JDS Proves to be Ahead of his Time w/ “Goodnight Sky”

After years of enjoying the production genius from J.D.S. and anticipating a project of his own, the wait is over.

J.D.S. releases his Freshman project, “Goodnight Sky” on December 31st, 2016. I had the privilege of hearing the project early. With this privilege came the opportunity to give the people a pre-release album review.

J.D.S. lets us into his thoughts and mind with this album. Listening to this project feels like sitting in a living room on the floor, eating snacks, and inhaling herbs and incense while talking about issues in the world with dear, dear friends.

You may be familiar with his production. You may even be familiar with his voice on tracks and features over the years. But many may not know him personally. If you don’t know who he is, you’ll definitely feel like a long-lost friend after listening to this project.

He immediately gives you the feeling of a Neo-Soul/Hip Hop/ Punk Rock album. He has definitely paved a way for himself. He gives you samples of all of his talents. With this, you get to see the many colors of him.

“Goodnight Sky” is an album that you can listen to from beginning to end. I am almost reluctant to skip tracks because the arrangement of the tracks flow so effortlessly. Interrupting that would be a tragedy.

J.D.S. takes you on an incredible journey through this album.

On the intro track, “Euphoria Undone,” you hear euphoria turn into the realization of reality in this melodic track. Lines such as, “I’m in love with white girls but I’m afraid of white cops” makes you think and also gives you something to compare. This track takes you on an emotional roller coaster while describing what it’s like to be in love.

He takes us on a flight to somewhere heavenly in “Clouds.” This track is reminiscent of conversations we have with God with lines such as, “I really wanna pray and believe in you. I’m jealous of the ones that can see it through and make it to your house among the clouds in outer space.”

“Super” is the hype feel good anthem that you play in the morning before getting your day started.

“Tokyo” featuring Jay DaSkreet is definitely a Memphis anthem. It makes you feel on top of the world and shows that you can go anywhere with lines like, “Go to sleep in Memphis, then wake up in Tokyo!” He shows confidence and a little bit off arrogance in lines like, “If I had a baby the flow would tighten. These lame ass niggas sound so enlightened. Lean on that damn third eye as a crutch cause they suck and they know that the woke will like it. Quit making bull sh*** famous.”

My favorite track is the smoothest on the project featuring Idaly Maceano who is also a Hip Hop artist out of Memphis. I’ll leave that one as a surprise.

I won’t give too much of the album away. But with all of the features and smooth ass production on this project, you’re bound to find something that you like.

If you’re wondering what to expect while listening to this project, imagine sitting in a room listening to Frank Ocean, while Childish Gambino raps and rants from the other room. While you’re at it, let’s just put Chance the Rapper in the mix. The sound, the quotable lyrics, and energy reflects all of my favorite artists. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

If this is J.D.S.’s introduction to the world, I can’t wait to see what else he has in store for us!

Be on the lookout for J.D.S. and all of his future projects. Once the project drops on Saturday, come back here for the links.

So until then,

Goodnight!

 

 

Freestyle Friday: Evoking “Joy and Pain” with Amarii Davu

PoeticXposure.com: For those who may not know you, Who is Amarii Davu?

Amarii Davu:  I’m a mix of life, poetry, rhymes, good vibes, storytelling, and Southern hospitality, man. The actual name Amarii Davu translates into “the beginning of a promise from God” and intend to deliver on that promise. Just know that when you hear ME, you’re hearing a vessel expressing on what I’ve been told to shed light upon.

 PoeticXposure.com:What is your definition of Hip Hop?

Amarii Davu: Hip Hop is healing. It’s a lost Art that’s appreciated by many, but disrespected by TOO many. Hip Hop is the reason I’m still alive. I don’t think I’d have purpose if it wasn’t for Hip Hop.

PoeticXposure.com:You had a birthday this week, in which you released a new song off of your new project, Khepri. First, Happy birthday! I think it’s dope how you give to people on the day that most people expect to receive gifts.

