Today we’d like to introduce you to JayeLL.
Hi JayeLL, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m from Atlanta. I spent some of my life in Springfield Mass as well. Culture has always been a major part of my life, from music to art and being active. Atlanta and my upbringing really fed me a lot of culture and values. I’ve witnessed how the good vibes that people share through Good music are unmatchable. From OutKast to Lil Jon, SoSoDef, Jeezy, Pastor Troy, T.I… etc. I saw people come together and build great things. When I was a child I played with some instruments for fun and I’d always challenge myself into knowing more about it. I was always around friends who had experience in things (like piano, sports, drums, rapping, dance). Even at times when I was just lingering around, the surrounding elements encouraged me to get involved. I began drumming for dancers in Mass. & soon after I began instructing. I had peers I looked up to in drumming, it turns out when they aren’t drumming they were in a studio making beats. This was something totally foreign to me at the time. I later on down the line met the studio owner at the time and presented my skills, he then let me know that with the small experience I had drumming and messing with the keyboard, I could build on that & become a producer. I’ve been locked in ever since. I was heavy on the street music up north. The Mixtape scene was bubbling, & me my buddies were shooting our shots.
I had no computer I was making beats on a video game I moved back to my home town, Atlanta, & I missed the south vibes so much, I locked myself in and sharpened my sword. I worked in home w many aspiring artists, friends and just ppl who wanted to rap one time. I later attended SAE for engineering wanting more out of what I was doing because I wasn’t making much money but everybody knew me for what I did & who I helped. In school I learned more of how to present myself more than anything. Now from meeting various ppl NETWORKING like there was no tomorrow, and staying consistent I was able to build a name for myself. I’ve been blessed to work with many of the artists that I looked up to that made me want to do this like Bankroll Fresh, Pastor Troy, Shawty Lo, Young Dro, Dungeon Family, DJ Toomp, Shawty Redd and so many more and that keeps me enlightened and consistently moving forward.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing with having comes easy. I got that idea in my head early, before I really ever had to deal w any struggle. So the struggle didn’t hurt, because I knew that’s what come with this. The biggest struggle to me was probably accepting less than I knew I was worth to encourage my word of mouth promotion. But that’s business, free samples, trial versions, first month free…. it’s part of the game. You can be worth $1,000,000 but if nobody knows what makes you worth that, your value isn’t seen, it’s just an imaginary figure. I engineer as well as produce music and sometimes my engineer shadow casts over my producer and vice versa… it was a slight struggle differentiating between the two at times. Truth is I’m just hybrid, and I can’t do one and not the other, it’s just me. Losing the people you wanted to be with you for the ride can be heavy too. Bankroll Fresh’s death threw me a curve ball. That was a time when I was really making the music I wanted to make and me and the artist were on the same page. Whatever I wasn’t doing he came w encouragement and pointed me toward the right direction. We were really beginning to evolve with each other. The song “Dirty Game” we did the day before he died is monumental to me.
It was a totally different song & he explored a different sound with lil ol me. He opened all the way up and put his life on that record & it also sounded like he was talking about my life as well but we never had that convo for him to know that. I tried to skip the beat, he made me go back. As if to say “Stop second guessing”…. I told him I wanted to go to the show w him the next day & we made it a plan. Everything played out different. He brought so much of Atlanta to me in such a short time. I hate how his life played out in the end, but I so appreciate playing a small part in it. Having the right people around is your world. I think every day there’s going to be some challenge or struggle that gets you right & ready for your tomorrow…. like a work out.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
To say it without a thousand slashes, I’m a creative. I produce & engineer & I wear other hats when it’s time. Rap/Hip-Hop music has always been a staple in my life, I’ve also been involved in a few RnB & Pop compositions. I’ve worked with so many great people like DJ Toomp, Dungeon Family & Organized Noize, Bankroll Fresh, Street Money Boochie, Pastor Troy, Dru Smith, Parlae, Strap Da Fool, Shawty LO, OJ da Juiceman, Scotty ATL, Starlito, 8Ball, Propain, DJXO, DJ Outta Space, Trouble, Drumma Boy, Shawty Redd & many others. The ground I’ve covered thus far is what makes me proud. I never thought of doing half of these things. I’m very proud of Street Money Boochie and the work ethic we’ve built with each other and the overall sound we created together. I like working one on one. I’m big on the right now vibe. I can’t create with energy that isn’t around. If we can lock in, we can do something GREAT.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Reach out to me on social media or email @1moretime_jayell Jayellproductions@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Email: JayeLLProductions@Gmail.com
- Instagram: 1MoreTime_JayeLL
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/produced-by-jayell/pl.41f7de61089b4fc8bd2c5031a3025e7f
Image Credits
@photosbybern @effinglulu
