TGIF -- Thank God Its Friday, we gon be starting off your weekend with this smacking blockbuster "Johnna Jade Hamilton | Mics and Models: The Dream - Rags to Glory.
This ain't just another average tail of a Hoodrat deaming of making it out of the streets to the spotlight just for the fame, money and glory
This is the tail of a promising up and coming hip hop artist who wants to be known for making a huge contribution to the seems to be fading hip hop culture
Johnna Hamilton Known as Jade is one of the youngest upcoming hottest female rapper in Titusville Florida
Jade has been writing she was 10, and rapper at the age of 14. She's inspired by Drake, NICKI MINAJ, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and 2pac "One the greatest hip hop artist to have ever lived, blessedth memories".
Has hip hop just gotten sexier??? Seeing that nowadays female hip hop is mostly about sex, sexual explicit shit and no much message and delivery. Female hip hop literally put the xxx into the hip hop culture
Jade Says- She isn't just into the game for the fame, but embodying herself into her sound and a twist of pure lyricism with an intent on making an impact to her listeners through her music.
Jade has performed alot of shows in Titusville and neighboring cities. Out with a mixtape REINTRODUCTION TO JADE, We had the priviledge to listen to some of her tracks "can't make it" and "but timing wrong".
And is currently working on a new project "WELCOME TO JADEVILLE", We the priviledge of picking her brains about herself, we talked about her rap career and hip hop in general. She was very outspoken and kept it a hundred all through...here is what she to say
First of, What inspired the name JADE? Whats the significant of it to your rap?
My first rap name was "Moet" and it just didnt fit me. I was free-styling one day and came up with "baby Jade" and decided I wanted to stick with that. Of course like alot of other rappers you grow up and drop the "lil" and "baby" so now im just SIMPLY JADE. My friends and family started using "Jade" as well. I would say, that when I first started rapping as "baby Jade" it was for fun a hobby, but the moment I grew up and decided that this was more than just a hobby its "my life" my dream thats when "JADE" decided to step it up! and I knew then that I'd be JADE forever.
When did you dicover this creative side of yourself? And how long have you been rapping?
I used to write poems and i wrote this one poem and decided to turn it into a song. I sung that song to everybody close to me, they liked it i loved it. I decided that i could use my poetry to make music. I've been rapping since the age of 14 and i been writing music since the age of 10. I'm 25 so damn, that makes me feel ancient.
Tell us about yourself? Where you from originally? And what was it like growing up in your neigbhorhood?
I've always been the quiet type, stayed to myself, very few in my inner circle. I'm originally from TiTusville florida "LIL CITY" as we call it. It's a pretty small town so everybody know everybody business. Everything slips through the grapevine. Its hard to get love when your a female rapper even in your own city. Living in a small town makes it 30x harder to get exposure. I did plenty of shows in my city, but it comes a time when your ready to explore the world and get your name out. Those who know me support me and my music. You always gone have someone hating on you, but to me its just simply motivation.
Who are your biggest artistic influences and why?
Young Money, the whole movement. Drake, Nikki and Wayne they all have interesting life stories. Minor setbacks that helped them get major comebacks. Through it all they still made it to the top reguardless of the struggle. I respect that. Jeezy- He can rap just about anything and it will sell. I always said to my self "Jezzy the king of ablibs" I don't know too many other rappers that make ablibs sound so good. His delivery is on point. I love the fact he can be rapping a "hood" song and still deliver it so smoothly. 2 Pac- I should of listed him first. He was my first inspiration, as a child i used to try and remix his songs. They never sounded good though. His delivery, his motivation, and his ability to touch his listeners through his words was amazing! He is definently my biggest influence.
Would you say your growing up and neigbhorhood have played much impact on your sounds and style?
Not really, I'm far from the average and very different from most of the girls i've grown up around. My style is unique i'm always trying new things even if its different from what everybody else is rockin. I've never been the one to follow the crowd, i've always been into doing my own thang and traveling the road less traveled. My sound, I would say is different and versatile. I can usually vibe to any beat and usually come up with a rap for any topic. I perfer "hood" songs though,but i'm always looking for new topics and new ways to improve my delivery and to help others relate especially my female listeners.
What seperates you from the other masses of new emcees? How would you describe your sound and style?
