We were lucky to catch up with Jewel The Gem recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jewel , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
My life as a Radical Black Queer Woman involves everyday risk taking. One of the biggest risks I took was leaving my full time salary job as a Director in a non profit in New York City where I was abused, disrespected and underpaid. Leaving that job and moving across the country to be a full time entrepreneur doing what I loved was one of the best decisions i’ve ever made. It took a lot of spiritual guidance, community support and most importantly the belief that the time was now and that I could do it. A month after I moved to Atlanta, I was on a reality show, a few months later featured on a rap song, a little while after that met my now fiancee’ and now i’m releasing my own album. It turned out better than I expected and exactly as the ancestors planned.
Jewel , 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’m a Ratchet Revolutionary from Brooklyn, NY, first generation Haitian raised by a single mother. I was put on this earth to be a part of the movement of radical people who fight against the oppression and the status quo. At the core, I’m a radical freedom fighter. My heartbeats with the fire of my ancestors so my creativity stems from my lineage. I was always an entertainer. The first time I fell in love with entertaining others was when my grandmother would call me into her living room to dance for family members. Everyone’s face would lit up as words of affirmation flew through the air. If someone had a bad day, they would call me in to the room to tell a funny or dramatic story and I would make them feel better. I lived for that joy. When I got to Atlanta, that talent was seen in me and I was asked to be a feature on a rap song with my fellow cast member. I felt alive in the studio and knew I wanted to tap into not only performing but co-writing. So now me and my Fiancee’ write songs together. My album opens with a song about me healing from intimate partner violence, gliding into getting back to myself as the baddie that I am and always was and ending off with a song about police brutality and it’s root in slavery. It’s ratchet rap with a conscious femme elevation because I embody both.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I am driven by speaking out on things that have a radical message. It’s important for me to infuse my music as art that elevates my ancestors, honors my experiences as a survivor and fights for the liberation of all Black people. My mission is to disrupt an industry that silences conscious rappers. The goal is for people to hear their story in mine and now that we can talk about our pain and oppression as well as celebrate our bodies and leave toxicity behind.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society can invest in emerging independent artists who have a message. That financial support is critical because creating and releasing music and have it marketed successfully is expensive and capitalism shouldn’t be an obstacle from bringing art into this world. This financial piece is also based on paying Black Queer and Trans artists their rate and on time. Our ancestors worked for free so we wouldn’t have to so cut the check! Another way to support artists is to uplift them with your words and positive feedback. Our most favorite artists get the most hateful things said against them on online platforms by the people who would never say those things to their faces. The online trolling and bullying is wack and is responsible for people’s emotional tribulation and not wanting to create anymore. We need to be supporting each other not putting each other down.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: jewel_thegem