We recently connected with Jon Black and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am very happy as an artist. I can look at my analytics and the growing list of DJ’s and artists that I am meeting and know that I am headed in the right direction artistically. I don’t have a perfect life or career but I am happy with it. My music is a delve into my life and perspective, and depending on what’s going on in my life, my music will reflect that. My music lately has been more upbeat because that is where my mind is at. I’ve lived a lot longer and have seen a lot more than many people I knew growing up. I really try to appreciate that. I maintain a regular day job as well as being an artist. Contrary to what some have been influenced to believe from the entertainment industry, many artists have to maintain a regular job and hope to be able to make enough to reinvest in the next project. Art/Music is a labor of love not a get-rich-quick scheme. There are far easier ways to consistently earn money.

Jon, 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’m originally from San Diego, CA and have been residing in Houston since 2002. I started out writing short stories and poems and gradually started trying to apply those skills into making Hip-Hop. I witnessed a freestyle session in the 9th grade and knew that was something I wanted to be a part of. What sets my music apart from many other Hip-Hop artists is that I make what I like to make. I like to make Hip-Hop that is lyrical and with depth, but also with a certain level of musicality/danceability to it as well. Many artist create what they think people will like instead of what they like or try to alter their sound to fit into something more mainstream. In my mind if you like what you make then someone else out there will too. It’s a matter of casting a big enough net to find that audience. I try to convey that idea in my music as well. Be yourself and do what’s good for your life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Share, like, comment and subscribe. Social media is saturated with artists/creatives making it difficult for smaller artists and creatives to make an imprint on these various algorithm-based platforms. If you enjoy something an artist does or how the artist is, share it and like it. If they ask you to vote for them in something just take the extra 2 minutes to click a couple of links and vote. For more people it’s an investment of no more than 5 minutes of their time but that means the world to us.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When someone mentions how much a song of mine means to them. I’ve had people recite my lyrics to me and it surprises me every time, that something I said stuck with them. I’ve had people tag me in videos of them driving around listening to my music or just playing it in their home while they are living their lives and that means a lot to me. I love to know that people are having life experiences, no matter how mundane they may seem, to my music.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @MyRapLife
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonblackmusic
• Twitter: @BlackTheRapper
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JOnBlackthegreat

Image Credits
Chad Alexander Darell Willis