JOHN JIGG$ By: Cheryl “Chey” Bush
L
et’s skip the small talk, and dive into the inner surroundings of this Island they call “Strong”. There’s Nassau, and then there’s Suffolk which are both home to an array of musical artist. Let’s explore the untold narrative destine to change. I recently chopped it up with Strong Island’s own, John Jigg$. Hailing from Suffolk County, he carries his own bag of sound with him, and his crew.
Chey: What artist from LI unknown or known would you want to work with?
Jigg$: If I had my pick right now it would be Roc Marciano. He’s known, but he’s not known by everyone.
( Music Industry LI: He’s underground famous. The people that are up there know him, and know what he’s doing. )
Jigg$: He’s the highest of the highest of the underground.
Photo credit: @TheRealShockB
Chey: What drives your inspiration? Jigg$ : Just life .. the hunger for more. It took a lot of work, but I’ve been able to create a pretty decent lifestyle from music. Not just music, but overall. Every year everything gets more expensive. That keep me hustling. That keeps me working...that keeps me thinking about the next thing. Obviously my love for music. I can’t remember a time when Hip Hop wasn’t a part of my everyday existence. At this point it just becomes second nature you know.
Chey: What do you see different from Nassau, and Suffolk artist? Jigg$: To be honest, I don’t know if you can pinpoint a difference. One thing I will say is I notice the Nassau artist the tend to be able to get more of a follow behind them. Like as far as from their hood. It seems like they understand the concept of getting behind someone. The towns are more tight knit. So they understand, but maybe it’s because the towns are more heavily populated. It seems like you have certain guys that have their whole town behind them like literally. I look at Suffolk County, where I’m from, it’s like everyone is just rockin’ with their mans or whatever. I can look at Westbury, I can look at Jae-o Draftpick, and say they support him. I can look at Rah Hollow, and say Hempstead, Terrace Ave. they really rock with him and it shows. That’s just a couple of names I can think of off the top of my head. It seems like Suffolk County is more divided. Maybe because we have so many more hoods. Suffolk County has a lot more different towns, and areas. It’s a wider space. Chey: What is your vision for you & your Team for 2022? Jigg$: The biggest thing is I’m trying to get everybody on the same level so we can be stronger. What I’ve been doing is whenever I get booked, I just take my guys with me like that’s part of the deal now. They have the vehicle, and have the tools. Number one, that’s to give them the experience of running around on the road. We got to catch this flight. We got to catch this car. I’m trying to get it to the point of where I could be on tour, and then Nam Nitty can be on tour. Then we can all go with him, and then Mouf… you get what I’m saying. I really want everybody to be on that level so we can turn into a real conglomerate. Chey: What’s your prospective of the industry now versus 2014? Jigg$: Well 2014, I would say that social media is a lot more important now. Music has become more disposable . Now you drop a project, and maybe you’ll get 2-3 months out of it. There’s so much out there that people don’t have much time to spend on it. It’s just the changing of the times. Hip Hop has become much more accessible to people. In 2014 it was a big thing to have your music on iTunes. Now you can
literally go from not having anything online to having all of your stuff up tomorrow. Even as far as making the music, studio equipment wasn’t so cheap. Well, now if you have $400 or $500 bucks, you’re recording. Chey: Have you ever collaborated with an International artist/DJ/Producer? Jigg$: Oh yeah, definitely, I started off with K Sluggah. He’s a well know producer in Malmo, Sweden. He’s a legendary producer over there, and he’s done a lot with other people. We linked up around 2017, and we started working on our project. I not only worked with him, but another producer out of Copenhagen, Denmark named Swab, and another out of Rome, Italy named Cuns. A lot of their production is right up my alley. Real dirty, and dusty loops is the type I look for. I’m working on a project now with a producer from Tokyo named Kevlar 96. Chey: What new music or project do you have out now or planing on dropping in the near future? Jigg$: Right now I have out Twin Cannons 2. Me, and K Sluggah put that out Twin Cannons in 2017. It’s doing really well. We just released the White Wine video from that. We have like 3 or 4 other videos coming out from that. I also got an album out with BP, another legendary producer on Long Island. I got a single coming out with Nam Nitty called It’s Yours. Another one with Rockwelz coming. You can look for another EP from me this year.
Grinders On The Come Up
YVNG LEGACY Chey: How old were you when you first stepped into a studio to record? YNVG Legacy: I was 15…16 . I was at Platinum Recording Studio in the City. I recorded a song called “Appreciated” & it’s out on all platforms right now. Chey: How old are you now? YNVG: 20 Chey: I see you have a buzz going on right now. You sing, rap, and dance. Do you ever foresee acting in your future to top it off as a quadruple threat? YVNG: I did a lot of Off Broadway in Middle School. So definitely I want to partake in acting later on. I want to blow up in the music industry first. Chey: How did the opportunity for you to perform at the Barclays Center come about? YVNG: It was a showcase that I won. It was a “turn you into a Star overnight” showcase. I won the whole thing. There was one night at Secrets, then Hall of Fame, and then the third night was at the Barclays. It was all back to back. Chey: How did it feel? YVNG: It was lit. It was good experience. It was a little short too me. I love to perform so I want all the time.
Chey: What inspired your song Gamblin’ ? YVNG: The Proud Family. When I heard the sample. Growing up I used to watch that show everyday. It was my favorite show so when I heard that sample, I was like I’m about to get crazy to this.
Chey: So other than the sample having meaning to you, was there any other meaning behind it? YVNG: Everything in my songs is something I have been through in life, or somebody else around me has been through it and I’m just telling their story. So yeah, there is a meaning Chey: Moving from Brooklyn to Long Island.. first of all, how long have you been on Long Island? YNVG: Like two years, and a half now… almost three years. Chey: So moving to Long Island, did that move set a different tone to your music? YVNG: I really started dropping my music when I came out here ( Long Island) . I was always doing music in Brooklyn. When I came out here I was by myself a lot more now so I got to learn myself. I started dropping music out here, and then
Chey: What’s the best moment in your career thus far? YVNG: Moving around more. I’m traveling from the A to PA to Florida. I’m just back, and forth. That’s the part for me. Chey: Where do you see yourself in five years from now? YVNG: I see myself as a Multi-Platinum
mainstream artist.
Chey: Are you looking for a deal, or are you going to ride the independent wave? YVNG: I’m riding independent. I’m signed to myself. Dream Millionz Entertainment.
RATING:
Artist: Hempstead Skeemz Song: Just The Money Producers: This single was released in December 2020 just before Evan Richardson the pandemic was reaching it’s own World Wide fame. and Skeemz was still outside in his own respect giving the David Isaacs people the feel of walking through the block on the grind. The build up to the drop has a theatrical rise that mellows out to a smooth yet slightly gritty sound. It paints a picture of the past, present, and future of that time boasting his representation of 100 block, and the Island many of us natives call Strong. The song also gives it’s listeners a look into some of his struggles, losses, and moments of clarity that continues to keep focus on what he is ultimately after. The money... Let’s face it, most people do chase the fame. We see it everyday on social media. Who likes what, and how many followers you have. Can we be honest for a minute? Who wouldn’t prefer money over the fame?
Total disappointment Won’t Nomake placethe for playlist Mediocre, but enjoyable Playlist worthy Straight Straight FIRE!