Alot of rapper's these day's talk about non-sense! I dont want to ever make a song that has no meaning. Every song that i do i want to have some type of moral behind it or meaning whether its about everyday hatin, or trying to make it out a small town to get to the bigger things in life. The biggest thing that seperates me from alot of female rappers is that fact that sex sells, but when you have a talent your actually good at and you put your heart into it, i dont have to promote myself more than i promote my music. I dont wanna be like the "normal female rapper" that only talks about sex. I want to help relate my listeners to my music not just rap to them about the average topics. I would describe my sound and style as sassy and kinda bitter sweet. When you look at me you would never expect that I can rap so "hood" lol but i can definitely suprise you and in my music i display every emotion such as: love, hate, anger, and fear.
Your lyrics are very heartfelt and has a twist of hardcore, a mix of rythm and gangsta. And i can definitelly relate to your music...nowadays most rappers just get into the rap game for the fame, money and glory but don't take out much time into putting much messages in they lyrics. They just wanna hug the spotlight and thats about it, whats your opinion about that? And do you think its healthy for the hip hop culture?
I agree, nowadays, alot of rappers pick a good beat rap about non-sense and thank they got what it takes to make it in this industry. Rapping isn't for everybody and it's not just something you wake up and decide to do. I loved to write music before i even knew about the money, fame and glory. I think that when you truly love doing something you will do it no matter the outcome. Of course we all wanna make money, but that shouldn't be the reason your following your dreams. I don't think it's healthy for the hip hop culture. We already have so many stereo-types about hip hop. Not every rapper is in it for the fame. The real rappers do this because without music they have no purpose. Music helps them reach out to others who might be going through or went through the same situations. Rappers that only want the spotlight are only out for themselves. They dont care about expanding the growth of the hip hop community.
How important is it to you that your fans can relate to the
message in your music?
To me that's my main goal for my music. I want all listeners to relate to my lyrics. I write music for my fans if they can't relate than who will.
Are there any current female MC(s) you inspired by or you had
compare yourself to at the moment?
I don't compare myself to any other female rapper. I believe my style speaks for itself. I am inspired by NIKKI MINAJ though, like i said earlier in the interview her life story is amazing how she made it to where she is through all of the obstacles. She has a great delivery and doesn't just rap about sex. To me that's a true artist someone who can get on any beat and rap about any topic.
Which artists would you most want to collaborate with in the future?
The young money artist-Jezzy-Kiesha Cole-J.Cole-Ace hood-T.I there are many more, but those are my top
As an artist what materials have you put out so far? And whats the reception like on youtube, itunes and amazon?
I am always doing collabs with local artist and the songs are featured on various mixtapes. I just dropped a mixtape and i have been promoting it heavy, like i said before promotion doesn't come easy in my city. So I have been going to other remote cities trying to get my name out. I am currently working on a new mixtape called "Welcome to JADESVILLE" I'm from Titusville so Jadesville is a perfect name for the mixtape. I do most of my promotion on Facebook i have a music page called #TEAMJADE music page. Some of my songs are listed on youtube as well. On my music page i get the most love.
Which songs have you released so far would you say has been the most gratifying for your career?
Can't make It- its about trying to make it even when People think you can't alot of people relate to this one Timing wrong-I get the most feedback Keep it 100- Kinda like a love song alot of female listeners like that one
Really wanna Know- The male listeners favorite But Timing wrong and Can't make it are the two singles on my new mixtape called REINTRODUCTION 2 JADE. They are my most commercial/radio songs
I was listening to the tracks you sent us i got to say i really felt this lines "What i got is what i got, because i never quit. Don't need a nigga he a plus out here gat to get it that's a must, only God knows my story so only him i trust. You never thought i succeed so your bubbles bust. Real bitches understand what it takes to make it,if it ain't giving they know how to take it. It ain't easy to make it to the top but real bitches just don't stop" Thats some tight shit right there...whats was your inspiration behind this track?
I would have to say that I have alot of HATERS. In life I always had people telling me that I should focus my time on other things besides music.I've also heard Im too short, too slim Not this not that, but through all the criticism I still kept my eyes on the prize never gave up and I never will. In life, youll have people doubt you and you'll have those who will support you, but I learned that I am my motivation and I am my competition so with that being said If I dont succeed it will be my own fault and not the result of my haters. This song comes from the heart and alot of my female fans relate to this. Sometimes the world puts alot of pressure on you and if your different than you dont fit in. I believe in being my own person and being different from the adverage doesnt make me strange, but it helps me Stand out in the crowd. So I dont mind at all how the world views me. You get one life and you better make the best of it. No regrets!!
