Jayy Maadniss’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jayy Maadniss. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jayy, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
First, thank you all so much for always supporting & giving me a platform for my art. I’ve put so much blood, sweat & tears into my craft, it’s an honor to have you all interested. My ultimate philosophy is that life is about who you know & who you choose to side with. I stand up for truth & Black liberation daily so that costs me money, more freedom, friends, privacy & rights in this world but whatever. I’ll be free when I go.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Justin. My cousin gifted me with the rap name Jayy Maadniss when I first rapped with him in 09. I represent Virginia, North Carolina & Maryland. Yes, all 3. That adds to my versatility. Not only did I come up in apartments most of my life but I’m also a military baby & vet. Air Force to be exact. Stick with me to find out more.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I can recall two moments that shaped how I see the world. The first was when my mom gave me The Black Book by Middleton A. Harris when i was 10. It was my first time seeing images of ‘strange fruit’ & black bodies being publicly cremated while alive by crowds of evil white people. At that moment I realized true carnage. Then I remember when I was 13, I used to go to the skating rink damn near every weekend in Hampton, VA in the Phoebus area. My girlfriend’s friend at the time got into a fight with another girl. It seemed worse than it was because it was a huge crowd of black people in the parking lot, then the cops showed up & made the situation more chaotic. They were white, they could have de-escalated the situation but I vaguely remember the cops taking the girl, manhandling her & slamming her on the car like she was a grown man, she was no older than 13/14 & no taller than 5’3. I don’t remember if I ever saw her after that, & in hindsight she was in the right to sue the boys (cops). I’ll never forget that day.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that you’re the main person in your own way. 9/10 you put yourself into the positions you’re in. Not to say extenuating circumstances like jealous people, poverty & false accusations don’t happen because they absolutely do. However, suffering in my own ways taught me that it’s up to me to not be stuck in that victim mentality. Being a stand up guy, a righteous individual is way harder than being a crook, a thief, an “illegal” pharmacist & a killer. Yet in all actuality, if you think deep enough the government does all these things “legally” because they make their own rules. The whole system is oxymoronic to say the least. Just be the best person you can be & trust God/the Universe.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
This is a loaded question but a great one. I’d love to say yes, but there are things about me that I’m mot transparent about. I’m honest but I’m not Kanye honest, yet. All you have to do is ask the right questions & you’ll get the truth. Whether I tell it or not. 93% of communication is nonverbal.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Immortality is real in my opinion. The impact is the most important thing. I’ve never met Jesus yet the name Jesus has spanned through many generations through many cultures whether you believe in him or not. The people keep your name alive. Queen Assata Shakur was one of the last of mythical black revolutionaries of the last generation. Denounced by the FBI yet celebrated by the people. Her story and essence will live on for eternity. Rest in Paradise Queen Assata.

Once again thank you for the opportunity, if anyone wants to check my music out, it’s on all major DSPs. Til further notice i’m releasing music every Friday EXCLUSIVELY on TIDAL. If anyone’s really interested in music from me with collaborations from people i’ve met along the way, it’ll be there. No subscription is needed for my uploaded songs. Thank Tidal for their new upload feature. My album FLAWED is on the way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Dazy, Darius Dalton, Digital Qlipz

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