Words by Christopher Kevin Au // Images by Mikki Gomez
At 23 years old, Kent Jones already has a platinum smash hit on his hands with ‘Don’t Mind,’ an anthem which has soundtracked the summer with its irresistible rhythm and sun-soaked hook.
Equally as impressive, Jones is signed to DJ Khaled’s illustrious We The Best imprint – we interviewed the Miami mogul right here – and the rookie has already spat alongside pioneers like Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Jadakiss and even grime kingpin Giggs. He recently headed to Australia for the first time with collaborator Ty Dolla Sign, so we caught up with Jones to admire his We The Best chains before chatting about his successes, working with GOATs and his future projects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n49qi-dU9IE
You’re currently on tour with Ty Dolla Sign. How have the shows been so far?
Man, last night was the first night in Brisbane. It was a movie. It was a little smaller, but a huge turn out, and tonight – unreal. Sold out.
You collaborated with Ty Dolla Sign recently on ‘Sit Down’ which also featured Lil Dicky and E-40. How did that one come about?
Wait until you see the video. That record was actually empty, it was just me on it for awhile. Then Lil Dicky was the first person I put on it, I ran into him at Mackapalooza and we linked up in Miami. Khaled brought the E-40 feature in. Originally, that song was supposed to be me, E-40 and 2 Chainz. Tity Boi was doing some things around that time, that’s my guy. It was a movie, man.
You’ve also welcomed a platinum plaque for ‘Don’t Mind’ on this Australian trip. Any plans on where you’re going to put it?
Right next to the other two I got! This is big, this is on the other side of the world. People don’t even see the other side of the neighbourhood, where I’m from.
A lot of people have been praising ‘Don’t Mind’ because it’s a positive song that just feels good. Do you ever feel like hip-hop at large lost sight of that?
That’s right. Yes, at one point the game got too critical. When I say critical – there’s a lot of angry rappers, a lot of violence for no reason, and a lot of guys that talk about the violence and try and act on it in real life, and they set the wrong example for the culture. Some. There’s a lot of great artists out there that kept it going, but no one man can shift the culture alone. No one man can do it, and I can prove it – because if one man can shift the culture alone, niggas wouldn’t have record labels signing artists.
You also handle some production work for yourself and other artists like The Game. In previous eras people expected a certain sound from a West Coast rapper, how do you approach production in 2017 when all rappers are borrowing sounds from different regions?
I feel like that’s the essence of hip-hop culture. First of all, hip-hop was founded on sampling. At its simplest form, sampling is taking from another song or being inspired by another record, and reinterpreting it or using the actual file and chopping it up to make something new. I feel like it’s going back to that, because my dog Desiigner – he’s from New York but he sounds like he’s from Atlanta. Lil Uzi Vert, he sounds like he’s from Atlanta, he’s from Philly. It’s all a mix up, I feel good about it.
Music is about creative freedom. You don’t tell anybody they from this area so they gotta make that music. I don’t believe in that. I don’t think I sound like I’m from Miami. If you ever heard the Khaled album or my mixtapes where I’m rapping, when you hear the Fat Joe and Remy album… you gonna think “Okay, he’s rapping like an up North guy.” I’m not an up North guy, I’m from Florida. I feel like I represent creative expression, but a lot of people from Florida had a certain sound – they ain’t over here in Australia right now getting interviewed! I’m not trying to shit on nobody, but it’s the truth.
You were also featured on Khaled’s track ‘Don’t Ever Play Yourself’ alongside Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and Fabolous. How did you feel going into that song as a much younger rapper alongside some veterans who were very instrumental in crafting the New York sound?
I wasn’t thinking about all that. I was ready. I like stuff like that, where I feel like people are trying to challenge me. Realistically, I’m what they call a rookie because it’s my first year… a new artist on that sort of track would have folded. You fold, or you come out on top. I came out on top. And all those guys are my friends! None of them were expecting that, Busta couldn’t believe it… I had to show ’em that I’m nice.
What’s on the cards for Kent Jones in 2017?
The Luh tape is coming on February 14th, and then the album Get Out Ya Mama House. We’re inspiring people to get our of their mama’s house. Get rid of all that Insta-ballin’, quit being breastfed at age 25/26 and get your bitch ass out of your mama’s house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ot4e298iU
