It is teamwork that makes the dream work.
Jay Rock
Hustle like you broke and keep that passion.
That's what it's about. Bringing unity, so our kids can grow up safe.
I took it upon myself to give back to my 'hood.
I wanted Jordans, but I had to get Rugged Outbacks. I had to take it for what it was worth, but now I'm able to give back and it feels real good.
The hood always got my back.
Anything with music, you got to have inspiration. You got to have inspiration to do good music.
When you're a kid, you live carefree. You notice things that go on around you, but you live like a kid with no worries until you get to that certain age where trials and tribulations come and you gotta fight and stay on your toes.
My mom used to always read Bible scriptures to me and constantly say, 'Charity starts at home.' I always kept that in my mind and watched how it came to reality.
If I could help every ghetto, I would.
With gangs, there could be a positive outlook because it takes the older guys to come school these younger guys on the right roles.
My voice is an instrument.
Never give up, because at the end of it all we all trying to win.
A lot of rappers were influenced off the West Coast, even from the East.
Just keep going hard.
One thing I learned about Tech N9ne is just hard work. That dude don't sleep. I ain't ever seen this dude really sleep.
I've got big homies that done been through the same thing I've been through and they made it out, changed their life and they come back and snatch young cats up and lecture them and let them know right way to do it.
I done been to so many funerals.
I broke my leg and cracked my pelvis.
Kendrick Lamar, he has stood up for peace and love in our community. When he could have just stood up for himself.
My mother is home. Your mother is your home. Everybody is a momma's boy or a momma's girl. That's where we came from, from a woman's womb. She always gave me good advice because mothers know best at times. She gives me advice and I take it, run with it and share that with somebody else.
From where I come from, it's gutter, dog. I look back on that and I think, 'That's strong.' Without growing up where I came from, I wouldn't be the man I am today, a strong minded individual.
People planted seeds into me. Older cats gave me the game. My family, especially my mother, gave me the game and I pass it on. That's what it's about. If somebody gives you mental jewelry and you wear it for so long, you want to give it to somebody else for them pass it on.
Everybody knows how hard Jay Rock is.
A lot of people have been sending me beats, I've just been getting it in.
I was one of those young cats and knuckleheads that was hard headed, that didn't listen.
We don't care who you is - Blood, Crip, Mexican, Chinese. You feel me? If you about doing something positive with yourself and your community, let's join forces together.
When I was about 17 or 18, I would go through my boy's garage and they had a little studio set up. I would just play around there.
Just make good music.
People like to come support when somebody's gone, people wanna show all the love, but they didn't wanna show the love when he was here.
We just need more father figures and more older people to come and school these youth, because there will be a lost generation. And that's what a gang's supposed to be, protecting family and doing what you've got to do for your loved ones.
I worked with Busta back in the days, shoutout to the OG Busta Rhymes.
I remember back in the days my Mom didn't have enough for Thanksgiving.
It ain't about going backwards. It's about moving forward.
We always hear Compton and Long Beach, but Watts is always overlooked.
If you listen to the old Rock I always had one tone of rapping, but now I'm learning how to stretch out my voice and use it in different ways.
It's everyone's dream to be on a cover of a magazine - you know what I mean? It's like a dream come true.
That's what I used to do; I would just go into the studio and just rap. But it's all about coming up with dope concepts and dope hooks.
I help my loved ones.
I've been able to win a Grammy and then to come back and get the key to the city of Watts.
It's crazy how Tech N9ne was back home in L.A. He knew about my situation, what I was doing, trying to find other labels. He used to always call. 'Let me know what's up, man. We got room for you over here.' We appreciated it.
I always wanted to do a record called, 'The Three J's,' because you got me, Jay Rock, you got J. Cole, and you got Jay Z. I thought that it would be dope. I said, if I couldn't get Jay Z, we'll get Jay Electronica.
My little bro Kendrick Lamar. I've been saying it for the times even when I was on Warner when everybody knew him as K-Dot. I used to tell people all the time, watch when K-Dot step out the box, he's going to be a problem.
I want to motivate people because I know how it is, struggling, and coming from a place where you have nothing. So my thing is to motivate people to let them know whatever you put your mind to, or whatever you love to do, then stick with it and don't give up.
We all knew how talented K.Dot is. We knew how dope he was lyrically.
A lot of haters been downing me but I never gave up and that's what the fans love.
I love women. I love 'em to death, but sometimes you have to be careful. Sometimes these women out here play games, too.
Like, my whole life I've been right here in this zip code, 90059. Regardless of wherever I go I always end up in the same spot.
At the end of the day, I had to learn that it's all about having fun... na'mean?
I was on Warner Bros. for a minute.
