Jaysta Mack is a recording artist/producer from San Diego, California. Since 2011 Jaysta has recorded and released three mixtapes,”Macks-A-Million”, “2 Swishers and a Lemonade”, and “90s Baby (Hosted by Tha Advocate)”. Throughout the three mixtapes you can hear Jaysta’s skill advance in lyrical content, production and style. His laid back delivery and beat selection have him in a category all by himself and though he is a young producer with a lot of potential, Jaysta thrives in displaying his rapping skill on various beats with different styles. Born in 1992 the California MC has been heavily influenced by the west coast hip-hop genre along with golden era hip-hop , southern based hip hop, east coast hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul music, rock n roll, classical, and reggae. At the age of 9 Jaysta began writing raps after countless cyphers with childhood friends and role-models that encouraged him to hone his skills through competition. Jaysta has always displayed musical potential as a child by participating in choirs where he was taught musical discipline and format for composing songs. The California MC has worked with Artist such as Mike Berry, Lil Mouf, Denzel on the beat, Evol J, KAYO MADD, Mike G, and Digital Dynasty Creator, Tha Advocate. He is currently working on a fourth mixtape project, “MACKSAUCE”, that is due to be released mid 2015. With songs like “Toink” ,”Kush in my ashtray” (2 swishers and a lemonade), “Mashin” “Monsters”, “Bad Girl” and “KILLA” (90s Baby), Jaysta has created a small buzz for himself in the underground hip hop scene. With more time and experience the San Diego artist can have a promising rap career as he continues to make a name for himself and make music.
1. Whats good homie? How did you come up with your name?
Wassup wit it?, my name was inspired by this OG west coast rapper named Dresta he was on this track called “Ol Shit”, wit BG Knoccout Sylk and Eazy-E, and I felt like Jaysta was a good feel for me since my name was James and I grew up around gangstas and shit (laughs). The Mack part I done macked lots of females in my time so that was just a plus.
2. We hear a strong golden era influence in your music. For a young emcee that’s hard to find nower days. Do you feel the new generation is lacking in substance and content compared to the era that inspired you?
Well I do, I was just talking to my pops about this the other day telling him that sometimes I do feel a lil bit disappointed in the new generation and there music because it’s not that musical in my opinion, The substance and content nowadays is limited to trappin, I’m rich, got ya bitch on my dick and there’s just a lot of things that can’t carry the listener through bad times and give them things to relate to as opposed to just catchy hooks and bad lyrics. I feel like the artist I grew up listening to where more honest, down to earth, creative, and original far more than the artist today but, there are some artist out there that are still keeping the culture of hip hop alive and giving listeners things to uplift them and relate to them but they’re not getting as big a buzz as these artist that are not. But when they do get recognized like J-Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Joey badass to name a few, they can blow people’s minds.
3. When did you first start emceeing?
I first started emceeing when I was six I saw the Busta Rhymes “Gimme Some Mo” video and I saw all the characters he was playing in the video and the beat was just knocking and he was spitting hella fast. I was just mesmerized by it and that’s when It hit me like let me try and do this. Overtime I rapped more and more and ran into people that rapped and back then everyone loved to battle so I got into that and my friends were good rappers to so after a while it started to be like a competition to me and I would record tracks with my homeboy Anthony on a tape recorder we found laying on the ground outside and we made like 300 tapes at least. I was only like ten, but I was in love with it, writing rhymes tryna kill other people on songs, with me It’s truly a passion I love it.
4. How about Producing?
I started producing around 11-12 my homeboy Denzel put me on to fruity loops 5 and when I started I was spending hours and hours on tryna make something hard and tryna learn how to mix the sounds properly and make different styles of beats. I grew listening to producers like DJ Quik, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, Dr. Dre, Pharrell , Mannie Fresh, Rick Rubin, Q-tip, Quincy Jones, Kool-and-the-Gang, Patrice Rushen, Rick James, Teddy Riley, Zap and Roger etc. The list goes on and with that much influence and styles I was eager to make my own productions. Slowly but surely I kept getting better and better and I’m still getting better as I keep going I’m just trying to be the best producer/rapper possible.
