Q&A With Chicago’s Rising Underground Artist Jai B

Congratulations on your latest Album release “After Party Hours”. We checked it out and we really enjoyed the fresh new sound & perspective on new Hip Hop coming out of Chicago. What motivated you to create this style of music. And how did you come up with your MC name Jai B?

I felt this style of music was just different from what most Chicago rappers and hip/hop artist do. Most Chicago artist come real aggressive on songs and I just wanted to switch it up and make my own vibe. The name Jai B came from just people calling me (JB) as a nickname throughout my life. I just felt like I needed to spice it up so I added an ai to it.

How is the underground sound out in Chicago right now?

I feel like Chicago’s underground scene is so big and filled with different genres. There a lot of unknown artist who are making good music not getting recognition. The sound varies but like most Chicago music in hiphop its a lot of drill. Most music is just hard and shows the pain of what people are going through in the city.

How are you dealing with this whole nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 CoronaVirus? Has this affected your music career in any way?

Covid-19 definitely has been a blessing and a curse. Quarantine and Social distancing are giving me the opportunity to make more music and be more experimental with a lot of the free time it has given me, but it also has taken the ability to perform shows and promote in clubs.

Who are your biggest Hip Hop influences?

My biggest influences in hiphop have been from Drake, Travis Scott, Nav, Future, Kanye, and PartyNextDoor. Growing up I listened to a lot of different music. My parent always played Jazz or Gospel music when I was young. When I found hiphop I had fresh ears at an older age. A lot of my influences came from that time of growing up in the late 2000s and 2010s. Every time I hear one of my favorite artist songs it just inspires me to create my own.

You recently dropped a new Album “After Party Hours” across all streaming platforms! Please give us some background on that project!? Could you tell me the inspiration behind the project and artwork?

After Party Hours was created literally when I was chilling at an after party. The idea just popped into my head and the rest of the project just came together shortly after that. I was at college when most of the songs were written and the experiences I had with my friends and other associates just gave me inspiration to put it in my music, and make it come to life. The artwork idea came from listening to kid cidi’s man on the moon and I just loved the black suit with the stary background. I wanted to make my own version, but in a way where it could represent the project.

How does social media play a role in pushing Jai B music.

Social Media is key to pushing out my music! I use it to send new songs and updates to my followers and who ever else who comes across my page. Especially for promotion.

What are a few different moves you’re making for 2020 when it comes to your music career?

I’m working on making my production the best it can be for the future and upcoming projects and songs I will be making. Also putting out more content such as photos, videos, and things I do in my daily life for people watch the journey I take to reaching my full potential.

We have to ask, with all this social discourse and revolt in the USA, protesting and rioting, exposed police brutality toward blacks and BLM, how do you feel about this? We would love your perspective on the climate we are living in right now?

I feel these protests have been needed and it’s great for people to finally see and understand what Black Lives Matter really means. All this police brutality and the way they are handling the BLM movement shows that the changes need to be made in the justice system and I’m all for change!

Our most popular question….What is your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?

I think underground hiphop is independent music that goes outside of the commercial and mainstream sound.

Where can our BLOG audience find your music and follow you on social media?

My music can be found on all platforms and my website and merchandise will be up and for sale at the end of August!

You can find my social media on Instagram @jai.b1 and on Twitter @jai_b1.

Any Shout Outs?

I would like to shout out my producer G boy who has been along the ride from the very beginning, and my engineer AirForceJuan who literally helped me find my sound!