J2made901 Talks Debut EP ‘Start of the Beginning,’ Pursuing Rap While In College & More

If you’ve been around the campus of Hampton University recently, you’ve perhaps spotted a flyer with a black boy surrounded by graphics. This is a young Joel Lyons II, whose stage name is J2made901. He dropped his debut EP, “Start of the Beginning” this past Friday, which he describes as “the start of [his] journey.” Chrysnel Banzouzi had the pleasure of speaking with the rising artist about the new EP, his upbringing in Memphis, and the challenges of pursuing rap while being a college student.  

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. What’s the inspiration behind the EP title, “Start of the Beginning?” Is there a connection between the childhood photo used on the cover and the EP title?

The "Start of the Beginning" title originated from the feeling of being at the start of my journey, specifically through manhood and life. As I begin this journey that God has paved for me, I want to be able to reach and accomplish all goals placed ahead. I chose to focus the cover art around my childhood photo because I wanted to display to my audience the man I have grown into today.

How challenging was it for you to be introspective in your music?

I don't view it being challenging at all. My passion for making music started at the beginning of high school and even then, I wanted my music to be different. People at my school would put different types of music out so you could say it was a competition. I had to ensure that when people hear my music it's not only authentic, but specifically unique to my character. During that same time, I also used to post small free verse rap videos and post them on Instagram every Friday called "Freestyle Friday'' for people to like and comment on. I would stay up late nights till the next morning perfecting my craft line after line working on different free verse songs. That helped me out even to this day, resulting in songs and wordplay being easier to produce and create.

What has been the difficulties of pursuing rap while being an academic?

I would say the only difficulty would be balancing both. I'm currently a 5-year MBA major, which is one of the more rigorous courses at Hampton so I always have something new on my plate. There are times when I have to take breaks with music in order to maintain my good standing with academics, but growing up I was always taught school comes first and extracurriculars come second so that still applies now. I still make a conscious effort to balance both aspects through my daily routine though.

How did you team up with producer Njtheealmighty? What was the collaborative process like?

J2made901 and Njtheealmighty

I met Nj my freshman year. It was my birthday and I dropped a free verse rap video on my Instagram and he saw it. He told me he liked it and that he'd send me tremendous quality beat packs. I eventually became closer to his friends and we all became a clique later on, which is better known as the Mapes. My brothers and I are with each other every day so music is always present. After class, Nj and I always link up and create something new, whether it's producing a new beat, recording, or even writing a new song. We always motivate and encourage each other to give our best effort and defy all odds. “Whoever ain't on this side, can stay on their side” so that's how we rock. We understand our abilities and the magic we can produce in the booth so we continuously uplift one another through our journeys to the top!

 

What has been the response from your peers regarding the EP?

Everybody that I've encountered that has listened to the EP was satisfied. I received constant messages of encouragement from family, friends, and peers telling me to keep going and don't let up with the music scene. People have sent me lyrics and reposted the EP on social media, all of which I am humbly honored and blessed for the gift to put out music that satisfies and pleases others. All of the love and support received is only gonna motivate me to elevate on the next projects coming soon.

Who were your influences as an aspiring rapper?

J. Cole has always been a main target regarding my artistry as a whole. From the message he delivers within his songs and his style and flow to his humble personality, I personally feel that I share some similar traits with him. Another main target of inspiration is Young Dolph. The King of Memphis himself personally inspires me through his songs when he motivated people to get money and basically make a name for themselves. His demeanor and swag were always respected by me as well. The way he helped others around him eat is something I strive to accomplish as well. 

 

You posted a video on Instagram where you were feeding the homeless in your community with your mother. How would you like to continue bringing forth change in the future?

I've always been big on helping my community and specifically feeding the homeless. In the future, I definitely want to incorporate within my mission to encourage everyone to give back to the homeless and the community as a whole, and even create an organization of my own that capitalizes on that. At a young age, I participated in community outreach, which formed my passion for helping the homeless. My family and I always gave back at any and every chance we could. My mother's message was that "giving back to the homeless is like giving to an angel. God is always watching."

 

How would you describe your upbringing in Memphis?

Throughout my childhood, I was taught the art of hard work. My mom and dad moved us out of the hood at an early age for more opportunities. They sought change for my future and moved me into public and private schools that would elevate my mindset. My parents sacrificed everything for me, all while grinding to grow our family’s dry cleaning restoration business. They taught me so many principles and concepts that stick with me even to this day!

Besides “going down a legend,” how else would you want to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as a person that defied all odds and proved doubters wrong. While doing so, I want to capitalize and strengthen my empire of wealth and have everyone around me including my kids, kids, kids benefit from it. Whether it's through music or different businesses, I want my success to show, so when I'm out of the picture, you'll still see the hard work and obstacles I achieved to reach the highest heights I've reached.

What else can fans expect from J2made901 in the near future?

Not giving up too much information, but just expect consistency and great quality music being produced. My goal and mission were to shock a lot of people and I achieved just that. This is not the end of the road, it's just the Start of the Beginning!

J2made901’s EP, “Start of the Beginning” is available now on all streaming platforms.