You got modeling on the side, how long have you been modeling for? Is it an on and off thing for you, since i would guess rapping is more of your to do list?
I've been modeling for about a year. I am just as determined to model as I am rapping. I always loved taking pics and decided to take some professional pics and they turned out nice. So I entered a competition and won. Now Im just going with the flow. I have been interacting with music and modeling professionals and lately been getting some great results. I love both modeling and music. So the love for them keeps me motivated. Rapping definitely takes more time and energy than modeling but I was told that as long as your having fun and your putting your all into it, its worth the wait.
How do you work both careers without getting caught up in gigs clashing into each other?
I keep a lil calendar so that I dont get my dates dont get mixed up. I am currently trying to do shows in other cities so that takes time. While im waiting on call backs for that, I put more focus on my modeling. I been doing good so far keeping the two seperated. When music is slow I focus on modeling and visa versa. If they both are pumpin than I always go with the job that gets me the most exposure. The goal is and always will be to get my name known.
What has been your biggest break so far in the modeling industry? And what do you enjoy most about been a model?
I'm fairly new to the modeling industry so the best thing is the promotion really. I have been lucky enough to link up with people who have alot of insight in this industry. And they have been referring me to people who can help me futher my career. It's funny because if I look for a job in modeling and they dont need me for that, they usually take interest in my music and visa versa. So promotion has been the best thing going for me right now in the modeling industry. Ive meet alot of helpful people who are helping me with my modeling and music. So I just continue to work hard and promote myself in every way possible. I enjoy taking pics and actually seeing them as a finished project. Im a libra so I also enjoy meeting new people in the industry and learning new things to help better myself.
Your more into fashion, commercial and print modeling, do you see yourself doing eyecandy, glamour and lingerie gigs anytime in the future?
I always keep an open mind and I dont mind doing any of those gigs as long as its Classy gotta keep it classy.
When your not on stage performing, in the booth recording or on set working the cameras what do you do to stay relaxed or busy?
I'm usually always writing music. Sometimes I can be laying down getting ready for bed and a hook will pop in my head so I get up n write it down so that I wont forget it. So even when im "relaxing" my mind still on it. I like the club scene every so often but usually I enjoy just spending time with family. I love to watch movies and I love to shop
Tell us more about your mixtape "The Reintroduction to Jade"?
I have been rapping for along time and when I started I actually rapped with another person. Like many groups people go thier seperate ways and for the longest I stopped and took a break from music. Than I decided that I needed to keep pushing reguardless if Im going solo. So this mixtape means alot, people knew me and knew I could rap but they never heard me by myself. So I named it Reintroduction 2 JADE because I was basically reintroducing my self as a solo artist. Alot of good feedback from this mixtape my goal is to get it heard in as many cities as possible. I am going to keep promoting it and hopefully the right people will hear it.
Any major artist features? How many tracks you got on it? And where can we get the rest of the tracks to download?
No major artist features yet, but I hope in the future I will have some. There are 14 Tracks on the mixtape and my music is on my Facebook music page as well as Reverbnation and I have a few tracks on youtube as well.
Any plans for promo tour soon? If yes, what states, cities orcountries would you be touring?
As of now i'm just promoting my mixtape around remote cities, but I want to go to a few cities/states such as: Georgia, Texas, LA, New York, Miami and of course the sounding areas.
What other projects have you been heard on, seen on, involved in? And do you have any new projects in the pipelines?
I have a few projects that im working on for modeling that deal with print and commercial. I also have a few projects that involve shows in different areas. I am currently networking with a few people tpo get aired on different online radio. Which I am pretty excited about. Thats good exposure.
When it's all said and done, how would you like your lyrics to
make impact on your fans?
I want my fans to know that I am self motivated and I speak on that level, hopefully my words can help motivate those who need it. Make them believe in themselves. If you believe others will follow
For bookings, media and press how can you be contacted?
Email: Jaja321555@yahoo.com
Where can the readers find you online?
, twitter , Reverbnation, Modelpipeline, Youtube, Duskspot, Modelturf
Final word to fans?
Be yourself, Dont be afraid to be different, Life isnt about making others happy it's about living to the fullest and following your dreams. Nothing is handed to you you have to push until you reach the stars.-JADE
Interview and post by Dani Reid
