24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are.

Jaymonis: I’m Jaymonis a rapper from Chicago. I started rapping when I was 16 just for the fun of it. The name Jaymonis is actually a play on the Latin word ‘Omnes’ meaning all-things I want to encompass, all things in my music.

24: Before we get into your music, can you describe your history about how you got into and what inspired you?

Jaymonis: I have a lengthy musical background, I started taking piano lessons at three years old and received classical training in that for about eleven years. Then I took up the tenor sax and played that in a few bands in Chicago throughout high school and toward the end of high school. I started making rap music because I felt like I understood what good music should sound like. I was inspired by all the great musicians that crossed my ears from Mozart to KRS-ONE and those influences come out through in my music.

24: What was the Hip-Hop scene like for you growing up where you’re from?

Jaymonis: When I was growing up, Hip-Hop in Chicago was all Kanye West. Back then it was looking like Kanye was really the only one holding it down for Chicago, then as I got a little older I found my way back to greats like Common, later Lupe Fiasco and many more heavyweights who really paved the way for somebody like me in Hip-Hop.

24: What makes you Unique as a artist and different from other rappers out now?

Jaymonis: I’m unique because of the musical background I bring to my music and everything I do, It’s not very often that a classical piano player ends up becoming a rapper because that’s just not how they’re trained. I realized where my culture was and who my people where early on in my life so I was able to bring the elegance of classical music into the lifestyle that is Hip-Hop.

24: Tell us about what you are working on.

Jaymonis: Right now I’m working on a great project called ‘Sophisticated Rap.’ I started ‘Sophisticated Rap’ almost a year ago now with ‘Sophisticated Rap Vol. 1’ back in Chicago and released it officially in New York, I just finished up the first part of Vol 2, which was hosted by the homie m54beats! of Portugal.

24: What producers have you worked with and who would you like to work with in the future?

Jaymonis: So far I’ve worked with 3 different Producers from all across the globe, of course m54beats! who is in Portugal, who I met through soundcloud.com. I’ve worked with a guy Mellotr0n from Saudi Arabia, and we did some nice Hip-Hop/Electronic mashups. And I’ve also worked with a guy who goes by Mana’o a producer I’ve worked with here in Honolulu. If I had the chance I would love to work with 9th wonder, I feel like he has a style that would complement the things that I want to do with Hip-Hop. I would also love to work with Alchemist, his beats are just ridiculous I feel like he really has a understanding of where good Hip-Hop starts. And last but not least, I would def like to get up with Madlib, he’s in a good spot right now in terms of direction and if we did some joints together we could call it MadNis, perfect right??

24: Are you happy with the feedback you have been getting from people on material you have released?

Jaymonis: Man, I’m so happy with the feedback I’ve been hearing even if it’s hypocritical because even though people talk smack you can learn a lot from criticism, warranted or not. But for the people who enjoy my music this is something that for me there’s no other feeling like it, because when I first started writing my own music and later on my own Rap music I was doing it because I liked it. I did it because I liked the way it sounded and it gave me feelings and perspective on the way I saw things, so when I can transfer those feelings to others it’s like a shock, it’s like wow, you get it.

24: In today’s free download age, what do you need to do to make yourself a household name?

Jaymonis: All I need is the right kind of exposure. I’m blessed enough to come into this game totally unique and doing something with Rap that people are not doing right now so giving that I have my own lane I can widen peoples perspective on things and to those out there that want more from their life I’ll be a household name.

24: How do you feel about the current state of the Hip-Hop scene?

Jaymonis: Psssfhhh smh. I think the way Hip-Hop is going today (with the exception of a few highly skilled artists) it’s on the course of destroying itself. I think that is a reflection of some parts in the underlying black culture as well. If we continue to treat it like a leech only take take take, it won’t be able to last long. You have to give the people something through Hip-Hop and that’s the only way it will continue to be received and can live on as a great American art form.

24: Outside of the music, what else are you currently working on?

Jaymonis: Film, I’m a film maker. Not really like music videos but like Spike Lee. I’m in college right now so I’m working on a B.A in English as well.

24: Where do you see yourself going in 2012 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?

Jaymonis: I see myself being signed to a record label in 2012, with the direction that I’ve taken as an artist I don’t see how any label wouldn’t want to have me on board. And yeah I know that plenty of people have that same goal, but none of them are me. I separate myself from the pack by being the person I am Unique, Original, Authentic.

24: How can fans go about contacting you?

Jaymonis: I really encourage everybody to hit me up on twitter @Jaymonis, or send me any questions about booking, info or anything to jaymo.promotions@gmail.com.

24: Thank you for providing 24HourHipHop with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Jaymonis: Thanks for listening!