We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Deru a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jay, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I recently released an album called “21st Floor” and i believe it is my most important and my most complete body of work. The project represent my growth and progress as an artist. My first album was called “Rooftops” because at the time my views were mostly local level. I didn’t understand the global impact my music would have and how far it would reach. With this new album i set my views higher. Everything had to be 10x bigger and better than the last because i knew where it could go. This is me stepping into a bigger role and taking the artistic leap onto the next level. Different flows, different production, different direction, just different in the best possible way.
Jay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For the people that don’t know, i am Jay Deru, Jay the Dragon, Jay the Durag Assassin. I am a full time rapper, part time singer, Southside Playboy. I am your next favorite rapper and one day ill sell out Madison Square Gardens and be the best rapper. Before i was a rapper i was a poet in elementary school. Then i was singing in middle school in various choirs. By high school i was back on poetry and helped host weekly open mics during lunch at school. After i graduated i dove into rapping and kept a good since then. My new album captures a lot of the events that transpired in the last couple years. I provide that best of the best. Hooks, verses, freestyles, whatever you need on a song i can do or at least figure out. I think what sets me apart from alot of the rest of the crowd is my drive and energy. You can hear it in my voice and feel it in my words. I know its hard to say that your different when everybody says that their different and it makes the concept of being different irrelevant because that makes us all the same but i’m.. different. An interesting paradox that i live in but i’m sure once you press play on my music you understand exactly what i mean. I’m very proud of my talent and my music. I feel in my bones that i can be the best or at least amongst them. Point blank period, i can rap, like really good. I took time and studied game and crafted my talent. I will be the greatest
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
To be a creative you have to be absolutely insane. To be handed a blank canvas and come out with art takes a different kind of person. Theres no instructions to creating. Theres no cheat codes, shortcuts, or tutorials to being a creative. I think non creatives struggle to understand what its like to be a creative and have creative highs and lows. Its hard to explain why someone would sacrifice all their time, energy, and money towards something that isn’t even guaranteed. To take every risk you can just to hopefully see your dreams come true. The concept is crazy much less the actual BS that comes with it. Sometimes it all seems pointless but yet we still try.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal is to sell out Madison Square Gardens. Only the best of the best can sell out one of the biggest and brightest arena in America. I believe in every fiber of my being that i can be one of them. Thats not an easy feat at all and it’ll alot to get there but i think i can do it. I know i can do it. I will do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayderu99?igsh=NHozZzFibzF4ZWN0&utm_source=qr
- Twitter: https://x.com/jayderu99?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Jayderu?si=LYZD3-DiHUyv2xi_
Image Credits
@marziafilms @doctorhewitt @danithedeity @sway.international