Exclusive Interview and Music Review with Jai Tropik – As I Rise
There’s a whole lot of realness in this track, above all else it’s those lyrics that resonate most effectively. The artist has something to say that is important to him, so the passion is clear, and the lyrics are clever and smartly delivered – there’s a smooth kind of style to the whole performance. The music is simple but beautiful, that beat, the clap as it were, the industrial sounding crash, plus that gentle plucked riff; it all makes for a really stunning piece of music – it superbly accompanies the themes being rapped about, not something you hear very often. A really artistic combination of skills and creativity. Nothing too loud or actively needy, not the kind of song that screams at you, just one where everything is working together to make you pay attention.
It’s a really strong track, it has meaning, it doesn’t seem to steal lines or ideas from anywhere. The music is simplistic, sure, but somehow it really builds and builds in intensity as you listen. Towards the end there’s a real sense of something happening, the As I Rise concept is striking, the effect is powerful and lasting. That realness and honesty makes it what it is, but what adds to this in a huge way is that the music and the vocal all fit together perfectly. The mood is on point with the topic, the music creates this kind of zone within which you can sit back and really listen, take it all in. The kind of hip hop that really clutches at your attention, makes you listen to it, and makes you glad that you did. I quite liked that I didn’t notice a huge amount of cursing in the track, nor angst or skits in between lyrics, the power just lay there within the lines, like poetry, and the music simply helped shine the right kind of light on that.
By Rebecca Cullen
Exclusive Interview:
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Jai Tropik: I was born and raised in St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands. I decided to become a full fledged rap artist because of my love for hip hop and rap music.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Jai Tropik: Jai Tropik was chosen because of where I came from and people always called me Jai because they couldn’t pronounce my first name. Tropik is tropic as in where I’m from and I felt it would always be different and nobody has it the way I have.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Jai Tropik: I think its a faster way to please the audience on social media because that is what they spend a majority of their time on. Yes I do because people got to know who you are and I always plan on keeping my fans well fed at http://www.youtube.com/jaitropiktv and http://www.soundcloud.com/jaitropik
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Jai Tropik: I’m barely starting myself so I do not.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Jai Tropik: Love. What ever comes to mind about a particular subject I’m focusing on structures the way of the song I am writing.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Jai Tropik: I share my music on youtube, facebook fan page, soundcloud, reverbnation for downloads and soon datpiff.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Jai Tropik: I will make sure my family and I are well taken cared of first along with investing into stocks for great returns and perfecting my craft, producing the best quality of my music and touring across the world building my fan base.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Jai Tropik: Radio play, sharing my music on websites, word of mouth, selling hard copies, social media. Social media and selling hard copies is the best way for me at the moment.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Jai Tropik: I just finished an EP that can be downloaded on reverbnation, seen on youtube and heard on soundcloud. I’m currently working on a mixtape called “The Departure” that doesn’t have a release date.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Jai Tropik: I’ll still be pushing products and boxes working for a warehouse.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Jai Tropik: I take care of my responsibilities first then focus on the music when I have nothing left to worry about.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Jai Tropik: My Current EP “Mission X” that is downloadable on reverbnation and found on all my sites. My Mixtape “The Departure” is coming soon. They can look forward to me doing shows in different cites and the schedule can be found on my social media sites.
