FEATURE STORY
The Jacka
Photo: thajacka.com
» BallerStatus Alerts
Receive daily alerts to your email, 2way or cellphone! Sign up today!
SUBSCRIBE
UNSUBSCRIBE
The Jacka: Jacking for Respect
Sunday - January 8, 2006
— by Charles "CZA" Sweet II
Some would say that West Coast music saw its heyday back when Tupac was on the flagship of the Death Row empire. While there are some who still throw the "W" up, there haven't been any that truly captures the essence of what it means in an eye-opening, commercial way aside from the Aftermath camp. Jacka's intent is to smash the doubters and reclaim the lost glory that he feels is well past due for the Left Coast, specially the Bay Area.
His first offering, The Jacka, hit with concussive force and brought a buzz back to what was seen by some as a "third world" region. With a new solo project in stores, Jacka speaks with Ballerstatus.net about everything from what he's been up to, to the segregation of different coastal MCs and how he plans to rectify it. Get ready to bounce the Low-Low's once again as the Jack Artist himself speaks on the real.
BallerStatus.net: The West Coast has been on the rise as of late; what's your thoughts on that?
The Jacka: I've been hearing that we are on the rise, but it's hard for me to tell. We don't have any bragging rights or room to talk right now. The Game has been doing his thing, but that's far from enough.
BallerStatus.net: You have an impressive resume as far as whom you've been featured with. Why do you think it is respected Cali vetertans such as C-Bo and Too Short have called you for verses?
The Jacka: I've worked with Yukmouth, Cormega and a lot of other well respected names in the game. People get to do verses on their projects because they know we will make some dope sh-- as well as to get the respect of the streets.
BallerStatus.net: You have an album in stores right now called The Jack Artist. What's the story behind the name?
The Jacka: It sounds like rap artist, but I'm the Jacka, so I called it The Jack Artist.
BallerStatus.net: Who is featured on The Jack Artist and who produced your tracks?
The Jacka: For features, I got Cormega, Yukmouth, Keak da Sneak, the Mob Figaz. Dub 20, Lil' Ric, Ampacino (from the Regime) and my young *****s: J Stalin & Akata (from the Fendi Boyz) are on there too. As far as production goes, RobLo produced the whole album except one track, which was produced by Maki. Them two are our in-house producers and they go by Blahk Operah Muzic.
BallerStatus.net: What would you say it is that separates you from others rapping in the West?
The Jacka: Not only from other rappers from the West Coast, but from all over the country. I don't go with the flow; I just try to come up with my own way of doing sh--. That way I don't sound like anyone else nor am I doing what anyone else is doing. I have a unique sound that me and RobLo have been working on for years.
BallerStatus.net: What are your favorite tracks on the album? Why?
The Jacka: Right now, "Never Equal," cause it's not no bullsh--. It's real hip-hop. F--- the club and the radio; it's for the people.
BallerStatus.net: Mob Figaz and C-Bo have a lot of history. How did you two hook up?
The Jacka: Before we were the Mob Figaz, all of us lived in Pittsburg, California and we all rapped -- me, Fedx, Husalah, Rydah, and AP-9, plus some more artists like Freako. We all rapped and recorded songs with RobLo. Me and Fedx had a few songs out in stores on some compilations, but for the most part, we were just recording songs and letting them leak into the streets. They were getting dubbed and passed around the area, so word about us was getting around. Some people over at AWOL got word of us and they found us at this record store we used to have out here. C-Bo came and got us and put us together as a group. We came up with the name Mob Figaz and it's been treal ever since.
BallerStatus.net: There's definitely a sentiment when it comes to coastal separation; East Coast works with East, South with South, etc. You, on the other hand, have worked with Yukmouth and Cormega. How important do you think it is that the scene gets mixed in together?
The Jacka: It's huge. F---ing with artists from other areas and mixing yourself into other scenes makes it possible for you to sell records and get heard in other areas without kissing nobody's ass. Radio DJ's, club DJ's, mixtape DJ's...you don't need to worry about being cool with them 'cause by messing with the artists, you will get heard and known in those areas and the DJ's will come looking for you. I think it's weak when you have to force the DJ's to play your sh--, and gotta go out your way to be cool with them so they give you a fair chance. I'm not into that.
BallerStatus.net: What other projects do you have in stores?
The Jacka: I've been working hard. Got a few things in stores. Of course my solo album, The Jack Artist, is in stores and I put out a mixtape before I dropped my album. That was a limited edition CD, so it will be hard to find in stores, but there are a few still floating around out there.
