What has your Journey to Success been like thus far?

 JP: Annoying, frustrating. We have heard a million success stories watching stars on TV. Just like with anything else, (school, sports) you are going to run into a lot of dead ends. There were a lot of times when people laughed at me and did not take me serious. I came to a point where I said, “I invested this much time and money into this. I’m not going To STOP!”

I spent four years working on my craft, switching my styles up, trying to find something that fit; studying rappers, singers, rapper-singers, producers trying to figure out my style. The first realization I was doing something right was when people began to acknowledge my work. They would say: “Oh that’s hot” or “You sound like that or you sound this.” Many rappers have people on their team who feed them the BS but these were complete strangers saying: “That was ILL!” It was my fuel that gave me a positive boost. I continued to work, work, and work.  I started when I was seventeen and have been working non-stop for five years. I’m sure everyone has had those situations where they feel like they are about to quit and someone talked you out of it or you talked yourself out of it. “Quitting is the worst thing you can do when you have come so far.” Regardless if you and I become superstars, there is going to be a point where we get that acknowledgment that satisfies us and if not, at least I am doing something productive and people appreciate it.

I had the chance to see Esperanza Spalding perform at the South Orange Performing Arts for the Jazz House Kids, a non-profit organization. During her interview with Grammy Award winning Christian McBride there was a response she made that stuck out to me. She mentioned that as artists you transmit vibrations of energy to listeners. It is very important as artist to be mindful of the energy you release because there are people who cannot differentiate between music and reality. Was there ever a time when you rapped about something that was not true?

 JP: There was a point when I was going through my stages and I was rapping that BS. Every young’n coming up was rapping about being icy, having women and dough but, they did not have a dollar in their pocket. That was what I knew at that point in time that is what was being depicted through music and the Media.  One day I left my laptop open.  One day I happen to leave my lap top open (during my high school years) and my mother read one of my rhymes. She said, “If this is what you are trying to do, then you are lying. You are being a pretender. I support you 100 percent but if you’re going to do this, am real about it.”  For my mom to say that was crazy. Moms saw right through it, right through me. That was a prominent moment in my career because it changed not only my style, but my thought process too. I dropped all that “icy” and “mad money” stuff because it is not realistic.

 What do you think about artists who have “dumbed down” their message to their audience to make a profit more specifically, artists who have exceeded the “street” lifestyle and are veterans of the industry?

 JP: If there is anybody to point the finger at, it is artists who do not expand their horizons. When you demand a certain amount of money and have sold a certain amount of records it is time to move on to something more challenging by branching out and trying something new. You have already capitalized on whatever it was that you were trying to capitalize on.

 What is your favorite song?

 JP: I would have to say Nas’ “One Mic”. I have always followed Nas because he possesses the ability to attack a subject like no other rapper could. He was rapper that if you took him off the mic and put him behind a podium in front of thousands of people, he would flourish. I do not know many other rappers that possess that ability. Maybe DMX, but X is a different type of dude. You can take him out of his element and he would be completely comfortable in a room full articulate professors. When Nas did “One Mic,” I do not think any other artist in history has ever been so intellectual, yet be so raw at the same time. I definitely adopted that style of being raw, but still hitting you in the head from an intelligent perspective

 You will be performing Wednesday on MTV’s HIP-HOP Unplugged. Explain to us what you will be doing.

JP: Hip-Hop Unplugged is a new show that will be aired on MTV. It’s like the Hip-Hop version of American Idol. I will be performing live this Wednesday with Ryan Leslie’s band in front of a live studio audience in New York. Contestants are competing for a record deal. Regardless if I win or not (Lord willing I do) I’m glad I still received the chance to perform in front of major representatives of the music industry such as Def Jam’s.

 Do you have any Mixtapes?

JP: I dropped my first Mixtape back in November 2009. It was hosted by Heavy Hitter DJ Wallah. Last month, I dropped another mixtape:  “Raider of the Lost Art” hosted by DJ Wes Will. Both of those mixtapes are on DatPiff.com

Where can listeners check your next appearance?

JP: My records are currently being played in Jersey, Delaware, & Philadelphia on a radio station called Soul Fusion. In two weeks I have scheduled for 99.1, Philadelphia’s biggest radio station.

I’ve collaborated with just about every artist in Jersey: The Wyld Stylaz Alvietron, Duray, Gabreal, Freaky Killa da Don, Kertasy

It’s easy for artists to put mixtapes and videos out, but you know when somebody’s really doing it when they are on TV. Be on the lookout: .

Freaky Jon P is going on tour pretty soon.

Props: FeliciaEllureVerna.wordpress.com

 (Click Mixtape Cover to Download) 

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NEW YORK CITY– February 15, 2010 Are you ready for another hot Right On! TV exclusive? This month, Right On! provides insight into the life of a new generation of entertainers beginning with rapper RAMEL “MEL” CARTER (Mel’s Right On! TV interview), the nephew of arguably the best rapper of all time, JAY-Z. Continuing with its new bolstering entertainment series, Right On! magazine brings an extraordinary flavor to its successful Right On! TV web series. For the past 39 years, Right On! has fed the Tween popular with music, interviews, contests, as style trends while remaining ahead of the game. In January Right On! TV ushered in the New Year with an intimate look into the life of Grammy Award winning singer Monica and garnered impressive reviews from its peers.

