Interviews: August 2007 Archives

SUNDAY
9am-4pm

We started filming "Mind, Muscle and Hustle" an upcoming film starring Storm P and Marlo from The Wire along a few other celebrities that I'll fill you in on in a couple of weeks (so stayed tuned.) We were basically shooting guerilla style, without any permits, running around Queens with fake with guns and props. LOL.

8pm-I went to B.B. Kings for the Underground Music Awards. A ton of different magazines were in the building. I had a hard time getting in. Everybody in the line was claiming to be somebody. And all of the nobodies were getting in, while the somebodies were still standing outside. Anyway, my man Jessie, who was the organizer of the event saw me and came and got me and my people in. Big ups to Jessie and everyone involved in the event.

The show started and Kid Capri received the Legend Award. His speech was from the heart. Everyone was feeling it. Jae Mills received the Freestyle of the Year Award. Then came time for the DJ of the Year category. I actually had the jitters, because three years ago, I lost an award in the very same venue. They ran off the nominees and then...the winner is...and they said my name. I was feeling it! I went up and gave my speech. I let everyone in the audience know that I lost an award in that very same place, 3 years earlier and I didn't get discouraged, I just kept grindin'! Obviously it paid off.

Later that night- My man Tyrese had a party, so I went to check it out. The line outside was crazy, but I had to pull my Superstar Jay card again. LOL. I knew one of the security dudes from the Rucker, so we were good! Man, the ratio of women to men was like Five to One! And the groupies were definitely in the building! Red Café got on stage and gave a hot performance. Everyone thought it was my birthday, (it's actually August 20th) so they kept giving me birthday shouts all night. I got on the turntables, but I was way too tipsy to spin. I talked on the mic for a minute and just told Tyrese to do his thing. I kicked it with Tyrese said he's gonna release another Black Ty album. I volunteered to host it! LOL. Then to Red Café. He's dropping a new album called "The Co-Op" with DJ Envy. This is another example of artists showing DJ's love. You definitely need to cop that! I left the club at 5:00 am...crazy bent!

MONDAY
I spent the majority of the day shooting scenes for the movie with Storm. I cut out early to meet my man Big T at the studio to work on our new Stack Bundles and Jim Jones mixtape. We had to keep going back and forth deciding which key songs to include.

Then, I had to get my itinerary ready for the Magic Show in Las Vegas. I'll be DJ'ing there at the Son of Man Clothing Line booth.

TUESDAY
I went to pick up the "Shesus Khryst" DVD's. We almost didn't make it because of the traffic. I didn't realize how much room they were gonna take up. But, after filling up 3 carloads, we finally got them all in. My crew and I had to hurry up and get them delivered to spots all over the city.

After that, my publicist Brandi kept hitting me with lists of magazines and websites that need copies of the DVD for reviews. So, I had to head to the post office to get them shipped out.

WEDNESDAY
My boss Lamar Odom called me early in the morning to set up a meeting. I got up and got ready. Lamar and I discussed my album "Why Not" which is set to be released later this year on his label Rich-Soil Records. I'll be doing a 26-city college tour between September and November. We were also discussing Lamar Odom Day out in Lincoln Park. Then he took me shopping. That's one of the perks of having an NBA star as a boss. LOL. He copped me like 30 pairs of sneakers...but to my surprise, when I get home I realized that I accidentally grabbed his bags instead of mine and now I'm stuck with 16 pairs of size 15 Nikes! Damn! He's a really busy dude, so I haven't had a chance to catch up with him and switch them out yet.

Then, we met up with my dudes from B-Mack, Rob and Jimmy from Foundation Magazine. The latest issue with DJ Drama on the cover came out really hot! Lamar did an interview with them. We're hoping to get the cover...but we'll have to wait and see.

