Jackboy Marley is taking conscious and reality rap to new levels with his music. Being In the game for about 6 years, he has cultivated his own sound and style. More importantly he has pinpointed how he wants his music received. With his EP coming in April, we asked him some questions about his sound. Here what he had to say:
Q: What is YOUR genre?
A: Hip-Hop; however, I like to consider my style to be somewhat genre-bending. I have a wide variety of musical influences, and I like to creatively incorporate them into my music. I never want to be boxed in as a traditional rap artist when there is so much, I want to explore, musically!
Q: How would you describe your sound/style?
A: Street, Social, Political and Spiritually conscious with a near alternative presentation. The term ‘reality rap’ has lost its luster and meaning. In my music, I strive to challenge the status quo thought process and accepted failed conditions of our culture. This may be done over a Lo-fi beat with acoustic drums and simple melody, or it may be more visceral with a heavily aggressive track with assisted guitars, synth bass and hard hitting 808’s. I have no limitations...and being influenced with music ranging from bands like Queen to Marilyn Manson to Lil Wayne, Tupac and UGK, I feel I’m on the precipice of changing the way the average music consumer may listen to music!
Q: Do you also write, produce, and/or engineer your own music?
A: I write and co-produce a lot of my material along with 2 producers at my label. There is something to be said about creating in an environment of highly talented musicians and producer/songwriters.
Q: Why music? Describe your passion.
A: I’m not so much an idealist but do adhere to some idealistic principles in life. I believe that music is the most intense outlet for self-expression, whether you’re creating or simply listening. It provides a voice for the voiceless...a foundation for mental, emotional and spiritual exploration that I believe is an absolute necessity in life!
Q: Who/what inspires your sound/music?
A: Being influenced by music ranging from bands like Queen to Marilyn Manson to Lil Wayne, Tupac and UGK, the inspiration of my sound is vast.
Q: Who is your motivation and why?
My daughter! I want her to know that in this world of infinite probabilities, nothing is impossible. It drives the point home if I am successful with my own dreams!
Q: What impact are you looking to make with your music? Who do you want to impact?
A: Coming from where I’m from...having experienced the things I have...I feel I have a great story to tell the world; a story that will educate, edify, inspire and motivate! For too long we have been told what to learn, how to learn, where to use what we’ve been programmed to learn and how to die. That’s not living at all! A gilded cage is still a cage, nonetheless.
Q: In your opinion, what makes you stand out from other/current artists out there?
A:I have a dexterity in musicality that most do not and will not have for their lack of music theory. It isn’t common in Hip Hop music...it is more so in R&B, POP, Jazz, Country and Rock. When it comes to developing song formats unique with non-traditional Hip Hop vocal arrangements and instrumentation that may ordinarily be associated with Techno, Electronic or even metal music, I feel I have a very distinct edge! To create a cohesive blend of various genre elements in Hip Hop with style, substance and content...I feel it is refreshing.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add/mention?
A: Think. Empower yourself with the freedom of thought because thoughts are things...
Feel. Embrace the emotions that have the power to fuel your ambitions
Original. Dare. Embody your individuality without fear and become the first YOU...
“Be true to you,believe there is no one bigger” -Tupac Amaru Shakur
Be sure to look out for his EP dropping on April 29th and keep up with Jackboy Marley’s social media @jackboymarley