Amarii Davu: Thank you! I had to give back. I try to do something musically on my birthdays. Last year I gave people the Cost of Melanin video. This year it was Joy & Pain.

 PoeticXposure.com: Secondly, How did you come up with the concept for “Joy and Pain?”

Amarii Davu: I came up with the concept for Joy & Pain about three years ago. Keep in mind that most of these songs are old to me, but new to y’all. But I wanted to shed light on some things in my life that most people would consider as flaws or hindrances and show that you can flip any bad experiences in your life into a joy. It also came from a dream where Pac visited me. He told me that the only way I’d survive in this world was if I was able to flip my pains into joys. I’m just passing on the message to y’all.

PoeticXposure.com: How did you come up with the title for Khepri?

Amarii Davu: The title Khepri means a lot to me. Haha. So my middle name is Capri, right? Khepri is pronounced the same way. Khepri is the name of an Egyptian god that was responsible for moving the sun across the sky. The name translates into “one who is coming into being”. I used to hate my name until someone told me this info. On top of that, this entire project is about me coming into myself as a man and as an Artist while also discussing the events that got me to this point of evolution.

PoeticXposure.com: Speaking of events, you performed at SXSW this year. How was that experience?

Amarii Davu: SXSW was life. That was biggest crowd I’ve performed for and they rocked with me. There was so much love in Austin. It was just a different kind of energy there than other places I’ve performed. Outside of performing, Austin is just a dope place to be. Still wanting some Torchy’s Tacos.

 

PoeticXposure.com:Who do you consider some of the pioneers that have influenced your music and your sound?

Amarii Davu: Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas, Ice Cube, Snoop, A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast and that’s just naming a few. Each of these artists have something about them that I can see myself in.

PoeticXposure.com: Going out on a limb here, speaking of pioneers. At the beginning of “Joy of Pain,” you mentioned JayZ coming to you in a dream. Can you elaborate on that dream?

Amarii Davu: Yeeeeea! Man. Jay came to me in a dream, bruh. It was crazy. I had stopped making music for three years. I completely said “fuck music,” you know? And Jay-Z told me in this dream that he liked my music, but that it was missing ME. He told me that the only way people would connect with my music was if I was able to be metaphorically naked and expose myself to people in my lyrics. He said “Don’t worry about being the best, just be honest.” and that made me start writing again. Years later those tracks would turn into Khepri. I realized that with my first project, “6:15 DayDreamsz”, I was too worried about being the hardest nigga out. I wasn’t worried about telling my story. Now I am and my music feels different. A good different.

PoeticXposure.com: Do you have those types of dreams often; and if so, have any other famous rappers come to you in your dreams?

Amarii Davu: I have so many damn dreams about people coming to me. Pimp C visited me, Tupac visited me…and every time I have one of these dreams, it’s always something that completely alters the way I look at and create music.

PoeticXposure.com: It’s interesting that I’m doing this interview on the day that Cole released his album. You’re on my list of favorite artists right along with Cole. So, to me, this is beautiful. In light of J Cole’s new album release, “4 Your Eyez Only,” I know that J Cole has influenced you a lot. Have you heard the album? If so, what do you think? If not, Are you looking forward to it?

Amarii Davu: I’m glad that I can be listed in a high regard like that. I haven’t heard the album! But I know Cole delivers. Usually my tribe does listening parties for new albums so I’m waiting for everyone to link up. That “Everybody Dies” joint has been on repeat since the video got released. He pissed off people with the “False Prophets” joint. I’m expecting a lot of soul and thought-provoking words with this album.

PoeticXposure.com: You said tribe. I know that you recently recorded a song called “The Tribe.” What is your definition of a tribe?

Amarii Davu: Your tribe is the collective of individuals you naturally gravitate towards. It’s the like-minded people who support your dreams and you support theirs. Your tribe is your family even if y’all don’t have the same blood. Your tribe is your support system. You build with your tribe, you know?

