Jok’Air

In "La mélodie des quartiers pauvres", you tell your story in a very melancholical way. Can you tell us about your childhood a little bit?

I was born in Paris 19th district, on rue Petit, where crack is at its lowest selling price in Paris. I moved to the 13th district, in the Chevaleret project, it’s in the very south of Paris, right next to 94. I spent my whole teenage years there, from school to graduation. I lived as someone from the projects.

The end of this song has a choir singing. Where does this choir come from?

Issa, my manager, got the idea. He did it through a friend of his called Nelly. She’s part of a choir. I thought the idea was dope, as we really don’t hear enough of that in French music. Last time I did hear that was on Kery James’ Banlieusard track, but we did it in a different way. On the previous albums, I reached out to sax players as well, I like when music is being open and I’m very grateful that I can bring things to the table that I wouldn’t be able to do alone.

It is not the first time that you have people hop on your song, we remember the kids from the blocks singing on Bendo. Is it important for you to give to people a voice?

Of course. On Bendo, I reached out to kids from where I live, and among them was Chloé, 7 years old. I like to hear everyone, it is important for me. Music is for being shared.

You seem to be very at ease in your universe : you tackle emotional topics, you sing less violent oriented things. How was the transition like?

Titles like "Abdomen", "C’est la Guerre" and "Indépendante" are the reflection of that and maybe this is because I grew up, after all. I associate my music to my life. I’ve traveled, I’ve discovered people whereas in the past, I was more locked up in my own hood.

Would you like becoming french rap’s R. Kelly?

Of course! R. Kelly is dope. Even though being Jok’Air is already wonderful (laughs). R. Kelly is someone that really messed with me, especially with his Trapped in the closet songs. In the videos, there’s a soap opera story that exposes couples that’s completely insane. R. Kelly is the lover of a pastor’s wife, then we learn that the pastor is gay and when R. Kelly comes back home, he figures out that his wife is cheating on him with a police officer that pulled her by earlier. That’s crazy ! (laughs)

What else would you listen to as a teenager?

I’d listen to a lot of the Dirty South shit, like Crime Mob, which was a pretty underground crew, and today, people like Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall carry the torch with their Juju on that beat song. I was heavily influenced by Lil’ Jon and the East Side Boyz, Bone Thugs n Harmony or 50 Cent. 50’s the boss and then comes Drake.

"We really don’t hear enough of that in French music."

Who are some of the artists you’d like to collaborate with?

I like artists that have a story, I was recently touched by Lacrim’s story, with his whole runaway thing. But other than that, I’d say Booba is to me, like he is to anybody my age, the example we need to follow.

You’ve had a feature from Madame Monsieur and Ibrahim Maalouf on Morts ou Vifs, who have a very pop mood. In January, we discovered you on a track with S. Pri Noir. We feel like you’re trying to expand your universe.

I have no limits. I make music for people but I don’t ask them for their opinion. Music is also here to educate. Tons of artists try to please people, without experimenting. They follow a lead, and that's what I hate. When something works, everybody jumps on the bandwagon.

You’ve also been announced on a track from Deen Burbigo’s first album, Grand Cru. Can you tell us more?

It’s called Ma Bande and as it suggests, we talk about our respective crews. It’s one hell of a track. It was dope working with him, he knows his shit, he knows rap. It’s cool to work with someone with such a culture.