Jaye Gems and I met through the local Jersey City rap scene and show circuit a few years ago. We shared the same bill many times, last being the Unlimited Everything Chilltown tour with June And The Pushas that benefitted JC’s Sacred Heart Elementary. Jaye opens up about his past as a wild child and getting arrested, about being a father of two and the challenges of being an aspiring rapper. His star-quality charisma during this interview is parallel to his live performance. Check out Jaye Gems.

Let’s start it off like this – what do you want to be remembered by?

I want to be remembered by my kids as a man that was there for them . As somebody to be respected in any aspect; as an MC, song writer and a man. Also, by my example of being a Humanitarian and Philanthropist. Someone who left something for others. We work with a Non-Profit organization called the Spencer Williams Foundation where we keep Instruments in inner city schools. By performing and doing events, a great percentage of proceeds go to doing so.

That’s great, dude. How long have you been apart of that and how did you get involved?

June Star Mr Blackman. He asked me to join a movement called UC and we started last summer with our Jersey City tour. I got into song writing as a career when I got signed to Jive/ Soundwave years ago. And I became a dad after having [sex with] women. I have two kids. A boy that’s four years old and a girl that’s three months.

Has your name always been Jaye Gems? 

Yeah, for the most part. I toggled with others as a kid like J Train, Massive and Bruce Banner. When I was in Queens, they used to say “the Green-Eyed Bandit can’t stand it” then the “Green Eyed Bandit” because of my eyes but everyone knows that’s Eric Sermon. I don’t really remember how or who, maybe myself, said the Green Eyed MonSter. I broke the syllables apart, and it spelled GEMS, so I ran with it. Also, I call myself a lot of random dumb sh*t all the time like, “Dat N*gga aka Ya Baby Momma’s Top Secret aka Don’t Get Ya Feelings Hurt.” You know sh*t like that.

Where you born and raised in Queens?

I was born in Brooklyn. When I was starting kindergarten, we moved to South Side Jamaica, Queens. I went to two high schools there. So for a better me, my mom moved us to Long Island to a town called Westbury. Little did she know I would go through more than what I went through in Queens.  In Long Island, I carried my first gun and started selling drugs. Got arrested, did five years probation and 30-day sentences for violations. Went to a school called Hicksville. Even though it was mostly a white suburban town and school, I met some of the greatest, strongest, toughest friends and enemies out there. Got kicked out and my mom sent me to military school in Virginia called Fishburne Military.  It was good for me. Taught me to calm down, order and listen to rules and to belong to something. I was on the basketball team. We went undefeated to the championship and lost. I was also on the honor roll. Sadly I was kicked out of school, again. So I had to go back to Long Island where I went to the worst school in Nassau County at the time, Westbury High. Being the new kid, a ladies man and selling the best weed in the school didn’t make me popular with the gangs. So I grew tired of the bullsh*t, the day two girls who were selling for me told me that a certain crew had bought a gun to school for me because I had older friends that would come to the school whenever it was a problem. So I guess they wanted me gone. So I stopped going to High School that day. Five high schools later I moved to BedStuy Brooklyn. At 17-18 years old, to work and have a place, my uncle gave me in exchange for taking care of our Rottweilers. I came to Jersey City to stay in my early 20s.

 

Wow, dude. How old are you now?

Thirty.

Where do you see yourself at Forty?

Wherever my kids need me.

[Just BeClaws; Jersey City]

What’s been the challenges of being a dad and aspiring rapper?

Time and money! But honestly, it’s a challenge but a doable one. The challenge I’ve had has been more their mothers. I had both my kids in committed relationships where we lived together already. Time was and has always been the problem. I passed up an opportunity to go to North Carolina to parle with 9th Wonder about the future because my son was just born and I knew how hard it would be for her and could break our relationship, so I didn’t go! Also with my daughter’s mother who I’m with now can’t stand to have me away for a little while so I don’t want to raise two kids in failed relationships. I sacrifice late performances and time away from my family to try to make it work. Still trying to figure everything out. So I guess dealing with the mother of the child and music. The long nights. The unpredictable schedule and that it comes with that party life lifestyle because what’s a party without music!

I’m in the same boat, just newly married, planning on starting a family soon. It’s a challenge trying to figure out the middle ground. On a lighter note- what’s your favorite place to hang out at in JC?

The bistro! Aka coffee shop. Transmission. Porto. Porta. These f*ck n*ggas baby moms house! Ya WCW bedroom and her best friends place, too! And the Key Hole. RIP Roland! RIP Roman aka White Boy! And RIP Javaugn aka JV! Jersey City!!!!

That’s right; you knew Roman. I went to high school with him. Tragic what happened, though. He could spit, too.

Roman was my first friend when I moved here. He was fifteen or sixteen years old reppin’ on some gangsta sh*t!  He just wanted everyone around him to be straight. And that’s why he ain’t here today.

Yeah, I know. So what do you have coming up next? New project?

Yeah, man. I just did a bunch of freestyles. Not like OWL 66.6 sh*t, my favorite station, but relevant freestyles. I’m gonna drop them via SoundCloud.

Haaa, my boy. Random question – what was the first rap show you ever been to?

I would say the Bad Boy tour in the 90’s. Sh*t was lit! Mase had a broken leg! Diddy had everyone, and their momma come out!

Must of been crazy. Did you get to see the reunion tour in May?

Nah! I heard it was off the chain though!

Absolutely. How would you describe yourself live? What’s your vibe like?

Homie, you seen a god! Energy! Make sure people are entertained! I sweat heavily!

I already know! Just want everyone to know what to expect! What’s your opinion on this years XXL freshmen list? The new cats out here? Do you aspire to be on that cover one day?

I would like to! I think I would have the most lyrical joint in a while! I f*ck with Lil Dicky, but he could have gone harder! Don’t know who that Muslim dude is but I was digging it! Dave East my favorite new dude but I felt he could of went harder, too! I’m not gonna lie- I like Desiigner shit! And Lil Uzi Vert sounds like my ten-year-old nephew freestyling. 

Ha, yeah I feel the same way. A lot of cats could have gone harder. One of my favorite joints of your Soundcloud is “Pablo Montana” with Blaze Moolah. Both of y’all went off, and that Mike Tyson sample is hilarious. I feel like this Jersey City rap scene is liable to pop and blow up any day now. What advice would you give to local young MCs trying to make it in rap?

Listen to people who made it so you know what to do and listen to people who didn’t make it so you can see what they did wrong or didn’t do at all and learn from it! Do what works for you! If you’re not super lyrical don’t listen to someone telling you to step your bars up ‘cuz it might not come out good. And if you are super lyrical don’t dumb but it down unless it’s for a specific song! And money! Don’t be cheap with it. Put the necessary amount of money that is needed for everything because, unfortunately, it’s a business now and not a culture anymore. People won’t help play, promote or put in popular rotation spin in the club without a price tag attached!

Word up. Any last words?

Last words? JC has some of the dopest artists in music I have met in any city i lived in. We need to come together and help one another and contribute to each other’s movement! Live life learning lessons love! Peace and love!

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