I also got an album with Husalah and Marvaless called 3 Da Hardway in stores. That's straight slap. I did a little side project with Lil Keke from Texas -- we got a project in stores called Slums. But, the main project that I have besides my album that I'm pushing right now is a mixtape I got with Husalah. Me and him are hosting it and it is presented and mixed by the Demolition Men. They are some hustling ass DJ's that rep the Bay. The mixtape is called Animal Planet and has 34 tracks. It's a mixtape cause of its format not cause of the content. We got ALL NEW songs on there and almost ALL ORIGINAL beats; the CD is just mixed and blended together like a mixtape. We got a few features on it too...Keak, Mistah FAB, Lil' Ric, AP9, Rydah, Fedx, Pretty Black, Cellski, Bavgate and J Stalin.
BallerStatus.net: Do you have any videos shot for tracks off The Jack Artist?
The Jacka: So far I have one for the song "Barney (More Crime)." The video is dope. My boy Jordan Tower flew out from NY to shoot it. We got footage in a few of the notorious hoods in the Bay -- Hunter's Point, Filmore, West Oakland, Crestside (Vallejo), and Pittsburg. I like having real sh-- in my videos and doing things other artists would or could not do. The video has been getting a really good response. Everyone I know likes it and it's been getting play on video shows all around the country (Oakland, Portland, Seattle, Alabama, New York, Boston, the whole Bay Area, Atlanta, Florida, and some more spots). People can check it out on my website or on my Myspace page. Hopefully it will make BET "Uncut" soon.
BallerStatus.net: What else can we catch the Jacka doing in the future?
The Jacka: Everything. I'm working on a few projects right now and a compilation as well as another solo album. We are about to start working on a new Mob Figaz project with C-Bo...and soon I'm really gonna start focusing on putting other n----s on. I've been doing the mixtape thing a lot lately...that's going cool, so expect to see me on a lot of mixtapes soon. I'm also really interested in acting and directing. We have always wanted to get into it, but I have been patiently waiting. I think soon we will have to put all our ideas down and shoot a movie.
BallerStatus.net: Where can the people reach you?
The Jacka: You can always go to my website: www.thejacka.com. From there, I can be emailed or you can hit up my management and they will take care of whatever. I have a fan club, a DJ list, and a street team on my site too, so people can sign up for that when the log on. I can also be reached on Myspace, so check me out.
BallerStatus.net: Anything that you want people to know about you that they don't?
The Jacka: Nah, just got cop the album and everything else that I got out. I guarantee you will enjoy it. It's some real music, not just something "hot" for the moment. Something for you to really listen to and grow on. When you listen to my album you will learn everything else about me that you
The Jacka
Photo: thajacka.com
» BallerStatus Alerts
Receive daily alerts to your email, 2way or cellphone! Sign up today!
SUBSCRIBE
UNSUBSCRIBE
The Jacka: Jacking for Respect
Sunday - January 8, 2006
— by Charles "CZA" Sweet II
Some would say that West Coast music saw its heyday back when Tupac was on the flagship of the Death Row empire. While there are some who still throw the "W" up, there haven't been any that truly captures the essence of what it means in an eye-opening, commercial way aside from the Aftermath camp. Jacka's intent is to smash the doubters and reclaim the lost glory that he feels is well past due for the Left Coast, specially the Bay Area.
His first offering, The Jacka, hit with concussive force and brought a buzz back to what was seen by some as a "third world" region. With a new solo project in stores, Jacka speaks with Ballerstatus.net about everything from what he's been up to, to the segregation of different coastal MCs and how he plans to rectify it. Get ready to bounce the Low-Low's once again as the Jack Artist himself speaks on the real.
BallerStatus.net: The West Coast has been on the rise as of late; what's your thoughts on that?
The Jacka: I've been hearing that we are on the rise, but it's hard for me to tell. We don't have any bragging rights or room to talk right now. The Game has been doing his thing, but that's far from enough.
BallerStatus.net: You have an impressive resume as far as whom you've been featured with. Why do you think it is respected Cali vetertans such as C-Bo and Too Short have called you for verses?
The Jacka: I've worked with Yukmouth, Cormega and a lot of other well respected names in the game. People get to do verses on their projects because they know we will make some dope sh-- as well as to get the respect of the streets.
BallerStatus.net: You have an album in stores right now called The Jack Artist. What's the story behind the name?
The Jacka: It sounds like rap artist, but I'm the Jacka, so I called it The Jack Artist.
BallerStatus.net: Who is featured on The Jack Artist and who produced your tracks?
The Jacka: For features, I got Cormega, Yukmouth, Keak da Sneak, the Mob Figaz. Dub 20, Lil' Ric, Ampacino (from the Regime) and my young *****s: J Stalin & Akata (from the Fendi Boyz) are on there too. As far as production goes, RobLo produced the whole album except one track, which was produced by Maki. Them two are our in-house producers and they go by Blahk Operah Muzic.
BallerStatus.net: What would you say it is that separates you from others rapping in the West?
