24: So let’s begin by telling me your name and how you got your name?
Purp JayFox: Aiight! My name is Purp JayFox, ummmmmm, actually it’s not whatchu think. I just got my name cause i just happen to like the color purple. and the thing about it is I used to go by Young Purp first, but then I looked it up and there’s like alot of artists that go by the name purp or young purple or whatever, so i didnt wanna give like the wrong aspect like it was on some drug stuff or D Boy or whatever, so I added the J Fox, cuz you know Michael J. Fox, cool guy, you know back to the future type stuff. So I put it together Purp J Fox, which was like unique so like stood out from the rest. Google it, whatever comes up automatically, ya feel me.
24: Where are you from originally?
PJF: I’m from Miami. Miami, FL like born in you know. Pretty much I was really really born in Haiti, but I moved to Miami Shores and what not, but pretty much like my whole life lived in Miami. Never lived anywhere else, born and raised.
24: How did you get started in music?
PJF: Oh man! Where do I start? See the thing about it is, my father is actually a musician. Ya feel me. so, the thing about that is that, since I was born I always been around music. So it’s like, he was like, a composer, a musician, a singer ya get it. So it’s from the time I was old enough to understand, like walk or talk he already had me play bass and guitar and drums and everything. So its like, but the thing about that like he was more towards gospel. So he was a singer, even hit a note here or there. I wasn’t much of a singer, so I kinda like branched off and did my own thing. But because of the knowledge I already had in music, me and my cousin, he goes by Sound Man. We got into making beats and what not. We rap and sing and wrote too, but more like towards the beats. But you know, he kinda stayed towards making beats and I went towards the artist, rapping or ghost writing.
24: How would you describe your style of music?
PJF: Oh Man! (deep breath) Something new. Like different like I mean I understand I’m from the South, from Miami. But you listen to my music it’s like I’m influenced by so many people. To the point where you actually hear my music, it can’t be compared to anything because it sounds so different, like so new. Pretty much cause it’s like, you know, there’s southern slurs here and there, what not, but, like I’m very versatile. So it’s like, the thing about my style is I can easily adapt to anything. And I remember I’m really musicially inclined, I would say I’m a rapper or lyricist, but I could also write R&B and Rock tracks, Pop tracks and what not. When it comes to the production side of work, not really like restricted to just one genre.
24: Tell me some of the people that influenced you in this music business.
PJF: It starts…! First and foremost, Michael Jackson. I grew up on Michael Jackson. Since I was like, little. Then there’s Prince, that’s where the whole Purple thing came from. Yeah! And um, Stevie Wonder, uh Snoop, Dre, uhhh Bone Thugs N Harmony, ummmm you know Jeezy, Tupac, Biggie, ahhh big Kanye fan, big fan of Ross. I mean pretty much I can go on all day, it’s like a pyramid. Just the fact that it’s music that it’s good music, that’s my influence.
24: What projects are you currently working on?
PJF: Well, the thing about it is that, I’m actually working on a couple projects. It’s not like one specific project, it’s like several projects because they are like under 3 different umbrellas. Which I been working on for like a year, which Nu Kingdum Entertainment, which is our label that we started up and um I was part of the management Nu Era. So we were pushing an artist called Young Rocker. But then I also have my own conglomerate which is The Academy. Which is me myself, I got my brother. There’s an artist name Concept, which he got a single out called ‘Who Iz.’ I’m also working on my joint which is a mixtape which is coming out later this year called ‘Lethal Mentality.’ Then there’s also me and my cousin where he has his own production group. Where as we trying to market, find placement. We’ve already worked with artists like, Jacki-O, Papa Duck, Bobby Brown. The list goes on.
24: What advice would you give people who are in the business and they are exploring the aspects of running a label and being an artist at the same time?
PJF: As far as running a label and being an artist, it’s a difference. But my advice is if you have the knowledge to run a label as well as be an artist, its really not going to be that difficult. Cause when push comes to shove, until you reach like that multi-millionaire status, you could really like market yourself and manage yourself to a certain point. The whole purpose of a label is really base off of marketing. You could market yourself right you could run a label and be an artist at the same time. Im not gonna like, make it seem like you can do it by yourself. You would need help here and there. But you can really run a label and be an artist at the same time. It’s hard work, nothing is easy cuz hard work does pay off. But you can actual be an artist and run a label at the same time without having any conflict.
24: How long would you say you’ve been rapping for or actually exploring the artist side and actually being serious about your rap career?
PJF: Actually, I would say I’ve been serious as an artist about 8 years now and I take it very very seriously. I actually took some time to develop myself first. Because like, no disrespect to any of the artist’s out there. I just felt that you just can’t just start rapping, today you know. It takes time to develop yourself to reach a certain like, level. And, you know through out the 8 years, I’ve actually been developing my style or skill or whatever you wanna call it and more so, networking at the same time, yeah.
24: What advice would you give your fans with respect to haters, you know anytime you’re out to do something or better yourself, you always have haters. How do you deal with the hate?
PJF: I mean honestly, I look at a hater as motivation. You know cause like, I don’t know maybe it’s just me, maybe I speak for myself, but I just feel like when somebody tells me I can’t do something it’s like motivation for me to go do it to prove the person wrong. Because I feel that actions speak louder than words. There’s sayers and there’s doers. You know and the haters are gonna hate and waste their time hating, they’re never gonna go nowhere, they gonna be on a treadmill. And the doers are gonna do it and win the marathon till they win and get their gold.