MY PERSONAL PICKS
This week I'm feeling DJ Lust with the new Bird Gang mixtape.
I also like Antalive's "Formula 50" and DJ Mello's "I'm On My Shit"

MY UPCOMING RELEASES
This week the "Shesus Khryst" DVD/Mixtape is on sale! Cop that! Also, be on the lookout for Superstar Jay & Big T Present Stack Bundles and Jim Jones "Heaven Only Knows" as well as Superstar Jay "7 Day Theory"

ASK SUPERSTAR JAY
Q: Yo, Jay I'm interested in being a mixtape deejay. What advice can you give me as far as trying to get on?
-John, White Plains, NY
A: Practice, practice, practice. Besides that, study your music...all kinds of music. Prepare yourself for becoming an all around DJ. Don't just download songs. Get your blending and scratching skills up and besides that just try to network, show your face and get on the tables as much as possible. It's important to be seen. You definitely want your name to become recognizable.

Got a question for Jay? Email him at asksuperstarjay@gmail.com

Unfortunately, seeing a female rapper rise above a crowd of men is a rare moment. And for women (in hip hop or out of) should see it as a watershed moment. Well it was watershed moment when Apz Giggles climbed the rocky path to underground stardom on Loud.com as the first and only female MC on Loud.com, and she's only 19 years old.
Loud.com is an online community where users can upload their music and ultimately compete for $100,000 and a record deal with SRC Records.

Hailing from Dade County, home to many creative minds such DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Cool N Dre, Pitbull and Trina, Apz Giggles is a monument waiting to resurrect among giants. Already having garnered the respect and attention from Trina, Giggles' career is now taking off by way of Trina and her entrepreneurial ways. Trina snatched Giggles up to form an all-girl rap group, consisting of 3 girls in total to make up "Pretty Money."

Giggles, known to friends and family as Deanna, is the perfect bait for the sharks in the industry. She's a young, pretty thing that's highly marketable along the lines of the Lil Kim's, the Foxy's and the Trina's of the world. However, regardless of the fact that many of her peers will look nothing like her she remains strong.

"Focus! It's my dream," says Giggles when asked the lack of women. She is aware of the fact that being a P.Y.T. is a double-edged sword since she has to go against many assumptions.

"I have to constantly prove myself. People say, 'You're so pretty, I don't believe you're a rapper!'" says Giggles.

Women in hip hop are scarce but Giggles concentrates on the few good women that have influenced her. "It isn't discouraging. You have women like Salt-N-Peppa... Trina, they built their dreams." Not letting obstacles get in the way, Giggles scoffs at the thought of intimidation. "Just do it" she giggles; hence her stage name.

Not even affiliated with a label (yet!), Giggles is still making moves with not one, but two singles out. Her new single "Just a Girl" features Trina and the single coming from Pretty Money "Stunt" also features Trina. Both tracks are fly, flashy and a perfect example of what's to come for the rap superstar.

Learn more about Apz Giggles at Loud.com

Lapiz Conciente nacido Avelino Yunior Figueroa Enero 24, 1983 en Los Minas, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana.Una persona de calle, gracioso y humilde. Desde pequeño le gustava el Rap porque desde entonces estuvo alreadedor del estilo de musica. Empezo en el Rap Dominicano en el 1996. Empieza en su barrio y sigue en el mismo lugar pero conocido en toda Republica Dominicana y ahora mas internacional. Su boom sucedio con "Tu No Ere De Na" luego exitos como "La Menore Me Quieren Manguear" y " Calle Es Calle" que son canciones con las cuales se identifica mucho. Con su musica decea expandir la cultura Dominicana a todo Latino America.

Last week was REALLY hectic!...to say the least.

I went to the Pepsi DJ Competition with my man Swizz Beats at S.O.B. hosted by DJ Enuff. I chilled in the V.I.P. with Kanye West. The event was pretty cool. The overall competition was alright, but it could've been better. The DJ's were cool, but hardly any one of them really stuck to the criteria that the judges had layed out. They didn't really encompass all of the aspects of being a good DJ. For the most part they just got the crowd hype and played "I Get Money"...A LOT! Lol.

The highlight of the night was seeing Queen Latifah, Kanye West, Mos Def, Just Blaze, Saigon and Common rockin' the stage! It was crazy to see all of those legends on one stage, showin' mad love! It was a really memorable night!

