Looking at your work Mystere, you’re clearly involved right in the middle of the Hip-Hop Culture. What does the culture mean to you?
It means a lot to me. I grew up in the Hip-Hop culture during the era Hip-Hop first started. It started out with 2 turntables, a DJ and a microphone. Now it has evolved into a real genre and it has become my life. I’ve lived it and learned it and it’s what I do.
How did you come to record the song ‘Crazy Love’ and were you thinking of anyone special?
No, it’s more of a general song. Some of my songs and pieces of my songs come from personal experiences. That song right there had no real personal experiences. The original song was done by Changing Faces. I heard the song and kinda fell in love with the track, so I got on the re-mix and did my version of it.
Out of interest, roughly how many songs have you written?
Hundreds. Under Noe Doe Network we have written hundreds to the thousands! I have written songs with other people, some songs that people have never heard. I have stuff that’s never left the paper; you know how it is. Between the catalogue, what’s in my head and what I have stored it’s crazy. It’s a lot of material. Noe Doe Networks has an extensive catalogue. It’s crazy but when you think about the number of years we have spent doing this it is a lot of music.
Yes that does sound crazy! Out of all your songs do you happen to have a favourite?
Right now I have a few favourites and one is called, ‘Bottom Girl.’ You can find that Song on my Debut LP "True Playa". It’s become a favourite for a lot of people who love it and have supported the song by buying it through iTunes, Amazon, etc. It’s now one of my top songs so when I perform I sing that song because they are expecting it. Another favourite of mine is, ‘Body Rockin,’ which has a universal type of vibe. I have recorded a reggae version of that song too.
It's clear that you are very much a team player and have been involved in various collaborations over the years. Can you say something briefly about these?
I’ve done a lot of stuff with my team, ‘Noe Doe Network,’ which consists of: Roc DaGuard, D-Sorce, Yung Mugsy, DJ Chainsaw, Earl Blaize, Dirty Ox and Rush 1. I write a lot of songs with these guys and have been working with them for years so we have produced a lot of music together. Outside my Noe Doe Camp I have worked with artists like Hurricane G, a real popular Hip Hop artist in the early 1990’s and Big T from the south. I have done some projects with Team Mashn, out of L.A., Kush Nation-Night Life and Still Burnin. I have also done ‘Money, Power, Respect’ with Big T on my No Identity Project. I have a song called ‘If the Price is Right,’ another called ‘Party in Da Club.’ That is on the Still Burnin project. The Body Rockin song is on the Kush Nation- Night Life album. All these songs can be heard on the No Identity Mixtape.
I have seen a recording of you performing in a group. Tell us more!
3PO is a group we formed which consists of me, D-Sorce and a young lady named Michelle that goes by the name of, ‘Thrush.’ I would say we have a ‘Black Eyed Peas’ kinda vibe. This is something way different from the music I’ve done in the past, but it’s universal so I think the masses will really take to it. We have a strong project and we have about 6 songs for the album so far. Look out for the 3P0 project coming soon
I saw a video of 3PO singing and it was really lively; what can you tell us about it?
Yes, that video is not actually the official video. Right now we’re working on the official video for the song and we have created a ‘behind the scenes’ piece for the, ‘Show Me Off’ video. We did this cuz people were talking about the group and wanted to see who we were. We did a one day shoot and yes, it’s a lively song with a lively vibe. The actual official video takes place in a club and tells the story of the song. We are looking to release that single some time between spring and summer and it will be the first single from the 3P0 project.
Could you tell us a little about the films you have been involved with?
I am in a couple of films and one of the films is called ‘The Trouble With Cali’ and it’s going to premier in the Sedona Film Festival, Arizona this month (Feb.) The film you know about is, ‘Hood Boogas’ and that came out incredibly well. We worked on it for a number of years and it’s our own independent project which is dear to our hearts. It wasn’t easy. It was a lot of work and a lot of stress; plus a lot of madness! We had faith in it so we managed to pull it off and it came out really good. Recently we had 3 screenings; we had one in San Antonio in Texas, One in New York, Manahattan, in the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and another in the Indie Screen Theatre in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn. They were all pretty successful so we are just moving forward with the movie as we have had a lot of good feedback.
Where did you get the idea for the movie from?
Roc DaGuard who is one of our partners from the network brought it to us. It was his idea, something he wanted to do. We all agreed that it would be a good way to expose our music which we had been doing for sometime. Everybody loves music but I think more people love films. People who don’t even care about hip hop love movies, so we figured if we put together an entertaining piece that revolved around the music and displayed our different personalities the world would be able to take to us as a whole lot easier. That was the main concept behind the film. If you see the film it’s a lot of comedy, comedy based but it revolves around our lives and you get to see a piece of who we are, so like reality TV it’s almost a reality movie.
In a way the concept is not unlike the popular film ‘Fame,’ which was well received over here in the UK. Do you think you will be able to bring ‘Hood Boogas’ to us as well?
