Recently in XXL Magazine, The Jacka was placed amongst about a dozen or so artists from California who were marked as the ones who will bring the West Coast back. On that list was Aftermath prodigy Bishop Lamont and Universal Republic star Problem among others.
What was the one thing that separated The Jacka from the rest? Well, he doesn’t even have a record deal. He was the only unsigned artist to make the list, which speaks volumes about the Bay Area artist. Having sold quite a number of albums independently, The Jacka is the epitome of what an independent artist should be and I doubt his title will stay as such for long.
He is a Bay area legend and with his experience and record sales, it’s just a matter of time. Sixshot.com caught up with Jacka to discuss the Bay Area, his independent status, and where he plans to take his movement in the future.
Sup man, so you’re from the Bay right, where at?
Oh man, all over the place. We had been in Richmond but we all really got discovered in Pittsburgh, California. We got whole cities on lock down here man. Some people got they neighborhoods locked down, we got the whole city locked down, you know what I mean?
We definitely got Oakland, Richmond, and Pittsburgh. That’s where my family is from and those are the three cities that I rep.
You were recently featured in XXL as one of the artists who’s bringing the West Coast back, how does that feel?
Yeah man, I mean, it was out and I didn’t even know it was out. I thought they were talking about some local magazines or whatever. When I found out it was XXL and I was the only independent artist listed there, the only artist without a deal, it was real exciting for me. I was actually surprised people were even paying attention to me like that.
You’ve put out albums and you’ve moved some serious units independently, how did you pull that off?
It’s good for independent; it isn’t my dream come true. (Laughs) It was good though as far as independent especially putting them out the way that we put them out and people aren’t really selling records right now. We definitely did a good job on the first joint, self titled, you know, The Jacka, that did over 25,000 units. The second album didn’t do as well. I couldn’t promote it the way I wanted to and it didn’t have that money behind it. Times were lovely during that first album but some people went to jail and situations changed and I didn’t really have that support so we did about 15,000. I’m definitely not satisfied but everybody keeps telling me that’s good.
Are you looking for a major label deal?
I mean one day I’ll probably get a shot at it. I don’t just wanna sign any deal, I’d like to get some money out of it. They’re gonna use you and wear you out so I might as well get some dough out of it. I wanna get one but I wanna be in control and do what I wanna do. I wanna still be able to use sample and stuff. I don’t wanna get a deal and then have an A&R picking out my beats and hooks and making do things that just aren’t me, you know?
The Bay seems to be real tight knit in terms of the hip-hop scene, are you guys?
For me, definitely, because I’ve been doing it for so long, since like 1998 or 1999. I seen everybody come up. When we came up, we came up together. Me personally, I have a real good relationship with all the artists out here.
In your opinion, who would you say did the most for Bay Area hip-hop?
Too Short, E-40, Master P, cats like that. Master P started out in Richmond California, people don’t know that, he was big out here. They did the most for the bay, guaranteed.
How do you feel you’re making your mark over there?
I’m bringing a lot to this rap shit, period, not just the Bay, it’s worldwide. It ain’t nothin’ but a bunch of suckas rappin’ man. When I see certain dudes and I see certain cats I wonder what this sucka talkin’ about? I’m from the streets man. They wanna get you on their tracks; they wanna pay their way to the top and all of that. What happened to comin’ dope and bein’ raw? Remember auditions? When you wanted to rap a dude would tell you to bust something right there. I would have 20 or 30 raps in my head ready to go. That was raw. Nowadays they can make anybody a rapper. As long as he’s got a grill and a few dollars, they put him on. He ain’t gotta be dope because they found anew way to make money off of it. I’m gonna bring the pride back to this shit and everybody I mess with is serious. I’m always trying to come with a new sound and always trying to be the best.
Do you think it’s possible to still come out and sell some records with the CD sales down so much?
I don’t know about major artists. I don’t know because 50 Cent is really the last dude to sell some real units in the rap game. He’s a real dude from the street so of course if you give him a shot he’s gonna blow. 50 is a dude who was really in the streets, really doing his thing, and he got a major deal, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Personally, I think I would do real good right now as long as I promote it right and get in the areas I need to be. I could help change the state of hip-hop.
“All Over Me” is doing real well, are you happy with the response you’re getting?
Yeah man, I mean, we just mixed the song down and sent it out and they put it in rotation instantly. It’s because they like the song but it’s also because of the dedication and all of the hard work that I do to make them even wanna mess with me like that. They handed a lot of dudes the ball in the Bay but I’m here and I’m really doin’ it. I spent so many years in the studio just making songs, I really practice my craft. I make good music and a lot of these cats just do it because they wanna be famous. When they got the ball they dropped it because they’re not as raw as people was making them out to be, you know? I always had to prove myself and I never had anybody to just hand me anything, I was always putting in that work.
The only dude who gave me a shot was my boy C-Bo and he’s an underground artist. He’s really just starting to get his shine with Young Buck and them now. I never had a major deal with nobody so I always had to prove myself. I’m just constantly proving myself to these people so I make sure I put out the best music.
The labels must be calling though, right?
Yeah they callin’ but they don’t wanna do nothin’, ya feel me? They don’t really care unless you got somebody behind you like 50 Cent or somebody to say that you’re nice. They don’t know what’s good for them until they hear the next cat come in and say that you’re raw.
You could go in there today with the same music but they wont mess with it until the boy 50 Cent or somebody with their respect comes in and says it’s hot.
After that they get on your balls but they don’t really know what’s good for them so you just gotta keep proving yourself. Wait until a real nigga goes in there and say they been fuckin with Jack then they’ll jump on my dick and act like they been in my corner the whole time.
I been in this shit for a long time my nigga, ya feel me? I seen my boys get signed to major deals and they ain’t really got shit. They can’t come out with their album when they want to, they on hold, and they really just getting held back with them deals. If I get a deal they gotta put a hundred percent into me because I already know what I’m ready to do.
As a successful independent artist, has the internet been useful to you?
Man, has it? Probably in ways that I don’t even realize. When I first started doing it, wasn’t no internet, wasn’t no digital sales or nothing like that. The internet was just kickin’ on so watching it evolve has been kinda dope. It helped me a lot, especially Myspace and Black Planet. It gives people a chance to hear me. Even if they stopped making CD’s today, the internet would be a great way to get paid. People could just download your shit, no matter how they sell the music, it’s gonna live on. The internet is raw and it definitely helped me out.
Overall, are you feelin’ hip-hop music today?
Man, at first I wasn’t but I recently went to Seattle and they loaded my Ipod up with all types of shit and it’s serious. I used to go into the store and if the cover looked hot I would give it a shot and there was usually something on there that I liked.
Tell us about Tear Gas.
That’s my third solo album man. I named it Tear Gas because it makes people cry man, it makes haters get mad. Everybody knows that I’m a real person and when you listen to the music it brings tears to your eyes, its real music. Tears of joy, tears of pain, whatever, this is the good music we’ve been needing. I put my heart into this, I really did. I put it all out there. They put a few songs on the radio but I didn’t make it for that, I made those because I knew the hood chicks would like them. I didn’t do it to be a famous rapper or nothin’, I did it because the chicks in the hood love me. I had a single before called “Hey Girl” but they didn’t really play it on the radio because that’s when people was sleeping on the Jack. I put my all into this, its just music, a new sound. When you hear it you’re gonna love it. It ain’t no radio jingles, it’s food for thought.
Anything you wanna say to the fans out there?
Hit up the Myspace and cop that Tear Gas album. Big shout outs to all of my boys out there; I don’t mess with no clowns. Keep stayin’ tuned for more good music.
