BB Notes: 8.3.11

A Toast...

After D+C I realized something about myself or moreso about my work. I don't want to be the guy with the overpriced art that nobody can relate to. I don't want to be a rebel without a cause. I want to create good work. I want to convey an idea that people can connect with. And That is that people want better for themselves and at our core we are willing to sacrifice for the greater good. I want to receive Champagne for my pain.

In America, people give their lives to their jobs. Its the kind of place where what you do defines who you are, at least for most people. I wish it could be the other way around, where who you are defines what you do.

My team: In a record, I had a line where I said "if I stop, it all stops, so I can't stop at all" but that's not the case. Truthfully, you guys individually are the elements that could make any artist a success. You could take me out the equation and put another rapper in my spot and he'd be set up nice! I just appreciate that you guys believe in me so much that you throw your weight on my side of the scale.

When you're waiting to get on, you sometimes feel like you're waiting for your life to begin. This is a stretch in comparison but I liken it to what Christians feel when they imagine what heaven might be like. Well, I've had talks with the guys who have seen the afterlife. Guys like Phil.TheGod, like Coodie and Chike or guys like Sham who have worked the best in the biz. And they come back and tell me, "Yo, you got it. Just create the content. Just create the music". We have the team right now that could take over the world.

Bravo! Watch what happens...

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

BB Notes: The Ultimate

>Have you seen Black Swan? That is essentially the tale of The Artist's Struggle. When you are so self-involved that you pick yourself apart to the point of pain. When you are so self aware that you deal with a grave sense of narcissism juxtaposed with intense self-loathing...And you gotta pray that serenity prayer, "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, The strength to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference". As an artist, there is a headspace that you enter where you deal with yourself on such a deep level that you get sick of yourself at times. There are days that I get sick of my own voice. I don't wanna hear myself think! Let alone hear another jay west record. I get into myself because as a solo artist I am the CEO of jay west incorporated. It takes accountability. I was a terrible boyfriend but as an ex-boyfriend I was her best friend. Some of us are drug users. Some of us are sex addicts. But that same sex addict might be an amazing lover. These are my highs and lows. My pluses and minuses. My drugs and candy.

>I try to make music for life, for your days. I try to make music for movies. I make music for moments. I make music for memories. From my memories and For your memories. You know...

>Because, ultimately, what is our life? What is history? What are photographs? Since we're here and we all are in this time what are we doing with it? We all spend the the time. We never get it back. We all spending it. The question is what did you buy. I'm investing in inspiration. That is my last will and testament. The work I've done to inspire.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The CHEMlab by Freckled Hippie

Subjects: Jay West + Wayne Mallory
Photo credit: Ms. Tara Marshall (freckled.hippie)

Karmaloop TV: LRG on 420

I'm somewhere in that forest fire (burning trees, get it?)

NY420: Jay West, Sean Rose + More

4.20 revisited from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Took the Inland Empire to the Empire State.

3.31.11

Stills Captured By: Muhammad Umrani

Jay West, Kendrick Lamar + More Performing LIVE

KENDRICK LAMAR JAY WEST AND NESBY PHIPS LIVE AT THE MASQUERADE from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Live at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA, myself along with Kendrick Lamar, Nesby Phips, Aleon Craft and Ethereal. Feature includes performance footage as well as exclusive interviews with Jay West and Kendrick Lamar.

shot by: Artemus Jenkins

Inspiration: Rappers in Suits

The Carter.


The Killer.


The King.



+ M E .

I've been trying to capture the right aesthetics for my new work.

The rap music that I love sold me dreams of luxury in excess.

I wanted to find something to capture that essence.

I don't think there's anything that says DECADENCE quite like a rapper in a suit.

The Big Idea

Living the dream.

I woke up in the morning with dark shades on. A lady friend arrives with a Five Guys cheeseburger, fries and a bottle of Moet. We're stunting kids, don’t try this at home.

The night prior ended with a BBM discussion with Wayne Mallory about our lives right now chasing a dream. The talk was lighthearted for the most part. Poking fun at ourselves and drawing parallels in our perils, the two of us noticed that we’re both beginning to feel the effects of our lifestyle.

I say, “The hours are long. The food is bad. But...The women are fine. The rewards are great”...and it begins to set in.

These conversations with my best friend and manager would soon set the scene for my next big endeavour.

C.F.P. soon come.

-The West Wing

Jay West: "STICKS + STONES" video

Jay West- Sticks + Stones from philthegod. on Vimeo.

