CAROLINA HIP-HOP MOVEMENT PT.4

The Temperature of Carolina Hip-Hop

Hot or Not…        

In an era of Hip-Hop that has seen such trends as Snap music, Dance music, Drug music it’s rare to come across a true hip-hop artist. You have to search high and low, under rocks and behind trashcans, but they are still out there. Jackson The Rap Ric Flair is one of those artists; with a flow like Common Style like Kanye and delivery like Mos Def it’s hard to say that this guy doesn’t have what it takes to be the next big thing. His roots come from out of Jackson Miss. Thus the stage name “Jackson” but his bars come truly from the soul. I had a change to sit down with this gifted artist and see what are his feelings on the temperature of Carolina Hip-Hop.

JACKSON WHATS GOING ON MY MAN HOW’S LIFE BEEN TREATING YOU?

Can't complain, man. Just been trying to make more music and get things rolling again

 LETS TALK ABOUT NEVER COMING BACK FOR A MOMENT. WHAT SONG ON THAT ALBUM WOULD YOU SAYS DEFINES YOU AS AN ARTIST?

I'd have to say "Raisin In The Sun." I feel it's me at my most honest, just trying to speak on everything that was on my mind at the time. I just kind of wrote what I was feeling and it sort of defined me. 

NEVER COMING BACK!!! THAT TITLE IN IT SELF SAYS TO ME LIKE YOUR LEAVING THE GAME BEFORE YOU GET STARTED. WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THAT TITLE?

Well, I felt like I was in a transition period: I was leaving college, leaving North Carolina, just broke up with my girl. I was at a place of transition and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to come back to the person I was when I wrote those songs. And in the long run, it's just like saying, "enjoy me now, because this version of me won't be back."

SINCE YOU’RE NOW AT A DIFFERENT POINT IN YOUR LIFE WITH MUSIC WHAT IS IT THE WE CAN EXPECT ON YOU CURRENT PROJECT?

I really just wanted to make my new music all about me. On "Never Coming Back" I spoke on a lot of world issues and politics, which I still care about, but sometimes when you have a lot going on in your life, all you can think of is your self. So I embraced that selfishness and wrote about all the new aspects of my life. 

I’VE HEARD A COUPLE TRACKS ON THE ALBUM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FOCUS AND PASSION BEHIND IT, ALMOST LIKE YOUR LETTING YOUR AUDIENCE KNOW THAT YOUR SERIOUS?

Yeah, definitely. I just want people to know that this just isn't a "college" thing or something I'm doing to pass the time. I wanted to challenge myself. On "Never Coming Back" I felt like every song had a specific theme to it. On "500 Days Of Summer" I wanted to dedicate a few tracks to me just rapping, showing people the skill I have to flip words. 

WHO IF ANY MAKE AN APPERANCE ON YOUR NEW ALBUM?

Right now, 5th Child, my longtime collaborator will be on there a few times, as well as James Crow so we can recreate the magic from "Gangstas Don't Rap"

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE ALBUM AND WHAT DID YOU NAME IT?

The album is "500 Days Of Summer" and it's dropping hopefully by the end of July. 

LAST QUESTION BEFORE I GO WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE OF HIP-HOP IN THE CAROLINA’S?

The Carolinas are in a unique spot, right in the middle of the South and New York. It borrows from both areas to create its own sound. Some of my favorite artists: Little Brother and J. Cole come from there so the states can make some dope music. 

WELL PEOPLE THERE YOU HAVE IT JACKSON THANKS FOR COMING BY AND IM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEW ALBUM FROM YA HOST MARKIE “MILLIONDOLLAR” STACKS IM GONE…

FOR THOSE TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH JACKSON HIT HIM UP AT

Jacksontherapper@gmail.com