We recently connected with Jay Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jay thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I started creative pursuits with writing fiction. I was using Audacity to mix songs like Get Your Shine On and Go DJ by Lil Wayne, and stumbled upon Fruity Loops 4 Demo and tried my hand at a couple of beats. They sounded alright but nothing life changing. That moment came when a few of my friends got in a “rap beef” with this dude on campus in high school. I heard his lyrics and felt immediately able to write better stuff. So I tried a verse directed at him and it ended up redefining what I wanted out of life. A few weeks later a school came up to visit ours, and this dude wanted to rap bars live in front of a crowd. I laid my punches down and the visitors went NUTS. Safe to say he regretted that decision while it ignited the rapper within me. I was 17 then. 35 now and ready to give it a real go.
Jay, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m an independent hip-hop artist that has a 10 albums out currently. I released most of those over the last two years. I’m recorded and edited by Prince Lockett almost exclusively. My collaboration history brought me together with a couple of huge producers. Cruzer Urameshi and MidwestMyles. In fact if you haven’t looked them up, you’re missing out. I just started playing shows around the area because I met up with a group of people who support each other’s wins and growth TRULY without any hidden hate or negative energy. I could have used the opportunities offered in the past to be “in the industry” but I want in my way. With my people. I’m not settling for any less than that
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I’m 8 years sober from hard drugs and well that’s a HUGE unlearning process. Not just learning to live without using, but diagnosing the true reasons why I used in the first place meant unlearning running from emotion and taking life head on. I had supportive parents and a supportive wife to help me get to this point and I won’t jeapordize my growth for anything or anyone. I make the most money at a job I’ve been at longer than any in my history. I’m making waves in music. I’m not about to lose the best my life has ever been for the worst it ever was
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I started off with the rap name LeyoNydaz referencing the Spartan King of the same name. I saw hip-hop as Sparta and Persia, Spartans being the gifted rappers which there are few of. Persia being the rest of them who aren’t as talented. That entire persona was my artist expression for a while. Then I came to the realization that it doesn’t matter what I think of these rappers and their ability. Fans don’t see rap that way. They just want to hear who you really are. BillZBondZ was then born. I made a couple of bangers and decided to specialize in that form of artistry. Prince Lockett pushed me to make more varied hip-hop and now I’d say I have a pretty rounded collection of releases. Cruzer Urameshi said it well. “BondZ don’t miss!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Linktr.ee/BillZBondZ
- Instagram: IllyBondZ
- Facebook: BillZBondZ
- Twitter: BillZBondZ
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/BillZBondZ
- Soundcloud: BillZBondZ
Image Credits
@gfxissam