We recently connected with Jay The Rarest and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I used to not only record, mix, and master my own CD’s I would also press and publish my own CD’s as well and then sell them while I was at school and after school. I would sell them for only $5 a pop but I remember that $5 felt like $25 to me, I was 13 years old, I was poor and I couldn’t work legally so, that was literally how I made my money at that time in my life and I loved it. It was just so fascinating and magical to me how you can transform your words into currency/a living. My first customer I remember was a teacher of mine, my 7th grade English teacher, Mr. Hayes. He was an avid Hip-Hop listener and we bonded over Hip-Hop so, when I finally made my first mixtape it was only right to make sure he gets a copy and see what he thought. After that the word got out and next thing you know I had my classmates, teachers/staff, and even parents lined up to buy my tape and everytime I would release a new project I would sell out of all physical copies often within the first day or two. The money accumulated from the sales would often be used for the next release.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Jay The Rarest (F.K.A. RhymeSight), I’m an Indigenous MC and record producer from Denver, Colorado. I’m a member of Michigan based Hip-Hop group, the Almighty Foot Clan, aside from my solo career. Rare Society Entertainment is my independent record label and Street Ammo Street Wear is the independent clothing line. I’d like to say I represent passion, honesty, and dedication through my music. I started rapping when I was nine, I used to do poetry and I would turn my poems into rhymes. I started making beats and finally recording when I was 13. Some of my influences growing up included Nas, 2Pac, Wu-Tang Clan, Big L, Snoop Dogg, and MF DOOM just to name some. I started performing at countless venues all around Colorado, I also released 13+ projects independently, majority of them under my former stage name RhymeSight before I officially changed it to Jay The Rarest in 2018. I have been considered a piller and a staple in Colorado’s Hip-Hop scene although, I would humbly say my brand, music, as well as my influence has made its way to even more parts of the world. It hasn’t been easy for me as an independent Indigenous Hip-Hop artist from Denver, it’s taken a lot of disciple to get where I’m at in my career and to continue going further. I do many things, I’m a Hip-Hop artist, a producer, graphic designer, clothing designer, promoter, brand ambassador, entrepreneur and more.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when one of my fans/supporters either contact me or actually meet me and let me know how much they like what I do and how much I inspire them, I love interacting with them because they let me know I’m doing something right, something necessary, and something that isn’t just for me but for them as well.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I love NFTs because they help expose and boost the value of art from the artists. Music is an artist form that has became so accessible especially in the era of the internet and streaming that streaming and the internet has actually attributed to devaluing the art of music. NFT’s are a clever way to have people have no choice but to pay the value of your choice for your art, unless of course they choose to not purchase your art at all. It puts true control back in the hands of artists which is the most important thing when it’s comes to an artist’s art. It’s also a win for the fans because they get something exclusive which people love to have and/or be apart of something exclusive.

Contact Info:

• Website: jaytherarest.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jaytherarest
• Facebook: facebook.com/jaytherarest
• Twitter: twitter.com/jaytherarest
• Youtube: youtube.com/rhymesightmusic
• Other: [email protected]