"Meet Mr. J. Medeiros" Exclusive Interview by BadNews

Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007

Word up y'all. I just want to introduce you to a unique and talented MC named Mr. J.Medeiros. He's a cool cat representin' the Colorado state that's on the positive tip yo. His climb up the mountain has been a long one as he's had to sacrifice alot (as you'll read later) but these struggles have led to bigger things for him such as his own record label, the ability to creatively develop artists for Rawkus Records and the grand prize...his own album, "Of Gods and Girls" which is set to be releases in July 07. Pretty cool stuff huh? Well, find out more about this cat in this interview that was conducted between him and BadNews last week. Good stuff....

Badnews: Ok, so you started out in the music business in 1997 right?

J Mederios: Yes around that time

Badnews: so how did you stay afloat for so long? Independently at that?!

J Mederios: It wasn’t easy man. I was really broke, I slept on friends couches, I slept on floors, and I claimed bankruptcy I was in bad shape. But I started touring with the Procussions in 97. We originally were just a performance group, you know at shows we would just perform. Later on I started a label, but it wasn’t getting the recognition, so I moved to Los Angeles because there wasn’t much support for chances to make it in Colorado. So I recorded my very 1st album, started touring places like Japan—just touring everywhere. I mean all over the world. I try to go back to Colorado as often as I can.

Badnews: Yeah I realized that you’re from Colorado

J Mederios: Yes, I’m from Colorado Springs

Badnews: Ok that’s whats up. Ill get back to that in a minute. But my next question is, you’re really passionate about speaking out and trying to stop human trafficking. What drew you to this problem, and what are you doing to help stop this problem other than using music?

J Mederios: Let me start off about explaining the song “Constance”. Women are raped, sold to men from their families, forced to have sex, forced to perform sex acts in from to the camera, then average Joes like you or me log on to these sites and watch this for our entertainment, not knowing what little girls like “Constance” go through. But with my album, I’m trying to redefine man. There’s this image of man. Man has the power. Men are demanding, man is misogynistic, people Fear him. Man has this image that violence makes him macho, man rather be feared than respected. Man created this image in hip hop of woman like she is our material; she’s not equal to man. We call women you know bitch and ho and then we tell them to umm… suck our genitalia. This is how we entertain ourselves; this is the music we blast in our cars on our way to the club. We tell woman we are her protector, yet we demean her, we hurt her. Man ignores our conscious. There’s a website named iamconfidence.com where women can leave there story anonymously. But the song “Constance” is about a girl who gets sold by her father, and goes through some pretty bad stuff. Hip hop is a supporter of this by our music and the content we release to the masses. The image (the media) puts in front of our young men is wrong. There selling us an image and a fantasy that is dangerous. If you read into the lyrics you will see that it is pointless, and by the time you figure it out you will have been either hurt or killed. By the way I’m trying to redefine the image of man I’m basically saying, it’s ok to love, its ok to respect woman she is our equal, she is second to none. We can love her and respect her.

Badnews: Wow that was deep for real; this sounds like a problem that really needs to be addressed more on a bigger platform.

J Mederios: Yes. What is going on is sick. And like I said this really happens. Women go through things like this just for our entertainment. This is what makes big money. The porn industry generates a lot of money. It makes more than Professional baseball, basketball, hockey all that combined. Combined. So this is a serious problem that needs attention.

Badnews: Wow it kind of makes you think twice about what goes on and how our world really works. Well ok let’s talk about the song tilled “call you” what inspired you to create that? There’s not that many song out there that address both parents in a positive light, especially in hip hop.

J Mederios: It’s a true story about my mother and father. I avoided making this song for a very long time but I wanted to have a song that was real, as well as entertaining to the people who listen to it. My mom had brain surgery; my dad was an ex marine. He didn’t make it past the 6th grade but he’s a very intelligent man, he’s very wise. But I wanted to show them love and thank them for supporting me. But others who listen to this can hopefully inspire them to love their families and love them and take care of each other no matter what you go through.

Badnews: That’s what’s up for real, it’s like you bringing family back (laughs)

J Mederios: Yeah definitely (laughs)

Badnews: So you have 16 tracks on your album titled “Of Gods and Girls”. Was there pressure to create more songs, or were there times you were second guessing yourself about what you wanted on the album or not?

