Review Fix chats with rapper J Pee about his new single, “To The Kids That I Might Never Have,†before detailing his creative process and goals for the future.
On “To The Kids That I Might Never Have,” J Pee reflects honestly on the idea of having kids someday, and the tragedies and triumphs those kids will likely face. In this glimpse into the future, he remarks on the downfalls of our current social landscape, and the effect it could have on his potential kids. Passionate platitudes about overpopulation and self-righteousness create a clear view of a world that keeps building an over-inflated sense of self into its children— allowing them free reign to continue with ideologies based in bigotry and hate. J Pee’s “To The Kids That I Might Never Have” is a truth bomb of a track you won’t be able to get out of your head.
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
J Pee: I started to write music my junior year of college after my first break up. I had all of these angsty feelings and nowhere to put them, so I started writing and recording super depressing pop/r&b music in my friend’s closet all through college. The music was pretty bad, and to be honest I don’t even think I felt better. It felt a bit like masochism. But I was having a ton of fun. So yeah, it was exactly like masochism. Also, my degree is in Musical Theater. I seem to love expressing myself through song.
Review Fix: What makes “To The Kids That I Might Never Have” special?
J Pee: I guess I would say special in that it’s not a topic people are talking about, especially in rap. It’s a very personal subject.
Review Fix: How was it written?
J Pee: Through years of continued Jekyll/Hyde debate with myself (which continues on a daily basis). I was thinking who the most uncomfortable person would be to have this conversation with and the answer came pretty quickly: “Oh, your nonexistent children, obviously.” I felt like if I was going to attempt this song I had to make it as honest as possible and really hold myself under a microscope.
Review Fix: How do you want this period of your career to be remembered?
J Pee: As the time I pulled the big shovel out of the garage and really started digging, and digging, and sharing what I dug up with the world, not just a couple times, but consistently. I feel like I’ve been pulling out smaller shovels most of my life, sharing my art, then going back into hiding kind of like Hephaestus. But I really do have this massive urge and need to share what I create with people. And not just some people, but a lot of people. So I need a bigger shovel for that. I need to ask more of myself and I need to share what I’m digging up on a consistent basis now for the rest of my life. So this is just the beginning in my mind. I guess we’ll call this the ‘ Big Shovel Phase: Part 1’.
Review Fix: What do you think you have to do to be a star?
J Pee: Oh who knows. Stars are made in so many ways. Bought into it. Born into it. They find themselves and blossom along the way. I’ve always thought I could be a ‘star’ but that’s just my ego. The need to think I’m special. But as I continue this I’m realizing I’m finding the ability to be a vessel for some interesting art and stay out of my own way long enough to let some of this stuff come through me and be shared with people. And those are my favorite artists, the ones who are channeling something much more important than themselves for other people. And I do think I have what it takes to do that, to live like that. And I would like to do it on a large scale. I guess to me, the platform of ‘star’ is not an end goal, it’s a tool to be used carefully. It’s a platform I would definitely like to have. I want to reach a lot of people.
Review Fix: What are your bucket list goals in music?
J Pee: I want to give rap an entirely new audience, and bring something fresh to the current audience. I don’t really fit the bill of any male rappers. I’m very colorful. My music is not stereotypically “masculine,” and rap’s entire foundation is this prototype of masculinity. I’m honestly not entirely sure what it looks like yet. I know I’m building something but I think it’s too early to place a finger on it. I have a great feeling about where it’s going. So my biggest goal right now is to keep my head down, keep digging, and try to stay out of my own way long enough to keep a consistent stream of content releasing.
Review Fix: How does “To The Kids That I Might Never Have” help you get there?
J Pee: The people that are familiar with my work on YouTube know me purely as a comedy guy, like a more fucked up Lonely Island type of comedy musician. I think this album, and this song in particular, shows the next step in where my music is heading. I have a lot more to talk about, and not all of it is for laughs. I want to challenge the way people think. I want to challenge the way I think. Sometimes it’s easier done with a comedic twist, but not every time. And I’m not afraid to go there.
Review Fix: What’s next?
J Pee: I have 5 more music videos lined up for songs off this album, To The Kids included. I’m already in the studio for the second album, which is a trap album entirely focused on toxic masculinity. That will be released by the end of 2018
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