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From the streets of Yonkers to the production of hot tracks and beats, this Label is ready to storm the industry and bring their own sound to the game. J-Jump and Shot the King, founders and CEO’s of 517 Records are on the move. Not only are they running their label but they are hands on in providing the material their label releases. Shot and accomplished producer and lyricist provides most of the beats and J-Jump, a lyricist and co-producer takes no prisoners in the booth as he drops serious rhymes to the perfectly crafted beats his label provides him. These guys are very hard to get up with but did take a minute from their CEO duties and artist responsibilities to chit chat with the Face of Unsigned talent, Nine5Four The Magazine. See what Shot and Jump have to say about the game, their influences, what they are involved in and where they are going next. This maybe the last time we see real grinders like this, so take a good look!
Nine5Four: So, 517 in the house... Thank you guys for dropping in and showing some love for Nine5Four.... We really appreciate that...
Jump: no doubt... It’s nothin’...
Nine5Four: So you guys working on a new album... How is that project coming along and when can we get a lil taste of what 517 has to offer?
Jump: Yeah, yeah... We working on the LP right now... We are aiming for July 3rd... It’s on fire!!!
Shot: you can check us out right now on myspace... at http://www.myspace.com/517recordsllc or at www.517records.com
Nine5Four: July 3rd... That’s right around the corner... So what kind of music can we expect for you guys???
Shot: You can always expect fire coming from 517 records....
Jump: Real hip-hop...
Nine5Four: No doubt... No doubt... So how did you guys get involved with music as a whole??
Jump: Well I been rappin’ since I was a little nigga, probably 14 or 15.... So I have been in it heavy for a while now... About 10 years... Growin up in New York hip-hop is everywhere so it wasnt hard for a nigga to get wrapped up in it....
Shot: I started in church when I was a lil nigga singing in the choir... And my uncles used to DJ with kid Capri, which influenced me heavy... I had access to their equipment and I was hooked from day one...
Nine5Four: No doubt... So what is the most important thing to you about your music? Is it quality, lyrics what???
Shot: The most important thing for me is the music gotta make you feel something... The shit gotta mean somethin...
Jump: Yeah, yeah... There may not be a direct message in every song, but you could learn something from every song...
Nine5Four: Ok... So where do you guys get your beats done??? Is it in house or produced by outside talent??
Shot: In house... Everything is in house... If it’s not me making the hit, it’s one of our up and comin producers within the camp you feel me...
Jump: Real talk, we do everything ourselves... Ya dig... Not to say we aren’t willing to work with anybody else... It’s just to say that we don’t need to...
Nine5Four: No doubt... So you have in house talent to compliment the rhymes... That’s what’s up... So shot how did you get into the whole beat making thing and who produced that club joint that’s banging right now?
Shot: Like I said earlier, growing up with uncles that DJayed got me into DJaying and as I got older I decided to make my own tracks... You already know who produced the club banger... Shot the king, ya heard!
Nine5Four: Lol... No doubt.... So when you guys write your lyrics, do you focus more on the lyrical composition or the flow of the words???
Jump: Well for me i’m a lyrical dude so I would be frontin if I said that the lyrics weren’t the biggest part for me, but then again you have to be conscious of the way you deliver it to the people.... Nobody wants to eat a good meal off of a trash can lid ya dig... It’s all in the presentation...
Shot: For me it’s all delivery.... That’s what grabs the people’s attention...
Nine5Four: So who if anyone are your biggest influences and why?
Jump: Of course Biggie, Jay-z, and Nas... Besides that I would have to go with my home team... The Lox, DMX... Because they were the first nigga’s to make it on a big level comin from the same streets that I’m from...
Shot: Real talk, growing up in Y.O. there’s no way you could not be influenced by the whole Ruff Ryder movement then when I heard Jigga that was it....
Nine5Four: So what other projects are 517 involved in besides the music tip?
Jump: We got our hand in everything that makes money, you feel me... We started a clothing line; we got the publishing company... Whatever gonna get us the money ya heard!
Shot: If it has anything to do with cake we with it... Holla!
Nine5Four: Lol... You guys got some tight music... What other aspects of music are you guys bringing to the game besides hip-hop through your other artist?
Shot: Well we just signed a local R&B artist named Cacno and when his shit drops it’s gonna change the game please believe me...
Jump: Yeah our roster is serious... We got my nigga Arsin, he heavy in the streets, he from the Bronx... He spits that hard shit, street shit you know... We got my niggaz Books and Donny Ros from Yonkers, they killin the clubs nah mean... And last but not least we got our pop princess samara... She gonna be a problem on the charts, top 100 and all that...
Nine5Four: So you guys planning on blitzing the market. I like to hear that... You guys got the big whips and what not, livin luxurious... Makin hits and doing big things in general. Where do you guys feel your success is coming from and where do you guys see yourself in the next few years?
Shot: All my success comes from above... And I see myself being a big influence in the game...
Jump: It’s all a blessing from god man... I give him all the credit... In a few years I plan to be sittin at the top lookin down at the world thinking what’s next...
Nine5Four: Wow... Big plans... And anything is possible... What are your thoughts on the current standing of the music game and where do you see yourselves fitting in to make a change?
Jump: As far as the music, it is what it is right now... You can’t be mad for the simple fact that we made it this far.... It’s just different than what it used to be and people don’t like change so nigga’s be hatin.... As far as me bringing change to the game... I just want to make it fun again... Bring that feel good music back...
Shot: I feel music right now is accepting all flavors and I only see it growing bigger than it’s ever been... I see myself bring a new sound to the game...
Nine5Four: What are your main topics in your music and why do you feel it is important to the listener and why should we listen to 517’s music?
Jump: There’s really no main topic that we stick with, it’s however we feel that day... I mean of course we gonna let the world know how we livin and what’s poppin in the hood... We might address serious topics from time to time, but like I said it’s just whatever is weighing heavy on my brain that day.... If I don’t live it I don’t spit it ya dig...
Shot: It’s important for people to listen to our music because we bring so much to the table... We gonna show you how it should be done ya heard!
Nine5Four: What do you have to say to the upcoming talent that is on the grind trying to make it in the game? Any words of advice or wisdom??
Shot: Keep at it; don’t let anybody tell you nothin... If you feelin your music then you’re feelin your music... Real talk... Do you.
Jump: Be yourself. Stay focused and if you got that fire holla at me... Let’s get this money!
Nine5Four: Lol... Well thank you guys for allowing us a little insight on what 517 does and is doing... Do you guys have any final thoughts or words for the people reading this???
Shot: thanks for the love my dude... And to the people reading this... Get ready for that crack music! Holla!
Jump: That’s what’s up.... All I have to say is get ready for the movement... 517 records, its more than just music... 1
