Jok'air // Interview

If it was an article for a French-speaking audience, I would have started by saying: “We are no longer presenting Jok'air, the former member of the MZ group, which is having a phenomenal success flying solo....” But for you today, I think it’s important to set the stage and say everything about Jok'air’s talent. Having started out in 2006, he's now seeing some deserved success with a million listeners on Spotify; not to mention all his other hits, like his BET Award nomination as the Best New International Act. The one who made hot & sexy songs his specialty now took the time to tell us about his feelings on his last album, and in particular, the incredible promo realized by his team to mark the spirits. With sincerity, frankness and love of music, Jok'air delivers here, in all simplicity, the musical creations that led him to realize the biggest project of his career, counting 32 artists on his mixtape. The one who's not afraid to get naked in his songs and who responds to each DM received by his fans, has kindly agreed to go back to his best memories and his vision of seeing things in the music industry.

How did you become the rapper you are today: a recognized French rapper who makes millions of views and streams, who just released a film as the extension of your last album with 15 new titles? I think, all that, I got through work; there are no secrets. Determination is a big part too. All the answers are in the film called La Fièvre, which came out in June. It’s all about work...a lot of work. (Laughs)

I'd like to come back to the film. How did you come up with the idea of such a project? It all started with Davidson, who's both my producer, my DJ, and my older brother. He was the first to have the idea. At the beginning I was a little afraid and I wondered how we were going to manage to put together a project of this magnitude. In the end, everything was done naturally and I was lucky enough to have the support of many people like French public figures such as Seb La Frite – one the most famous French Youtubers of our generation – and artist like Jaymax. The strength of this project is that you can find many of the artists I worked with for the album. I really appreciate their intervention and the strength they have given me.

You talk about your childhood, the trials and tribulations you’ve been through, etc... Wasn’t it hard to be honest in that way? The truth is, it wasn’t more difficult than making the music. Talking about my experience is already something I do through my songs, so in the end, it was a matter of doing a little bit the same thing but only in a different way. When you speak frankly, everything becomes simpler, I think. What I'm talking about in music, I can also say it in all honesty in front of a camera.

You’ve been nominated for the BET Award as the Best New International Act... it must be a great thing for you? In all honesty, I was first flattered to represent France at such a ceremony. It's incredible to think that I was nominated at the BET Awards... I have been following this award ceremony since forever. Before, I was behind the screen of my TV and now I’m going there. It does really mean something! Being nominated at this point in my career is a real honour to me. I didn’t really feel fear, I just felt really honored.

'' As I always say: my mission on earth is to make good music and those who are willing to do nice things with me are welcome.''

You collaborated with 32 artists on your last musical project! What motivated this desire? The truth is that most of the artists I have collaborated with for these featurings are artists I know with whom I have already developed friendships and whom I appreciate as people. It’s different doing this with people you know and appreciate because it makes it easier. Right now, it’s something that doesn’t really work with that many people anymore, because it’s often difficult and it’s a lot of work. Personally, I grew up with mixtapes like Booba’s 'Autopsie' saga and La Fouine’s one with 'Capital Du Crime'. There were always several artists on their mixtapes and it was the same with the US Rap and rappers like Lil Wayne etc. This is something that's done less and less and I wanted to put the term mixtape back to basic and celebrating it. It's important to work on this kind of project and show youth that mixtapes are still alive. I honestly believe this is the project I’ve had the most fun since I started music.

As many featuring with artists as different and diverse from S.Pri Noir to Sadek via Chilla it also proves that you are validated by an numerous number of artists... It must be an incredible feeling? Yes, it's really great and I really do thank them, because they made it easy for me because I didn't feel any constraints with any of the artists present on the project. The artistic connection between us was really genuine.

This amount of songs and featurings takes a lot of time and work. Are you someone who write all the time? Yes, I’m writing all the time. To be honest, I’m not really someone who will sit at a table to do a writing session. But I write when it comes to me which means all the time basically.

People often said that in the Rap game. there's a lot of competition, but this project proves that this is not always the case; precisely because 32 collaborations is phenomenal. I think I proved the contrary with this project, especially because I have an American mentality that more in sharing than in rivalry. I'm not ashamed to say that I was inspired and influenced by the Americans in their way of thinking. Going to BET confirmed what I was thinking about them. In Western Europe, we're often haughty for nothing, men bomb the torso to prove that they're strong but it's different there. If there are so many collaborations between different artists it's because everyone knows their place; we are only artists and what we give is entertainment. The goal is to move forward and go even further. In terms of collaboration I’m just here to make good music and not to compete with anyone.

Which one was your best collaboration? I can’t choose one in particular, but I’ve had many beautiful memories like with Jazzy Bazz. We had made an appointment for 6 p.m., but we finally start recording at 11 p.m., just because we kept on talking instead of working. After a while we thought we had to get on with it so we could go home. (Laughs) ) I also have a great memory of the song with Siboy, because usually you do your verse first and then the person comes after you, but on this track we’ve done everything together and it makes the music even better. He brought me the “brutality” that I needed in this project.

'' It's incredible to think that I was nominated at the BET Awards... I have been following this award ceremony since forever in front of my TV and now I’m going there. ''

It was quite the same story with the song 'Hendrix Du Tieks', where all the guitar sounds were recorded by KPoint himself because he's an artist who can play guitar the same way he can rap. Actually, I think I have anecdotes with every artist I’ve worked with on the project.

All these meetings must have enriched you as a person too? Yes, completely. All the meetings you do allow you to come out bigger. Everyone who came to collaborate on the project came to give love and strength. For me, it helped me to feel more confident after that.

Are there any more features you’d like to do? Yes, sure. Quite a lot to be honest. I have never closed any door to any collaboration it's quite the opposite. As I always say: my mission on earth is to make good music and those who are willing to do nice things with me are welcome.

Does it have a particular sound that represents the album to you? No, not really. Each song represents the album in its own way. I tried to do a varied thing with different sounds but with an homogeneous spirit in the album.

To swing with the frenzy of your career, do you have any hobbies? Apart from music, what I love most is being with my son. We have a merged relationship, and it's important to me to be there for him and spend time together. And, of course, I like spending time with my mates.

What are you dreaming about now that you’re an established artist? What is most important to me now is to protect my loved ones from need and to ensure that they do not lack anything. I guess it's essential for me.

Do your English fans have any hope of seeing you coming through London for a live show soon? Right now, we don’t have any plans, but I’d really like to come and play live. I’ve already come to London to work, mastering my sounds and my first album called Jok'Rambo or even do photoshoots but I didn't have the opportunity to come to perform yet. I hope it's gonna be soon!

Insta: BigDaddyJok

Words © Fanny Hill Scott

Photography © David Delaplace