5. What are your weapons of choice when making a beat?
It depends on how I’m feeling at the moment really if I can’t think of anything original to make I try to make a sample beat, either with the sample itself or if I feel like I can play it with the instruments I have, I try to replicate it. There’s those days when I’m just in my mode and I just start making something without even thinking about and it just comes out A1, there’s times when I have to really grind a beat out and work on it for hours searching for a sound or tempo or tone that will spark my creative juices. I love kicks and snares I can write a sixteen to those alone but with all the sounds I can put in the background to match the emotion I’m feeling when I’m making the beat are very important. I’m good with the piano and flute I can make them do just about anything when it comes to producing.
6. Who is your favorite Rapper and Producer in the game?
My favorite rapper in the game right now I’d have to say would be Joey Bada$$, he’s got some serious skills behind the mic and seems to be a more of a conscious rapper, which makes him better, as a lyricist, I think he’s dope. As far as producers I gotta go with Zaytoven no matter what artist the songs slaps if zaytoven’s on the beat from migos to gucci to 2 chainz they’re all slaps.
7. What can we expect from your new mixtape “MackSauce”?
You can expect more up tempo tracks and more content for me to talk about besides just my skills. It’s more of my attitude towards certain things and certain people but its stuff anyone can relate to. I’m going to be more open about my ups and downs and things I been through but in a way that you can dance to or turn up to. Different beat styles than the mixtapes from before but they’re undeniable right now I haven’t disappointed anyone yet that’s heard the tracks I’m working on so I thinks it’s going to be much better than the last mixtapes. The quality is going to be top notch I’m in a new studio I’m going to have good features from people in my city. I can feel the difference in my music from last year and I know I’m getting better. It’s going to be worth the while to listen to, I’m enjoying making it. It’s gonna be FLAME.
8. Can you explain the meaning behind that title?
Macksauce is like an alter ego for Jaysta Mack. As Jaysta, I feel more serious when I’m rapping I focus so much on trying to rip other rapper to shreds that I seem more tense in my opinion unless I’m talking about women on a song. As Macksauce I’m gonna be a little more relaxed and having more fun behind the mic and just try to enjoy the music and be more playful with it. It’s like a condiment to make to make your radio better I call it Macksauce.
9. Do you have any plans to drop an album in the future or mixtape only?
I do plan on dropping albums in the future but since I’m still coming up right now I just want to get more listeners to follow my music and be with my movement so I can feel better about selling it to them. People don’t want to spend their money on music unless they are truly a loyal fan of the artist and when I get a certain amount of people downloading these mixtapes consistently to the point I have a strong fan base I’ll make an album for them to buy that they can really appreciate and won’t have to think twice about it.
10. What’s your long term goal for the game. Go big Indy or get signed to a major?
I would rather go Indy than get signed because of the fact that I’m making the beats I’m writing the lyrics and I would want to be responsible for my own music and not have someone try to dictate what kind of music I have to make and get my royalties and a deal with standards the label has set for me but, if I could land a deal that was good I and could maintain all control of my music and the plan for my deal was unquestionable and with the right people I’d strongly consider it.
11. You went in on “Stay Solid”! The new project you got coming out, do you have more joints like that? Straight bars.
Oh yeah most definitely the tracks I’m working on now I’m feel like I’m going in on them. I’m trying come with that same aggression but deliver it more smooth this time around. And thanks I like that track to, that’s one of my favorite tracks I did. At that moment I felt like I had a lot to prove and it shows on that track.
It was good chopping it up with you homie and you got some fire for sure! Let our readers know where to check you out and connect with you. The floor is yours..
Good Lookin I appreciate it. Wassup this is Jaysta Mack aka Macksauce if you wanna check out any of my tracks, videos, mixtapes and other exclusives you can go on:
http://youtube.com/jaystamack619
http://twitter.com/isdatjaystamack
http://datpiff.com/Jaysta-Mack-90s-Baby-hosted-by-THA-ADVOCATE-mixtape.631702.html
http://datpiff.com/JAYSTA-MACK-2-Swishers-And-A-Lemonade-DELUXE-EDITION-mixtape.516776.html
http://soundcloud.com/jaysta-mack
https://instagram.com/jaysta_mack
Look out for Macksauce! Coming July 2015!