We recently connected with Aj Brown and have shared our conversation below.
AJ, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project to date has been The Healing Album (THA), which I released in January (2024) with A Producer Named 2. This album was the conclusion to a three album series stemming from Words of Wisdom, DIY Therapy & now THA. This music has been my outlet to all of the stress and pressure that comes from dealing with grief from several losses to include deaths, lost jobs, ended relationships and much more. All these while learning how to empower yourself in marriage, friendships, new career opportunities and understanding your adulthood journey. My favorite song from this album is ‘Jamal’, which is my middle name and this song is the personification of who I am, sonically and I just love how everything came together for this. In my opinion this is my best song to date and it just feels good that it came after releasing with a friend I’ve done work with for over 15 years.
AJ, 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 am a hip hop enthusiast who loves Jesus. Some would call me a Christian rapper, some would call me a backpacker, a boom bapper, conscious rapper…call it what you want. I just know it sounds good and if you enjoy substance in the bops you listen to, then I’m your guy. My music is really made for guys in their mid 30s who just miss the golden era of rap from the Nas’, Little Brothers, Slum Villages, Commons, & Cross Movements of the world. My music is the middle ground between Lecrae & Lupe Fiasco; I’m Swoope if he was from Houston except I don’t produce yet. I’m pretty low key for now mainly because I am active duty military. I had an opportunity to make some industry connections in Denton, Texas, the same place where Reach Records started but I unfortunately didn’t take the music serious enough at the time. My family has ties to tons of artists in Houston from Scarface & the Geto Boys to Slim Thug and Devin the Dude. I just make music for the everyday guy but hopefully the right person hears these tunes and feels seen. I just want to make the songs I want to hear and hopefully others enjoy it we well.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is just knowing that there’s freedom in just doing what you love and there’s a possibility to get a little money for it too. The goal is not the money though. The goal is enjoying the process of making the songs and looking forward to the next group of songs.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I would have learned to produce a long time ago. I’m early in my journey of beat making but it’s fascinating to see all the resources available. There’s also a TON of people who want to rap and song. To be the person creating the soundtrack to people’s life story is an incredible ambition that I hope to be apart of some day soon. I just have to lock in and learn. It’s hard to learn new things in your 30s.
