Mr. J Medeiros Discusses Hip Hop With HT

June 25th, 2007

Launching your artwork into the world can be a whirlwind of manic activity, especially when it’s your first time. Mr. J Medeiros is not new to releasing albums, he’s put out 3 albums as a member of the Procussions. But putting a solo work out into the world is a whole new game. Everything about Of gods and girls is from his own heart and mind. There is not the same anonymity enjoyed when one is part of a group. Nonetheless, Mr. J Medeiros sounds centered in the excitement to release his solo debut album. I had a chance to speak with him briefly about where hip hop is positioned right now and where it is pointed. Medeiros speaks comfortably, from a solid understanding of the issues he addresses, with a vibrant passion for hip hop and social activism, and the skills to communicate this to others.

Before we dove into the questions, Medeiros revealed that fans on the west coast of the US will soon get a chance to catch his live performance! So be on the lookout for Medeiros in your town if you are between LA and Seattle! In the meantime, we have this interview, so let’s get to it! Questions were sent in by readers and friends – thanks for the great questions all! [A few parts I had to paraphrase, so I put this in brackets.] I did this to ensure fairness to what was said and what was discussed.

Mr. J Medeiros Discusses Hip Hop

Molli Fire: How is hip hop doing in 2007?

Mr. J Medeiros: I definitely say, well I’m from a different generation, I’ll be 30, and when I was growing up listening to hip hop we had more options. It hadn’t been formulated, the industry hadn’t figured out how to make money off of it yet, how to formulate it. There were bands like 2 Live Crew and NWA getting big and when they saw the sales that 2 live crew, NWA were making they figured out how to formulate it. And the music we have today is a watered down version of this…. At some point NWA did speak for some people, they made known a lifestyle that was happening in LA.

Today we are left without options and labels want to put their money down on the fastest horse. Hip hop is the fastest horse right now and the industry is exploiting it and expanding it.

Hip hop is very one sided right now and does not leave us with a lot of options [for listening to.] When I was growing up listening to hip hop, we had more options then than we do now… Hip hop is passionate, the passion builds up and you can release it positively or negatively. You can use this passion to create social change and I hope thats what I am doing.

Medeiros Discusses The Song “Constance”

Molli Fire: Like what you did with “Constance”…

Mr. J Medeiros: There are a lot of sides to “Constance” -

1 is the girl – Constance is a true story about a girl who is 13, sold by her father in the Philippines. A cab ride is only 5$…

She was sold into trafficking and then made a film. [She was bought to create child pornography.] I call it rape, [in the song] I call it rape when a 45 year old man has sex with a 13 year old that he paid for.

Then there is the side in the US, the viewer in the US. It’s about men – this is all run by men, a man buying the girl, a man filming it, and a man watching it online.

Even this song is for men to look at other men. As a man and an artist this is what I want to do with hip hop. Just like all of society, hip hop is run and controlled by men. Men decide what type of music is released… [Mr. J Medeiros elaborated on the positions of power that men hold in this society and the statistics of how many women and children are abused.]

When you see the stats there is a definite, definite problem. And the problem is in the mind of the man, its an issue of humanity. [That it is actually culturally programmed into the minds of men. That we have all been cultured with these perceptions and we have so much of this wired into our brain.]

Me, in hip hop, a man, speaking to men. It is necessary for men to yield some of their perceived power and influence to women in our genre, and women in our world.

Even one life is extremely important. [If I speak up for one life, or change one life, then I have had a positive impact on this world]

[My music, my message,] it’s a stance for hip hop, a rebuttal to whats happening in hip hop where a man is speaking to men and men are speaking to women. [Referring to what's happening in popular rap lyrics that have men rapping about things that degrade women and objectify them.] A woman has to numb herself, she has to have filters to listen to hip hop, you have to numb your mind and your conscience.

We are at a point, me as a person, and I’ve talked to my friends about it too, and we’re tired of it. [The reality that is portrayed in current hip hop music -] it doesn’t really exist – 50 cent and his fantasy, what you see on tv… You see this, this reality, and you believe it, you think if I do this I will be happy, and so you do it but then you are let down, because it’s not real, you feel disappointed…

[In the music you hear today] kids are being shot, women are being raped and killed, and it’s because we have no leadership and no accountability.

