Interview Conducted by Will Mossa
Nuance Magazine had a chance to sit down and talk with rising rap star and Charlotte, NC native, Jaah SLT. With his new album 9-25-20 dropping last week and viral 2019 single “Tuff” charting high on Spotify Viral Charts, Shazam Top 200, and Rolling Stone, the viral single put him on the map while his talents on the mic and creativity through visuals solidified his spot as one of the hottest upcoming artists in the game. We had a chance to talk about the explosion of “Tuff”, his new album 9-25-20, his inspirations, and his plans for the future.
What artists have influenced you the most?
I listen to so much music and a whole bunch of artists, so there’s not one particular artist that helped my sound. So I would say my pops, I always say him when someone asks me that because he was the one rapping for me. He made me believe I could be different on anything and make anything sound good and it’s up to you to make it sound good.
What was it like having Tuff blow up the way it did? And did you expect it to?
To this day I’m still confused how it blew up even to this still I’m still in awe with it, I have no words. When people ask me ‘how you get it to blow up’ I don’t know how it blew up, it just blew up and people started using it, I don’t even know who found it. I didn’t expect it to happen at all.
Where and how do you get the ideas for your unique and creative music videos?
Real talk, I don’t know it’s just the camera man. I just tell them ‘I got this song, let me know what you think’ and then they give me these ideas. They just tell me what to do and I do it, and it comes out fire every time.
How have you developed as an artist from your first album (2-20-20) to this one (9-25-20)?
I’m more diverse, I think I was already diverse to start with, I’ve always known I was different. But just switching up the beats, I’m producing now so that’s something that changed. I guess you could say that’s the biggest change from when I first started. When I first started I really wanted to produce but I didn’t have the time or the bread to put it in, but now I got the bread and time to do that so I’m doing that.
Photo Courtesy of Jaah SLT Instagram
What’s your favorite track off 9-25-20?
All of them! If I had to say my favorite one I’d probably say “What We Do” that one be hittin’. I just be driving, I ain’t got no girl but I still get in my feelings to it and I just be like ‘damn bro’ it hit though.
If you could collab with anyone who would it be?
Low-I SLT, CK SLT, E Man SLT, and Sleepwalkin’ SLT, they’re my boys. That’s really who I collab with most of the time anyways. Producing wise, my boy Nile Waves and honestly with producing, anybody. But when it comes to making music I like being with my brothers and just making music, ain’t nothing better than that.
How has being from North Carolina (Charlotte) influenced your music?
Well Charlotte is ‘monkey see monkey do’ so when people come out with something new, then everyone wanna try and do that, since it worked for someone else they think it’ll work for them. But while they’re copying that person, they’re also hating on that person so it’s just a bunch of ‘monkey see monkey do’ hate hate hate. I noticed that when I was coming up and I just said ‘man I’m just gonna be different I don’t give a fuck about none of that shit I’m just gonna be different.’ With Charlotte being that way, it was really just think outside the box.
What’s your favorite part about being a musician?
I don’t gotta work anymore, no more 9-5 for no factory, no hard manual labor, I’m done I ain’t doing that. Just making music having fun bro, that’s it.
What’s next?
You gonna hear some projects produced all by me, melodies by me, the beat, the 808, all that, it’s strictly gonna be me. Music videos? I just can’t get into it, I’ve never had the eye for it, I don’t know how they think of it, it’s not my lane so I stay out of that. But pretty much my beats, my lyrics, pretty much just Jaah SLT exclusive. I wanna produce for other people too, other rappers, cause I love making beats and that’s just fun for me.