HCM. How did you come by your stage name?
JAYARSON. Jay is my nickname because my name starts with a “J” and I started in the rap game battle rapping so I was looking for a word in the dictionary that fit me. I was on “A” when I ran across “Arsonist”, meaning a person that sets things on fire. I was like, Yeah, this has triple meaning – Imma flame the mic when I spit cause my lyrics are hot, Imma burn my opponent and Imma hot boy, ya heard me? Like I’m like that mean, ya heard me, except I changed the arsonist to arson. Jay plus Arson – added it together JayArson, but then I had to change the spelling to all caps because people kept putting a space in my shit like, Jay Arson, so now it’s JAYARSON!
HCM. When did you discover your love for music and what made you realize you wanted to pursuit a career in music?
JAYARSON. I fell in love with music in the womb, I’m quite sure. My father was a Gospel singer and my mother was a crazy music head. She listens to everything from Teddy P, Al Green, Rod Stewart, Kenny G, Tracy Chapman, Prince, MJ, and the list is endless. All those things helped mold me as an artist until this day. Far as me creating music, that started at about age 10. I used to use two tape decks and create mixtapes.
I used to call Cash Money Records and ask them if them if they were looking for some young new talent and Baby told me “No”. He actually answered the phone and a year later here come the Hot Boys, but yeah it was at about the age 10 or 11, I fell in love with creating music.
HCM. On your current/upcoming album… How did you come up with the concept for this project?
JAYARSON. My most recent project “The Murder Cappy” was inspired by the culture of the city of New Orleans and the music that I was influenced by. All the songs are named after some great artists that came before me, representing New Orleans’ sound and culture in true fashion of a native of the city.
I also used the time to show other artists it’s cool to sound like you’re from New Orleans. It’s OK not to try to sound like another city, such as Chicago and Atlanta in particular, These two cities got the sound of Hip Hop recently. in my opinion. I am trying to redirect our sound to let the youth know this is our sound. That’s what my last project was about – paying homage and preserving our sound and culture.
HCM. What are some of your greatest challenges as an artist, and what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?
JAYARSON. Man, my greatest challenge has been balance, being a father, trying to get a healthy relationship with your significant other and being a daddy. I’m really a father. I help with homework, practice baseball, softball, football, basketball, basketball training, making time to tend to my businesses outside of Rap, establishing new streams of income, and Rap studio time. It’s tough.
I have had my personal life in terrible shape, lost relationships with friends and significant others. Balance has been my biggest challenge. I have lost a lot to get here to feel alone. Sometimes the game is cold, but it’s fair. This is what I signed up for.
HCM. Is there anyone you’d like to thank, any shout outs?
JAYARSON. Shout out you guys for having me, all my supporters that ever liked, shared or commented on anything or streamed a song, made a purchase, purchased my merch – thank you!. Big shout out to my supporting team – DJ Duff, Brail Monday, Hurricane Arlene, Mista Meana, all the producers and engineers I work with, and my kids – they are my greatest inspiration – and you guys for the interview.
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