Jay Uno is a 25
yr old artist from one of the most secret and yet most talented hip-hop centers
of the world, The Lower East Side (Manhattan, N.Y.) I rep the Lower in everything
I do everyday not only because I grew up there but also, because some of the
most talented individuals that I have heard to date grew up there. I chose the
name JAYUNO because for one my name is Jay and Uno because of what it means.
The word Uno or One, to me represents the way that I grew up and how I would
always by myself, always doing me, and how for a long time I was always keeping
my skills to myself. It wasn’t until after 8 years of rhyming that I decided
to let people hear my talent when I decided to join in this cipher that I walked
by. The guys in my neighborhood were left in amazement because they had always
seen me walking by alone and had never even heard of me, or my talent as a rapper.
They didn’t even know I was from the same block, that’ s how low
key I was, and how surprised they were. After that day, the buzz was crazy and
I had several people ask me to join their groups, and the rest is history.
Where'd
you grow up and how long have you been rapping?
I grew up in the
Lower East Side of Manhattan and I have been rapping for over 10 years.
You've
worked with Cuban Link, can you talk about what that's been like?
Well I actually
met Cuban, Pun, Seis, and Tony before they blew up, when they were Full A Clips
through my pop dukes. At the time my pops was trying to get them on and he was
putting together shows for them and shit so it was like Cuban and me actually
grew up together. Even after they got on I would head to their studio sessions
and hang out all day listening to how they rhymed, and what they were writing
about. Between Pun and Cuban I used to get mad hyped and I would run home and
mimic their flows and do crazy writing, they became a huge influence on me and
Pun became an important icon in my life being that he was the only Spanish rapper
at the time to do it like he did, and the not to mention the fact that I also
grew up with him always trying to battle him at the club that my pops had opened
for them to perform. But yeah, working with Cuban was like working with my brother
and one of my idols, one because like I said we saw each other grow like brothers,
and two because when Pun and them blew up I was also a fan.
You've
also worked with the Terror Squad's Tony Sunshine, how did that go?
Well working with
Tony was also fun too. Tony and me spent our time bugging out and chilling,
while at the same time banging out some crazy tracks for the ladies. I think
the fact that I sounded like Pun when I rhymed bugged Tony out a bit so he liked
working with me because of that and always felt comfortable. Also the fact that
I knew Tony when him and I were just fans cheering Pun, Cuban, and Seis on made
it also feel like close family working together. I mean you have to remember
that I know Tony since he was trying to rap not even sing, but rap at shows
when him and I would battle just to show Pun and them that we were hungry and
serious to get on, so it was nothing but good times and fun when we worked.
You've
done shows in a lot of places, what's been your favorite spot so far?
I have a lot of
places that I like but when you ask for my favorite, one stands out and that’s
a club in Stroudsburg Pennsylvania named Banana Joes. They had never had a performance
there so that night it was crazy packed, the girls were looking crazy too and
I was hyped, so anyway I did my thing and ripped the show that night. I mean
I had the girls screaming for me like I was Jay-Z and the dudes was really feeling
the fact that not only did I tear the roof down, but I kept it mad humble and
real with everyone, cause one thing that I am not is an arrogant type person,
and I pride myself of that. So anyway I tore the roof down and it felt great!
So that’s my favorite spot to go to even now, cause the love is great
and the VIP treatment that comes along is always nice!
What
are your plans as far as releases go?
Well currently
I’m under a label rightfully name 100% Records, they actually have it
planned to throw me out in the mix tape circuit heavy and make my buzz crazy
before releasing my album. I’m actually working on my album and working
on only seriously hard-hitting tracks for it. I’m my own biggest critic
so that helps when it comes to bringing out my best work, but to be honest my
team is efficient and I am confident that when we do drop an album, it will
be for the masses so watch out!
What do
you want to accomplish in Hip Hop?
I just simply want
to make music that people can feel just like the way I felt when I would hear
pun. You know when you hear that song or songs that you love and you crank up
the volume on your headphones, or your car radio, or your house speakers and
you just yell along with the song and get into character like you the rapper,
that’s the effect that I want to give the world. That’s my goal,
fuck the jewelry, the cars, and the bitches, although if they come I won’t
turn them away, but I just want to create that effect for everyone and bring
that energy.
A lot of
people are saying Hip Hop is dead now, how do you feel about that?
Number one I personally
feel that everyone is entitled to their opinions so I can respect the fact that
people feel that way being that some of the greatest rappers to not only revolutionize
hip hop but to touch the mic are gone. Rappers like Pun, Biggie, Pac, and Big
L who are very liked and very respected have passed and have left very high
standards for the rest of the world to follow, but I don’t think that
Hip hop has died, I think that we can still save it and I honestly feel that
rappers like Eminem, Jay-Z, and so many others including myself have continued
and will continue to keep it alive.
If you could battle anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I don’t
think that I am a person that likes to battle, and what I mean by that is that
if the next rapper were a good rapper I would more want to collaborate and make
a track with the person rather than battle. I mean I feel that making good music
for the world comes across a lot better than proving a point to the hood. Now
don’t get me wrong I love to see a good battle and I can get really ampt
from just watching one, but I feel that in this industry you need more allies
than haters, and honestly I’ve seen more people hate on each other after
a battle than build relationships.
What's
the last Hip Hop album you bought?
The last album
that I bought was the Black Album, I am a very big on not bootlegging and showing
support for my fellow artist support so I try to buy every album, but if it
is wack I will bootleg it to hear the beats LOL. DRENSTARR 100% RECORDS 2004
IS US...PIRATE RECORDINGS
Check JayUno.com
for more info