The Jacka: Not only from other rappers from the West Coast, but from all over the country. I don't go with the flow; I just try to come up with my own way of doing sh--. That way I don't sound like anyone else nor am I doing what anyone else is doing. I have a unique sound that me and RobLo have been working on for years.
BallerStatus.net: What are your favorite tracks on the album? Why?
The Jacka: Right now, "Never Equal," cause it's not no bullsh--. It's real hip-hop. F--- the club and the radio; it's for the people.
BallerStatus.net: Mob Figaz and C-Bo have a lot of history. How did you two hook up?
The Jacka: Before we were the Mob Figaz, all of us lived in Pittsburg, California and we all rapped -- me, Fedx, Husalah, Rydah, and AP-9, plus some more artists like Freako. We all rapped and recorded songs with RobLo. Me and Fedx had a few songs out in stores on some compilations, but for the most part, we were just recording songs and letting them leak into the streets. They were getting dubbed and passed around the area, so word about us was getting around. Some people over at AWOL got word of us and they found us at this record store we used to have out here. C-Bo came and got us and put us together as a group. We came up with the name Mob Figaz and it's been treal ever since.
BallerStatus.net: There's definitely a sentiment when it comes to coastal separation; East Coast works with East, South with South, etc. You, on the other hand, have worked with Yukmouth and Cormega. How important do you think it is that the scene gets mixed in together?
The Jacka: It's huge. F---ing with artists from other areas and mixing yourself into other scenes makes it possible for you to sell records and get heard in other areas without kissing nobody's ass. Radio DJ's, club DJ's, mixtape DJ's...you don't need to worry about being cool with them 'cause by messing with the artists, you will get heard and known in those areas and the DJ's will come looking for you. I think it's weak when you have to force the DJ's to play your sh--, and gotta go out your way to be cool with them so they give you a fair chance. I'm not into that.
BallerStatus.net: What other projects do you have in stores?
The Jacka: I've been working hard. Got a few things in stores. Of course my solo album, The Jack Artist, is in stores and I put out a mixtape before I dropped my album. That was a limited edition CD, so it will be hard to find in stores, but there are a few still floating around out there.
I also got an album with Husalah and Marvaless called 3 Da Hardway in stores. That's straight slap. I did a little side project with Lil Keke from Texas -- we got a project in stores called Slums. But, the main project that I have besides my album that I'm pushing right now is a mixtape I got with Husalah. Me and him are hosting it and it is presented and mixed by the Demolition Men. They are some hustling ass DJ's that rep the Bay. The mixtape is called Animal Planet and has 34 tracks. It's a mixtape cause of its format not cause of the content. We got ALL NEW songs on there and almost ALL ORIGINAL beats; the CD is just mixed and blended together like a mixtape. We got a few features on it too...Keak, Mistah FAB, Lil' Ric, AP9, Rydah, Fedx, Pretty Black, Cellski, Bavgate and J Stalin.
BallerStatus.net: Do you have any videos shot for tracks off The Jack Artist?
The Jacka: So far I have one for the song "Barney (More Crime)." The video is dope. My boy Jordan Tower flew out from NY to shoot it. We got footage in a few of the notorious hoods in the Bay -- Hunter's Point, Filmore, West Oakland, Crestside (Vallejo), and Pittsburg. I like having real sh-- in my videos and doing things other artists would or could not do. The video has been getting a really good response. Everyone I know likes it and it's been getting play on video shows all around the country (Oakland, Portland, Seattle, Alabama, New York, Boston, the whole Bay Area, Atlanta, Florida, and some more spots). People can check it out on my website or on my Myspace page. Hopefully it will make BET "Uncut" soon.
BallerStatus.net: What else can we catch the Jacka doing in the future?
The Jacka: Everything. I'm working on a few projects right now and a compilation as well as another solo album. We are about to start working on a new Mob Figaz project with C-Bo...and soon I'm really gonna start focusing on putting other n----s on. I've been doing the mixtape thing a lot lately...that's going cool, so expect to see me on a lot of mixtapes soon. I'm also really interested in acting and directing. We have always wanted to get into it, but I have been patiently waiting. I think soon we will have to put all our ideas down and shoot a movie.
BallerStatus.net: Where can the people reach you?
The Jacka: You can always go to my website: www.thejacka.com. From there, I can be emailed or you can hit up my management and they will take care of whatever. I have a fan club, a DJ list, and a street team on my site too, so people can sign up for that when the log on. I can also be reached on Myspace, so check me out.
BallerStatus.net: Anything that you want people to know about you that they don't?
The Jacka: Nah, just got cop the album and everything else that I got out. I guarantee you will enjoy it. It's some real music, not just something "hot" for the moment. Something for you to really listen to and grow on. When you listen to my album you will learn everything else about me that you
