As graduation quickly approaches I began to remember that I have no idea what I’m doing. All I can think about is that sweet desire of mine to pursue writing. Yet I haven’t done anything writer worthy, besides this wonderful blog. I decided that it’s time. No matter how I afraid I am, or if rejection gives me anxiety attacks, writing is the only life I want to imagine right now. So I took a couple of small steps this past week. And I’m trying to spice this ole blog up. I’m very happy to share my very first interview with you, Wild Things!
A mechanical engineer major at Texas A&M University in College Station, JC Juice is a local hip hop artist and a friend of mine. When I decided to try something new for the The Wilde, I thought an interview would be nice. Lucky for us JC Juice was putting on his first concert of this semester on Saturday, November 19th. I found this to be the perfect opportunity to not just give an interview, but to have the chance to interview someone with such a genuine soul as JC. During the interview I got another dose of how important music was to JC. It wasn’t even just his energetic presence that made the concert. His fan base and closest friends offered up their best support. Before the concert began I made my way around to some familiar faces to get their input on JC’s Cul-de-sac Raps. I asked a few of JC’s closest friends to describe him in three words. I insisted on only three. A small number, but my answer was what I expected. Articulate. Personal. Fresh.
I kicked off the interview by congratulating JC on his show. Halfway through his set he suffered a microphone malfunction. To keep the cold crowd entertained, he began to belt some acapella freestyle. He invited everyone out for a show and a show he was going to give. We took about a fifteen minute break before we moved back outside to the front of the cul-de-sac. JC already had us pumped. Then it happened…the microphone just decided it wasn’t his night; JC was going to have to finish this show solo. As if there was another thought on JC’s mind to not give the best show he could. He did what he came to do, commenting, “I literally dropped the mic.”
My first question had been what inspired the title of his first EP, XXXX. JC described the indecisiveness behind the title. He at first just didn’t know due to the construction of the songs and lyrics in general. In simple terms, there are four Xs because there are four songs. However, the range of the songs differ because there are so many different problems, so each X represents an aspect of life, specifically college life. Hashtag party, am I right? Even in his EP artwork, JC finds a way to incorporate his different ideas by using the X theme. As he worked on his latest EP, Contemplate, JC said he had hoped to incorporate two things: quality of sound and emotion. He admits that he has a hard time portraying emotions in music, that it’s not enough to just say the lyrics. It’s something he’ll continue to work on as he delves deeper into meaningful lyrics. I must note his confidence will make you smile. JC proudly states, “I know my lyrics are good,” but it’s not cockiness. It’s determination. From our talk I could hear the passion JC has for music and creating unique, new sounds.
We need to note the distinction in “artist” and “rapper”. Sure, JC Juice is a rapper, but he’s one of a kind as he says in his song “Just a Rapper”. He thrives on being able to produce his own lyrics. “It’s everything to me,” he says. By writing his own lyrics he gets to give his audience a direct insight to his life. Today in mainstream music, rap varies all over the place. I, personally, will attest to how generic the genre has become. Let’s be honest, a good rap song is one we can twerk our asses off too. And I think JC was completely correct when he said that people think rap is easy. Guilty. I found that one of the great things about JC was his ability to admit that rap truly is difficult and requires a lot more than bitches and hoes. Rap is an art in need of true creativity. A quality he says that mainstream music lacks. When he said he was one of a kind he means, “I’m a musician,” because the connotation of, “Oh, I’m a rapper,” usually leads him to believe you suck nine out of ten times. He credits Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Drake as the few mainstream rappers he respects.
For a mechanical engineering major, music is not just a hobby. He has high hopes in continuing his musical journey. I had to ask about that dynamic: mechanical engineering and a rapper. He laughed. No surprise that I wasn’t the first person to wonder about the strange mix. It’s not at all complicated. In fact JC summed it up in a way we could all understand and that is stability. Oh, and of course reality. We go to one of the best universities in the nation (WHOOP)! This is where I found myself on a quite similar path as JC’s. While we have this driving passion for what other people see as fun, we both note that at the end of the day you need a back-up plan. Mine, women’s and gender studies. JC’s, mechanical engineering. As much as we’d all love to take the plunge into our perfect dream world, this society is not as open to creativity. “College is just what I have to do,” JC says, “it’s good to have your head in the clouds, but with your feet on the ground.” The balance between music and school is something he needs. While the goal is music, he doesn’t denounce college. He’s learned a lot, good because we pay enough, but he’s found a way to incorporate college into his music.
“I don’t know where I would be without music.” ~JC Juice
Before I come to close, there was something special about JC, and no it’s not just his talent. From the minute I arrived at the venue and told his friends what I was doing, I was struck by immense positivity and support. I mean, no one was going to drag him, but it wasn’t just, “Yea, JC is good.” Absolutely not. His character, his music, his personality. These are only a few of JC’s lovable traits that his friends made sure I knew about. From a casual bystander, to the guitarist of The Happy Boys (the band in which JC performed with), to the happy host who had more than upstanding things to say. Through this interview I learned not only what music means to JC, but what JC means to the people he calls friends. But of course it’s the amazing things that make up JC, to bring us the fresh authenticity of hip hop artist, JC Juice.
1) Musical Inspiration – Kendrick Lamar (JC recently saw him at ACL. Needless to say it was the best and he couldn’t believe it. Fanboys.)
2) What is your favorite planet? – Earth (And I quote, “I wouldn’t want live on any other planet.”)
3) If you were in a beauty pageant, what would be your message or cause? – The current refugee situation (JC comments that he founds it disheartening that America, a country built from immigrants, would be so intolerant of helping people because of that one in a million fear of terrorists. As a first generation African-American, son and brother of African immigrants, it’s a topic JC is very passionate about. “The fact that we could be so nationalist, so selfish with our liberty and freedom, really fucks me up.”)
And there you have it, WildThings. My first interview. Slowly, but surely. I offer my sincerest gratitude to JC Juice for allowing me in his world. Also I have to give the biggest thanks to my best friend, Meg Dudney, for being my partner during this interview. And thank you to everyone who made sure I got to know JC’s best side. I hope you all enjoyed my piece. Graduation is right on my ass, so are finals, but I hope to be back soon with something new for y’all! Stay wild!
