Deeply Rooted: My Exclusive Interview w/ DJ Jena

"Hip hop used to be so thick in the air
When it was there you ain't even need a kick and a snare
It could have been finger snaps and hand claps
But nowadays it feels a little different when a man raps" - Nostalgia by Marco Polo feat. Masta Ace


A lot has changed since hip hop's inception. It was born to the ears of some or perhaps for others, experienced through its most concrete establishment in the 90s - what we now often refer to as "The Golden Era".  What we may forget though, is that while hip hop was at its prime during that period, it took off from numerous musical genres that came before it.  We might dispense of the sounds that we hear today, but at one point or another, our sounds may have been viewed as the demise of another.  Thank goodness pioneering artists took the liberty of integrating the past with what was their present at the time, but how many of us actually knew the science behind it?  From the get-go, how many of us actually understood where they were coming from?  And if we had done our homework, then why did we seem to treat it like hip hop's best kept secret? 


With all these questions running through my mind, it was as if my brain had stopped in its tracks when I learned about "Deeply Rooted" from top lady DJ and event co-presenter DJ Jena.  This weekly gathering, which happens every Monday at Limbo, The Fort is definitely not your usual hangout nor your usual playlist.  It's not at a club, but rather a lounge and you won't hear today's top40s, but instead the top decades' worth of music from hip hop, soul, funk, and Rn'B.

I wanted to learn more so that I could share more.  See, if knowledge is power, then I felt that I would be more forceful in getting heads to attend if given ready information.  Therefore, I found that the best way to garner the truest insights on this was to go directly to its roots (pun intended).  Read on to see the exchange I had with DJ Jena about this immense project, her views on music and life, and more :


MJS: Your new event is called Deeply Rooted. So where do your roots lie?

DJJ: That's a very deep question. I could probably write a book on where my roots really "lie". But keeping it simple, I feel like my roots lie in what we see every day. Realness. Day to day life. Everyday people. Emotion. Me. You. Him and Her. Not necessarily past. Just now. Even tree roots were just now once. 

MJS: How important is it to remember your roots? Or to learn about the roots of our music?

DJJ: It's absolutely essential. Music, to me, is all about emotion. Emotions let you know what's right and what's wrong. So, how important is to learn about the roots of your emotions? How important is it to learn about the roots of what's right and wrong?

MJS: Our peers will definitely feel you on your movement, but lets talk about how a whole other generation has come after ours. Given that you've done other gigs and played music that they can relate to, would you like to reach out to them too and raise awareness for their benefit?

DJJ: It's so funny how you think about things like this, girl.  This topic - the whole 'nother generation that you speak of - has been on my mind. Recently, I was enlightened with the truth that I am part of that older generation that says things like, "This new shit - how do you even dance to this?". It was humbling. I felt OLD. Don't you remember saying the same thing? I'm still trying to come to terms with this. Getting back to raising awareness of what "our" generation considers "real music", just go with with it and ALWAYS be open-minded. Most likely, this "next generation" will someday, come full circle, as we did, start really bobbing their heads and realize, "So this is what those older cats were talking about."

I love your questions.

MJS: Music is constantly evolving - the BPMs are speeding up, the elements are changing; how do you feel about this?

DJJ: Let it be. As much as my mind tells me I hate it, we just have to let it be. Gotta remember - these are the "popular" songs. The "pop" songs. They're trends. There does exist relevant, current hip hop artists that keep their music mellow. But I see it as, Fuck it. Let's see where this fast shit takes us. Let it be.

MJS: Growing up, our music had the tendency to be a culture shock for our parents, but then we also had heads like Pete Rock and Jazzy Jeff that pioneered throwbacks. They took the roots and flipped it. Being that you're also a producer, how do you think the sound and vibe of a track can now combine old school/new school hip-hop?

DJJ: Damn. These questions are awesome. You must make music :P

This touches me. I've thought of how. I've heard it in my head. Just need time in a studio. It's possible. It sounds nice.

MJS: You've referred to Deeply Rooted as your "baby". Literally though, how has becoming a mother changed your perspective on your life and your craft? 

DJJ: Astonishingly, my wise father-in-law always told me, "this generation lives for the next." I want to teach my daughter that she can live her dreams. And the very best I can do is through example.

MJS: If you could time travel, what particular music-related moment in your life would you revisit. Why?

