J Reyez

Quick Stats:

- J Reyez has the support of rapper "Kardinal Offishall."
- J Reyez directed his own video "We're Flyin'".
- He also independently put out his own album, with plans for another one in August of '09.
- His single hit #1 on New York's radio station 93.7FM



AZNRaps - J Reyez, you've recently released the 'We're Flyin'' video. It may surprise some people because you also produced and directed the video. How overwhelming was the project?

J Reyez - That video I decided to do, strictly for promotion just to keep the fans and supporters updated and to keep it consistent, keep it moving, and staying on the full time grind. The video itself actually took about 30 minutes to shoot, but the editing process took a little bit of time and I just threw in a bunch of live, behind the scenes footage of what I've been up to, through out the whole video.

AZNRaps – Why did you decide to release a music video for this particular track instead of your other popular single 'Alone With You' from your new album?

J Reyez - Well like I said, ‘We're Flyin' was just a quick promotional video. I'd love to do a video to ‘Alone With You’ but that song is kind of outdated to me and I like to give the listeners, fresh content so right now I am currently working on a professional video for an unreleased song.

AZNRaps - In 2006, you were living a regular teenage life in Hamilton Ontario Canada. Two years later and you're getting love from folks like Kardinal Offishall and the Jabbawockeez crew. Tell us how this happened?

J Reyez - Well the summer of ‘07 was when I first started to really get recognition, more internationally rather than just the local scene. I put out a little video that I did with my digital camera, called 'What's Really Good' which was just for fun but it started to get my face out there and I'd go out of town and hit up some spots and a lot of people would recognize me and give me mad love for what I do. Since then, I've just been stepping it up each time, building more links, networking, promoting and it started to slowly pay off. As for Kardinal Offishall and the Jabbawockeez, that was due to the grind that I and the Tragic Glory team have put in.

AZNRaps - ‘Success’ is tricky, some may consider your progress just that. How do you think you’ve gotten this far in the game?

J Reyez - Just keep doing what you do, if you gotta put up money, by all means invest and put work into yourself. Promote hard. I've heard people talking about me, even other rap artists, saying that I try too hard and that I promote myself too much but look where it's got me? While [at the same time] they're doing nothing with their life and their so called ‘music career.’ There's never too much trying, always keep at it and stay focused.

AZNRaps - Clearly, you have business suave. You haven't limited yourself to just music; you've also branched off into graphic design and video production. You're also affiliated with Tragic Glory Clothing. We've seen stars like the Jabbawockeez, Supreme Soul, Sean Kingston, Girlicious, and Jordin Sparks repping the streetware. How did you get sponsored and where can we cop the gear?

J Reyez - Well Tragic Glory recognized me doing my thing about a year ago in the summer time and they seen me grinding and putting in work so they were interested in working something out with me. They hit me up and soon or later it became official, no contracts, no nothing. The bond with me and Tragic Glory became strong to that point where we don't need no written agreements or anything. I'm down for them and they're down for me 100% and we started doing what we do best and that's grinding.
The website is currently under construction but you can look Tragic Glory up on facebook and you'll find it. Right now the clothing is being sold in stores across Toronto and in Brazil but we're going to be branching out to the states and also you'll be able to order it online really soon once the official website is up and running. Last but not least, we sponsored a boy in Brazil as well and we donate to the Canadian Cancer Society for each clothing we sell !!!

AZNRaps – Donating to CCS, that’s very commendable!! There’s no transition here, so I’ll just get into it. You produced 20 free tracks for your fans on your 'All Eyes on Me' mixtape. What other mixtapes have you put out in the streets?

J Reyez - That mixtape was really old and just a bunch of songs I threw together for people to download but right now I am currently selling my new mixtape CD titled 'On The Rise' which you can order directly through me at either my myspace or email.
AZNRaps - You also have freebies for the fans! You have about 17 tracks up for free downloads on your myspace but which tracks are on the new album?

J Reyez - I haven't put out an album yet but I am still working on doing one for maybe next summer but I do have a few tracks that I already have ready for it so we'll see how it goes.

AZNRaps - Your - AZNRaps.com

HOT: I guess first thing's first, explain to our readers who is J-Reyez?

J-Reyez is a hungry, young artist/producer representin' for all the asian people out there that show support to make a name for us in the music industry.

HOT: So when can we see an official Mixtape release From J-Reyez?

Right now I'm not too sure if I should do a mixtape drop or do an album because all the beats I'm using are either self-produced by me or other producers I'm working with but I'm thinking probably around the summer time would be best to drop it. It'll give me time to get more artists and producers to feature on it and I'll be heading out a lot to different places, cities, and wherever to promote it.

HOT: I just found out your 17 years-old, Damn When I was 17 I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. Your already a talented artist and producer, But how do older Artists treat you since your so young?

It's all love. All the older people show lots of love and respect for what I'm doing at such a young age and It's cool because they give me advice on what to avoid and mistakes they've made when they were younger so I keep that in mind.

HOT: Originally, your from South Korea. You get any hate for your skin colour?

Nah, even though I get compared to Jin a lot since he's one of the few asian artists to break through to the industry but other than that, maybe a few white folks here and there saying I'm trying to be black aha. S'all good though, haters can hate. I don't see a problem in having musical talent and using it for a certain genre because what difference is it if I made pop music? Since a majority of caucasian people do pop, I'm trying to be white now? You know what I mean? Aha.

HOT: I was reading your bio and you do EVERYTHING. What else you looking to get into.

Yeah I'm just trying to do everything that is involved with music that will be needed for music. Right now I've been getting into directing and editing lil music videos to try it out. I got good at one thing, why not another? You know? But it's all part of the hustle. I'm saving money and I'm fully composing my own music and making money to do it for others so it's all good.

HOT: Toronto (GTA) has dozens of good Hip-hop Artists. Anyone you look up to or would like to collab with?

Well there are a lot of artists out there making moves here and there but not a lot are blowing up to the market. So any artist that is taking music seriously that are making moves to the industry would be cool to do a track with but no names in particular.

HOT: You rip with Blackstarz Entertainment Group, what part do they play?

Blackstarz are pushing me out there in the Greater Toronto Area and they're helping me get into the business mind state of the music industry so it's a big step still.

HOT: So whats J-Reyez goals for this Brand New 2008 year, Any new projects?

Right now I'm in the works of shooting a professional music video with my boy Majik which is being shot inside a Toronto film studio. I also wanna be able to work with more artists and producers that are starting to make a name for themselves in the GTA. I don't know what's next to come for 2008 but I'm hoping for a good year. Meet new people, make new moves, make new money.

HOT: Now the best question, Is there beef between any Toronto (GTA) Artist. If so, who?

Nah, Toronto's been treating me pretty good. Haven't had any problems or any haters coming out of Toronto yet aha.

HOT: Any shout outs or anything thing else you'd like to add?

Yeah big ups to the whole Tragic Glory Clothing team, Block Trade Productions, any producers that I've worked with, all the fans and listeners that are supporting me and I can't forget the haters aha.

- hypeoftoronto.com