Exclusive | Rapper AJAY Talks Sacrificing Sleep, Money, and Relationships to Pursue His Dream
“I’m one of the greatest things to come out of the South. ”
By: Omar Cook
This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Georgia rapper AJAY! AJAY is a 26 year old artist who hails from Decatur, Georgia and is formerly known as Phonic. AJAY makes up 1/4 of the music group All Black Congress which features T. Mason, Honey Simone, and Shinobi X. This artist brings a smooth flow to every track that keeps you locked in. AJAY has been on the music scene for a a few years but is constantly evolving in his music and we can expect more from him in the coming year. Don’t sleep, AJAY is just the type of artist that hip hop needs right now.
AJAY - Circles ft Evan Bailey (Official Video)
We talked with AJAY in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING MUSIC AND HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I’ve been making music since I was about 13 years old. I started writing raps when I was 12 years old after hearing OutKast for the first time. I had “Southernplayalistic” and “Aquemini” loaded on this busted little MP3 player and listening to those albums helped me decide that this was what I wanted to do.
MUSICALLY, WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN HELPING YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY AND WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
Musically my biggest influence, my main one, is Andre 3000. Mr. Benjamin. But there’s also Roy Ayers, Sade, Bilal, Notorious B.I.G, Eminem, D’ Angelo, Frank Ocean, Erykah Badu, Ludacris, Schoolboy Q, K. Dot. The list goes on & on, man. Right now, my favorite artists are Tame Impala & Tyler, The Creator.
WHAT ARTISTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH AND WHY?
As far as artists I want to collaborate with, Tame Impala, Dr. Dre, D’Angelo, & Frank Ocean. Those are just my long term choices off the top of my head. There are a few artist I want to collaborate with right here at home too. NoGum Hundo, Jaye Newton, Muddy Mia, DavidTheTragic, Risa Pearl, Flwr Chyld. Just to name a few.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR BEST SONG/PROJECT EVER RELEASED AND WHY?
What is my best song? Honestly, I don’t know. I love all my music. I don’t want to say “oh yeah, my best song is blah, blah” because then that gives the people a reason to go listen to just that project or song. Play all my music. Then you tell me what my best song is.
AJAY - Ballad Of Jerome
WHAT PROJECTS CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
With future projects, I’m hoping to continuously expand. Bend genres, cross boundaries, & all that. I’ve never wanted to be pigeon holed as just a rap artist, so I’m thinking directing movies, producing, & anything else I come across in the process.
HOW DO YOU GENERATE NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR MUSIC?
When I want to get new ideas for music, I try to do something I wouldn’t necessarily do on a regular basis and just venture into a different territory. Try my best to search for a different feeling. That also means not doing the same song over and over again and trying beats that I haven’t heard in my catalog before.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
My motivation comes from life itself. I know that sounds really simple, but being dissatisfied, being in love, being disappointed has been my motivation to keep going. Being out of love, growing old, living life is all motivation for me because it continues to give me things to reflect on and talk about. As long as I have something to talk about, I’m motivated to continue this journey. The accolades, the acknowledgement, those things are wonderful but me being able to be honest with myself and with other people through my music is what the idea of success looks like to me.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO PEOPLE AND WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM OTHER ARTISTS IN YOUR GENRE?
I describe my music in many different ways. For example, the intro and the song after that on my last project How Will U Survive, I’ve always pictured Kane coming out at the Hell in the Cell match between Undertaker & Shawn Michales and just causing the most destruction he possibly can when I listen to it. So, yeah.
DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A FORMULA TO BEING A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST?
I don’t believe there is necessarily a formula to being a successful artist. It’s no handbook to this. It’s something you have to jump into if you’re going to do it and never look back. It takes long nights some times. There are a lot of ups and downs and you kind of just have to ride the wave. Keep your head down and continue to work as hard as possible. Connections help, knowing people helps, but sometimes there are no connections. So, you just keep going.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
My inspiration comes from my family. Past, present, and future. My family inspires me to be transparent now because that’s how they accept me, as I am & of course I look for my supporters to do the same. My future inspires me to not be an “almost was”.
IN YOUR OPINION WHO IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND SUCCESSFUL ARTIST IN YOUR GENRE TODAY AND WHY?
The most influential artist of my generation, in my opinion, has to be Dwayne Carter. Every artist I hear has a piece of Wayne in them and that’s undeniable. Andre may be the reason I wanted to start rapping, but Lil Wayne is the person who taught me how to rap. How to put metaphors together and how to come with witty punchlines.
WHICH EMOTION MORE THAN ANY OTHER, CURRENTLY DOMINATES YOUR MUSIC? JOY, SADNESS, ANGER OR PASSION ETC. , AND WHY?
Curiosity is what dominates my music right now, if you can categorize that as an emotion. I’m curious to see what my limits are and how I can continue to push through those barriers and create new experiences for myself and listeners.
WHAT SACRIFICES HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE, TO MAKE YOUR DREAM A REALITY?
I’ve sacrificed sleep, money, relationships, and much more just to see this dream play out in the best way possible. I won’t lie and say I have no regrets because I have many, but I look past it because I’m giving it all up for the one thing I love more than anything.
WHAT ASPECT OF THE MUSIC MAKING PROCESS EXCITES YOU MOST, AND WHAT ASPECT DISCOURAGES YOU THE MOST?
When it comes to the process, I love recording. I love being able to see my ideas come together as I’m recording vocals, adding harmonies, ad-libs, etc. My distaste lies within the writing process which my seem a bit odd but there’s always the choice of what to say that bugs me because I always want to say so much within 16 bars but that’s not always necessary.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSIC IN 10 YEARS?
In 10 years, I want to be happy with what I’ve done, ya know? I feel like a lot of artists aren’t happy for whatever reason. I don’t need a garage full of cars, I don’t need this crazy, insane house, or 13 chains. In 10 years, I want to be at peace.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER UP AND COMING ARTISTS OR PEOPLE LOOKING TO BREAK INTO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
My advice to other artists is none of that stuff you see is what it seems. Do what it is you love and those who love it will follow. Write, sing, rap, play freely.
Follow my Soundcloud, I used to be Phonic but now I'm AJAY, download my music, exercise, drink water, live freely, don't trust the government, be safe out here. AJAY loves you.
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