Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Childs.
Jahsee Music began in 2017 as an artist-producer and writer combining hip hop, afrobeat, and dancehall music. Jesse “Jahsee” Childs created the persona. The idea came about as a part of the Afromerican Project, a creative label the artist started in Chicago back in 2006. Originally from Monterey, CA, near the Bay Area, Jahsee arrived in LA in 2015. In addition to California roots, the rapper grew up all over the American west, Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico, raised by television and hip-hop culture. At the age of 18, Childs moved to Chicago for college- completing an exchange program to East Africa three years in. After a year in Tanzania, where he studied nation-building, music, and archaeology, he returned to the states with a fresh perspective. He eventually got a Master’s in Entertainment Industry Management, where he interned at Legendary, Lionsgate, and NBCUniversal while carving out his career as a writer and artist.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Before arriving in LA, the road took me from Chicago to Oakland, CA, to Pittsburgh, PA. Some of the struggles included balancing responsibilities of family, school, work, and creative work as a career. A lot of times freelancing as a writer or marketer would lead to other opportunities that would divide the pie, but managing my time as a musician also had to be a priority so there have been more than a few sleepless nights.
Please tell us about your music.
Jahsee Music is a product of the sounds of the African diaspora. My personal heritage includes ancestors from West Africa, Native American’s from the Delaware Valley, as well as Amerindians from South America and the Caribbean, plus some Dutch and English. The sound is a combination of various styles of hip hop, afrobeat, and dancehall. Afro Roots Hop if you will. The sound incorporates influences from all of the places I am from. The idea is to transport listeners to a place via the music, so they can see what they’re hearing.
Being an independent entity is a source of pride. Also, the message in the music is something to be proud of. It is meant to encourage and put you in a positive mood. The point of view is what sets Jahsee apart. Sharing perspective can be difficult. Jahsee Music breaks down barriers and offers a shared perspective, common ground to stand on. Having a diverse background offers a unique way of seeing the world and music is the medium through which I can express that as an artist. May 22 is the release date for Jahsee’s debut EP COA$T$. It follows the 2017 single release of the same name.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would go it alone before trying to work as a partnership. My early career used hip hop as a form of arts education. I went in that direction as a part of a creative collective instead of going for it as a commercial solo artist.
Pricing:
- Beat leases start at $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://writers.work/jchilds
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jahseemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JAHSEEMUSIC
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JahseeMusic
Image Credit:
Hippy Genius, Pocho One
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