If you thought Tupac was back, well, so is ’90s hip-hop label Death Row.
The Decatur, GA raised rapper Money Jay is bringing Death Row back with his new hit song “Death Row.”
Everything wasn’t always sweet for Money Jay. After getting arrested for gun possession in 9th grade, Money Jay’s future was looking bleak, that was until he ran into hit maker Akon.
After a meeting Akon in Atlanta, his two friends slid the hitmaker a CD of Money Jay’s music. Akon left with Money Jay’s CD, but quickly returned once he heard his music. Next thing you know, Akon laid a deal on the table for Money Jay and the rest is history.
Check out the exclusive interview with Money Jay below!
GlobalGrind: What inspired you to make the song “Death Row”?
Money Jay: What inspired me was…at a certain point in time last year, my little brother got locked up and a couple of my partners got locked up. You know what I’m saying. And then I was stressed out so I was at home smoking a blunt and I was watching that old Tupac “Hit Em Up” video at the House of Blues where he performed at, I think it was L.A. I was listening to some old Dre album and it just meshed together and I made “Death Row.”
Besides Death Row, if you were rapping in ‘94, what other label would you have signed to?
That’s a hard question. Was No Limit out in ’94? No.
It was founded in 1990.
Well put No Limit on that. No Limit, yeah I would have mentioned them. I would have mentioned Uncle Luke too.
Uncle Luke? You would have had all the dance records there, right? You know “Pop that Thang” and “Doo-doo-brown” and all them records.
Yeah, I would have had all the ladies.
So how did you meet Akon?
I used to hustle out there on Glenwood. I used to meet him on Glenwood and Columbia Drive.
Well I used to be up there every day. Up there by Glenwood and Columbia Drive and I used to pass around free mix tapes. Akon happened to come by one day and I gave him a CD. Well, I didn’t really give him a CD; my two home girls gave him a CD. I didn’t believe he was Akon. I thought it was just a black nigga with a 745, you know what I’m saying. But it was Akon. He went up the street and he listened to the CD and he came right back. And he was like, ‘this ain’t you, is it’? And I was like yeah that’s me. And then he wanted to sign me. 8 months later he signed me.
How did you feel like when everything was official and solidified?
It felt amazing. I don’t know how to describe it. It was crazy. It was a blessing. That’s really how I can explain it.
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You had sold it though before you got caught?
No, after that I started selling. I was only in high school for 3 weeks and then I got kicked out.
How much did you used to sell guns for?
If you was my partner I would have sold it to you for a hundred. If you wasn’t then I’d hit you for 100 to 200. Depends on what it is. You know how it depends on what it is, where you from. If you’re from New York … I’ma tax you.
So what else are you working on in the studio?
I got a mix tape called “Me, Money, and Irene.” I got the album “Gas Chamber” coming out.
When is that expected to drop?
It’s not dropping that quick. We’re gonna hit you with two more singles and we might ride it out till next January.
If you were sent to a deserted island and you could only bring 3 albums with you, what 3 albums would you bring?
Tupac “All Eyez On Me,” Dre “The Chronic,” UGK “Ridin’ Dirty.”
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would you collaborate with musically?
Right now? Jadakiss, Snoop … Who’s from the South? That’s about it right now.
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What’s your favorite liquor?
I switch ‘em up a lot. Right now it’s Patron.
If you had a choice would it be Hennessey or Remy Martin?
Hennessey all day!
Do you smoke weed?
Yeah.
What’s your favorite kind of weed to smoke?
Gas … but you could put OG Kush.
Gas, is that something new?
Yeah, gas is the newest.
What’s your favorite rap album?
My favorite rap album … Tupac “All Eyez On Me”.
Besides yourself, who’s your favorite rapper or somebody you look up to?
The usual, Big and Pac. I got a couple. I got Tupac, I got Biggie, I got Jadakiss, I got Playa Fly or Three Six. That’s all I’m naming right now.
What’s your favorite southern dish?
Hot wings and collard greens!
What’s your favorite color?
Green.
What’s your favorite club in Atlanta?
Chit Chat
What’s your favorite strip club in Atlanta?
Onyx
Do you have a favorite stripper at Onyx?
Yeah, I ain’t gonna give it to sharing though.
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What’s something that a lot of people don’t know about you?
That I read a lot.
What was the last thing that you read?
I just read everything. I don’t have no particular book I read. Oh nah, the last book I read was the “48 Laws of Power.”
And what’s your favorite law?
Never outshine the boss.
Never outshine the boss?
Yeah, you gotta be smart.
Are you working on any shows or anything down in Atlanta right now?
Yeah, I’m about to go on a tour.
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Who are you touring with? Are you going by yourself or are you teaming up with somebody?
Akon and Usher.
Akon? That’s gonna be a good show then.
Mmhm. I’m gonna be a small part of their tour.
Are you a little nervous about it?
No, not really. I was at first though.
If you could collaborate with any pop artists like Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber, who would you collaborate with?
Pop artists? I need Ke$ha to do it.
Is there anything else you want to share with GlobalGrind about your music or anything that’s coming up with you?
We got “Death Row” coming. We’ll have a second single for ya’ll in a couple weeks and then a third single a couple weeks later too. Right now, we’re just focusing on Death Row trying to get it as big is all.
