You will remember JayTee from N2Deep and Latino Velvet. Recently we hooked up with him and asked him about his latest releases. Check out this insightful interview. EXCLUSIVE!

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk to you. How you doing?

I been real good. Basically, just in the studio everyday, trying to finish up all of these projects I been working on.

You are set to release your latest album “High Caliber” and by checking your guest appearances I can tell that it’s gonna be dope. What can we as fans expect from this album?

This is gonna be my most explosive release ever. I have about 30 brand new songs that I have to choose from. So far I have collaborations with E-40, Mac Dre, Beesh, Don Cisco, Frost, B-12, Young Dru & Cool Nutz. Besides that, I been just taking songs to the head. I feel that right now I’m coming with the most fire I ever spit in my career.

How long have you been working on this album?

I started right after I finished up the Jay Tee & Baby Beesh “Velvetism” album. I’m also just about to close a new distribution deal with a very big distributor, so that is why I haven’t released the album yet. My last few releases came out through Bayside Distribution. They were a good company, but they really couldn’t get my product out to all of the regions that I needed to be. With my new deal, I’ll be everywhere.

For those who don’t know how would you explain your style and what do you write about?

I own my own studio, so I just get up everyday and start drinking and working on music. I usually stay in the studio until about 2 or 3 in the morning. I write mostly about shit that I go through. I do a lot of shows, so I write about my experiences on the road. I write about my hustling, my ability to get at bitches, my struggles, just being in the streets. I also write all of my songs when I’m in the studio. I usually take about an hour or two to finish a song. I think that when you write in the studio to the music, your raps fit the song better. I used to do it the other way, where I would write raps and then find music that would go with the raps. 

I remember back in 1993/4 somewhere around there one of our national radio stations used to play that N2Deep track “Back 2 The Hotel” every week. That was a classic track! I also read that you are still collecting some healthy royalty checks from that song. Did you expect that song to be such a huge hit? How did that track come about?

When we first did the song, I really didn’t like it. I had to hear the song on the radio to really start liking it. We originally had a little different beat to that song. TL had done his first verse and let me hear it. I came in and freestyled my first few lines, “Ha naw, could it be, I just got a page and the broad wanna do me”. I ended up writing my verse in a few minutes and we tightened up the beat. The song was just about us kickin’ it in Vallejo, doing what we do. The song still gets played all the time, so I still get checks. They ain’t as fat as they used to be, but there still cool.

I read that you are also going to release a new N2Deep album and DVD. What can you tell us about that and is there a release date for that?

I been filming for about the last year. I got footage from our shows, backstage, studio sessions, road life, all kinds of stuff. I also got interviews from a bunch of different rappers that I mess with. I also got all of our videos on there and footage from when we first started out. It’s gonna be tight. I’m gonna shoot a few more shows and shoot 2 new videos and then release it. The new N2DEEP album will probably come out as a bonus disc with the DVD. I’m hoping to release it by this summer.

For those that don’t know who are Latino Velvet?

Latino Velvet was originally me and Baby Beesh. On the second album, we added Frost and Don Cisco. I don’t know if we’ll ever do another album or not. It’s kind of hard because we all live in different places now. I’m in Vallejo, Beesh is in Houston, Frost is in L.A. and Cisco is in San Jose.

What was the reason for the N2Deep 3 year hiatus?

Basically it was because TL wasn’t trying to rap anymore. We didn’t talk for a long time. Mac Dre called TL up when we were doing a song and told him to come to the studio. That was the first time in about 3 years that we seen each other. We chopped it and up and now he’s back with it.

I find the independent scene has some of the best music coming out. What independent artists are you feeling right now?

To be honest, nothing has really got my attention lately. 50 Cent has been doing it as far as major labels, but nothing independent has caught my ear. That’s not to say that someone isn’t out there. just ain’t heard him yet. Whenever I’m working on an album, I try and not listen to other artists so that I can keep my own style.

In terms of marketing your music where have you found the most success, offline or online?

I have found that online marketing is a good way to let people know about your projects, but you still need to do the traditional promotions. I use as much online tools as I can, but I still hit the streets with my promotional team.

In terms of producing, what is it exactly that you look for? What equipment/software do you use? What other producers do you respect?

I use Protools to do most of my recording. That is what most of the producers that I work with use. I work a lot with Johnny Z and Ken Franklin. They both use Protools, so it makes everything a lot easier. I like what Bosko has been doing. I also started working with a new cat named GLS outta Los Angeles that is incredible. He has a lot of tracks on my new album.

Here are some questions from other South African fans:

A.) How did you get in the rap game? What started you off?

Too Short was probably my main influence to get into rap. He was from the Bay Area and was one of the first rappers that I really liked.

B.) In the 90’s the Bay Area had an explosion of artists dropping albums, has this died down now? What is the state of Bay Area rap today?

I think that we are slowly getting back to where we were in the mid 1990’s. I think that too many people were putting out weak projects. Everybody that had a little bit of money decided that they wanted to be a rapper. Most of those people have gone back to selling dope. If we could just get a little bit of help from the Bay Area radio station, I think we could really get back in the game.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up the morning? What’s a typical day like for Jay Tee?

I know how to cook real good, so I usually make a real big breakfast to get me going. After that, I shit everything out and then get in the shower. Most of my day is spent working on music or music related ventures. I never just lay around and watch television. I have to be doing something. If I’m not doing music, you might find me mowing my lawn or painting my house. I stay busy. I have no respect for lazy people.

What are your favourite foods and drinks?

My favorite food is a Mexican dish called Carne Asada and my favorite drink is Olde English 800 malt liquor. 

What besides hip hop are you interested in?

If I’m not doing music, I usually just kick it with my family. I just had a daughter that was born on Christmas, so she has been getting most of my attention.

What was the strangest/weirdest thing you ever experienced in this music game?

I just went to Japan a few months ago and they knew all the words to my songs. That was crazy to me because I barely know all the words.

Your worst and fondest memories of hip hop?

My worst memory was when I seen Vanilla Ice’s first video. He came out right before we did and I thought that he had ruined any chance for us to be taken seriously. My best moment was when we hosted Yo! MTV raps with Doctor Dre & Ed Lover.

Where would you like to see 40 Ounce Records in the next 5 years?

I’d like to see us with a major deal with one of the top distributors.

We are really looking forward to checking out your latest album. We thank you for giving us the opportunity for talking to us down here in South Africa. Do you have any last words or shout outs?

Yeah, I would like to thank everybody at Africa’s Gateway for giving me this interview and all of my fans worldwide. Be on the lookout for Jay Tee “High Caliber” and N2DEEP “More Than Money” hitting stores this summer. Come check me out online at www.40ouncerecords.com Peace…

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