South Central JAG Talks NBA Cypher, Dalton Ave & More

Through his career, Jag has had the opportunity to work with the likes of Crooked I, Cassidy, Styles P, James Fauntleroy and Dave East. The Westcoast based rapper has built his brand on the ability to lyrically murder the mixtape game over the last five year or so. The veteran artists recently released his debut project ‘Dalton Ave’, which is an 18 track project that features Bizness Boi, DJ Swish, Childish Major and Kota The Friend.

During All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, The Hype Magazine was able to catch up with Priority Records Signee JAG to discuss his recent promotional run in New York City. In addition, we talked to him about his feature in the last collaboration between ESPN and Priority Records that saw him and some of his label mates in a SportsCenter Cypher for the NBA.

What inspired you to make Dalton Ave project?

It is my first album, and I just wanted to give people the background of where I come from and where my story began. I wanted to release something very authentic and this why I decided to create this project.

What are some of your favorite singles from the project?

Who Changed?, TD Jakes, and I have to go with Foxy Brown (Outro). I really enjoyed the singles that did not have any hooks, and I was able to tell my story through the music.

How would you compare this project to some of your mixtape projects that have been floating around for the past five years?

This was more of a body of work, and the mixtapes were more of me getting on hot songs and just releasing them. It was not really a structure and did not really have stories behind them. I wanted to let people know that I am capable of doing anything. So, the mixtapes were me showing my versatility before I come with the album. So, people will not be shocked when I go to this type of music. It was super different the album came with a story behind it.

You recently did the whole New York promotional run. What lesson did you take from it and what was your favorite part of the promotional run?

It was an exciting experience for an artist coming from the West Coast to travel to New York and be able to move around the city in all the top media outlets. I had the opportunity to perform some freestyle at some major stations it was an exciting run. I had the chance to feel how it is for an artist on a major label. It was also different than me doing it by myself.

Recently you were featured in a commercial Cypher for ESPN a Priority Records Collaboration that debut during All-Star Weekend. When for first heard you were going to be in this particular project what were some of the emotions that you felt?

I was very pumped up and excited, being that I am a sports fan. So, It was a significant opportunity to be apart of the NBA. I grew up watching Michael Jordan, and all these basketball players. I am also using reference towards the NBA, and I also have friends that are currently in the league. So, for me to be apart of that in my career was a dream come true. Lebron James is my favorite player, and he is still in the league All-Star MVP and hopefully had a chance to see it. It was a great experience.

You are currently working in the studio is it safe to say you are in album mode?

I am back in Album mode, but I am just rapping right now. I have been doing a lot of freestyles, album collaborations, and I am writing for people. So, right now I am in full work mode. People are always asking how I can work on someone else’s project and work on your’s, but you are in creative mode. When you are writing for someone else, it helps spark ideas for your own project. That is what is going on right now just a lot of collaborative work and videos coming out soon.

You recently reconnected with Ty Dolla $ign can you give us a little nugget about that situation?

Ty is family, and we have been talking for awhile, and we will see what comes from it. There are a couple of things in the works, and there is collaboration is coming in the future.

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Tags: Bizness Boi, Cassidy, Childish Major, Crooked I, Dave East, DJ Swish, ESPN, JAG, James Fauntleroy, KOTA The Friend, NBA, Priority Records, Styles P, The Hype Magazine, Ty Dolla$

About the Author

Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.