J.Lamar talks L A N E S, upcoming project, and more in exclusive Q+A interview

By: GroovNuke

J.Lamar has been consistently paving his way for greater good. The upcoming artist's debut offering "Pave", has been out since 2017, and he's constantly pushing his brand. On top of that, J.Lamar is one of the most supportive artists out right now. His L A N E S movement means good to anyone that crosses his path. Outside of music, he also focuses his talents on growing his clothing brand. Tune in to the exclusive J.Lamar Q+A via iLLANOiZE.

GroovNuke: Where did the stage name J Lamar come from?
J.Lamar: It’s honestly the J from my first name (Justin). & Lamar is my middle name. Nothing too complex lol.

GroovNuke: Where you’re from?
J.Lamar: West Englewood in Chicago. 55th & Ashland to be exact.

GroovNuke: Describe your early upbringing and what brought you into music?
J.Lamar: I’m the youngest of 4 brothers. My pops was always in & out of jail so moms made everything happen on her own. Majority of family & people I looked up to were heavy in the streets, including my brothers. I was just real observant so I found a interest in it myself. But we always had a bigger goal & seen the bigger picture of things. My oldest brother (Biz) was a street nigga/rapper so he put the music in front of me when I was about 5. This n-gga was rawest rapper I knew coming up & he set my bar for me as an emcee.

GroovNuke: How old are you?
J.Lamar: 22

GroovNuke: Growing up who did you idolize?
J.Lamar: My OG, All My Brothers (for different reasons of course), & Kanye West.

GroovNuke: What’s your favorite album?
J.Lamar: The College Dropout.

GroovNuke: Describe the support you’ve received thus far?
J.Lamar: It’s been a roller coaster but growing. I been in & out of music for 16 years so to some people that’s known for years it’s always been nothing but big support.  Majority of people know me as a Football player so for the last four years, “the switch up” catches people off guard but it’s rapidly starting to turn around for the better.

GroovNuke: When hard times hit your artistry, how do you respond?
J.Lamar: I put it into the music. I love challenges, so I don’t look at “hard times” as an issue. I know it as a stepping stone to get where I wanna be. I want longevity in my art, which means you have to be mentally & physically prepared for the hard times. Those times determine if you built for this or not. You gotta persevere & keep paving.

GroovNuke: Who’s your favorite upcoming artist right now?
J.Lamar: As far as Chicago, It’s hard to say just one. It’s too much talent coming out the land. Outside the city, Imma say Sada Baby. 

GroovNuke: 2020 what can we expect from J Lamar?
J.Lamar: New Pave Music, More Visuals, New LANES Merch, & A lot more in-depth looks on me in general.

GroovNuke: What do you think is the best song you made?
J.Lamar: Lyrically, Imma have say “Ground Work”. I raised the bar with my schemes & wordplay on that one. Content, my best song was “Wise Words”. It took a lot for me to even make that song because it was about my grandma. I honestly wasn’t going to put it out because it was still an emotional subject for me. But I felt like the song had too much wisdom & jewels in it that I felt like people NEEDED to hear it. That became my highest streamed song on Apple Music & Spotify.

GroovNuke: Describe the “Pave” / L A N E S moment and how has it shape-shifted your art?
J.Lamar: When I moved to Houston in 2013, my brother (Sose The Giant) called me one day going on a longggg ass rant. But he was speaking pure facts. Long story short, He came up with us “Living Above Normal Everyday Standards” (LANES). Since October 17th 2013, that’s been the lifestyle. “Pave” came a little while after that as a connection of being in your own LANE. But instead, Your Paving it. Starting from the bottom & elevating ORGANICALLY. Building a road that’s less traveled but make it your own. It’s being taught through the music, clothing, & just overall how we live our lives. Just show people how they can pave THEIR own lane & to not be scared to live above normal everyday standards.

GroovNuke: What’s a quote that you live by?
J.Lamar: “Fall seven times but get up 8”. 

GroovNuke: Where can you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Doing music, having our stores front in different cities, taking the brand overseas, & doing youth sports programs in Chicago.
J.Lamar: Do you have an upcoming project on the way? Yes, new project is in the works as we speak. Be on the look out early 2020.

GroovNuke: Describe your first time performing?
J.Lamar: When I was 10, I was in a rap group called “Corporate Youngins”. My brother got us booked for this show that one of his homies was running at the Harold Washington Center I think. The whole show, they kept geeking our heads up saying we after certain artist they never called us. We was only doing ONE Song, people was up there doing Was whole ass 15 minute sets. So my brother was in the back going crazy, “THEY ONLY GOT 1 SONG!”. The show was about to end & everybody was about to leave out & my brother called us to the stage & our song came on. We hurried up, grabbed the mics, & we started performing. The whole room stopped, came back in, & rockin with us. It was crazy because they didn’t cheer that much for anybody else that whole night & they were more known artist in the city.

GroovNuke: Who’s your NBA GOAT?
J.Lamar: Mannn I Plead The Fifth.

GroovNuke:  Favorite pizza joint in the city?
J.Lamar:  Margaritas on 79th & Marquette over east.

GroovNuke: Most memorable moment in your time doing music?
J.Lamar: My “Panda Remix” going viral on Twitter.

GroovNuke: Artist(s)/ producer(s) you’d like to work with in the near future? 
J.Lamar: Artist: Kanye West, K.Camp, J.I.D, Mick Jenkins, Sada Baby, Kendrick Lamar. Producers: ChaseTheMoney, Kanye West, Pharrell, Gold Haze.