Jin
Over the course of his rap career the 27-year old emcee has proven few are strong enough to take straight shots of Jin (pun intended). After gaining fame battling on the set of BET’s 106 & Park and MTV’s Fight Klub Jin has now stepped away from the battle arena. “I need to be focusing my energy elsewhere. Not on battling,” Jin explains. The emcee is currently working on a new album as well as film and television projects.
KLO: When did you start battling and what aspect of battling do you enjoy most?
JIN: When I first got into battling, I was about 13-14. By the age of 16-17 is when it became what my whole life revolved around. I think the greatest thing battling can do for an MC is help gain credibility. It’s about not just gaining respect from others, but also confirming with oneself you took that step and entered the arena. I like to think of it these days as a chapter of my life that was exciting and I learned lots from the whole experience.
KLO: You’ve been very active within the online community and realized its potential very early on. Your third official CD, I Promise, was sold exclusively through MySpace.com, what enabled you to make the bold move of an online only release at a time, 2006, where the Internet wasn’t nearly as influential as it is now? What are your thoughts on the Internet’s influence on the game now?
JIN: For me, the internet thing kinda happened organically. I remember early on, around the BET 106 and Park days, I’m talking about Youtube wasn’t even in the picture yet, everyone was on AOL and using the chatrooms. People saw it on TV… but then it (the battles) made it’s rounds on the internet and I naturally just proceeded accordingly with the transition. These days, there’s tons of outlets for artists and it’s almost at a point where if you have to establish some sort of internet presence to sustain.
KLO: You’ve dealt with major labels, went the indie rout and even started your own label Crafty Plugz, what are your thoughts of the industry right now? What would you recommend to aspiring artists shopping for a deal?
JIN: CraftyPlugz is actually the management company I started out with when I first moved to NY in 2001. Around 2005, when I parted ways with RuffRyders, me and my manager decided to transition CraftyPlugz into a independent label. Around 2007, me and my partner decided it was time to move as well. Since then, I’ve just been working with my new management, Catch Music. The industry now is like how the industry has always been. Different players, same game. I guess the biggest change is that more and more people are seeing the business model can no longer be run like it was back then. For aspiring artists, the most tangible and practical advice or better yet suggestion I would give them is D.I.Y. (do it yourself). When it’s time to evolve to the next level and it was meant to be, so it shall.
KLO: In January 2009, you released a mixtape in Hong Kong called Free Rap Mixtape under Universal Music Group Hong Kong. Are you still signed to that label? And when can we expect the next Jin mixtape/album?
JIN: Actually, the Free Rap Mixtape and what I had going on with Universal were two seperate things. The Free Rap Mixtape is something I did just as a Chinese New Year gift for the fans/people of Hong Kong. It was unique in the fact that it was my first ever mixtape in Cantonese. So it’s joints like me rhyming over “Live Your Life” by TI but in Cantonese. Different for me, I must say. As for Universal, how they came into play is, they released my first Cantonese album in Hong Kong in 2008, which is what brought me out there initially. As for new projects, I am focusing on a English and Cantonese album for this year.
KLO: Aside from music you’ve also been featured in movies such as 2 Fast 2 Furious and No Sleep Til Shanghai. Are you still pursuing an acting career or is your focus strictly on music?
JIN: The thing about Hong Kong is that ever since I’ve been here it’s been non-stop in terms of momentum and overall opportunities. Aside from the music projects, I’ve been able to do film, television, endorsement deals, etc. Stuff I always wanted to do but up until now, never really got the chance to. Which is exactly why Im so grateful/thankful for the Lord’s blessings in abundance.
KLO: In October 2009, you were set to battle West Coast Pit champion Dizaster of GrindTime. Despite back and forth videos on WSHH no battle eventuated. There were also rumors of you potentially battling 2-Time WRC winner “Illmaculate.” Do you plan on battling these two or any other rappers in the future?
JIN: It’s actually quite a simple situation. Diz challenged me. I wanted to challenge Illmac. We were all set to do it.. In the midst of figuring out behind the scenes details between my management and GT, it didn’t happen and fell thru. It was during that time that I made the biggest realization. That is, I need to be focusing my energy elsewhere. Not on battling. Not taking anything away from them two or what theyre doing with the league.
KLO: On a lighter note who are your top 5 favorite artist of all time and who are the top 5 up and coming artists you enjoy now?
JIN: Listing a top 5 artists of all time is a tough one. As far as influential.. MJ, LL, Wu Tang, Jay, Nas, Eminem. These days, I listen to quite a variety of stuff. I thank you all for taking the approximately 8-11 minutes to read all of this. God bless.
Be sure to check for Jin at http://ayojin.com/ & http://www.myspace.com/therealjin.
-YOUNG TUNNA- 