Jay West
"Sticks + Stones"
Download: DRUGS + CANDY Mixtape LP
Dir: Phil The God

Initially, I never imagined shooting a video for "Sticks + Stones" but after Phil heard the record, he took the reigns and discussed what his vison was for it. After toiling over concepts and images, we decided that the goal was to do something as provocative and jarring as the lyrics to the song. Drugs + Candy came out at the beginning of summer but the ideas and visuals felt cold. We wanted it to stick with the viewer. So we dug deep and created a world --a visual landscape -- that we could draw the viewers into. Its grim. Being so, what better time to release than the month of October. The start to the Fall.

ALSO: This will be the last video for DRUGS+CANDY.

enjoy.


j.

Silly Lovers

I write a lot of songs. A lot of songs never get used. I started writing this to a stolen melody and I would have to find the right voice to sing it. Maybe we can use it one day for a concert. I don't know. I don't have it all figured out.

And when i leave, i’m gon’ take you with me
You’ll never bear their bitter whispers again
Cuz when i leave i’m gon' take you with me.
So say goodbye to your friends

Silly lovers

We’ll wave goodbye as we pass

Silly lovers

And when i leave i’m gon’ take you with me
Pack all your biggest dreams, we’re never coming back
And when i leave i’m gon take you with me
We’ll never argue again

Silly lovers

We’ll wave goodbye to our past

simple.

On The Glenn

That's me sweating it out. These are shots from The Atlanta Stargazing show on the rooftop of The Glenn Hotel from August 13th. Man, things move so fast when you're in the thick of it so the photos help to capture things that would have otherwise been washed away by alcohol and smoke. Here's to these summer nights. Beautiful! View More > > >

"Sticks + Stones" Video Stills

Here are some screen captures of Phil editing the S+S video.
No date on release just yet. Just be patient, its worth it.

A Song For You...

If you have music inside you, you’ve got to let it out! You will hear that song play until you die. The drum and the key: the sounds can be haunting to the man that has differed his dreams for some many societal ambitions that have been appointed to him. There is no sense in just keeping the music to yourself because there will be a day that the sound becomes torturous. You have to let it sing out let the world dance with you.

I’ve noticed the trend of people taking a stance against rappers. People are so salty that everyone wants to be a rapper. Who are you to decide what dream can or can not be made real? Are there too many aspiring models in Atlanta? Are there too many aspiring actors in Los Angeles? Too many aspiring rock stars in Seattle? The list could go on. If you have a dream of your own, pursue that relentlessly because the dreams will relentlessly pursue unless they die. That’s the beat of your drama. You oughta dance to the music while your legs are young. Keep your head down and keep working on you.

I’m done for now.

j.

ME

Prince Charming;

The chinks in my armor are just princess cuts...

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash Meets K+R from Creative Control on Vimeo.

"I got a cougar in Jaguar wearing leopard print..." -Jay West "Summer Nights"

D R U G S + C A N D Y: The Full Mixtape

Here we are. We faced a lot nightmares to fulfill a dream. Money spent, time lost and even hearts broken, so what's it about? The pessimist has his doubts and the optimist has his hopes. We're the latter of the two and for this thing of ours we invest all the chips. We passed the point of no return about 10 miles ago. So with our backs to our doubts, our face to our faith and our feet to the flames we give you our feature presentation. Gather 'round hustlers...


j.

free download: D R U G S + C A N D Y // Jay West //thank you for smoking

D R U G S + C A N D Y: The Artwork

Good To You Bad For You

My friend, Matt Senna is responsible

for the face of death on the little girl.

The cover art for DRUGS + CANDY

Reflects the concept thru Matt’s eyes.

We discussed the D+C theory briefly

and then this little number came to life

thx. Matt.

Visit MATT SENNA

D R U G S + C A N D Y: The Preview

jayWEST: drugs + CANDY from Decatur Dan on Vimeo.

D R U G S + C A N D Y: The Preview - Atlanta, GA, USA March 2010
Early Spring, CHEMlab Mgmt asked a few people to come to a secret location and to share in something top secret. Given very little details and very short notice, the night was set to for a private listening to the music I had been keeping under wraps for the past few months. The setting was intimate, the air was right and I was about to speak candidly about myself and my craft. I had the chance to unveil DRUGS+CANDY to a crowd for the first time. The response was incredible and fortunately Decatur Dan was on hand to capture highlights from that special evening. Enough of the corny preview talk...press play!

Jay West "SUMMER NIGHTS"

CHEMlab from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Treat your noses! D R U G S + C A N D Y is not a concept-heavy project but the recurring theme is addiction and indulgence. Phil.thegod directed the trailer and did the job of bringing that idea to life. That super bad-ass jam featured in the teaser is SUMMER NIGHTS and can be downloaded on the house. DRUGS+CANDY will be dropping sooner than you think. For now, INDULGE... DOWNLOAD "SUMMER NIGHTS" MP3