about it, I asked question after question to the point that he was most likely annoyed with me. Suddenly, I realized something: if I knew nothing about the subject and found it this interesting, maybe others would, too. Why not an article on our interview?
So, here it is: what it’s really like in the present day music industry. (Keep in mind, this is more representative of the Detroit area than overall).
I: Do you think the Detroit music industry is representative of what it’s like anywhere else?
JSR*: No, I wouldn’t say Detroit is the same at all. Detroit is more so, I’d say, a little more close minded than the industry as a whole, because this is known as … a hard industry. People from LA are coming here because they’re trying to break a song, but Detroit people don’t really show a lot of love to a lot of new stuff. So this is like the hardest industry to be in. If you leave Detroit you’ll have more people coming out to your shows, showing you more support, [people from Detroit] aren’t about support.”
I: Why do you think that is?
JSR: I feel like everybody still kinda wants to be that person on stage. So, since they see that person up there, you know, they kinda hate [that person], because they’re like “that’s not me”.
I: So you’ve met Tee Grizzley, do you think that, because you’ve met him, that gives you an advantage for the future? In terms of getting more exposure to audiences and everything?
JSR: Yes and no. Just meeting celebrities doesn’t guarantee helping you at all. Let’s say you were to go and meet Usher tomorrow. Now, would that be a connection you’d use in the future? You know what I mean? Is he going to help you in the industry? No, he’s not. But if you were somebody like me who goes to talk to his manager or something, that would me more so helpful towards me. The only reason I’m posting pictures of, like, Tee Grizzley, is that it’s bigger promo for me. It makes me look like a bigger artist, you know?
I: Do you feel a lot of pressure doing things that you wouldn’t usually be comfortable with in the industry? Or is it more of, like, what you’re comfortable with?
JSR: Honestly, it’s more of what I’m comfortable with. I was more of, like, a nerd in high school, so just being an artist in general is uncomfortable. Going on stage, and performing in front of thousands of people, is uncomfortable. Doing an interview [laughs] is uncomfortable. But you know, it’s something I’ve grown accustomed to over time, because that’s the industry I’m in.
I: Do you think that everyone’s music represents who they are?
JSR: I’d say for some artists for sure, there are some artists out there [whose music] is a good representation of who they are. But most of the artists I’ve met, [who are] coming up in the industry, [they just] put on a facade. You come out this big artist, like “I’m the sh*t, I do this, I do that…”, but at home, you’re just like, eating ramen noodles, you know what I’m saying? That’s more so who I am. But if you see me on stage, I’m a different person.
*JSR is an upcoming artist in the Detroit area. Follow him on Instagram.
