“Jay ain’t come out with his first album til he was 27, Reasonable Doubt. I ain’t even 27 yet, my first was 20, Tough Luv.”
While some members of the past Roc-La-Familia continue to bicker and have their gripes about the alleged side business that Jay was part of, Young Chris has chosen to not look at the past as a blockade for his potential future.
Once alongside Neef in the duo Young Gunz, Chris has separated himself in order to pursue his own path in music and try a career on the solo side. Aware of his abilities, the young gunner has stated that he sees himself up the ranks with artists such as Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana.
A short film/documentary was filmed on the rapper that was created for the 8 Billion Lives project that takes a step into the life of the rapper and his upbringing.
The purpose of 8 Billion Lives is in fact to step in the shoes of real people and see all walks of life and become educated on lifestyles of people globally.
“It’s a little tougher for me as a solo artist just coming in the game because I gotta do everything by myself. When we first came in, we was a group. Jay was already who he was. Roc-A-Fella was already big. Me coming in now, even though I have a decade of experience, I still have to do it from the ground up. Dig in.”
Like Beanie Sigel, Freeway and Peedi Crakk, Philadelphia was the breeding grounds for Chris. Being dubbed Pistolvania, the area is clearly one that watches too many fall and the rapper feels that his eminent rise will enable him to escape and bring those closest along with him.
“The journey of my raps is based on reality just cause that’s where I’m at. 24/7 right now. That’s one of my best way to express myself. Pain in my music. It’s all around.”
“Consequences to these streets, cause it definitely ain’t sweet. I just try to keep the positive energy and keep it around me. Philadelphia…I mean, at the end of the day, that’s where I come from. That’s how I was brought up. It’s always going to be in me. I got family that I’m going to take with me and I have friends that I’m gonna take with me, but that ain’t where I’ma stay at.”
The genre and scheme of rap has shifted drastically since the Roc was on top and running the show. In the perspective of the young rapper, there are too many rappers that just want to fit in and not enough that are willing to diversify the sound and bring something new.
“I think Rap is too political now. I think it’s too political and it takes away from the creative side of it cause people don’t want to do them. You have to do you. Do what these people love you for, what you love you for. What you started doing this Shyte for. A lot of people are coming in right now trying to adjust. They coming in adjustin to what’s going on. Get a little hook that’s gimmicky trying to win real quick.”
Continuing his grind, The Network, was released most recently with a sequel in the process with Don Cannon. Some people look at their history and become spiteful and bitter whereas others use it as a lesson and a stepping stone to reach a greater means.
Peep the visual from The Network “The Last Two”:
