Rappers that pull their strongest influences from artists like Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye and Barry White seem to bring an element of surprise to their lyrics--true life, love and soul. Iowa born and bred J. Wright is one of those rappers—but wait, he doesn’t want to be called a rapper.  He’s an artist that draws inspiration from the music his parents listened to.

After losing his father, he found solace in poetry and those poems transitioned into rhymes. His interest in music came from a business angle, so after researching how to create your own home studio, J. Wright did just that, in his basement. He sold out of all 500 copies of his first mixtape and knew that he was meant for this. He’s not a one-sided hip-hop artist; he wants to transcend race and evoke an emotional connection with his music. This mini-mogul in the making has his hands in everything from music to jewelry and refuses to lose! Read his testimony below about becoming a mogul, being true to himself and what makes him the prototype.

-Danielle Young

How do you think the transition from poet to rapper helped your career?

It was for the best because in my music, I tell stories. It’s more than me just rhyming. It helps people connect to my music a lot more because they know it’s coming from my heart. It’s something I’ve actually experienced.

There’s something about people that go from poets to rappers. You guys have more of an emotional connection. Is that something you bring?

I’m going to it to a different level. I’m going to do something that we don’t have right now--the LL Cool J type of poetry--love poems that we don’t have anymore. I’m not going to talk about “busting it open” or nothing like that in my songs.

What type of artist would you say that you are?

I’m the prototype for what’s new. I’m bringing a little bit of everything. I’m not trying to be just one thing or something that I’m not. I’m a little bit of everything. I flash a little bit, I come from the heart always and I’m all about the ladies, so I’m bringing everything together in one melting pot.

Define the artist that you are.

The artist that I am is going to continue to push the envelope. I don’t ever want to be thrown in the box of a rapper. I will get an acoustic guitar player, go to an open mic and straight rap over him playing the guitar. I’ll get a rock band and rap over that. I’ll do a church song with me rapping on it. Anything you can think of, I’m going to try it.

What’s the most important aspect of your music?

It’s me. It comes from the heart. I would never sugarcoat anything or make anything up. If I say I’ve done it or been through it, then I’ve done it and been through it.

Everybody and their mommas want to be artists, so when you tell people that, you fall on deaf ears because, who doesn’t want to do it? You had a plan, so that makes you smarter. Are you trying to be a mogul?

That’s my dream and how I started off. I really didn’t start off as a rapper. I just wanted to be the CEO of my own record label. Then, I got drawn in. People heard me rapping in the background and begged me to get on a song. One song turned into two songs, then three, then my own mixtape and album. I definitely feel like mogul side is something I want to do. I have other business ventures that I’m trying to extend my hand to. I’m trying to become more than just music. I don’t want people thinking I am just limited to music.

You want to be a mogul, so what are you doing to get yourself there?

I have a jewelry company and that’s first and foremost. I’m trying to open up three locations by the end of this year. That’s one thing. I do a couple of designs for T-shirts here and there, so the clothing line is coming eventually. [I have] the record label of course--Camp Entertainment. I feel like I’m just trying to open the door, so that anyone else that’s trying to be themselves can just do that.

That’s definitely mogul status. How do you find the time between your music, label, clothing line and jewelry line, to live your life?

I don’t sleep. [laughs] I get 2-3 hours of sleep a day.

That’s not healthy!

Actually, it is. I went to my doctor and everything. I really don’t need sleep. So, I guess I’m built for this. I’m the prototype.

Tell me more about the jewelry line.

Honestly, my interest in jewelry--just like other rappers--came from seeing everybody else with big chains. So the first real money I got, I went and got a big chain. I was so interested in how they put them together, how they set the diamonds in. I started going to the jewelry shop more and more. The jeweler was like, “How about I just show you how to do this and you come and work for me for a while.” So, T.V. Johnny took me under his wing, showed me how to mold, do 3-D designs and how to hand cut diamonds. He supports me. My company that’s opening in Atlanta is going to be sponsored by him and in partnership with T.V. Johnny Dang.

Maybe I should have asked you if there was anything you didn’t want to do? [laughs]

[laughs] I don’t want to fail.

Do you have mixtapes out right now and is your album coming out?

I have an album coming out and the single is out right now. We’ve shot the video. It’s about to be real major. The single is “Mr. Wright,” featuring J. Rome. The album is called Mr. Wright. We’re looking to try to put it out at the end of the summer.

Iowa definitely has its violent side. That seems like it’d be interesting to hear about. Are you trying to put that into your music?

Nah. I don’t really want to shed light on the bad things. I want to keep it positive and do something that when parents hear the music, they’re not taking it from their kids. I want parents to go out and buy this for their kids. I want it to be something that kids and parents can agree on. I don’t think we have that right now.

What do you feel people will get from your music?

Something that’s real. This industry right now is made up of a whole bunch of fakery. There’s a bunch of people pretending to be something they’re not. Artists make up a whole new persona and I’m not trying to be a part of that. I want you to feel that it’s me coming through. I want you to be able to feel it [when] you’re going through or went through the same situation. It can help you heal and cope with it.

Your message is not of violence, sex or drugs. Where is your message going to fit in, in hip-hop?

I don’t fit. I’m making my own space and category right now.

When it’s all said and done, what do you want people to remember about you?

I want them to remember that I never had to pretend to be somebody else.  I am just me. I succeeded in being myself.

Where can people go to find your music?

They can get the mixtapes for free at www.therealjwright.com and you can find links to all my new and old stuff on iTunes.

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