Before the Greats were Great...they were underground and independent. Global Rhythmz, the home of Indie Artists and Fans of Underground Music, Worldwide

1. How did you get into the music industry?
When I was a kid I took piano lessons, then eventually Saxaphone and when I made it to College I started making Rap music. The love of music was there at an early age but when I made my first Rap songs I got a great response from the web and that’s when I made the decision to become a Rapper. I really got into the industry by working with whoever I could to reach as many people as possible.
2. Where does your stage name come from?
Jaymonis is actually a play on the latin word “omnes” meaning all things. I want to reflect all things in my music because I think in music today (Hiphop especially) we can be so narrow minded.
3. How do you define your music?
I see my music as a true expression of myself. Like a peek into my soul, I think it would be hard to try to define my soul so I let you as a listener define my music, by what it means to you.
4. Do you have any upcoming projects? If so what?
I just finished up Sophisticated Rap vol2(part1), so part2 should be coming soon when I can find some dope producers out there to collaborate with.
5. Can you explain the terms “mashup” & “dubstep”?
A mashup in music is when you take two different types of music and put them together to make a totally different type of music. What I did for my first few projects was take Hiphop and dubstep and put those two together. Dubstep is a little harder to explain, dubstep is a type of music that is characterized by specific techniques like the “wub” sound and other sounds that you would only hear in that genre. It’s an electronic heavy form of music.
6. What is your creative process like?
My creative process is intense HAHA!!! Like when I sit down to write a song I literally sit there and tap into my emotions about whatever is going on either it be a beat or whatever and try to translate that into words. Emotions don’t always do that too well so I’ll sit there until I figure it out, and that takes a lot of focus.
7. Who have you collaborated with, or hope to collaborate with in the near future?
On Sophisticated Rap Vol2. I just collaborated with m54 of Portugal who is a phenomenal beat maker& producer. In the near future, I can’t really say because I love finding new talent out there who can bring something to the table so the options are open.
8. In your opinion who are the greatest rap artist of all time? (top 10)
My top 10 in no particular order is: Jay-z, Naz, Jay-Electronica, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), The Kid Daytona, Madlib, MF Doom, RZA, Lil Wayne, Jaymonis.
9. What is your most memorable performance, and why?
It was at this little open mic in my hometown Chicago, I had just finished up Sophisticated Rap vol1 and they were cool enough to let me share my words with them. I went on next to last and when I started my piece everyone was floored by the words I was spitting and the room was packed but everybody got quiet when I started hitting them with my lines. They were hanging on to my every word and when I was finished I got mad love from everybody and they called me back up to the stage like twice for applause. And it was my homegirl’s birthday so I dedicated the performance to her. That night was special.
10. What was the concept behind your two mixtapes, “Sophisticated Rap Vol. 1” & “The Rhyme Phenomenon”?
Sophisticated Rap Vol1 was really about an introduction of this new flavor into Hiphop. I wanted to let people know what I was about and what I was bringing to the game. The Rhyme Phenomenon was about a few things. It was about my philosophy on life, That life is a beat and the way we all interact in harmony is rhyme. But it was also about me being the Rhyme Phenomenon and how easy it was for me to make great music and to have a lot of fun with it. I started Rhyme Phenom on a Sunday and I finished it on a Friday because I was enjoying myself so much with the music.
11. Do you do anything else besides rap? (job, free time, produce, etc)
Yeah, I’m working with a production company now, and one day I plan to own my own film studio and make films. But I’m also in school right now working on my B.A. of Arts in English.
12. What do you want your fans to take away from you the artist as well as the person?
From me the person I want fans to know is that they have a rapper who is not willing to compromise my art because of what someone tells me is “cool” or “hot”, I’m here to give the world the way I see things and I want my fans to recognize that. From me the artist I want fans to feel good after listening to my music. Like I’ve noticed alot of Hiphop makes you feel bad after listening sometimes; like you’re being threatened…but I just want fans to enjoy everything my art has to offer.
13. Who or what has been the strongest influence in your life, & why?
Hiphop hands down has been the strongest influence in my life. I’ve gone through some really strange places with very different people and if I didn’t have Hiphop to keep me grounded on that level the way it connects with me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
14. Where do you see your career in the next 5-10 years?
I see it expanding reaching more and more people that may or may not be huge fans of Hiphop. I definitely see myself as becoming one of the Hiphop greats.
15. What advice would you give any up & coming hiphop artist?
You never know what’s out there until you look. Find your barriers then go past them, and then do it again.
You can get at Jaymonis on any of these social networks:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Jaymonis
Global Rhythmz: http://www.globalrhythmz.com/Jaymonis
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/jaymonis
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jaymonis
BandCamp: www.bandcamp.com/jaymonis
Blog: www.chitownskyway.blogspot.com
To submit your songs to the tournament, upload your song to http://www.globalrhythmz.com/mp3-music with the name "GR Hip Hop Tournament - Song Name". For more questions, you can email simay@globalrhythmz.com