Get someone to start running their mouths about Jersey-concocted hip-hop and Bleszt will probably be the first and foremost name out of their mouths. The masterful songwriter and hip-hop artist is the MC behind the Goal Digger mixtapes hip-hop pundits—looking for the next big thing—have on continuous play. Maybe it’s because they recognize real.

Bleszt raps about what he knows: hard life on the streets of Newark, situations that should have killed him, but instead have made the supreme brick bandit stronger than steel laced with factory cement, and more firm than the second layer of a mountain range.

On the song “Know Yourself,” he spits out this prophecy, “Swear I’m only gettin’ better man…/I want out of the hood/So I grind/…Your conversations…/Yo, I ain’t got no time for that/My city’s needs the crown/Ooh, I swear I’m gonna grind for that.” He continues: “My city’s too great/I’mma prove it.”

When he raps about his soul getting cold, you wonder if it’s due to personal loss—he lost his older brother and mentor this year—or the fake Jersey producers he blasts. In any case, Bleszt defines and redefines the Jersey sound, the Jersey sound that’s slowly becoming the hip-hop sound. Jersey, one time.

Kreyolicious: Having a name like Bleszt…what are you most grateful for?
Life, and the opportunity to live life to the fullest. Where I’m from lives get snatched on the regular, so I’m sincerely happy to be alive… expanding while I grow as a person and company.

Kreyolicious: You were born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. What are some of your musical memories of growing up there?
One of my first and most memorable moments would have to be My freshman year before I even thought about taking rap serious. I would write bars here and there in my notebook as a hobby. Around this time, 8 Mile was in the movies and the “battle rap trend” was heavy at my school. One of the champions challenged me, and I crushed him in front of more than half the school—including the principal. That moment gave me confidence to believe in my ability to rap.

Kreyolicious: I’d love to hear the story of how your mixtape Goal Digger came about. Do tell.
To be honest, I forgot, I must’ve been high, but I can remember this one night I was talking to Louie Styles on the phone and we were saying that we needed to launch a mixtape, but something different. Different name, different feel, different everything. So, I decided to create a series, and name it Goal Digger, we were going to end it at 5, but because the fans enjoy it so much we decided to extend it to 10 volumes, and dropping them all before 2016. Then I can begin working on my first ever debut EP.

Kreyolicious: Most people see Bleszt the rapper, ignoring the fact that behind the hip-hop artist is a serious lyricist. How did that part of you develop? Did you start by writing poetry?
I’ve always been in love with the format of rap, connecting words, and making them flow in the most diverse ways possible. I grew up heavy on Eminem, Wayne, and Pac. So in my beginner days, I would always tell myself “If you can’t hear this verse on a Eminem album, or a DMX album, fix it. What’s funny is, I had a passion for Poetry since the Fourth grade, so that may be the reason. I honestly don’t mind spectators sleeping on my lyricism. They’ll wake up soon enough.

Kreyolicious: What made you record that song Port-au-Prince?
Mary Jane. [Laughter] I’m serious though. I jacked a beat online, free-styled over it, mixed it and mastered it, and actually liked the way it sounded. I didn’t plan on releasing it at first, but everyone around me that heard it…loved it. So, I decided to release it, but I needed a name. And at the moment, I was tearing up some Haitian food, and I’m like…Port Au Prince.

Kreyolicious: Port-au-Prince…I notice that you work with the director Blaze The Rebel quite a lot. Being two different creative minds, how does your collaboration process work?
Honestly, it works perfectly. Our chemistry is dope. Blaze doesn’t like low quality. I don’t like low quality. If there’s something even slightly wrong, we’ll both be like “Ughhh, we gotta do it over.” He has a great outlook that meets with my expectations, and that’s why I chose him to shoot my first four visuals. The funny thing is, we’ve been shooting with no treatments—or solid—vision so we shoot for about an hour or two, we’ve been practically free-styling our shoots. We tell each other after each shoot, “Wait Until we really start shooting for six hours.”

