HHDX: What would you say are the adverse effects of sticking to your principles?
JR: That’s a good question, I appreciate it. I’d have to say… keeping your mental health intact, man. People see it on the show that anytime you’re committed to a certain belief, that you’re going to be confronted with people and with systems and institutions that don’t want to see that happen. I surround myself with people who believe the same way that I do, but I know when to cut loose. I think the biggest obstacle is saying sane and making sure that AR-15/Jus Rhyme is still around 30, 40 years from now. That’s why our last fives principles are left to future generations. I hope that people change up the principles and make it work for them.

HHDX: The rest of your comrades felt that sometimes your beliefs would hinder your rap progress.
JR: It’s up to record executives to make that call. But emcees with political messages come in all genres of hip-hop. You can get the message from mainstream rappers. I think the only obstacle is myself. There are huge multi-platinum recording artists who say some of the most powerful stuff. Jay-Z has amazing rhymes… you’ve heard Minority Report. Lil’ Wayne has done some tracks about Hurricane Katrina that have been big... from Hollywood Divorce to joints on his mix tapes. I think that maybe it comes to changing how we receive politics. It’s not our fault, in the community, of not seeing that. I think it’s the powers-that-be who have a key to the game that don’t want to realize that there is truth in power. I think it’s funny, but to answer the question directly, if people think that’s true that I can’t make a club track… it’s up to the fans to decide. I think for any emcee, it’s a positive challenge. I’d rather write through the challenges than to let that stop me. At the end of the day, it’s not going to make or break my career. There is a market for anyone to say anything in this business. I say to people, sign yourself to your own deal, until a label comes to the table. Pool your money, promote, get a street team. You may not make a million a year. But how much you need to live is dependent on you. I don’t need to make that much. I can live well and within my means by doing something that is positive.

HHDX: Well, the business of hip-hop is based upon another belief all together. So, how do you work within those confines to create a pure product?
JR: I have no idea. That’s a good question, too. I think I’d take tips from people who have already been in it. People don’t know this but Remy Ma gave us some great tips. She was edited out of the show. But I think it’s the same question that can be asked when I went on the (White) Rapper Show. What more can I make? You just do what you can. I would be very careful and go into a major label contract with an Entertainment lawyer. I would talk to people to get their opinion. Everlast told us not to sign a major label deal. He’s been signed to quite a few and had some bad deals, so you know where he’s coming from, but Remy said the same thing. It’s more negative than positive, but I think that that’s the future of hip-hop business. Hip-Hop isn’t dead. The industry is dying, the people aren’t. I think that I’d have to take it day by day and talk to people to see if it’s even possible. Who knows, next week a major label could go bankrupt. At the end of the day, the people win and that’s what I keep in my heart. Continued on page 4 »