Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jay-R3D . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jay-R3D , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment when i attended Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. This is where i decided to take a stab at acting. I joined the MADDRAMA Performance Troupe and that is also where i began recording music. I met my group mates within the organization and dropped various projects while in the group. My love for music eventually led to me becoming a DJ and Podcaster. Before attending JSU I’ve always had a love for music and pictures myself acting in movies but never thought in a million years that I would pursue it!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am what I like to call a “Certified Entertainer”. What that means is that i am diverse when it comes to entertainment. I’m a hip hop artist, actor, DJ, and host for my YouTube show/Podcast. Jay-R3D is my stage name and now it has become a BRAND with all of my endeavors.

With my music i like to put my experiences in life into music form. That’s one of the greatest gifts God gave me in life and i cherish It.

I’m acting I’ve performed in main stage productions and in tv/film. I always have a love to play characters and perform in front of crowds. Doing stage plays is how I was introduced into acting and my goal is to land a big film role as well as produce my own films. I also enjoy script writing. It’s a great feeling to play “make believe” and get paid for it!

I got into the podcast world after encouragement from peers. I have knowledge about the hip hop culture when it comes to the history and I’ve always liked to express it. Before my show (R3D’s View) i would voice my opinions on Facebook through statuses. Now i shoot episodes every week for my subscribers and listeners. On my show I’ve interviewed some LEGENDARY artists including: Krayzie Bone, DJ Yella, MC Shan, Lil Flip, and many more! It’s been a dream to interview some of my favorite artists i listened To growing up.

Last but not least…i became a DJ a couple of years ago. This was due to encouragement from peers as well. This has been a big blessing for me to be compensated for playing music to crowds of people every week. I play a great mix of current and older hip hop, r&b, and pop. Recently i was nominated for the “Hottest DJ in Atlanta” which made me feel so honored.

With all four of those components…im a CERTIFIED ENTERTAINER!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best thing you can do to support artists and creatives is to properly COMPENSATE them and SHARE their content. If there is an artist you love to hear then make sure you not only stream their music but PURCHASE their music. A purchase of a song or an album gives an artist way more money than a stream. There isn’t a lot of money being made in streaming so it’s important to spend money on the artists. If they have merch out, BUY it. It’s crucial that artists get paid so they can continue to produce the music you love and grow.

A big thing is also to SHARE on your social media. Social media is one of the largest marketing tools in todays day and age so a simple “share” or retweet on social media goes a LONG WAY!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is when people tell you that you did a “good job”. That’s what we like to hear as creatives. It doesn’t have to be that verbatim but when someone compliments you on your work, all the time you put in makes you know it was worth it.

For me when someone compliments my music by saying how “dope” my song is gives me gratitude.

When someone says they loved my episode from my podcast…i get gratitude.

When they come to me and say that my DJ set was “amazing”….i get gratitude.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jayr3d
• Facebook: Facebook.com/iamjayr3d
• Twitter: @jayr3d
• Youtube: YouTube.com/R3DsView
• Other: TikTok: @jayr3d