Published: Tuesday - February 8, 2005
Words by Bill "Low-Key" Heinzelman
Jae Millz (Photo: Wanna Blow Ent.)
Harlem stand up because Jae Millz is back to finish what he started. A year ago, Jae was one of the hottest up-and-coming emcees in the game, as he stormed onto the scene with his smash hit "No, No, No." However, after falling victim to industry rule number 4080 with Warner Bros Records, Jae's debut album, Back To Tha Future, was indefinitely put on hold. But you cannot keep a good emcee down for long and now Jae is back with a new label (Universal) and blazing new single ("Streetz Melting"). Expect big things out of Jae Millz in 2005, so jump on the bandwagon now, while there is still room left.
BallerStatus.com: You were originally supposed to drop your debut album, Back To Tha Future, on Warner Bros. Records last year. So what happened between you two that lead to the eventual fall out?
Jae Millz: Business wasn't going right and we couldn't see eye to eye. We couldn't come to an agreement on what we were going to do with the album, and they really didn't know what they wanted to do. So everything wasn't going the way it should have and we just parted ways.
BallerStatus.com: "No, No, No" was a real good look for you last year, but do you feel that maybe it was a wasted opportunity, considering you had the perfect single, but things just didn't work out with the label?
Jae Millz: Yeah, that song was a good look, a very good look! I feel I had the perfect single, a good remix and a follow up single, but they didn't go hard with it. They didn't go hard with my follow-up material as they did with "No, No, No." Because with "No, No, No" they went hard, they pushed the song and video, but after that, there was no pushing. And even with "No, No, No," me and my peoples were doing the majority of the pushing and promotion. So it was just crazy man, but in the end, they didn't know what to do with the situation. They didn't expect the song to blow up the way it did. They thought it was just some underground street record but it turned into a big song, and they weren't ready for that and didn't know how to react. There is no hard feelings, but it just wouldn't have worked out for my career by staying with them.
BallerStatus.com: So you don't feel it was a wasted opportunity?
Jae Millz: I don't feel it was a wasted opportunity because I learned and saw a lot from my situation. I did do some things and learned a lot, but in the end it wouldn't have been a good look and I think everybody on my team saw where it was going to go. So we made a new way before it got too late. We backed out and just rebuilt.
BallerStatus.com: What label are you signed to now?
Jae Millz: I'm on Universal.
BallerStatus.com: When can we expect Back To Tha Future to drop?
Jae Millz: You can expect it sometime around spring. Probably in April or May, but we don't have a specific date in mind. We are still trying to finish up these last two songs. Sylvia Rhone, Tone from The Trackmasters and Erick Nicks, they just came over to Universal, so we are all going to come to the table right now and letting everything gel.
BallerStatus.com: What can fans expect out of the album?
Jae Millz: You can expect that street and hood music. The same thing you see on those "Smack" DVDs and on the mixtapes. You are going to hear all of that, but you are also going to hear my emotions. You are going to understand who I am and what I have went through. From my story growing up, to why I chose to rap to what I have been through these last couple of years. So we are going to keep it real, have fun, party and all of that. But we are going to do it all in one, and I'm going to take you back to when it was about hip-hop. To when it was about lyrics, so I'm gonna give you something your gonna have to rewind a couple times just to understand it. Then I'm gonna take you to the future because I'm gonna be here awhile. So it's Back To Tha Future all in one.
BallerStatus.com: Who's doing the production on the album?
Jae Millz: Of course, Swizz Beatz did the single "Streetz Melting." The second single is like the creep up song, which is called "Who," and was produced by Ron Brownz, he's from Harlem. But other than that, I got Scram Jones; Omen did a nice portion of the album, Heatmakerz, Crown, Emile, so there is a lot of new producers and some big names as well. I got Swizz, T.I., Slim Thug, Fat Joe, and a couple of surprises on there in addition. So we are just trying to work and give the people what they want. You have to supply them with some good music, and if you give them the bull, it will show in your sales.
BallerStatus.com: You got the new single with Swizz Beatz out now "Streetz Melting." How has the reaction from the song been so far?
Jae Millz: We have been getting a good reaction so far. The spins have been going up and people are starting to get comfortable with it and have been playing it more. But Swizz just looked out for me. He is on fire right now and that was my first time working with him. It is just a banger, and we are just waiting to see how the people take onto it. If the people don't take onto it, we aren't going to force it. But right now, it has been getting good reactions, so it's looking good. It's a club and radio record, so it's not a love record, or a battle song. It's not a lyrical song, but all around it's a good record. It has a bouncy beat with a nice chorus and it is something everyone can understand. But I'm not going to have a million and one fun songs on my album, so that is why I had to hit y'all with this one early.
