What do you teach your children about surviving and staying alive in America?
I teach my children that even the sky isn’t the limit. You can do whatever you put your mind to and you are willing to work hard for. Tend to your business and stay out of everyone else’s. There’s only 24 hours in a day, you can’t accomplish your goals if you’re watching everyone else accomplish theirs and gossiping about it.
What made you decide to release a trilogy of albums?
I actually decided to release a trilogy of mixtapes, rapping over industry beats, with no real promo or anything. Once I announced it, producers started sending tracks and I ended up with over 40 beats, so I decided to make it a trilogy with all original production. With that change, I knew I had to promote and market it like I would any other album. Making the music has been no problem, but all of the promotion part is kicking my ass. I can’t wait to drop the third one.
What JP One song do you suggest people listen to first and why?
If you’ve never heard a JP One song, I would suggest you listen to “Atonement”. It’s a mixtape song, which means it’s over an industry beat, but I recorded it when I first came home and it set the tone for everything that I’m doing right now. You’ll listen and know that I’ve been consistent and I never lied to you.
Where do you see your career in ten years?
In ten years, I see my career being more of a businessman than an artist. I run my own record label and I have no managers or anything, so I am in total control of everything. I would love to have a few great artist to mold and guide in the right direction. That’s the direction I’m heading towards.