Diego - What are your expectations for The PRE PreFace? and do you think they will be met?Jones Andrews - My expectations were to create a diverse project that displays an array of emotions and styles. I wanted to showcase my versatility as a lyricist and a songwriter, while staying true to myself. To answer the second part, I think the expectations will be met. So far many people have heard the "The PRE PreFace" and most of them all like different songs and that was a part of my goal as well. I didn't want to create a project that had one song that everybody was feeling v.s. a project with a little bit of something for everyone.
Diego - Whats your favorite beat that you have rapped over?
Jones Andrews - My favorite beat that I rapped over was Lupe Fiasco's "I'm Beaming" the beat is just so smooth and perfect for telling a story. The track "Still Dreaming" that I did over that instrumental is one of my favorite tracks on the Project.
Diego - what do you think about the hip-hop/rap scene in NC and what does the future have in store for it?
Jones Andrews - The NC hip hop scene is different than most hip hop scenes in my opinion. I feel that more than other region/city there is a more diverse pool of artists here. Its just that most of the artists that are known from here on a small/large scale are the drug dealing/trapping/make it rain type of artists. With that being said I feel that this year and in the years to come the underground and more lyrical NC artists will start to be recognized and get the respect they deserve. I feel that Little Brother and J. Cole are just the beginning of the NC True Emcee Movement.
Diego - What's your favorite songs that people wouldn't think you'd like?
Jones Andrews - I have a lot of those....hmm let's start with My Chemical Romance "I'm Not Okay" & "The Black Parade". Also FloBots "Handlebars" and I listen to a lot of 3OH!3 and Weezer. Also Linkin Park & ColdPlay are in heavy Rotation.
Jarrett - How did you start rapping and who influenced you?
Jones Andrews - I started rapping when I was 11 but I really didn't get serious until about the 10th grade though. I used to write a lot of poetry to help deal with the stress of having to move from NJ to the small town of Roanoke Rapids, NC where I didn't know anyone but my grandmother who stayed next door. Once I got to high school the kids used to have rap battles and freeystle cyphers during lunch and I was curious so I started freestyling and it just came natural and I basically been rapping ever since. Some of my influences include, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, Kanye West, Little Brother, Wu-Tang, Nas, and Lupe Fiasco and I can't leave out Michael Jackson.
Jarrett - What excludes you from the other rappers out there right now
Jones Andrews - I think what makes me different is unlike most artists I don't shy away from the personal issues that I'm dealing with in life, I rather embrace them. I would say that I wear my emotions on my Musical Sleeve...lol. Whether it be rapping about drinking to deal with the stress I'm going through on a day to day basis or to wishing I had a sibling to help deal with my fathers alcoholism when I was younger. It's never a time where I write a line and say nah I can't use that "its too real". I have an anything goes approach to my music because I want my music to be a reflection of me so when I'm no longer living my music will be my biography and not a book someone else wrote.
Jarrett - If you could do a song with any rapper dead or alive who would it be? and why
Jones Andrews - Well if I could do a song with any rapper that is alive right now it would be Lupe Fiasco because I feel he is the best rapper in the game right now. And also one of the most versatile artists as well. Now if I had to choose a rapper that is dead it would be Tupac because dude was so real and held nothing back and I feel that is what I try to do with my music. So I guess my dream collab would be a, Lupe Fiasco, Tupac & Jones Andrews track...wishful thinking...lol
Jarrett - You say your a "Sports Fanatic" what teams do you follow?
Jones Andrew - Yeah I love sports. Originally being from NJ I follow all of the teams in Philly accept for the 76ers. But as I child I used to go to a lot of Eagles and 76ers games. I am a huge Brian Westbrook fan and I just found out the other day that the Eagles released him...smh I lie to you not I almost called the Eagles Front Office and asked for an explantion...lol. My favorite basketball teams are the Mav's & Lakers and my two favorite players are Dirk and Kobe.
Jarrett - Any Shout Outs?
Jones Andrews - Yeah, I gotta send a shout out first to the big homie upstairs, GOD for giving me the ability to make music and waking me up everyday. Also big shouts to all the blogs that show me love, YNotMyDream,HailMegatron.net,TheHipHopEffect.com, itsaraprogo.comKevinNottingham andSentells.Blogspot.com I could go on forever but I'll cut it short and stop there. Last big shouts to my FSM fam, my mother Charlotte Jones, and all my friends and fans who support me through everything.
Jarrett - Anything else you wanna say?
Jones Andrews - Yeah you can follow me attwitter.com/iamJonesAndrewsmyspace.com/JonesAndrewsMusic, WhoIsJonesAndrews.com& you can email me at JonesAndrewsMusic@gmail.com. Also much love to BasXmusic for the interview and feature I really appreciate it.
