J. Holiday (August 2007)
J. Holiday: What’s up wit ya man?
MiddleChild: Chillin. How is everything with you?
J. Holiday: Good.
MiddleChild: That’s the business. Well let’s begin by talking about this album, “Back Of My Lac”. What do you have in store for your fans?
J. Holiday: Oh man. It’s definitely going to be a hot album. I only got one feature. 8 Ball and MJG on there on a track called “City Boy”. Some of the people I worked with were Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Dream. I wrote with Adonis on the album. I got The Clutch on the album. Big shout out to my homie Quincy from DC. He did the title track. It’s coming out October 2nd.
MiddleChild: That’s what it is. Of course you’re killin’ em right now with “Bed”, but I want to let you know that you had a lot of us riding with you on “Be With Me”. I still play that one too.
J. Holiday: Fo’ Sho
MiddleChild: So tell me how you came up with the concept for “Bed”.
J. Holiday: Well actually L.O.S did the track and Dream wrote the lyrics. Basically I just told them I wanted something that would be a lady killer and also that the males can relate to and you know make something for the fans. Getting back to making people happy.
MiddleChild: Oh ok. I see. Well I’m sure you are aware that a lot of your fanbase was built because of myspace and youtube. How do you feel about both of those resources?
J. Holiday: Ah man. That’s really been helping me out. Like myspace be holding me down and as far as youtube, they got girls singing and dancing to “Bed” so how could you not appreciate that? (laughs) They holding me down and really feeling the J. Holiday movement.
MiddleChild: Speaking of movements, it seems to be that the younger generation wants to bring R&B back to the forefront. I will say that you, NeYo and Mario have been very vocal about that. But on the other side you have say, R. Kelly trying to take it to the clubs all the time. How do you feel the two kind of counteract each other?
J. Holiday: Man, I appreciate the ones trying to keep it real for R&B. It’s cool to be in the clubs, but I remember a point in time where Jodeci was out like “forget the clubs, we’re just gonna make good music.” And that’s what I’m trying to do. Like if I get in the club, cool. If not, I’ll just make good music. You know what I mean?
MiddleChild: Of course! So we discussed the lady killer, “Bed” and also “Be With Me” and I feel that you’re speaking a lot on behalf of the fellas and our situations. So if I was to listen to “Back Of My Lac”, what would you say would be like the ultimate “male anthem”. What track should we be listening for?
J. Holiday: It’ll probally be the song I got called “Thug Commandments”.
MiddleChild: Alright. So tell me about that record.
J. Holiday: It’s basically a song that’s giving like the layouts of the African American community. It’s directed to the African American community, know what I’m saying? The fact is that it’s a lot of bad seasons going on right now like us worshipping and glorifying cars, chicks and money. So it’s basically like “just cause you’re doing the things in this song, ain’t nothing gangsta about you.” It is what it is man. It’s an outline. So if you don’t like this song, then we know what type of things you love. Know what I mean?
MiddleChild: (laughs) I feel you. I enjoy live shows and I’ve seen you twice now and I see that you perform Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” and also Donne’s “Song For You”. Who would you consider other influences, because I can tell those two are on that list.
J. Holiday: Well for sure I gotta give a big ups for Ginuwine because I used to sing background for him for a quick spell. So I appreciate him for that and that’s why I do that song. As far as inspirations man…Marvin Gaye, Jodeci, Donne Hatheway, Sam Cooke, Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder. You know people that were really making good music. Of course I could go on and on. (both laugh)
MiddleChild: I notice that you keep referring to good music, so let me ask you this. If I was to go look in your cd case or cd player right now, what would be the top three cds that see the heaviest rotation in your collection?
J. Holiday: My top three CD’s? It would have to be Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” album, Marvin Gaye “Midnight Love” and definitely Tupac Shakur’s “Makavelli”.
MiddleChild: Ok. So you said you only had one feature on the album. Was that by choice or do you just plan to wait to the sophomore CD to do all of that? Who would you like to work with?
J. Holiday: I’m a new artist and rather than someone just getting a check from me, because don’t get it twisted you have to pay for those artists.
MiddleChild: Right. Right.
J. Holiday: Rather than have someone just get a check from me, I’d rather them want to want to work with me. 8 Ball and MJG wanted to get on a track and I appreciate them for that. But yea! I would love to work with some greats. I think if me and Beyonce did a duet, it would be something really busy. Or you know Lil Wayne, T.I. It’s people out there I wanna work with. I definitely wanna work with R. Kelly, but you know. I’m going to wait. It’s gon come.
MiddleChild: Alright. I know you doing the road thing right now, but are we going to see you on a tour later this year?
J. Holiday: Fo’ sho. We’re trying to work that out now. If we get all the kinks worked out, you’ll see me on a big tour maybe toward the end of August. No later than October.
MiddleChild: Well what would be your dream tour? Who would you dream to hit the road with?
J. Holiday: Oh man. I would love to get on a R. Kelly tour. He’s been making good music forever. I would love to go on tour with Beyonce or Mary J. People that have an audience who listen to good music rather than just one or two good songs.
MiddleChild: Right. So for anyone just now catching wind of J. Holiday, How would you describe your style?
J. Holiday: I’ve been calling it “Street Soul”. I call it Street Soul because I have a lot of hip hop influence. I understand the part that hip hop plays in urban music right now. It’s just I try and put the hip hop influence with the R&B and Soul because a lot of artists out there are putting out the wrong images and glorifying the wrong thing and I’m trying to show people you can still put out a positive image. You know what I mean?
MiddleChild: That’s big. Well I definitely want to show some love to my homeboy Willis over at jholidayonline.com. He is running things over there and I just wanted to let you know of the site if you were not aware.
J. Holiday: Yes. Yes. I appreciate that for real. I really appreciate yall for real.
MiddleChild: No problem. Well good luck on the album and congratulations on the single. We representing over here for you and I know you’re going to do fine.
J. Holiday: Fo’ Sho man. Thanks.
MiddleChild: Have a good one.
J. Holiday: You too.
