Jon Young & J. Cash are worldwide known southern rappers from Florida, selling over 10,000 copies (I found that out last year, probably way more now) and still goin strong, they are living proof that an independent artists can become successful without a major record deal. Jon Young & J. Cash make music for everybody! They have at least one song you can relate to because their music is so real and tells positive stories, but they also have a variety of music, so you never get tired of hearing them. If you don’t know them yet then check out the interview and then listen to their music, you will not be disappointed!
By now most people in the South already know your music, but say I got a friend who hasn’t but he wants to see what all the hype is about. Which album and/or song would you guys recommend they hear first?
Jon Young: Man, that’s tough to say. We got so many different types of tracks.
J. Cash: Yeah, its a hard choice because our styles vary from song to song, but that’s a good thing because it brings in all different types of listeners. But on a quick side note… remember we sell nationally, and even internationally to Europe and Japan. I’d say we sell more in the Midwest than the South in all honesty. (Laughs)
Jon Young: I gotta go with “City I Luv” because that track is what took me out the bedroom. It got people talkin and it’s what made my name more than just a road in Orlando and a guy who walked on the moon (laughs). But for real, that kinda sums up why I wanted to make music in the first place. I just love the southern hip hop culture and I wanted to solidify Orlando’s place on the map. As far as me & Cash together, “Post Up” is definitely that shit! We were never into the whole club thing, gettin dressed up, buyin chicks drinks, none of that shit. We were about the cars and showin off in the parkin lot so that track definitely epitomizes our lifestyle. Having Lil Boosie on it is a plus as well (laughs).
J. Cash: Yeah I’d say Post Up is a good track for us, it’s on the more street side. Then you got Just Chill, Listen 2 Ur Heart, more the rhythmic tracks. The newer stuff of us like Rent Money and Dance Floor… I mean really just go on the MySpace pages, and let it ride, we got some old and new on there, there’s gonna be something for everyone.
Yeah City I Luv was a great album. You guys are proof that an independent artist can still be successful without the major deal. Most artist start to slowly fade away and we never hear from them, but you guys are always working on something, What keeps you motivated?
J. Cash: Just the drive man. I thought this the other day, “What if we just STOPPED making music?” And I really think there would be a lot of upset fans. And its cool because its a steady incline, with each day thousands of new people hear about us, so it just keeps growing and growing. So when we do hit that major status we won’t be just some flash-in-the-pan artists that are here today and gone tomorrow.
Jon Young: Man, I couldn’t quit if I wanted to. I’m gettin emails all day long askin for new music. I’m like, “the 100 plus tracks we got out aren’t enough?” I just dropped my new solo album and people are already askin what’s next. The fans definitely motivate me, but at the same time I wont just record for the sake of recording. I have to be in the mood, I gotta feel the beat and actually have something to say.
I don’t think people would be to happy if you guys quit so that’s a good thing (laughs)..I’m sure a lot of people have wondered about this.. is there going to be a J. Cash solo album?
Jon Young: Already! I’ll let J. Cash fill ya in!
J. Cash: Yeah man. It’s called “Dreamin’ a Life” and will be out on iTunes and for sale off our pages like, I dunno, this summer (2009). I’m calling it that because a lot of people say we’re “living the dream”… but really, I’m still dreaming for more man. The single’s called “Come With Me”, really hot dance, club kinda track. It’s probably on iTunes when this interview comes up. I just wanted to do songs to show people a lil more of me. I’m real excited about it, it’s a solid album, mixed bag of sounding tracks, lil different than our usual albums, but still similar, it’s Sky Skrapin Entertainment regardless ya know, so ya know it’s hot.
Hell yeah, I’ll make sure to keep people updated about the album!…When your not in the studio making hits, what are you most likely doing?
Jon Young: The music stuff takes up most of my time. I’m always updatin my web site, makin a flyer, mixing a track, doing something. Even when I’m out at dinner or somethin’ I’m on the iPhone checkin the twitter or hittin fans back on MySpace. I go to movies a lot too. They’re one thing that takes my mind off the music shit. I’m into cars as well, but I haven’t done much to my car since the music took off. Other than gettin it running like new. I just wanna stack up as much bread as I can in this game while the buzz is strong, then I can enjoy it later on. I’m afraid to spend too much at one time, especially with the recession n what not. But once I’m at a good spot financially y’all won’t even recognize my Cutlass! Believe that! (laughs)
J. Cash: Yeah as for me I keep busy trying to make more money (laughs). I’m not the drinking, partying type. I’d rather just spend a night with a good dinner, play some air hockey, and watch some cartoons or old Twilight Zone episodes. Plus the car stuff, aside from music, Lowriding is my life, that’s me.
