Julian Write {Interview}

 Julien Write has been on the grind.  He just released a fresh new EP Money Kills Dreams, and with it comes some dope new flows. GroundSounds had the opportunity to chop it up with Julian himself, check out the interview below. 

What’s going Julian, how you been?

Just workin’ hard fam. I’m blessed. Thank you.

So how long have you been doing music, and what inspired you to pursue a career in the rap game?

8 years total. First few was me just learning how to write and experimenting with different sounds and it being a hobby.  I didn’t get real serious about it until like 2-3 years ago when I actually started making real sacrifices in order to pursue it. As far as inspiration goes, it started out like I said, just as a hobby. Kanye was the first rapper I heard that made me feel like “Damn, I love what he’s about, I can relate to that. I want to try it out and do my own thing with it.” But now my inspiration is just making it, getting it to a point where I can have my people taken care of and we make a living off of it.

I know you are from NorCal, but you don’t sound like most of the rappers from out there, why is that?

Not at all. And I guess the reason for that is because I just never put myself in a box.  I’ve never restricted my sound to where I’m from. Nothing against any NorCal artists, I just personally have always strived to make music that could be related to on a global scale and have always tried to make music that can appeal to anyone.

I would imagine that some people have probably compared you to other artists…maybe Drake? How do you deal with those comparisons and how do you differentiate yourself from them?

[Laughs] Yeah early on I definitely got the Aubrey comparison. I just laugh at it now because I know my music is completely mine now; I’m really carving out my own sound. There was a point in time where my beat selection, flow, cadence, etc resembled his but I’m so beyond that now that I know what I’m doing is completely Julian. I know it’s just a matter of time and people getting familiar with me before they see my vision and see me for me. It’s only natural when something comes out that you don’t understand, you have to compare it to something you like. That’s just how the mind works. And every great artist has gone through it. They compared Kanye to Jay, Cole to Nas, even Drake to Kanye. So I know it’s all apart of the process. 

Now, tell me about your WRLDCLASS movement, what’s the story behind that?

WRLCLASS is really just my mindset and lifestyle. It’s a movement for the have-nots and the underdogs that see themselves for where they’re headed and not where they’re at.  No matter what or who they have or where they’re at, they’re going to lead and find a way to be successful. Whether that’s getting straight A’s and graduating from a prestigious college or barely getting your diploma and hustling your way to a million. Even if it’s just having a job and making enough money to feed your family and pay your bills. As long as you’re doing what you love and making the best of how much or little you have, you’re WRLDCASS. And I guess you could say it’s my “Clique” in a sense too. Everyone around me thinks the same way I do so we just decided to run with it.  WRLDCLASS is just doing what’s real and authentic to you. I want to redefine what being authentic, successful, and “real” means in 2012 and beyond. And to me, that’s waking up everyday, going all out in whatever you do, putting God and your family first, and just simply being a leader – for starters. WRLDCLASS is thinking for yourself, not following the crowd, investing money instead of blowing it, and living for the right now while still being conscious of your future. A lot of kids think money, women, drugs, the end. And with WRLDCLASS I just want to encourage the youth and young adults to think bigger than that. WRLDCLASS is not for everyone, but at the same time, anyone can be it. 

I saw on your website an open letter to the youngsters trying to get into the entertainment world. You said some true shit in that letter and talked about sacrifice. What have you sacrificed in your journey to pursue your dreams?

Thank you. Yeah I just had one of those moments where I was putting everything in perspective and felt it would benefit others as much, if not, more than it would me. And as far as sacrifice, almost everything.  I sacrificed a lot of relationships, time with loved ones, money, comfort, I mean the list goes on. The time I would spend out with friends and going to parties and the things normal college-age kids do, I spend perfecting my craft. The money I would spend on clothes and looking fresh and going out, I spend on videos and studio time. The comfort I would get from going to school and having a regular, stable job, has been replaced with being a workaholic 24/7, investing every hard-earned dollar and minute I have into trying to make it in an industry where the odds are a million to one. I don’t say that out of self-pity but to show the kids who really want it that it’s not going to be easy, by any means. It requires sacrifice; enough to drive someone crazy; enough to make most people give up. It’s not for the weak-hearted. If you’re not willing to sacrifice everything, more than once, you’re not built for it. Big rewards require even bigger risks, and if you can’t live through a nightmare then you’re never going to live your dream. Plain and simple. 

And speaking of dreams, you just released your new project, Money Kills Dreams. How did you come up with the title? 

Yeah, it’s out now for free on MoneyKillsDreams.com and new stuff is already being made. I came up with the title kind of based on what I was just talking about in the previous question. But I’ll elaborate. Money Kills Dreams is basically about the concept of living in a world set up where the same things we chase are often the same things that can kill us. In this case it’s Dreams. Our dreams. Many, if not, all of our dreams require money. Because money makes everything in this world move. So without money, it’s very, very difficult to make those dreams actually become a reality. Same thing with school, it takes an easy 80-100k to go to most 4-year institutions.  Same with business. You want to open a business? You need money – lots of it. And I just feel like as young people, that’s the story of our lives. So with Money Kills Dreams, I just wanted to paint that struggle. That struggle of being a young, hungry kid, with big dreams and just making the best of what you have. Literally trying to turn a dollar into a dream but the lack of funds is what hinders us. And frankly, I think that’s pathetic. Money should NEVER be the only reason you can’t do something, nor should it be the only reason you want to do something.  So, Money Kills Dreams simply put, means to not let empty pockets stop you from dreaming big and to not let it hold you back. 

Now we here at GroundSounds have heard the project through and through and it’s dope. For those who haven’t heard it yet, what can they expect to hear?

I appreciate it. That means a lot. And those who haven’t heard it can just expect heartfelt music. Music that hits you, that motivates you, just music you can live to basically.

I really like a lot of the production especially on Mrs. Write (Erika’s Song). Who do you got making them banging beats on your project?

Man, I’m super picky with my production! It’s crazy. And on Mrs.Write, that beat was done by a dude from NYC who goes by the name Sweater Beats. But my main producer is Nick Rio. He’s responsible for the last record on MKD called “Amen”.  He’s an incredibly talented dude and I can’t wait to build with him. I’m excited. 

Who are your biggest influences?

Creatively, Kanye, business wise Jay-Z, and life in general, my parents. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

In 5 years? At the top of my game and preparing to start a family. In 10? Retired from rap and involved in business ventures and investing, enjoying my 30’s and hopefully with a beautiful family to share everything with. 

If you were on deserted island and only had 3 albums to bring with you, what 3 albums would they be and why?

College Dropout because it made me start writing raps, Graduation just because it’s my favorite album from my favorite artist, and Reasonable Doubt because Jay told enough game on it that if a kid grew up without a father and listened to that album, he/she then technically had a father [laughs].