We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Tha King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jay, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’d say I first realized I wanted to pursue a professional creative career my Junior year in High School. That’s when I became “Jay Tha King”. I remembering practicing freestyling and creating songs prior but never thought I’d begin recording them over a microphone. It was during my Junior year an artist by the name of “Lil Snupe” passed away. He inspired me to chase my dream and master my craft from his talents alone. It was then I began rapping for others at school, whether in the bathroom, locker room or during weight lifting training. It became something I was doing daily and noticeably becoming better. Soon after I recorded my many songs with just an iPhone- however the computer I started with crashed so I had to start all over. During that time I learned about soundcloud from some other artists at school, collabed with one and released my first song ever. Its been a journey ever since.

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?

I am an artist, a creative, a jack of all trades yet mastering some. I love the science of music and how it connects everyone together- the harmony it creates within. Due to that, I tend to take it very seriously. I know music has to power to heal so making sure whatever emotion felt is being displayed through my music for the listener is important to me. I think that sets me apart from a lot of other musicians is I want my music to be experienced, not only heard. I want songs for people to come to when they’re sad and avoid when they are happy, vice versa. I think music should connect a person to their own emotions and experiences and I want to be able to tie the listener to their happy, sad and even navigate their upset moments.
I own a brand called “TCU” standing for “The Come Up”. I feel a lot of people are doing great things that they aren’t receiving the recognition for. I wish to remind them that we’re all on this ladder of life and it’s about representin’ over recognition. Remembering what you love. I also have merch for that brand. I worked with the team of late rapper “Nipsey Hussle” to have my logo created, its cool!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Maybe the time I take. I believe If you increase the quality of something, you increase the quantity of energy it can attract. I spend a lot of time working to become better or making a song sound better. Music is like a constant thought, its deeper than a hobby. I want to be my best self when creating music, not just create great music. I think everyone is a creative though. Whether it’s a sandwich artist at subway or a lawyer creating strategies for a case. Everyone dresses to match, not too often do you see polka dots and stripes being worn together. We’re all creatives in someway!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Art being everywhere! Music being everywhere! Being able to drive down the road and see small detail in the little things. I skate also so the whole world can look like a park sometimes. Plus being able to connect with people and brighten their day is pretty cool too. When people express they like a song, or it done something for them- it’s a feeling that can’t be described because that’s not imagined when creating music. You don’t know what kind of impact a song may have or if it’ll even impact anyone at all- You just hope people love it and sometimes it’s beyond that, it be what some needed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay.thaking/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayThaKingx
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gottaglojay
• Other: Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/408mOYdCowekseUKfCTScS?si=tGva0D4WTYi4ypshqKRFYw
  Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jay-tha-king/1448127747