I’m not sure how it works for independent artist, but will I ever be hearing Jon Young & J. Cash on the FM radio in my city?
J. Cash: We get spins here and there, but to get that straight radio push, like everywhere at the same time… that’s money right there man, that’s when you need that label money and power behind you. But the best thing to do if you enjoy our music, is to call these radio stations and request us. Even if they don’t play it… it just puts that bug in their ear, and the more and more they hear the want for us, then they’ll pay attention to us, ya feel me?
Jon Young: Yeah you just never know man. I would love for that to happen but the way things are lookin’ at the moment I couldn’t tell you when. Our buzz is as strong as ever but the industry wants no part in it. Why you ask? I wish I could tell you. We’re achieving what artists on labels are hoping to achieve so you would think it would make sense to roll with the sure thing. But I’m not really sweatin it, we are doin good as is. If it aint broke, why fix it?
Yeah it’s messed up how the industry can be like that..but there is a lot producers out there doin’ their own thing, any of them catch your attention?
Jon Young: That dude from Sky Skrapin Ent, Jon Young I think! (laughs) Naw it’s hard to say. There’s so many new producers. The days of relying on The Neptunes or Dre are kind of over. They’re excellent producers but since recording gear is more easily available, there’s a lot of new talent poppin up. I can really only name songs I’m jammin, I haven’t kept up with the producers too much. But on a local level, these dudes The Colleagues are droppin some heat. They just produced a new track for another Orlando artist, Dee Boi, it’s called “Mr. Pyrex.” It’s some crazy shit!
J. Cash: I don’t listen to a lot of new music out now, but if I had to pick someone right now in the industry… Dr. Luke. Shout outs to Jon Young who always does great tracks, and then Pearly Whites, Filthy Beatz, Voice of Da Streetz, Matt Sapp, they all people who worked with me on this solo album and they making good stuff, google their names if you need some solid tracks.
Greatest accomplishment of all time?
Jon Young: Really just gettin to where we’re at. I never saw this shit comin. In the back of my mind I always knew this was what I wanted to do, as young as 13 or 14, but you still never think it could happen. Performing in front of 100s and even 1000s of people, working with a major artist, being signed to a label. It’s just crazy where life can take you. Until I get married and have a kid, the music is definitely my greatest accomplishment.
J. Cash: Yeah I’d have to go with the music. I did a song called Take Time, that was influenced by a friend of mine and my father who have passed away. It’s about saying to take time to remember the ones we’ve lost. Well, his now 11 year old son is a fan of our music, which was crazy in its own, but I met up with him and gave him a CD and told him “That song Take Time is your song” And that makes me feel really good because he’ll grow up with this song to always remember his dad by. That’s an amazing thing, and I thank music for that. No matter how far we go in this industry, we know that we’ll always be a part of millions of people’s lives with this music.
I agree! That’s an amazing thing, music is a great way to reach out and help people and you guys are great at doing that! Thanks for taking time out to answer our questions.. Any shout outs?
J. Cash : To everyone who enjoys the music. Ya’ll made a dream a reality. Jon Young and I truly appreciate the ongoing support. So just stay spreading the word about us and our music to anyone and everyone you come across. And like I said, request us to your radio and club DJs, because its up to ya’ll to show there’s a demand. Stay checkin the MySpace pages periodically for updates, new music. If you wanna buy the music, its on iTunes and Amazon and others. Also mail order CDs through jonyoungmusic.com. And if you downloading our stuff off limewire n stuff, thats cool, but you better be promotin’ the HELL out of us, ya feel me? (Laughs)
Jon Young: Thank you for gettin at us for the interview! We appreciate it a lot. Shout out to all the artists on my new CD, J Mor, Persyce, Cutta Man, $hamrock, Down Bottom, D.A.B., and of course my main homie J. Cash! (laughs) Real recognize real, if y’all fuck with us, we fuck with you. We’re all about honesty in our music and if people see that shit, then they some real people. I’m not about that fake it til you make it shit. Be sure to get at me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/jonyoungmusic, sign up to our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/skyskrapinent, and ofcourse the myspace! http://www.myspace.com/jonyoungmusic