Discussing The Content Of Hip Hop Lyrics

Molli Fire: It’s so true, I love hip hop and I love to dance to it. Sometimes I’m at the club dancing to a song and then all of a sudden the lyrics sink in. Sometimes I feel like I should stop dancing once I hear what they’re saying! I have a lady friend that djs hip hop instrumentals, which is tight… But I can understand her not wanting to play the vocals – how can a woman play hip hop lyrics without feeling totally weird and wrong about promoting them?

Mr. J Medeiros: Hip hop is 2 parts – the beat and the lyrics. And this just reinforces that the industry is pure evil. Because if people love the beat, then why can’t we change the content? The identity that we are giving men in hip hop is destructive, so why do we let this continue?

[Right now we are living in] a reality by definition. In a state of ignorance. [Meaning that our reality is based on what has been defined for us. Marketing is defining what reality is, by convincing us that we need certain products. Going back to the concept of being disappointed when the reality of a product is not the fantasy that was first advertised to us. The "If I buy this/live like this I will be happy" advertisement.]

If we look back with what we know in our mind now, why did slavery exist for 400 years? We don’t live more than 100 years. That means we were ignorant to how inhumane and wrong slavery is, for 400 years.

I don’t want people to look back [on this time in hip hop music] and say that we were animals, inhumane and ignorant because of degrading women and supporting violence in our music. I don’t want to be a part of that. If I had lived during the days of slavery, I would have said something, I would have stood up. And that’s what I am trying to do with my music now.

How To Remain Strong In The Face Of Adversity

Molli Fire: How do you cope on a daily basis? How do you look directly at what’s happening in the world, and continue to have strength and a positive message?

Mr. J Medeiros: When I was writing “Constance” I was studying about human trafficking and it was very depressing. The beauty [that can come out of this state] is helping, and raising awareness. Once the reality is shown, when real life is being portrayed, it has something that is long living and extended. Its not fake, its not a crack high. [Referring to an earlier reference - that the hip hop music being promoted by the music industry today is like a crack high. It gives you a rush but no substance, no reality. It works up your adrenaline, but offers no release, no solutions.]
You are creating real life, what helps is when you see it’s working. It’s working for you as you become more compassionate and you see other people and how its working in their lives, how it is helping them to get through their life. Just to speak about it is a release [for you and for the people who are living through it]. Even one life is extremely important.

Medeiros’ Musical Influences

Molli Fire: What music are you feeling today? What music inspires you?

Mr. J Medeiros:When I listen to music to gain inspiration on being a better person, I listen to U2, Stevie Wonder, Chuck D. I listen to some Talib Kweli, Mos Def. As for hip hop, when I want inspiration for a style, I listen to Pharoahe Monch, and the Roots.

Molli Fire: ?uestlove is on mog…
Mr. J Medeiros: Yeah, I’m gonna have to check that out.
Molli Fire: I’ll send you a link, it’s especially great for musicians to get direct feedback from their fans and to be in direct communication with other musicians and music enthusiasts.
Mr. J Medeiros: Yeah yeah, that’s where I’m at!

Parting Words

Molli Fire: What is your advice to aspiring hip hoppers?

Mr. J Medeiros: The world needs more leaders, less followers. Be real, and convicted about what you do. Before you get into music decide who you are and what you want to do as a person and then Totally Go For It.

And then Mr. J Medeiros disappeared into the blazing LA sunset…

You heard the man – The world today does need leaders, and you could be one of them! Find what gives you strength, find out who you are, be true to yourself and then show others how to do the same. Everyone can be a leader and then there would be no followers at all. In this day and age, there is not only room for everyone to do their own thing and lead their own revolution, there is an actual need for it. Stand Up For What You Believe In! Every time you stand up, you get stronger, and the next time gets easier.

Thank you so much to Mr. J Medeiros for taking time out of your busy schedule to share these insights with hip hop fans everywhere. We are really looking forward to the release of the new album. If you still haven’t heard any of it, jump over to the previous posts and have a listen…