Kreyolicious: Jersey is making rap stars as prolifically as Queen and Brooklyn. Why do you think that is?
There’s a lot, and I mean a lot of unknown talent out this way. When I say “unknown”, I mean our sounds differ from so many other artists because everyone has different outlooks here. Look at Fetty. His sound differs from everyone, as well as Lauryn, and Whitney.

Kreyolicious: Have you been to Haiti?
Yeah, when I was young. Last time I visited, I was about five years old…which was years ago. So, that visit is definitely on my bucket list.

Kreyolicious: You’re also running with a label…Brick Bandits. How do you manage to give that venture your attention, while managing your career?
Simple…Brick Bandits revolves around music and entertainment. My life revolves around music and entertainment. Makes things so much easier having all your tools in one basket.

Kreyolicious: What would you like to say to an up-and-coming rapper?
Honestly? Keep up.

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Jersey hip-hop MC JPhilippe has a single out called “Bad Apple”. Actually, she’s a pretty good apple, one as distinct as a Washington red apple in a basket of pears. From the clothes that she wears when she spits onstage to her earthy lyrics, to the rawness of her beats.

Let’s go back to that “earthy lyrics” stuff that’s so exemplified by a live stage performance that she had at New York’s Meridian 23 Lounge. “I do not chase after men/I operate at my own pace,” she raps, gesturing to the crowd griot-style, and drawing cheers from the females, in a crowd made-up of mostly 20-something couples. “I feel like Machiavelli, like Tupac/I got the juice/I got every drop.”

She got every drop, alright. Check out this interview I had with her…

Kreyolicious: Having been born and raised in Jersey, do you feel that there is such a thing as a Jersey sound?
No. I do not believe there is such thing as a Jersey sound. Jersey is well-known for certain genres of music such as dance and house music. We live in a world where music from all over the world is at our fingertips. Artists in Jersey can sound like they aren’t even from Jersey because they have been exposed to other forms of music that influence their sound—such as African hip-hop and dance hall music.

Kreyolicious: Girl, what inspired your last two singles?
My last two singles where “Great” and “The Waffle Dinner”. I would say becoming more comfortable with my style of music is what inspired those records. I have always been confident in myself but I found a new level of confidence and it shows in my delivery of those two records. I know I can make hit records, and it is starting to show!

Above: JPhilippe in action in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Photo Credit: Dean Crate.

Kreyolicious: There’s a big difference between flexibility, conformity and selling out in hip-hop. What’s the one thing you would never compromise…that’s so important that you would rather give up the rap game rather than compromise it…?
I was just having this conversation with a fellow artist! One thing I will not compromise is my look. I won’t get plastic surgery on my body, bleach my skin, or any other alteration to my appearance. I do not mind getting in the gym and toning up my body to be healthier and sexier, but I will not conform to mainstream America’s standard of beauty. I will not do anything unnatural to alter my look. I do not want to wear weaves. I like my natural hair. Like I said in my song “The Waffle Dinner”, “I’m black and beautiful/Black and beautiful like I’m Naomi”. I meant that with all my heart. I do not see enough black woman who look like me being displayed in the media. Women need to see other women who look like them in the media in order to feel beautiful and confident…In order to feel that there is beauty in their features.

Above: Representing the ladies. Photo Credit: Dean Crate.

Kreyolicious: Of all the tracks you’ve spit on, which do you feel exemplify you the person?
I would have to say “Great”. That record has so much confidence and swag. As well as humor and wittiness. It really showcases my personality in a nutshell.

Kreyolicious: Which Mcs are you feeling right now?
Right now I am loving the younger generation of rap artists. Artists like Kodak Black—who is also Haitian—Lil Yatchy, D.R.A.M., and this female rapper named Dreezy that is super dope.

