Shawn Jackson - Beautiful Day (Prod. Snowman)
Shawn Jackson - Big Money Heist (Prod. Snowman)
First and foremost his album "First of All" is fire and by far one of the better albums of the year. Shout out to Jon Kim for everything. Shawn is by far one of the hottest emcees coming out of the Left Coast this year. Honestly I wish that more people came out with these types of albums. Tracks one through 13 are more than just a problem they are masterpiece, the song with Guilty Simpson is fire. Tres Records is slowly making a name for themselves first with Blu and then with this guy. So without further adue.....Enter Shawn.. illRoots.com: First thank you for the time of the day and I hope every thing is well, the album is a great collection of songs. Why the title "First of All"?
Shawn Jackson: First Of All has a triple meaning...First off, this is my opening statement...kinda like taking the podium ya know?? "First of all yada yada"....Secondly, this is the first of all of my OFFICIAL albums to come,and Last, I want this album to be the first of all of your fav's lists in 08.
illRoots.com: What made you come into Hip-Hop?
SJ: Freedom. Coming up in the 80's with no siblings, I was very dependent on the music and the culture. I'm not a hip hop geek though, I just let it manifest in the swag.
illRoots.com: The first album you bought, what medium(cassette, cd, vinyl, etc...), and why you got this album?
SJ: Well, technically I think it was The Show from Doug and Slick and it was an import..I don't even know how I had that,but the one I saved up my allowance and had to have was NWA & The Posse's Dopeman single, the one where they were thug deep on the cover with 40's n shit.
illRoots.com: A Hidden Gem where your from as far as person/place/or thing?
"Feelin' Jack"
SJ: I'd have to say my man Bricks from Pasadena. Dude's a problem!! Just think of a modern day Royal Flush..."I know right?" Both him and my man Beloved from LA featured on the album(Gold Medal Kids).
illRoots.com: One Good Book?
SJ: I thought the Bible was supposed to be THE Good Book?
illRoots.com: Being that we are soon voting if Shawn Jackson was President of any country, which one and why?
SJ: I'd probably roll with Canada. I went there once and they were just mad friendly...people don't understand them and that's me to the letter.
illRoots.com: One cut on your album that you feel will make the most impact?
SJ:Hmmm...who's to say? What I'm most proud of on this album is the balance of sounds..I mean, everybody has a favorite song so far and I brought some guys who may never work together on one project and they laced me with their talent for the sake of good music. If I'nad a wish though, it would be Maan Up! since the game is full of dude's who need to consistently do it...self included.
illRoots.com The most important thing in your life and how its reflected in your music?
SJ:I'd have to say my independence...I've been on my own since 18 and never went back so really, in everything I do I have to navigate my movements in my own way. Like coming up in the underground scene, a lot of cats went the battle route...that's cool, but I only saw the politics in it. But do you! I respect that hustle you know...go get that, but my plan was always to lay in the cut to get my movement in order, then present it. Now I'm comfortable.
illRoots.com: Most Underrated Producer of All-Time?
SJ: For me it was always Da Beatminaz...I mean from Enta Da Stage to The Storm era. That was a period when RZA, Havoc, Dre etc. was getting crazy love, and these guys were consistently dropping heat that connected to me and a lot of other people...had us wearing fatigues and shit. They're a major part of that time frame.
illRoots.com: If you could sign with one label in any time period which one and why?
SJ: '88...Cold Chillin. Juice Crew? C'mon.
illRoots.com: Advice to a young emcee?
SJ:Jump out the window!! I mean, just don't listen to some dipshit like me tell you what your way is. Be independent and create your own path. We need more innovators, we used to have so many but lately we haven't seen a whole lot of free spirits. Don't be pressured into being everybody else...YOU'RE BROKE!! Get your money up to invest in your future before you focus your energy on living out of your means. You can always do you free of charge.
Album "First of All" Out Now
illRoots.com If you could go back and change anything on the album what would it be now that its done?
SJ: There's a song I have on my page titled "Big Money Heist" produced by my man Snowman(Jack). I wanted to add it after "Strategies"..you know, a strategy for this heist. The thought was way too late though and it didn't happen.
illRoots.com: Give me one problem you see within the game right now that your album will fix?
SJ: I would hope balance. I'm not here to save the world nor am I a preachy opinionated nerd trying to tell you what Hip Hop is. That's the one thing though, I like that raw shit, and I like some ignorant shit too. I don't listen to top 40 radio, but I can hum the melody to the new Madonna song. I feel like a robot the way we've been programmed to like garbage just to buy new music(no dis to Madonna). I think once Biggie died the balance was gone in Hip Hop...It just became a big free for all....He was the most balanced emcee to me. He could get in his club zone, or street, or some dirty chick shit, or some Premo shit. He was respected by so many sides cause he was just that dude...that's what I would want this album to represent for my future.
illRoots.com: Define Shawn Jackson.
SJ: I'm a simple dude with a complex brain. I'm a weirdo, but Ithink that's a positive characteristic. Not like a pyro weirdo, but I talk to myself and stuff....a lot. My brain just thinks different from a lot of people like Boner Jamz 08 weird...it's a long story, google it. You don't really understand my thoughts, it just makes sense in the end sense I've been blessed like that. I'd just hope that people get to really zone out to the album and hear me as your boy you know...I'm not someone who takes themselves THAT serious to think I'm so intangible. I'm just a man trying to find my way like everyone else.
illRoots.com: Thanks to all of you for reading as well, thanks to Shawn for coming through and showing love. All need to go get Shawn's album at all your fine retail music outlets otherwise know as Itunes. I'm out.