J Mederios: Well it took me a month to write this whole album. The Procussions were touring 200 days a year. I was living on my best friends couch, I lost my car, and I got evicted. I couldn’t even take my furniture with me; I had to throw it out. I just kept what I really liked. I was feeling real insecure about myself. So I poured my soul into this project. I wrote it, produced it I did everything on this track. There are remixes on it though like the song “stroll” I did the original version, but in my personal opinion the remix sounds better. Some people like my version, but I really like the remix better (laughs). But you always second guess yourself. But either way the material was good and at the end I got a great record, and then I got my point across so I’m happy with it

Badnews: That’s good. I ask everyone that question, but you’re the first person to actually say you like someone else’s remix better than yours that’s a hiphopruckus first (laughs)

J Mederios: (laughs) Well I’m glad to make history

Badnews: (laughs) We don’t have an official record book but ill make sure I get that noted. Ok you mentioned earlier that you’re from Colorado. And you even started your career there. Well I’m living in Colorado right now. So I’m involved in the Colorado hip hop music scene a lot. Do you think Colorado one day has the potential to blow up on a mainstream level like St. Louis, Atlanta etc.?

J Mederios: Aw man no question. The next generation is coming up. 97 that was the time it was generally new and we were the foundation. We didn’t have attention or a media monster like the internet to pass our songs out to the world. Back then we had to prove ourselves. We really don’t have a big name either repping for us, like Prince did for Minnesota. But I hope groups like the Procussions will be an example. CO music needs a little more time and inspiration. It takes belief to be believable.

Badnews: How did you get recognition in Colorado in the first place?

J Mederios: Well I started off on St. Francis radio that is a big deal In Colorado. You know what I’m talking about.

Badnews: True. Well you were doing your thing back then. Ok well your speak out on a lot of social issues, did you realize early on that music could be your tool to end or at least expose the problems your so passionate about?

J Mederios: No doubt in my mind. Music is a powerful force good or bad. People say music speaks to them. Its real influential, so early on I knew that if I can address these problems through songs someone can be inspired to help stop or expose like you said these problems so they can get the attention it deserves.

Badnews: I’m telling you, music is a lethal weapon people… use it accordingly. Ok, well your skies are clearer and you were signed to the historic Rawkus records. What was your reaction to signing on that dotted line?

J Mederios: I felt great. I already had my own label, but it’s not enough. I was defiantly excited, but I wasn’t really too involved. But one day I was on the computer, and I went to the Rawkus website, and I seen my picture next to Mos Def, Talib, P and I was blown away. I had no money I was broke and homeless, now I'm an artist on this label, and my picture is mixed in with all these great lyricists. But right now I have to settle down and focus on my music.

Badnews: I know I would have that same feeling to. Ok, finally I know your doing you thing but have you been to any movies this summer?

J Mederios: Not really, but whenever I get a chance ill try to watch any US films. But man ill tell you the craziest thing is watching American movies overseas. have you ever seen Spider-Man 3?

Badnews: ...yeah

J Mederios: Remember the part where spider-man is swinging through the city and he lands on that building with the American flag waving in the background?

Badnews: (laughs) Yeah…

 J Mederios: Well, when that part came on in a French movie theatre… the whole audience broke out with laughter man! Anything that had anything to do with Americans talking about freedom, or the flag you would hear snickers and giggles from the audience. Man I’m telling you Bush took the word freedom and destroyed it. Everyone laughed so hard. It was crazy. But I’m telling you Ghost Rider is stupid. Nick and Eva are talented actors, this movie made them look crazy (laughs). Its like how can you mess with Johnny Blaze? Even with superman, the should had had the guy from “Smallville” play superman in the movie. Man they are crazy in Hollywood! (laughs)

Badnews: (laughs) Man you keep it so real, I was going to watch that movie but now I’m cool. And I see you getting your Ebert & Roper on over there (laughs) well thanks for your time, and good luck with you career.

J Mederios: Thanks and you be cool man.

Big shout outs to J.Medeiros and the Procussions for this one cuzin! Show some lov cuzin and hit their official pageup when you get a chance!

Source: BadNews - Writer for HipHopRuckus

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