The Blogboard Spotlight: Detroit Hip-Hop Star Jwan

EMGWORLD ZOOMS IN ON AN UNDERGROUND SENSATION MAKING NOISE IN THE MOTOR CITY.

Detroit will forever be recognized as the birthplace of R&B.  Eminem flipped the script with his breakout success in hip-hop.  Big Sean followed suit with a remarkable rookie season last year on the billboard charts. New artist Jwan explains why he’s next up in the motor city’s assembly line of hip-hop stars.

EMGWorld: How strong of a following would you say you have right now as a movement?

Jwan: We just started our campaign about 2 months ago.  We have close to 200,000 views on all our videos.  It's a grind but I'd say we're definitely connected with them.

EMGWorld: Would you say you have an international following as well?

Jwan: [Yeah].  You know it’s crazy.  A fan from Hong Kong wrote me and said he was feelin' the music.  Some of my twitter followers have asked me to come to Europe.  It's always a surprise to me that I have fans overseas.  I appreciate it when I get love from the international family.

EMGWorld: How would you describe your style?

Jwan: My rapping and my singing is taking music back to the essence.  I feel like NO ONE should have a problem listening to my music.  

EMGWorld: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Jwan: I'd have to say 2Pac because of the emotion and heart he put into his music.  Our music doesn't sound the same, but I have the same PASSION he had behind his music.

EMGWorld: What would you say you’re bringing to the table that other mainstream artists aren’t?

Jwan: I'd have to say I'm bringing REAL music.  I'm all about bringing real hip-hop music back.  I believe that's what sets me aside from alot of these new guys and the artists who are doing music just to do it.  The realness in music isn't like it used to be.  I'm bringin’ that back.

EMGWorld: Digital distribution is giving light to new and seasoned artists. How frequently do you release digital mixtapes and albums?

Jwan: We drop new videos every Wednesday.  We're also on Worldstar every Wednesday.  My website is updated with new songs and the promo mixtape is dropping at the end of this month.  This will be the [pre] mixtape before the actual mixtape, which is called 'Champagne with the Top Back.'  We're letting music go like crazy.

EMGWorld: Is there any one artist outside of your camp that you would like to collaborate on a track with?

Jwan: I want to do something with Corrine Baily Rae from the U.K.  I think the track would come out dope.

EMGWorld: What radio stations have shown love to your music?

Jwan: Yea.  DJ Blast from WJLB here in Detroit reached out to us.  They've been playing music.  Hot 107.5 in Detroit also plays my music.  I just did an interview with them.  Both of those stations have showed me alot of love.

EMGWorld: Creating exposure and promotions are now left heavily on the shoulders of the artist. Would you say a major label could offer more than what you’re already doing as a company? 

Jwan: A major could put us on a bigger scale.  A major could promote us to a new audience.  Being independent can be a gift and a curse.  It's been nothing but a gift for us as of late.  I just take everything one day at a time.

EMGWorld: Have any major labels taken notice of the movement you’ve created off of your mixtape releases?

Jwan: No one has reached out directly, but I've been told a few out there were interested.

EMGWorld: Very few acts are able to make noise in a major way without having a co-signer. T.I.  co-signed for Meek Mill. Lil Wayne co-signed for Tyga. How does this affect your grind as an independent artist?

Jwan: I think having a co-signer is always a plus.  You can't lose with that on any day.  But I also feel that if people like you then they like you.  Having a Lil Wayne or Rick Ross might multiply it times 100.  At the end of the day it’s all going to fall back on your music and personality.  I do my own writing and arranging, rapping and singing.  That's what I pride myself on.  At the end of the day you have to be an artist that can stand on your own two [feet].  

EMGWorld: Where do you see the Good Gang Movement by the end of 2012?

Jwan: We taking it to the top.  We're putting out the promo mixtape 'BMB' at the end of this month.  My next official mixtape will drop in two months.  We're going crazy with the brand and the music.  I feel like the sky is the limit.  We're working hard.  I see the deal right around the corner.

EMGWorld: Where can fans connect with you?

Jwan: They can visit my website iamjwan.com.  You can also follow me on instagram @ jwan1 and twitter @ iamjwan.  Follow the movement.