Canton artist Jean P the MC has been involved with hip-hop at some capacity since he was 6 years old. Fast-forward to now and he’s getting set to release his 14th overall project Son Of Sherrie. In this interview, we’ll speak on his collaboration with Florida producer Mydus and the importance of speaking on issues as an artist. Most importantly though, we’ll talk about Son Of Sherrie and the impact of Jean’s mother on his life and art.
Blavity: I’ve honestly lost count with how many times I’ve penned up a review for you, but it’s nice to pen one up here for Blavity. For those who don’t know, who is Jean P the MC?
Jean P the MC: You know we go way back Sto! (Laughs) Jèan P The MC is a 26-year-old hip-hop artist representing the city of Canton, Ohio. I come from a family who appreciates music, and my mother sang gospel from the time she was a child to her passing. Jèan P is hip-hop. The way I walk, talk, dress, eat, sleep, have sex (laughs). It’s my identity. My love of hip-hop started through literature, and I began writing rhymes around the age of 6 years old and now we’re here. I’ve shared the stage with a few popular acts like Stalley, Big KRIT, Curren$y, Dom Kennedy, Ace Hood, Mod Sun and countless others.
B: I’m gonna take a step back here for a second and talk about FLS GLD. You dropped it at the beginning of this year seemingly out of nowhere. I feel like you announced it real late. What motivated the collab between you and Mydus?
J: The collaboration between myself and Mydus was long overdue. His presence was all over my debut project Hometown Hero and we always wanted to do a concept album together. FLS GLD stands for “frequent lovers of sound, gaining listeners daily,” and we also felt like our music was “gold” to people who were being tricked into what was considered valuable music when a lot of the current stuff out isn’t the best. It can’t be treasured, but appreciated in the moment. Mydus and I wanted to make something people can play years and years from now. We communicated through email and phone since he lives in Miami, we’ve never met each other in person.
B: The turnaround for this project was quick, how long did it take to conceptualize this project and then bring it to the physical and digital form we have here?
J: It didn’t take long for the concept at all. I’ll think of artwork, skits and song titles before I even step in the booth. Weird right? It works for me though. Mydus is very driven. We released the project through his GLD MND imprint. He likes my hustle and how I like to promote and I learn a lot from him. The project received great feedback even in short notice.
B: We ever gonna get a sophomore effort from you two?
J: Definitely a FLS GLD 2! I just don’t pressure Mydus because he has a label to be responsible for. He literally is doing it all. So I just worry about what I have going on at the moment and we just touch base. Many times we don’t even just talk about music. We’ve become brothers. Even from a distance.
B: Word. Before we jump into Son of Sherrie and what that means, I wanna talk a bit about Canton, Ohio. I have to commend you on the work you’ve done hosting events and shows for the community. Why is it important for an artist to get involved?
J: Thank you! I just want to do my part for my city. We need a lot of outlets, especially in our music scene. Artists can’t just say they “put on” because it looks cool on a Facebook post or a tweet, you gotta get out there. Flat out. When Brandon and I came up with Freestyle Friday, it was to showcase our talents and show our city someone unique. I adopted the concept from being in larger cities like Columbus and Cincinnati doing shows. I’ve worked with younger kids in the city as well, and love to mentor youth. Being bored in a place like Canton will lead you into a lot of trouble. I’ve had friends who I graduated with now selling drugs, in prison or just attempting to relive their youth. It’s sad. I want better for my environment and people to see Canton in a different light. I use hip-hop as my outlet and it’s paying off.
B: I’ve actually watched your progress since college. What’s been the most challenging part of being in hip-hop for going on eight years?
J: The most challenging part is having the strength to stay consistent. Life gets in the way the older you get and you simply may not feel like making music for a minute. Then you have to ask yourself how important is it to you and it will wake you the hell up. I think about the fans and the people who say my songs inspire them and it inspires me to keep pushing. You have to be real with people if you want them to support you. I don’t want to be worshipped, I just want to be remembered as a great emcee who loved hip-hop.
B: Son of Sherrie. Despite how much I know about the project and its importance, I don’t think any question I ask could do it justice. Introduce us to the album and what it means.
