Jin's journey in the hip hop game has had many twists
and turns over the last few years. He made his mark in the
game as being the first Asian rapper to win big on BET's
106 and PArk. The battle rapper was retired from free style
Friday and was one of the few rappers to win the weekly
competition to actually land a record deal. Jin signed with
Ruff Ryders several years ago and his album The Rest
Is History has been in the works for some time.
The first single, "Learn Chinese" which was produced
by Wyclef and went to radio last fall. When I interviewed
Jin last January the album was due to be released in March
of 2004. As many in the music industry know, things change
or s**t happens. The album was pushed back.
Fear not. The Rest is History will finally be released
on October 19th 2004. The first single "Senorita"
is mad hot. Jin also will be hitting the couch on 106 and
Park on the day the album is released. Check out our all
new interview with Jin. |
The last time we spoke was this past January. The album
was ll set to be released in March. First things first, what
happened?
Jin: What happened? A combination
of stuff and things beyond my power. Miscommunication between
the label and uncertaintity between Ruff Rydersand Virgin without
going into details. Then picking the right single caught. It's
like the mom and dad are fighting and the child gets caught
up in the middle. But now it's going down October 19th.
Is "Senorita" the first single?
Jin: With "Senorita"
what we have is two a side 12 inch going to DJ's. We shot the
video for "Senorira. The other side is a joint Kwame produced
called "So Afraid." We are kinda working both of them.
"Senorita" is a top 40 single and we shot the video
for it and it will be on 106 and Park and MTV.
When does the video come out?
Jin: We just got the final
edit today. It should be in rotation in week or so. I know I
will be on the couch at 106 and Park on the 19th of October
the day the album hits stores. I heard that got a new set. Going
to 106 and Park to me is like going home.
Where did you shoot the video at.
Jin: I was born in Miami
and the song is about Miami so I wanted to shoot the video in
Miama but with the hurricanes happening I had to ask where is
the next beach is. So to make it look hot we shot it at Venice
Beach in California.
Will Learn Chinese Be on the album?
Jin: "Learn Chinese"
will be on the album. That song has become an anthem, it's real
big overseas. When I went to Hong Kong last last November and
I did "Learn Chinese" it was crazy, it was like a
thousand Chinese people singing "Learn Chinese." It
was crazy.
I Heard you won a big freestyle battle. How did you get
involved with that?
(For those who didn't know Jin just won a HUGE freestyle
battle down in Puerto Rico. He battled a lot of top rappers
that are still bubbling under the radar a bit like Shells and
Jae Millz and won $50,000 and a new car.)
Jin: Yeah it was in Puerto
Rico. The Mix Show Power Summitt, I'm not sure if you are familiar
with it all of the DJs come together and they talk about the
hottest records coming out and their are performances and parties
and everyone is out there. This year for the first time Renee
Mc Clain decided he wanted to have a battle for up and coming
cats that had deals but had just had a few singles. The prize
was 50 Gs and a car. He called up my manager, with no hesitatation
we were like yeah. This is what Jin does. We had a blast. As
far as timing wise it couldn't have come at a better time.
What did you do over the summer?
Jin: Since the last time
we spoke I was in the studio. The album itself was restructured.
We did a couple of more joints "So Afraid" the track
I did with Kwame. I also did a joint with Twista, Styles is
on the album , I have a song with a new R&B singer named
Life Jennings, he is on the album.
Alot of artist do cameos on other artists songs, have you
recorded any cameos?
Jin: No, not yet. After
the battle my stock went up. It would be cool to work with some
other artists.
Do you have any touring plans?
Jin: Yes I have a promo
bus. I'll be in Miami. With the album dropping I'll be out in
Cali and up in Seattle. There is an official tour I am looking
at for 2005 that starts in Canada with Nas.
I'm sure you have recorded a lot of tracks, when will you
release your second album?
Jin: Defintly in the next
year, I'll probaly get back out next summer. We have a lot going
on at Ruff Ryders. Styles has a new album coming out, Kiss is
doing his thing, we have a Ruff Ryders compilation, we also
have some new artist, one named Cartoon.
Do you ever check out your web site or any of the fan sites?
Yeah the fan sites are crazy. I went on the message board at
the site Virgin set up but it was some stuff going on over there,
I just looked at it.fan sites.
Any last remarks?
Pick up that album October 19th and don't forget to tune into
106 and Park on October 19th.
 Interview
copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2005
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be
My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned
Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the
founder of Thabiz.com and
Imissthe80s.com and
writes for the Rap,
Teen, and 1980s
section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer
and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising
inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying
entertainment jobs, or general comments.
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com
or e-mail her at webmaster@thabiz.com.
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