INTERVIEW WITH JASON HAFT!

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Jul 23, 2002
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www.connectedinc.net
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Interview with Jason Haft
By Michael Myers
What's up Jason Haft? Can you intoduce yourself for the beginning of the
interview?
Sup..yeah, my name is Jason Haft from Union City, California.. reppin'
Connected INC (In Northern Cali)..
When did you start with rap music?
I started listening to rap in the 80's.. I was just a kid trying to break dance
after seeing Beatstreet and Breakin/Electric Boogaloo... but I started writing
poetry in 95. I didn't actually start rhyming over beats until 99-2000..
What made you step into music business?
I got into the music business to actually piss people off. I do this music
thing for fun. Lots of people that use to be around me were into rhyming, and
acting big headed about it. So while they were talking bad about me trying to
hold me back, not including me in their recording sessions and what not, I just
did my own thing and became successful. I put my stuff out for sale at the
stores or on the net and they're still in that beginning stage going nowhere or
asking me for hookups..
Why did you named yourself Jason Haft? Is that yoor real name or....?
Yeah, Jason Haft is my real name. I got a couple aliases but now, the people
who really know me, know me by my real name.
Is "Just Defying Hatred" your first album?
Yes. It's the first thing I put out for fun. But my first official solo album
will be "Language Arts" which will be released and distributed nationwide
through Connected INC. It'll be a double album, one disc is Language Arts, the
other disc will be the original "Just Defying Hatred" album.
Tell us something about the album...Did you produce it all by yourself, what
are the features on the album.....?
I put out that album just to have something out there. I only pressed 1,000
and gave away 200. The other 800 were sold and I even put it up on the net for
download for a bit. I produced everything. From original music to sampling,
to writing, recording, engineering, & mixing. I didn't master it though.. I
had a professional do it. It features my lady Lindsay & the owner of Connected
INC, Lil Coner.
In some parts of yourr album you sound a quite mad ; you got a lot of
energy on the album, you got some nice battle songs.... How would you
descibe yourself as an mc? Are you battle mc (like Celph Titled or
Skuntdunnana) , freestyler, big lyricist (like Nas or Biggie).....
lol.... mad? I guess I was passionate at the time just to make songs and talk
shit I guess. Like I said, a lot of people didn't want to see me successful at
all.. from people that use to be around me, to churches, to whatever
frustrated me in my life.. But I honestly consider myself a poet. I got
battle songs, songs bout life, religion, family, everything that's real to me I
guess. I'd consider myself an MC mainly because I've actually performed,
headlined & hosted at shows.. I wouldn't compare myself to any other artist
cuz I don't think I sound like anybody but myself. But I do battle, freestyle,
write, etc.. I'm just more into making more meaningful music now so the random
battle track won't be created as much as before but the arrogance is still
there.. What can I say? I'm conceited.. lol
Speaking of freestyles...what do you think about freestyleing? Is it good
way to try make your own in the music industry or is it better to find some
producer? I mean...is it better way to show your skillz recording 5 mixtapes
per month or is it better to find/pay producer and record a "normal" album?
Hmm.. freestyles are what they are. Some people think it's great, others
think, "do you really want to hear an album of freestyled rhymes?" People get
discovered in many ways. What I've noticed that works is that people who make
albums/mixtapes and go out there and show that they have the fan base and
ability to sell products will make it big. Nobody gets deals out of nowhere.
People that are successful have been doing music for many years and have
underground albums and early tracks. I don't know if there is a mainstream
artist in Hip-Hop/Rap that can say their mainstream debut album is actually
their very first recording. But whatever way a person wants to make music and
sell it is their business. Whether it's mixtape or real album doesn't matter.
If it sells then it sells. But if people just want their skills in music or
lyrics to be heard, do something original. Pay only if you think it's worth
it. Don't buy a garbage beat or pay for recording time with a person who
hasn't done anything for themselves.
On your album you mixed westcoast rap and gospel music...Tell us something
about that..
Well.. the westcoast rap I couldn't avoid. I'm from here.. I don't speak the
same slang as anywhere else and the lifestyle that I'm living in the west coast
can't be found anywhere else. The gospel music is a different story. I
wouldn't say I'm religious but I do have strong beliefs. And to me, I just
incorporated references to the bible and my beliefs into my music to make a
message. I didn't use teachings from churches or other influences that put a
spin on faith in my life, so I made songs against those entities in a creative
way.
What else projects do you have besides that album?

