Interview with J. Smith

You might hear an ECHO in J. Smith’s music when you listen to it so just make sure your eyes are closed and your heart is open! Learn more about him and his music in the interview below.

J. Smith, whats good bro how you livin?!

Life is good. Can’t complain. Just trying to keep moving.

You just dropped a project ‘E.C.H.O.’ …what do the letters stand for and what does the project mean to you?

E.C.H.O. means eyes closed heart open.  I came up with this title 2 years before the actual tape was released.  I thought it was creative and described my current state of being at the moment. The entire project is definitely my most complete piece of work.  I put a lot more personal situations in my lyrics.  Took my time beat selections and was very picky about my feature choices.  I just really grew up with this mixtape.  It has a great flow from song to song. If anybody hasn’t checked it I advise you do so now.  You can find ECHO on livemixtapes just search: J.Smith

How does the project differ from your previous projects, ‘Business First’ ‘SuperBad’ & ‘Hello World’ ?

Like I said I really matured as a artist and a writer.  The songs are a lot more mature. But things like that come with age.  When I dropped Hello World I was 19 years old.  When I dropped Superbad I was 20. I dropped Business First when I was 21.  I’m 24 now so I just think I’m getting better as I get older.  Hello World has more of a Cleveland sound to it with a lot of catchy hooks but simply lyrics. Superbad I was really still learning how to rap honestly but you could hear my potential.  On Business First I started to master my craft and know how to make solid records.  One thing was lacking in business first… It was me.  I held back a lot about myself when I released that.  Now I feel like when you listen to ECHO you can learn more about me. A young kid full of potential going through life imperfectly. 

Being from Cleveland, how do you represent your stomping grounds in your music?

The overall music scene in Cleveland is predicated around club records.  I try to stay away from club joints only because I’m not a huge fan of clubs.  I like to rap about what I know.  But I do shoutout Cleveland and the whole 216 every chance I get when I’m on a record.  I’m live in the 602 now so I have to rep my home away from home.

If you could describe your music in 5 words, what would you say?

Really really really good music!

What made you become a Kobe/Lakers fan?

A lot of people forget Cleveland had a brand new arena built for the cavs in 96-97.  The NBA elected to have the all-star game there that year.  Kobe won the slam dunk contest that year, which was his rookie season.  I seen that bruh and there was no doubt who my favorite player was. Plus I think every little kid liked Shaq so that was a bonus.  Watch out for my lakers this year kobe got something to prove

In no specific order name your top 5  dead or alive…

I gotta give you a order but here you go: 1.) Pac 2.) Jay-Z 3.) BIG 4.) Nas 5.) Wayne.  The funny thing is I recently just added Wayne to the list but if you look at his body if work and how long he been going strong you can’t argue against it. I replaced Eminem with Wayne. Em can rap his ass off but his songs and content be semi corny to me. 

Whats your choice of alcoholic beverage?

Ciroc Ameretto. Thank you Diddy!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

Man hopefully somewhere in a packed arena spittin out my soul to thousands. But anywhere the money am you will find me.

Better overall artist…Kendrick or Drake?

Drake is probably the best artist of our generation.  Kendrick really can rap his ass off tho. Drake just a different type of monster however. 

Anything else you wanna tell the fans/viewers/listeners...

Just want people to know this music is everything to me and the ones who support mean more to me than you could ever imagine.  Keep love in your heart and music in your speakers. New music coming early 2014 from me.  I’m shooting 2 new videos next month for songs off ECHO.  My team Elevated Livin are selling merch again and will be selling crewnecks in all sizes so be on the look out for that.  Check out my homie Sav new video “All I Know Remix” on WorldStarHipHop. Cleveland I’m coming home, believe that.