Monday-Wednesday:
For the majority of the week, I was basically running around tying up lose ends for my basketball tournament "The Q-Borough Classic." Plus making sure the "Shesus Khryst" DVD trailer was ready for release and as well as running the daily operations at my company Oh Baby Ent.

Thursday:
After running some errands, I did some work on the upcoming Storm P mixtape. Later, I went to meet up with my man Hump from Hump Records and he introduced me to Young B (the Chicken Noodle Soup girl), I'm going be dropping a new mixtape for her...strictly for the kids.

At 5 P.M. I went to meet with Sickamore about possibly signing Storm P. He said that he really likes what he's hearing and the meeting went well.

6 P.M. - After wrapping things up with Sickamore, I had to shoot over to the Rucker to catch up with DJ Enuff, I hit him with the new single from Storm P and Remy Ma "Pick the Money Up." He's going to give it a listen and hopefully we can get it added into rotation up at Hot 97.

10 P.M. - I went to the studio to work on my latest mixtape "Guns & Roses" featuring Max B and Byrd Gang.

2 A.M. - Decided to call it a night and headed on home.

Friday:
After spending most of the day in the studio, I had to make some calls and make sure everyone was all set for the game.

1:30 A.M. - Arrive at Club Amazora in Queens for the Lil' Scrappy party.
2:00 A.M - I get on the turntables and the crowd is going crazy!
2:30 A.M - The cops came and shut it down! Just like that! They were trippin because they said the line outside was really chaotic. I was pissed. The club wasn't even that packed yet (people in Queens come out late).

2:40 A.M - A guy in the club says that his people are having a party at another spot and they'll cut me a check to swing by there.

3:00 - 5:30 A.M - I rocked the second club until it closed. Then I headed home to catch a couple of hours of sleep.

7:30 A.M - Rise and shine...time to head over to O'Connor Park to get things set up for the game.

12 Noon - Everything gets underway. The high school was good. The And 1 All Stars vs. Queens game was crazy! Queens came out on top. We also gave a $3,000 Street Sweeper bike to the winner of the freestyle contest.

5 P.M. - Time for the main event...The DJ's vs. Promoters game. The crowd was going crazy! There were over 3,000 people in the park. Everyone showed us a lot of love. A lot of really well known deejays, promoters and street DVD's participated in the game, like DJ Self, Da Union DJ's, Noise Mob DJ's, Wiz Hoffa from Albany, Smack DVD, All Access DVD, Arliss Michael-Real Talk DVD. DJ Clue and Chris Roan also came out, but it was too late to get in the game. The Promoters Team won 79-77 and Storm P was the MVP with 25 points. It was a really good look for Queens. I just really wanted to give back to the community because they've shown me so much support. It was a great day!

2:00 A.M. - Got pulled over on the Midtown Tunnel. The cop tells me that he pulled me over because the license plate cover my Benz jeep is too dark. Then he sees that my man has some open liquor in the car and he keeps me there for an hour, plus I got a WHOLE BUNCH of tickets! Damn!

3:00 A.M - Back to business! I deejayed the Q-Borough Classic Afterparty/ Love Dinero birthday party and Club Pre-Post. It was crazy!

6:00 A.M. - Time to sleep.

New Projects:
This week I'm dropping "Superstar Jay - The Only Name U Can Trust Pt. 2"

My Mixtape Picks:
I'm still bumpin':
DJ Teardrops - "Step Your Blends Up"
The Kanye West - Alter Ego Mixtape is crazy!
I'm also really feelin the 31 Degreez - Weezyaveli joint. People keep saying that Wayne is over-saturating the market, but I disagree. I feel like he's one of the most consistent. He always drops hot material.

In The Works:
I'm working on a new mixtape with Mison (he was on the Violator album)

Ask Superstar Jay:
Q: When is the Shesus Khryst DVD coming out?
A: The DVD is currently at the plant in the process of being duplicated. It will be released in two weeks.
-Sheena, Pittsburgh, PA

Q: How can I get on a Superstar Jay mixtape?
A: Call 347-581-8152
-Money, Bronx, NY

__________
Email your questions to asksuperstarjay@gmail.com.
Please include your first name and the city and state in which you reside.