Published: Sunday - January 30, 2005
Words by Ruben Diaz
JR Writer (Photo: Koch)
When Cam'ron re-introduced himself to the mainstream with his hit "Oh Boy," he brought along Juelz Santana for the ride. Soon after, he introduced the world to the rest of his Diplomats crew and since then, the Harlem-based and self-titled "movement" (not crew) has flooded the streets of New York and beyond with their brand known as Dipset. J.R. Writer: With the use of the mixtape circuit, the Dipset has become a mainstay in the indie grind. Now that Jim Jones has had a successful solo career since the release of his album, and now that Cam is situated with Def Jam, the commanders-in-chief look to unleash a new talent to the masses, he goes by the name of JR Writer.
With a mixtape of his own, and many guest appearances on Dipset tracks, JR is ready for the break that Cam gave Juelz, with an album scheduled for a 2005 release via Koch Records, get familiar with the Set's next generation.
BallerStatus.com: First of all, give people a little background about yourself.
JR Writer: I'm Dominican, I'm reppin' with Dipset and I grew up in Harlem.
BallerStatus.com: How'd you get in to rap?
JR Writer: Um...basically I just knew somebody that knew somebody. My man introduced me to someone and someone introduced me to someone else. [Cam'ron] liked my stuff, so he took my number down. He said he was gonna call me, and 2 weeks later, he put me up in the studio. And I got on Juelz' album and it's been all love after that.
BallerStatus.com: Cool, how did your name come about?
JR Writer: From the name I had before... I didn't really like it after a while, so I changed it. I put part of my real name... my middle name is Jr, so I shortened it up and I was like JR's too simple, so I thought of JR Rider the basketball player and I just switched the whole sh-- up and basically that's all it is.
BallerStatus.com: What's the current project you're promoting right now?
JR Writer: My album which comes out in June or July (of 2005); it's untitled so far.
BallerStatus.com: What can people expect from your album?
JR Writer: Basically, fire! The hunger the game has been missing. It's like a book, when you pick it up it's gonna be like reading a book, you know what I'm sayin'?
BallerStatus.com: For people not familiar with you, what can they expect as far as your sound/style and production?
JR Writer: Um...well they'll be able to hear the hunger. Style-wise, I'm from Harlem, so that's whatever. You're gonna hear some gangsta sh--, you're gonna hear some really real sh-- about a girl, and you're gonna hear stories. Basically, it's gonna be me taking it back to the essence. Back to where you could listen to the whole album. I'm really sittin' there and picking the tracks, you know?
BallerStatus.com: Ok, what do you have lined up for 2005?
JR Writer: Yeah, the album, fa' sho'. I got a couple of mixtapes I'm trying to get out before then, too.
BallerStatus.com: How do you feel about the mixtape scene right now?
JR Writer: The mixtape scene is poppin'. I like the mixtape scene. It's a good way to get heard for a lot of artists. It's a big movement, a reaaal big movement.
BallerStatus.com: Who would you say, outside of your camp, inspires you -- in the rap game right now?
JR Writer: Right now...I don't really listen to hip-hop outside of my camp, but I would say...(pauses) I would say uh (pauses again), I would say Eminem.
BallerStatus.com: Coming up and paying dues, what's been your experience like so far in the game?
JR Writer: It's been love. It's a lot of hard work, but it's love. The fans come up to me and say they appreciate and love what I'm doing, so it's all love.
BallerStatus.com: Is your album going to be mainly what people hear on your mixtapes? Because a lot of mixtape artists aren't known to be great album artists...
JR Writer: Nah, see I'm a monster, man. I can put an album together, then put a freestyle or mixtape together!
BallerStatus.com: What motivates you to keep rapping?
JR Writer: What motivates me? Um, my daughter. She's one of my motivations. Before her, it was just, you know, whenever you want to do something, accomplish it.
BallerStatus.com: When your career is all over with, what do you want to walk away with?
JR Writer: I want to walk away with the title -- the best ever; one of the best ever. [I wanna walk away] with a label, and a bunch of artists that went platinum under my label.
BallerStatus.com: You got any guest features or producers on the album?
JR Writer: Right now, it's just Cam and Juelz.
BallerStatus.com: You got any last words for the readers out there?
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