BallerStatus.com: When can we expect a video?
Jae Millz: We are writing a concept for it right now as we speak.
BallerStatus.com: I see you also got the new mixtape out, 2005 Is Mine, and your nickname on the front cover is The Statue. What is the meaning behind that?
Jae Millz: Well, basically...let me clear this up because I'm not trying to say I'm a woman, no way in the world is the kid trying to say that. But when you think of New York there is a couple of landmarks and monuments, like The Statue of Liberty, Madison Square Garden and the George Washington Bridge. But I just figure for people that aren't familiar, when they think of New York City they think about the Statue of Liberty; that is just something that represents NYC. A lot of people don't even understand the significant and meaning behind the Statue of Liberty, but when they think about NYC, they think about the Statue. So I feel I represent the city and I'm a monument, that's why I call myself the Statue. I'm not the Statue of Liberty and all of this stuff with the United States, I'm not into it that deep. I'm just a representation of New York City; I hold the book and the torch. That's it, nothing more or less. It's just something fun I came up with, just to run with. I'm the statue, one hand across the chest and other one in the air.
BallerStatus.com: That is going to lead me into my next question perfectly, because, right now a lot is banking on the hot young emcees coming out of New York such as yourself, Papoose and J.R. Writer, among others, to really take New York back to where it used to be. So do you feel that pressure to help put NYC back on top?
Jae Millz: That's all I want to do. All I want to do is sell some records and put the city back to where it needs to be. There is a lot of other people coming up, and I'm cool with a lot of them. Like J.R. Writer and Papoose like you said. Even out of state cats like Cassidy, Stat Quo, Scrappy and Slim Thug. But even in New York, with Juelz, Gravy, Jae Hood, Posta Boy, Jin, these are all cats I'm real cool with. Whoever you want to name, these are all people I can call on my phone and see them in the streets and be like, "What up, what's going on?" I just have those relationships with certain people because we are all in the same pot, we are all fighting for the same thing, but it's all respect. We just gotta figure out a way to come up because we are the new generation, there is about 30 million of us [laughter]... but we are all fighting for the same thing.
BallerStatus.com: Tell us about your process of writing rhymes? How do you actually go about it?
Jae Millz: I'm not one of those people who walk around and come up with their rhymes in their head. I can do that, but that is not my thing. Jay and Big did that, as well as my man Mysonne, but me, I'm a writer. I really like to sit down, write and construct things. I know what works for me. If I sit down and write it on paper it comes out better. It's like constructing an essay by forming the intro, body and conclusion; it's just like that. Sometimes I'll come up with a nice four or eight bars here and there, and I'll elaborate from there, or sometimes I'll just write on the spot in the studio because for me it doesn't matter, I'm a writer. I can write a verse so fast it's crazy, and not just some freestyle, a real verse with substance. Give me about five or ten minutes and I'm good.
BallerStatus.com: Just some quick and fun questions for you. Who is the best emcee to ever come out of Harlem?
Jae Millz: Big L.
BallerStatus.com: Your favorite album growing up as a kid?
Jae Millz: Oh man, I had so many. Jealous Ones Still Envy by Fat Joe and Do Or Die by AZ were my first two albums. But overall, I would have to say Biggie's Life After Death was my favorite.
BallerStatus.com: Greatest emcee of all-time?
Jae Millz: I would have to say Biggie, and it's not because he's dead or because he's from New York. If you just sit back and listen to him, he had everything. He had a flow, he was cocky, he was sarcastic, he was lyrical, but he was real. He was everything all rolled in one. He was never gimmicky; he was just a real emcee. He wasn't the prettiest nigga in the world, he wasn't diesel, but he was nice! He made everybody have to step their game up. And not to say that Pac, Rakim, Jay or Nas wasn't like that, but for me, Biggie is the greatest.
BallerStatus.com: What else do you have going on in the future?
Jae Millz: We are just working on Back To Tha Future right now. I'm also on the road right now promoting and trying to get everyone reacquainted with my face and get my buzz going. We are trying to put together this video as well. But overall, I'm just staying in the studio everyday working. Trying to get on these mixtapes, DVDs and things like that. There is so much going on right now that you just have to stay afloat and stay on top of everything. So that is all I'm trying to do.
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