DJJ: The 90s. I'd feel comfortable there. So comfortable that I would tell them that I was from 2011 and they hella messed their shit up. Haha

MJS: It's still a male-dominated industry. Being a female, is it an advantage or disadvantage?

DJJ: Advantage. It is what it is.

MJS: What can you tell other ladies interested in following in your footsteps?

DJJ: Handle yourself well. Practice. Remain a fan. And not a groupie.

MJS: Finally, give us a run-down on what to expect out of Deeply Rooted and how its different from the usual hangout, playlists, etc.

DJJ: Expect a lot of passionate music and real life people who feel passionate towards it. It's different because you just don't hear this type of music anymore. Not in a bar or club, at least. DJ Crismyx and I play new stuff, too. But it all falls under Passion. And if I don't see you there, it just wasn't meant to be. [f]

Photo credit to H Studio, Harley Tiu
Styling: Reena Rae

For inquiries or concerns about the Deeply Rooted event, you can get in touch with DJ Jena through the following sites:

http://www.twitter.com/djjena

http://www.facebook.com/jdizza

I Fell in Love Through My Ears...

"A man falls in love with his eyes.  A woman falls in love through her ears". -Woodrow Wyatt


I'm not going to tell you about when Hip-hop took my heart.  See, it didn't take a day nor even a week, month or year.  Instead I'm going to tell you how.  It penetrated me to the very core over a period of time and once I began listening deeper and deeper, I was convinced that it would be not be a whirlwind romance.  As I lived through my growing glories and pains, Hip-hop had listened back.


I took to a pen and pad at the age of 14 and though I always second-guessed myself with each verse, I was determined to make a worthy contribution.  It wasn't a few years until I was ready to let others hear and soon enough, I had camaraderie with some underground heads.  Things started to happen for me at both a critical and vital time.  I was growing with people that allowed me to be exposed to an eclectic mix of music, which wasn't always made available to my ears on the radio or perhaps I had just been too ignorant about.  It even allowed me to appreciate my parents' musical preferences from their upbringing (which I had formerly shunned), because they were undeniably hip-hop's roots.  I was fascinated and absorbed the very essence.  


Fast-forward a few more years, at the age of 17/18 and I found myself high-speed rolling with an already established hip-hop/rn'b group.  Y'know, this little ol' group called 7 Shots of Wisdom.  Well, let's just say that it was the good, the great, the bad, and the worst.  That many personalities made to work together daily plus young mind-states? Chaos was inevitable.  Nevertheless, at the end of the day, despite our lack of control over our moves and collectively committing mistakes to the nth power, it was a life-changing and thrilling run with talented individuals that I had the opportunity to fly high with.  5 things that cannot be taken away from this experience: 1) I was launched into the industry, 2) Our music touched many, 3) I learned the business side of the game, 4) I met my husband (definitely can't take that one away, that's forever), and 5) I wouldn't be who I am today without them - mind, body and soul.


Post-group, I did take a breather, but I also took chances in lending my vocals to tracks by other artists and eventually, my flame for writing and making music was reignited.  This was around the time that I was a college student under the Bachelor of Arts - Major in Music Production program at De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde.  My course enabled my connection with the fundamentals and provided me with the ability to observe and be a part of what goes on behind-the-scenes.  I was a listener and learner once more and I thrived in that position.


Moreover, this was also when I joined with my current manager, Jigger of LockedDown.  He not only patiently (more patiently than you'll ever know) walked me through the path of a solo artist, but also guided me on how to extend what I knew unto others.  I decided that not only did I want to make my own moves, I wanted to assist others in their musical ambitions too.  Thus, he blessed me with a LockedDown imprint label called Dope Love Records roughly 2 years ago.  Within the same year that it was established, the first album by People's Future titled Headlines Issue#1 was released and notwithstanding the bumps in the road, it brought me joy beyond words to be able to play a part in this endeavor.


I believe that now brings me to present day.  I, who tend to be a hip-hop hermit, because "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans".  It's as if Hip-hop had become an old home; one that I had always kept, intended to keep visiting and at times still live in.  When in reality, I should be home to my own Hip-hop.  


I will always have it in me to produce music, for release or not.  But when I'm not doing that, I want to remain steady aware and listening to all the magic out there.  Let me listen to your music and I will be a medium to let others listen too so that they may fall in love through their ears, as I did.