24: How do you face obstacles in this business, what motivates you to continue through the struggles and to continue through the trials and tribulations as an artist that try to break through the ice?
PJF: I mean I look at it as if, hard work pays off! And it’s like we’re not doing all of this in vain. Like it’s gonna pay off you know. It’s not something that happens overnight. You have to persevere through it. And like, the more you do it the better you get and the better you get the more acknowledged about it. People notice you, because alot of people don’t realize that to become that great artist or producer or icon, it takes time and hard work. So it’s like you can’t just quit half way throught it, you have to like endure it. And through enduring it you’re gonna succeed. Pretty much.
24: Let’s talk about your family.
PJF: Ahhh! Oh Boy!
24: Tell me about your family, are they supporting you, are they supporting your artistry or do they feel like you need to be doing something else? How does your family feel about you being an artist?
PJF: I mean before I touch on that, it’s more so like you know, despite the fact that my family is very muscially inclined, we come from hard times, hunble beginning, like tough times, still rough right now. But it’s a little better, a little easier. They support me, like don’t get me wrong they support me, but it’s like they wanna see results if anything. Ya get it. It’s like as long as they are seeing results they are gonna continue to support me. Because like they support me, but they have the realistic view. If there aren’t any results, it’s probably time to switch it up.
24: How do you feel about the web and the internet and how it relates to record sales and how it relates to an artist getting his awareness up, plays a part in that situation?
PJF: I mean, I feel the internet and all the resources it provides you, it’s actually a really big help. It actually something that our generation has that alot of artists from our past didn’t have. It gives you like a real big upper hand as far as like marketing and promoting. With the social networks and you making your own websites. You know the iTunes and everything, it’s really pretty much giving you the kick to promoting yourself and running your own label pretty much. The internet is like a BIG help, it’s like a really, really good resource that is used right you could really succeed.
24: Who are some of the people you inspire to work with in the future?
PJF: Hmmm. Ah man. It’s not really more or so, if anything, it’s more so on the producer side. I would really like to work with somebody like Danger or Shawty Redd or Drumma Boy. I’m not really big on the features, but it’s like more so on the production side. I’d really like to link up with one of these producers like Dr Dre, what not. The Polows.
24: If you had your choice in women (laughs), what girl would you bring home? Would you take home like tonight?
PFJ: Whoooooo! (Laughs) OOOHHHH BOY! Ummmmmm, One woman. ah man that’s a hard choice. Ummmm (laughs), Meagan Good.
24: Meagan Good?
PJF: You already know! (laughs)
24: Where can your fans find you, if they wanted to know more about Purp J Fox. Where can they find you at?
PJF: They can find me on facebook at facebook.com/purp892, they can follow me on twitter/purp_jfox, myspace.com/purp892, youtube.com/purp892. I pretty much have so much stuff out, you could pretty much just go on google and just search Purp J. Fox. All my information will come up.
24: Are there any collaborations that you’re working on now or in the lab with any particular producer or artist that you would like to mention?
PJF: I mean right now, I’m currently just keeping it in house. As far with sound, I mean I have a joint from Carter, which is the producer who produced ‘Mesmerized’ for Wiz Khalifah. But everything that you’re gonna hear from me is more from, I put Super Sound in it. I feel like when you listen to his productions it’s like he’s up there and so it’s more so on his aspect.
24: Is there anything that we didn’t cover that you would like your fans to know about?
PJF: I mean not really, besides just if you trying to accomplish something you gotta work for it. I mean that’s all you really can tell your fans. You know, I’m not gonna lie to them or sugar coat it. If you try to accomplish something you gotta work hard for it, that’s really much it.
24: With respect to beef…
PJF: (Deep breath)
24: How do you look at beef in this rap business between artists?
PJF: I mean as far as I was raised and the environment I grew up in. Beef is something really serious. You know, people get killed! My homeboys at a young age. I seen them die in front of me. Like you know, when you use the word beef, that’s a really serious term and that’s like as as far as beef with rappers. To be honest and maybe I’m wrong in my opinion, I just look at it like a promotional aspect. It’s more on to like record sales and promotional side because I really take it serious. It’s a competition, a rap battle after all the hoopla is said and done, it’s more for the tabloids and the publicity.
24: What influences your lyrics?
PJF: As far as my lyrics go, I try to not fabricate my music at all. As far as what I rap about it’s pretty much “My Life.” There’s things that I been through, things that happen to me, it’s all me. Things I’ve seen, that’s all the music is based on, I try not to fabricate it at all.
24: What is going to separate you, from the other artists that are in this business, that’s trying to break through?
PJF: Um, Wow. I mean the best I could put it is, I look at myself as a trendsetter and I try to do what has not been done. Everything I do, I try to make it as different as possible. I try to say things differently. My vocabulary is my delivery of the music. I try to make it as different as possible, so it can stand out. Like crazy, being crazy you know, that’s the whole purpose, it’s an art, gotta be crazy with it. The way I look at it as far as my music goes, if the next man is doing this, then I’m gonna do that. Thats him, that’s his style and I’m me and I can only do me. I can’t really compare myself to anybody out right now, cause it’s all me, yeah.
24: Any last words you want to add?
PJF: I pretty much do it for the fans. At the end of the day, it’s not only for money, I just love music because it’s in my blood. It runs in my family and I hope my fans would like it and as well as support me. And look out for my mixtape, ‘Lethal Mentality,’ coming in the fall of this year. And I think that’s about it. God Bless.
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