PoeticXposure.com: I’ve been keeping up with your work. You are an advocate for Mental Health, especially Mental Health in the African-American community. Tell me more about your work.

Amarii Davu: Thank you for staying up on me. I really appreciate that. I am definitely a mental health advocate. I want to help people. I realize that’s my purpose in this world. To help. So I don’t mind speaking out about mental health awareness especially in my own community because we don’t talk about it enough. Look at Kanye and Cudi. They are direct results of us NOT speaking about mental health until it’s too late. What I am doing now is The Hopeless Blueprint.

PoeticXposure.com: Your song Hopeless is amazing. It touched on a lot of subjects that we often are told not to talk about. From that, Hopeless Blueprint was birthed. What exactly is the Hopeless Blueprint?

Amarii Davu: It’s a mental health initiative designed to help people share their stories about mental illness on camera and normalize the conversation on mental health. I’ve lost a friend to suicide, I’ve dealt with friends not feeling like their worth being happy because of mental illness, you know? It’s insane. I personally deal with Bipolar Disorder and Depression. I understand. I want people to know that you’re worth being alive and happy and that it’s ok to have a mental illness. In fact, it makes you dope that you are HERE fighting through your pain, getting up when you don’t feel like it, and living. I want people to know that it gets better at the end of it all. It really does.

PoeticXposure.com: How can someone who wants to be a part of this awesome movement get in touch with you?

Amarii Davu: If you want to be a part of The Hopeless Blueprint, please check out the WordPress page and review the videos [That are currently] up. The instructions are on the page and I definitely look forward to your stories. Let’s change the discussion!

PoeticXposure.com: Where can we find your music?

Amarii Davu: Most of my music can be found on my Soundcloud, but I also have videos on YouTube and music on Spotify, TIDAL, iTunes, and all other streaming services.

PoeticXposure.com: You recently joined RAWartists. You have a show coming up with them. Tell me more about it.

Amarii Davu: I love RAWartists. I’m excited about my show on Dec 21st at The City Winery in Nashville. Their showcases are a mixture of music, art, fashion, etc. It’s an organization that’s truly for the artists and by the artists. They have showcases in all 50 states and outside of the country so I’m looking forward to doing more showcases with them!

PoeticXposure.com: It’s been a pleasure interviewing you and I can’t wait for this project to come out. Do you have a release date in mind?

 

 

Amarii Davu: Just keep your eyes open. I hate giving dates haha.

Freestyle Friday: Holding Jay DaSkreet Hostage for a #NoExits Interview

Photo Cred: Terrance “Crisis 901” Pollard

 

POETICXPOSURE.COM: How did you come up with the title for No Exits?

JAY DASKREET: It was titled after an idea me and the #Agency came up with. The concept was,[what] if the #Agency locked me in the studio and decided I couldn’t get out unless I recorded a project.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: You mentioned the #Agency. Who are they and what effect have they had on your career as an underground artist?

JAY DASKREET: The #Agency is a collective of artists, producers, graphic designers and engineers. Basically it’s a group of talented people who are all serious about music that big up each other through promotion, features, and overall advice. The Agency has embraced me as one of their own and allowed me to grow with them as they have grown as of recently. There would be no #NoExits cd without them. We are FAM!

POETICXPOSURE.COM: Let’s backtrack, for those who may not already know, who is Jay DaSkreet?

JAY DASKREET: Jay DaSkreet is a Chicago born, Mississippi raised MC with deep roots in poetry. I think the most accurate description I have ever received of myself is “Prolific Writer” considering I write in pretty much every genre as well as short stories and I’m slowly getting into play writing. In a nutshell though, I am the embodiment of Hip-Hop.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: What is your definition of Hip-Hop?