Danica Daniel, Editor-in-Chief of Right On! magazine sat down with Mel for a look inside the life of the young emcee. During the interview Mel discusses everything from his current projects to his hopes for the future. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Mel is no stranger to the rap game or its mechanisms. With mega music mogul and rapper Jay-Z as his uncle, Mel is knowledgeable to the many expectations he faces as the “newbie” and strives to surpass them plus more. Danica provides a candid interview with Mel who addresses everything from his first time displaying his emcee skills to his affection for older women. He reveals the catalyst for becoming an emcee stemmed from his move from Marcy Projects to the suburbs in New Jersey. “It was a culture shock…,” says Mel. “It was too quiet. It was like silence out there.” When Mel first performed for his family and friends it was a shocking experience for them. “I didn’t tell nobody about it,” Mel revealed. “I was kind of shy.” Happily surprised, the response to Mel’s flow and lyrical skill was astounding – proving to him he was on the right path.

Venturing deeper into his psyche, Mel shares his insight about his belief in himself as well as his good support system and how it led him and two of his cousins to form the label, Natural Born Hustlaz. According to Mel, the definition of a natural born hustler is someone determined “to get it at any means necessary it… whatever you want in life you got to strive for it.” He delves into this idea while explaining why he is not accepting help from his famed uncle, Jay-Z. With his first released single, “The Message,” Mel describes the musical production as a response to Jay-Z’s song “Sweet” from the American Gangster album. He depicts the experience he had listening to the record and delves into the meaning behind “The Message.” The “message is that I’m doing this by myself he (Jay-Z) not helping me,” admits Mel proudly. “I want to prove to myself that I can do it and to prove to him of course.” Although Mel is rookie to the rapping game, nothing is stopping him from aiming high. When asked what he expects from himself as an emcee, Mel states “to be number one. That’s what I expect.” After the revealing interview, Mel helps launch Right On! TV MUSIC LIVE with an on the spot performance of a rhyme so fresh, it has yet to be titled. 

For the full RIGHT ON! TV interview with RAMEL “MEL” CARTER, log onto WWW.RIGHTONMAG.COM or click onto http://www.vimeo.com/9335353.

To listen to his original track performed live, just for Right On! TV go to http://www.vimeo.com/9335910.

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Pharrell gave a keynote speech at Midem with co-CEO of Cornerstone, Rob Stone. The interview praised Pharell on being Billboard’s Producer of the decade, a title that was given to Quincy Jones in the 80′s and Dr. Dre in the 90′s. Then it got into how Mr.Skateboard P makes money outside of the music industry and what it takes to maintain his status as a great producer.

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Jay-Z responds to some of Beanie Sigel’s allegations… 

Previous: Beanie Sigel Interview Explains Diss

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Beanie Sigel calls into C tha God’s show and explains where the diss came from, and a lot of in house dirt that happened at Roc-A-Fella.

http://www.5portals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/BEANIE-CALL-IN-FULL-INTERVIEW.mp3

This Breakdown is from MissInfo

UPDATE: I know that a 38-minute interview is daunting, so Mikey took the time to make a brief outline of this interview…
5:47 – Not even getting a phone call when Roc was dissolving
8:00 – Dame Dash also crossed Beans on a business tip
10:50 – When Jay came to Beanie’s bail hearing on ‘02, the judge asked Jay to co-sign/vouch for Bean so that he could get out. Jay said no. Beans was returned to custody.
14:50 – Did Jay-Z really call the police to kick you out of his concert?
17:55 – More on Dame crossing Beans…he says that basically Dame Dash embezzled money from the Roc camp, Jay-Z and Beanie himself.
24:45 – Beanie was locked up with 50 cent’s uncle, who was in for 15 years+. He says he saw 50 come to visit his uncle every month. 50 Cent offering him a deal and trying to get off ROC. *sigh*
28:00 – Beanie refuses to elaborate on the line in the diss song insinuating that he could say things that would make Beyonce look at her husband differently.
30:00 – Beanie says he doesn’t think Jay-Z owes him anything but a conversation. “He don’t owe me a dollar…he hustled, he made his money, he milked the game, he did was he was supposed to do…I tip my hat to him…”

Previous:  Beanie Sigel – Average Cat (Jay-Z Diss)

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Diddy has just confirmed that his upcoming album will contain features besides his new group Dirty Money (Thank God)!!! The features on the album so far are Drake, T-Pain, Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z. Now that Diddy is signed to Interscope Records, will new collaborations be in the works with artists such as 50 Cent, Eminem, maybe even a Lady Gaga? Well everyone will have to wait and see when this album is released sometime during the beginning of 2010.

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