Well actually that’s the stage we’re at now. After the screenings we had a lot of good feedback so hopefully we will be able to get it into selected theatres. Hopefully be able to do something like Netflicks or go straight to DVD. Whichever makes most sense. We will explore the options & see where it takes us.
If your movie came out over here it would pave the way for your music wouldn’t it.
Definitely and we are exploring and keeping our international options open. Who ever offers something we will listen because our aim is to expose it to the world, whether it’s this side of the world or somewhere else. We’re definitely open for opportunities.
In the UK we have had some insight into the hip hop culture. As this is your culture, in what ways do you think hip hop has changed over the years and how has it affected music overseas?
They say that every 20 years history repeats itself, so with music I have learned to see that. I think that music has taken a turn back to the nineties recently, especially with hip-hop. You’re starting to hear that nineties style of music again, especially in places overseas like the UK, Australia and Japan. To this day they take to that old school type of Hip Hop. That’s why the old school artists can still go overseas, perform and still receive a lot of love. That side of the world respects that sound and that music. That’s why in new music you are starting to hear the old style of production coming back into hip hop. The only difference is you got new players, new characters and younger energy. That style of music is all the same thing in a sense, it’s just a repeat of what’s already been done but they’re taking it to a higher level and the audiences are getting bigger now. People thought hip hop would never last. I guess when the Beatles came out, back in the days, people thought they’d never last either but as you see it’s here to stay and it has evolved into a huge genre, probably one of the most money making genres. It will probably never top country music but it’s definitely a profitable business.
What sort of role is gangster rap playing nowadays?
I think you’ll always have some type of gangster rap because it is a part of the culture. Right now you don’t see too much of it because it is commercialized. Even back in the day when it wasn't trying to be commercialized they banned it. They put all kinds of restrictions on it but the street still takes to it and the street is always going to gravitate towards that sound. The music will be heard whether it’s restricted or not. In the commercial world you just don’t see too much of it.
As a Hip Hop artist, what is your view of Gangster Rap?
Personally I don’t do it because I do more of a commercial style of music. I have children too so I don’t glorify that kind of thing but I listen to it and I like it. I like it all but what I listen to and what I would promote in my house to my children are two different things. I just love hip hop music provided it’s not idiotic because there are some not so good tracks out there. Some of it is garbage but there is an audience for everything. Gangster Rap is not what I prefer but it’s there. You have the drug talk and the gang talk, it’s there and it’s probably always going to be there.
The executives don’t care about the music and will sign anything they think will make money. They won’t play it in their homes but their kids are still listening to it because it’s there and they like it. It’s all about the money. If you talk about killing your mama and it sells a million copies that’s all they care about.
I see you occasionally enjoy crossing over into reggae. Is this something you might do a bit more?
Definitely. I’m Jamaican by heritage; my parents, brothers and sisters were all born in Jamaica so that’s part of my life. I grew up in that culture like I grew into the hip hop culture. I grew up listening to reggae in a Jamaican household so I am a Jamaican by default.. lol. Everybody thinks I’m an American because I don't speak with an accent unless I’m talking to my family. I have that vibe in me but because I’m a hip hop artist they don’t really see that. In the future you’re going to see a lot more of the reggae because I do love it. I don’t see myself as a reggae artist but I can do reggae music. I like to produce it and I like to mix it with what I’m doing. In my earlier records when I first started doing music I did a lot of that and that was my style. Now that I’m a little bit older I gravitate towards the commercial songs like ‘Body Rockin,’ the LL Cool J, Neo soul type of vibe. That’s what I like to do as an artist. Reggae’s in my blood so it’s something I will do more of. The people will see that in a project in the near future.
Mystere Jones, now that’s a curious name. Jones is very commonplace yet Mystere is very mysterious. Does this actually come from something real or were you being clever by putting them together?
Ah ha, (Laugh.) Well actually it comes from my real name and the fact that I am a mystery. People have to really know me to know me and that will take years. So for the world to see me and know me, I’m a mystery to them and the world will probably never figure out that mystery; but you will at least get a closer look at who I am through my music.
My music tells the stories of my life. If you really listen to what I’m saying, I only talk about what I know or how I live so the mystery is there for the world to figure out. The name comes from my name which starts with an E, so it’s Mr E. Jones which kinda has a ring to it. So now I’m Mystere Jones! I’m like a hip hop superhero and Mystere Jones is my super hero name, lol. I jump in the phone booth and I come out as ‘Mystere Jones the rapper,’ but when I step back in I come out a normal guy, a friend and father; just Mr E. Jones.
Its Braap thanks Mystere Jones for a great interview. Here is a selection of links to enable you to check out productions from Mystere Jones and the Noe Doe Network.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mystere.jones
Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/mysterejones?ob=0
Hood Boogas Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HoodBoogasTV
Good interview
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