J: Son Of Sherrie is a project that took me almost two years to finish. There were different versions, concepts and many of the beats I had were sold to other artists. The album is a concept album that combines personal stories about my life while incorporating a mini documentary about my mother. She passed away from cancer in 2006 and it still affects me. Even years later and I am still grieving positively and negatively if that makes any sense. The only way I could truly accept she gone was to let out my most inner thoughts and paying homage to her. She was a mother to a lot people other than my sister and I. It made me upset as a kid, but it made me appreciate it when she was gone. I wasn’t concerned with outdoing other rappers on this album. I just want my mom back, and she is alive and well on this album.
B: Throughout this entire project there are phone conversations with you and I’m assuming family members and others who knew your mom. Care to elaborate?
J: I wanted to tie in a personal documentary about the impact my mother had on those who were close to her. I had many voicemails, and my phone literally was doing numbers of people wanting to share their memories of my mom. I had to limit it to about three or four people. No lie, I had almost 50 voicemails. I narrowed it down to my eldest cousin Sugar, my sister Jéantia, my mother’s best friend, and my god sister Deidre. So it’s 50 percent album, 50 percent documentary.
B: Things have changed since we all took our step into adulthood. We hear about some of these changes between friends, your mindset and approach in “50 Grand.” Speak on it for a bit.
J: So many people talk about loyalty in their songs and are scared to speak on the opposite of it. I had a former friend who would expose his true motives in certain situations and it really bothered me. Instead of taking out my frustrations, I wrote about it. I began to hear through close friends that I thought I was better than other artists in my city according to this person. It truly hurt because this was someone who I trusted. When I needed a few dollars he was there, needed food, he held me down. I did the same for him. On the song, I said “Thought my life was stand up the way you viewed me as a joke.” I felt like a joke, humiliated.
B: Romance and the seemingly eternal battle to obtain it has always been a subject in your albums. But fam, on “Houston,” what the heck was even going on?
J: Hahahahaha. Oh man. It was a good night, a GOOD night. What do you think was going on? I originally made the song as a tribute to Lisa Bonet. the concept was what if I had the chance to have a date night with her. I have always thought she was so fly. The hair, her fashion sense, voice, her perspective on situations. Oh man I could talk about her for days. I did a song for Roxy Reynolds (yes that Roxy Reynolds) once and it was produced by Thelonious Martin. That was cool, but “Houston” was special. It was symbolic as “let me take you out of this world. To the moon, stars and above.”
B: There aren’t any guest appearances on this record, and honestly throughout the majority of your career you don’t have many guests. Why is that? And why was that important for this album?
J: I was telling a story and it was something I had to tell on my own. I had features in mind, but it would have taken away from the concept. Originally, I had plans to have Stalley and Kristofer Bryant on the album, but it didn’t tie into what I was doing and schedules were all crazy. It worked for the better though.
B: Obviously you’re aware of the brutality and the race issues we’ve been facing. You’ve been talking about this for a long time, but you have a different perspective than even me because you’re a father and “Right On” covers this. Talk about the importance of discussing these issues as a hip-hop artist, and how being a father affects your view on these issues.
J: It’s scary. History is slowly starting to repeat itself. We can’t keep putting these issue under the rug telling our people to “comply.” That’s bull. As artists, we need to discuss these issues because it’s REALLY happening. We can’t stay in fantasyland forever. Cops are killing innocent people. Racism is alive and people aren’t ashamed to insult others. I have to talk to my son about these issues and also pray nothing happens to him. As a father, I’m prepared to inform him that these are indeed the sign of times. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and know the issues going on in the world.
B: When Son of Sherrie ends, what do you want the listener to walk away with or take from the album?
J: I want the world to love my mother just as much as I do. You have to appreciate the people you love who are dead or alive. I don’t believe in the occult and things like that, but my mother’s ghost is alive and well when this album plays. When you play this album, Sherrie is right there with you vibing out. I want the world to see my progression, my creativity, my abilities as a writer. To see why Jéan P The MC is one of Ohio’s best emcees. Feel me?
B: I heard you’re making the move to Columbus, the capital of Ohio soon, why the move to Columbus and what do you hope to accomplish there?
J: I hope to accomplish way more than I did in Canton. My son resides there, a bigger market to share my music, better employment (which I hope to not do forever), and I have many close friends there. God told me to leave and spread my wings, so that is what I will do.
B: Lastly, what is coming next for Jean P?
J: My book is coming. Stay tuned.
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