Jasiri X Exclusive!

What's good Hip-Hop heads! I've been busy, really busy so my apologies for the lack of content and updates but here is one I was working on earlier!
Jasiri X has been making waves on youtube with episodes of his show "This Week with Jasiri". These epsidoes tackle political and thought provoking issues that challenge the audience to think about how something is being said and how we as people can make a change.
Often controversial, Jasiri has continued to present issues that make you think. This is evident in his music which not only has a stong message but has a good beat. This coupled with Jasiri's ability to rhyme, make the music both thought provoking and enjoyable.
So, I present to all you Hip-Hop heads - Jasiri X

Enjoy...

HipHopInformant: How did you get involved with Hip-Hop and how long have you been involved with it?

Jasiri X: I got involved cause I friend of mine started producing and asked me to write a rhyme I’ve been writing and performing since the mid to late 90s.

HipHopInformant: Where are you from and does that influence the way you rhyme?

Jasiri X: I’m originally from Chicago but I’ve been in Pittsburgh for most of my life. I think it has some influence because I’ve been more drawn to the East Coast as far as my favourite artists.

HipHopInformant: Can you explain your sound to people that haven’t heard your music before?

Jasiri X: I would call it Intelligent music, definitely raw Hip-Hop production. The opposite of this watered down BS that they call rap these days.

HipHopInformant: How did the name Jasiri X come about?

Jasiri X: Jasiri is my given birth name it’s Swahili and means brave warrior. The X comes from me becoming a member of the Nation of Islam.

HipHopInformant: What is your definition of REAL Hip-Hop?

Jasiri X: Original music made from the heart, the soundtrack of the revolution.

HipHopInformant: Tell me about LYRICS Inc.

Jasiri X: I began to work with younger artists about what Hip-Hop really is and it evolved to me teaching adults about the true power and tremendous influence of Hip-Hop and actually getting paid to do it. You can’t beat that.

HipHopInformant: Are there any artists who influence you and your music?

Jasiri X: Of course Public Enemy, KRS, Rakim, Nas, Bob Marley, Tupac, Biggie, Stevie Wonder, Price, Wu-Tang, Michael Jackson, really too many to name.

HipHopInformant: Can you give me a run-down of your top 5 artists dead or alive and why you chose each one.

Jasiri X: 1) KRS-his versatility as an artist and ability to rap about any subject plus move the crowd.

2) Rakim-pure lyricism no one else has done it like him.

3) Nas-his ability to walk the fine line between street and conscious music and being great at both plus some of the illest song concepts ever.

4) Lauryn Hill-her ability to transcend the limited titles the industry tried to put on her. She went from female rapper to elite MC to one of the best artists of our generation.

5) Tupac-no one could connect to their audience emotionally better than Tupac. He believed it so we believed it.

HipHopInformant: Tell me about your youtube show “This week with Jasiri X”. What is the show about?

Jasiri X: I wanted to create a concept where I could show case my skills as an MC by doing a song a week but at the same time raise the consciousness of the listener, so I decide to rhyme about the news of the week. Now it’s evolved into a serious lesion in media literacy and how the media frame certain news to effect how the audience sees it. The last season (Season 3) we took the series to another level as far as the video production and we plan to go even further in Season 4.

HipHopInformant: What are your views on the Hip-Hop industry at this moment?

Jasiri X: It’s the best of times and the worst of times. On one hand it’s so wide open and artist like myself with no record company affiliation can be played all over the country and make an impact online. At the same time what’s considered “mainstream” is at an all time low in terms of originality and creativity.

HipHopInformant: Is there one place that you love to perform more than anywhere else and why?

Jasiri X: Not really I’ll rock any where to any size audience. I just love being able to connect to my audience live and in person.

HipHopInformant: Will we be seeing you in London anytime soon?

Jasiri X: Book me and I will come! Ha ha hopefully soon I have an album dropping around August so maybe you’ll see me soon.

HipHopInformant: Finally, what does the future hold for Jasiri X?

Jasiri X: The video for the song “Just a Minstrel” off of my album American History X drops tomorrow June 9. Season 4 of This Week With Jasiri X is coming at the end of June and my new album The Ascension produced by Rel!g!on is dropping in August on Wandering Worx Entertainment.

Catch Jasiri X on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/jasiri_x

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jasirix