Well, I just finished work on the Balled Out - Silver & Black Album
(Compilation) with Lil Coner that will be released through Connected INC. We
have a group album called "Lil Coner & Jason Haft - Telling Stories" that will
come out in a couple months. And my official debut solo will be released late
October - early November 2004.
Did you appear on some mixtapes, soundtracks, on other artists albums...?
I've appeared on Lil Coner - Mama Tried, Connected INC presents.... Balled Out,
Connected INC presents.... Balled Out - The Silver & Black Album, & Higher
Records presents "Our Side of the State" I've worked with many other artists
for their projects but that material hasn't been released so I can't speak on
it. Just do a google search on "Jason Haft" and hopefully you'll see my name
on more stuff. But I am working on a soundtrack for a movie but I can't give
any more info on it either.
Who had/have most influence on you as a rapper?

Honestly, my lady Lindsay has influenced me the most. I guess trying to
impress her was part of the reason I went from poetry to rhyming. & now she's my
biggest critic.
Who are the people in rap music you respect most?
Well.. I have respect for every artist just for doing it. But the most in
this game? Well.. for me it would have to be Lil Coner. I was locked up with that
guy and now I work with him. I pretty much know most of his life story so to
see where he was at before & to see where he's at now is a big inspirational
story to not just me, but to anybody. I give credit to the guy for just being
able to finance & put out three albums in nine months after doing eight years
in jail.. & to give back to his community despite all the harrassment by law
enforcement.... I gotta respect that.


When you writting lyrics, how you doin' that? Do you just sit down and
writing lyrics or do you wait for some inspiration...?
Well I use to write without beats.. now that I'm quick at the whole song
making process from scratch, I just make a beat, write the song and get done all in
about four hours. My life inspires me and I never have writers block. Not all
the songs I make are like.. the best song ever but it's easy to me. I have
over 200 recorded songs and about 1500 beats that's never been written to.
I represent Connected INC. Lil Coner put me on as an artist & producer based
on the work we did on his Mama Tried album.

What do you think, who's gonna be next big talent? Can you tell for
someone that's near you (you been working with) that he/she gonna shine in
the future, and why you can tell that?
Well.. I can't tell. I'm just one fan among many. Out of the people I've
worked with, I know Lil Coner is really making a name for himself and he's got
distribution deals and what not, so I expect him to get big among the
underground scene. His first album is classic in my opinion. People tell me
all the time that they can listen to his whole album without skipping a song.
He's also got the mind of a great entrepeneur and I can see him getting even
more successful based on his understanding of the game. But there's so much
talent in the bay area right now that I've been around, I can't just name one.
It's really more than talent that makes a person "shine." You need to have a
business mind, & the drive to hustle to put yourself at a certain level. I can
tell you people I think deserve credit. For one, Mousie. He's just a great
all around entertainer. He's one of the most creative people I've ever come across
not just in making music, but in writing stories as well. I think people
haven't given him enough props so I hope people who read this look at his work
and see the creative genius behind it. Another talented person I would like to
see make it big is Mac Mall. I've been a fan of his for a long time and I know
he's had hits on the radio and videos on t.v. but I think he just great at
writing stories in rhyme form. I hope he's the next person from the bay to
make it big based on the fact that his albums are very all around in topics. I
enjoy listening to his albums.

What are the rappers you produced for?
I've produced beats that have featured Lil Coner, Lindsay, Young Steve, Ill
Fon$, C Note, Fredo Algebra (Tight Rope Walkers), Marcus D (Death Row), Mousie, Lil
Brah (Get Low), Tone Capone (Starz the Limit), Filthy Fon$, Ace of Spits, Tito
B, Al Beezy, & a lot of others that haven't been released yet.

And what's your favorite collaboration?
I like making songs with Lil Coner. I just know once the song is done, it's a
classic song.

FOR THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW CHECK OUT THE LINK

http://www.da187.net/Interview/jhaft.htm

COMING SOON JASON HAFT LANGUAGE ARTS!OCT' 04