This concludes PART 1 of the interview with the MC. Watch out for Part 2! Meanwhile, check J. Philippe in action below

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JPhilippe’s YOUTUBE CHANNEL | JPHILIPPE ON SOUNDCLOUD | VISIT JPHILIPPE’S WEBSITE

Rapper JPhilippe represents Jersey with as much chirpiness as the state bird American Goldfinch. She also represents womanhood and individuality. “I’m not following any crowd,” she raps during a live stage performance at the First Republic Lounge in Elizabeth, New Jersey. “I’m just trying to make my parents proud/They think I got my heads up in the clouds,” she continues in what are the opening lines in her aptly-titled track “Clones”.

It’s clear from her stage presence that she’s no clone. She’s a prototype, actually. Dressed in a glittery, body-hugging gown that an R&B singer singing at Madison Square Garden would don, and with her hair up in a bun, the MC spits lyrical truth after lyrical truth.

But that’s just JPhilippe on stage. When listening to one of her tracks, it’s hard not to picture her grasping her mic, with an unperturbed expression on her face.

On JPhilippe’s latest song “Bad Apple”, every other line sounds like a personal development book chapter on its own. “Don’t ask for a good girl just to do her dirty”, she says giving a mini-sermon on romantic relationships. Next, she tackles colorism: “You want a red-bone/but I’m black everyday.” Oh, and gender equality too: “I’m from Adam’s rib/But I deserve a bigger plate/…To keep you on your toes/I keep dancing ballet.” And she even has some psychological self-evaluation too: “I got a good heart/Sometimes I wear on my sleeves/When I’m too kind/Too kind/They turn around and punish me.”

In Part One of the interview with JPhilippe, we discussed her latest tracks, and the so-called Jersey sound. This time around, we talk about the land of her parents, and the correlation between personal pain and creativity.

Kreyolicious: And regionally speaking…what do you think of the music scene?
The music scene is ever evolving. It is spontaneous so you never know what direction it will go in or what will be the new popular wave. Regionally, I have made a name for myself and I am proud of that. I am proud of all the artists around me who are carving they own lane and being true to their art.

Above: Rapper J. Philippe in a moment of reflection. Photo Credit: Jefly Joubert Photography. Make up by Chile.

Kreyolicious: As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, do you feel inspired by Haitian music at all?
Absolutely. My sister loves konpa, so she is always playing it around the house. I grew up listening to Haitian music in my household all the time.

Kreyolicious: You’ve been to Haiti?
Yes. I’ve gone twice this year alone. Haiti is where my heart is. Whenever I am there, I feel like this is truly where my home is because that is where my heart is. I feel connected to my roots. The beautiful views, rich culture, and delicious food keeps me coming back.

Kreyolicious: Marvin Gaye reportedly made an album when he was going through a painful divorce. Hip-hop lore has it that The Fugees created their classic The Score in a hot studio, with all the members being next to broke. And the rapper Kanye West endured a bear fatal accident before his breakthrough. When you think about all the EPs you’ve released, which was created under the most strenuous circumstances?
I would say my album The Philosophy of Philippe was created under the most strenuous circumstances. I had just came back from visiting family in Haiti. It was 2012 and I was at a crossroads in my music career and personal life. I came back from Haiti being frustrated about my relationship with my father…how strained it was—and some things he did while I was in Haiti with him that I did not like. I was not receiving the kind of support and backing I needed from the NJ music crew I was associated with at the time. I made a decision on a whim to move to ATL a few months after coming back from Haiti. I released that project two weeks before I moved. It was a hectic time in my life, but it made for great music. That time really helped me build my character.

Kreyolicious: Getting out of your comfort zone always reaps fruit. What’s next for you?
I just released a new single called “Bad Apple” on SoundCloud and I will continue to release singles until one of them catches on to a major audience! I am revamping my logo, website, and shooting music videos for “Great” and “Syrup” within the next month or two. Staying productive and creative!

This concludes PART TWO of my interview with JPhilippe. CLICK HERE if you missed PART 1.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JPhilippe’s YOUTUBE CHANNEL | J. PHILIPPE ON SOUNDCLOUD | VISIT J. PHILIPPE’S WEBSITE