JAY DASKREET: There is no simple definition… Hip-Hop is a culture. It is a way to bring your reality to the world around you in a way people can SEE your view. It is innovating and trendsetting while simultaneously showing respect to the pioneers. IT is being fiercely competitive while at the same time pushing your competition to be better. Hip-Hop to me is an actual way of live that includes but is by no means limited to rap. Hip-Hop is more than music. It’s clothes and slang and even politics.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: Who do you consider to be some of the pioneers that have influenced your music?

JAY DASKREET: My music… Hmmm well I came up on Twista and Crucial Conflict. Then there was No Limit and UGK and Outkast, followed by Three-Six Mafia and Playa Fly. Then I started getting into the Jay-Z and Nas and Eminem joints. I’m ever evolving though. I was one of the people who went and got on Pac and Biggie and LL [Cool J]. DMX taught me to not be afraid to be COMPLETELY real on a track. I was also bumping Babyface and Jodeci and Toni Braxton too LOL. That’s why I have an affinity for love songs.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: Speaking of love songs, one of my absolute favorite tracks on the project, is “Delirious Love.” What was the inspiration for this song?

JAY DASKREET: The inspiration was my real relationship LOL. Before my girl and I moved in [together] we were literally at each other spots so much that it started to be funny waking up and taking a minute to see whose place we were at. She used to come and spend the night to go to work on a Wednesday and then end up getting clothes from work (she works in retail) then come back cause neither of us wanted to be apart. Then we would look up and it would be Tuesday and she would go to her house so it wouldn’t be a week at my place. We have really done rock , paper, scissors to see who would get up cause neither of us wanted to!! I just decided in order to make a REAL love song, I should use REAL experiences.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: That’s dope. Being in a relationship, would you say it’s easier or more difficult being in an industry that requires a lot of interaction with the opposite sex?

JAY DASKREET: It’s definitely has its difficult times lol, but it’s difficult from both ends and most people don’t know that . You have the side everybody knows which is the artist interacting with the opposite sex, the advances and the flirting, the groupies. But from the artist point you have to deal with the reassuring your mate and getting them to trust you. You have to deal with trusting them while you’re gone for long periods of time as well as getting them to differentiate between the artist you and the real you.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: That’s a very good philosophy to have. What would you say is one of your favorite tracks on the project?

JAY DASKREET: I would definitely say “Thermometer” feat. Crisis901

POETICXPOSURE.COM: That’s definitely a very touching track. I won’t give too much away for those who haven’t heard it, but what inspired the track?

JAY DASKREET: Well as an artist, I’m known for my live shows and my personality. I’ve been grooming myself  to be an artist a long time so I’m all about the show must go on. While I was writing this project, I was dealing with some personal and professional things that I had to keep with myself. But I was still making appearances and I couldn’t let what I was dealing with affect the shows I was giving my fans. It was bothering, me so I wrote a song. I reached out to Crisis because I knew he had an amazing voice and he was wanting to get more into that side of his talent. The result was absolutely Memphenominal.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: That’s amazing. I love to see an artist that doesn’t make apologies or excuses but continues to be an artist first and foremost. This has been a great interview. I want to thank you for allowing me to do this and for being open and honest with me. For the new fans, if they were to listen to one song of yours that you think would make them an instant fan, which song would it be?

JAY DASKREET: I have several but… I’m going to go with my first ever radio-played song. That would be “Hello Lover.” I have never met someone who has heard that song that didn’t love it almost instantly! Thank you so much for having me.

POETICXPOSURE.COM: You’re very welcome. I definitely want people to hear your work and especially want them to hear #NoExits. Where can people find your music. What’s your social network sites and where can they download the #NoExits project?

JAY DASKREET: Well I’m not hard to find at all. All of my social media sites are tied to my name Jay DaSkreet. My main distribution sites are datpiff.com and bandcamp.com. #NoExits was released exclusively through BandCamp and it is “Make Your Own Price” starting at $2. This means, you could get the entire project for just $2 but I definitely encourage and accept more for it.

Find Jay’s music and links to his social media below:

FACEBOOK

SOUNDCLOUD

#NoExits

 

 

Walk The Line II

 

Walk The Line