On My New Mixtape CHAMPION: The Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

MY NEW MIXTAPE "CHAMPION"
The Who, What, When, Where, & Why

So, I've been hearing. "When are you gonna put something out?" for a loooong time now. "CHAMPION" came to me as an idea for a full rap mixtape. Really, just to encourage myself and other emcees (who happen to be able to carry and birth children) to beast as hard and stand up to the male emcees. I wanted to make some good music. HOWEVER! Most folks don't know that I've been a singer since I was a little girl in church... I started writing songs at age nine, and started recording a gospel album at age 16. HUH? Yeah... I know.

Things happen, life changes, and I went through some years beasting the youth slam poetry scene with Youth Speaks, and then I hopped over to hip hop and started really rapping seriously around 2006. The thing is... I will always gravitate towards singing. That's not to discredit my position as a fiery emcee or poet, it's just to say... I'm going to want to sing.

It's funny how people try to box you in.I've heard a lot of, "You should just sing, Dom." or "You should just rap, Dom." or "You should just do poetry, Dom." Well, I'm sorry. I refuse to choose. "CHAMPION" is my declaration that I can do all three well, if that's what I choose to do. Of course, I plan to have projects that just focus on one aspect of artistry, but that's not to say that projects like CHAMPION won't pop up again. They inevitably will.

Why am I writing this? Because... I could let all the blogs, and all the sites, and all the journalists write me up, and by all means, PLEASE DO write about Dom Jones. BUT! I'm a writer, as well, and there is no better words heard than from the horse's mouth.

WHO:

There are three main folks who were an integral part of making this project materialize in the way that it did. Will Bracy: my producer. We had creative differences, and I ended up going a more traditional route with production, getting over industry beats for all except the title track, which he produced. Most don't know that Will is also an emcee, and he pushed me to the limit while making this project. I heard a lot of "That verse isn't good enough." from him. I definitely appreciated his role in the making. Lyrical Profet: my engineer and host. He's the one who gave me room to play around and mess up and start over. Definitely a great engineer, and was a fantastic addition as host to the mixtape.

Finally, Oliver Jennings... my best friend. I'm a handful. I went through a lot of emotions during the making of this mixtape, and it's always nice to have someone there to bring you back to reality. Oli was my right hand man.

WHAT:

The subject matter varies... but mostly just has to do with what's going on in my life or in the world as I see it. I wanted to keep it solid, and write about what I know about, and about what I was really feeling. On "Heavy," I talk about my issues with my weight. That was a hard track to write, record, and put out. It's something that has plagued me since childhood, but I felt it was necessary to say. It's a track that makes me cry, but it forced me to grow in a way that was essential to progression. On "Dear Tatiana," the only spoken word track on the mixtape, I write to Oscar Grant's daughter from the perspective of being someone who has had her father die during childhood. That track was another difficult one because I don't talk about my father a lot... it's something very personal to me, and frankly, being black and fatherless is nothing new. But again, this track felt necessary to me. "Champion" was the most frustrating track on the project. It was supposed to have multiple features, all female, and it just didn't come together in time (that version will be released later down the road). When I realized that I was gonna have to write the whole thing myself, I said, "Fuck it." I mean... that's what a champion does, right? It's pretty self explanatory. The next four tracks, "I'm Leaning," "What Goes Around," "I'm Not Your Girl," and "One Thing," are me venting about love situations that I've experienced recently. I've been blessed to meet and be around and be in love with some shady characters. Doesn't seem like a blessing? I learned some GREAT lessons about love, boundaries, friendship, respect, etc. through the men with whom I've chosen to consort. The Outro is my declaration. I. AM. AN. EMCEE. Doubt me? Try me. Lol...

WHEN, WHERE, WHY:

I recorded at the studios which I had access to. Folks were very generous during the making of this project, and it was recorded from October through December. Why? Because I had to. Music is my life. It's what helps me maintain some semblance of sanity. I had to do it for me, and I had to do it as backup to all the shit I talk. Lol... plain and simple. It seems complex, but it's as simple as it is complex. I hope everyone enjoys what I've made, and I encourage folks to tell me what they think. If you're late in the game... go download it for FREE at www.domjones.bandcamp.com

Love, Dom