Interview: JamalTheCreator – a substantial content multi-hyphenate

The buzzing music releases as well as viral YouTube uploads fluently display the capabilities of this entertainment prodigy known as JamalTheCreator.

JamalTheCreator, who some simply know as Jamal Ayomiku Bradley, has been exposed to creating content since his youth. He has been finding ways to give his music and skit productions a push far before social media ever existed.

Moving back and forth between Atlanta, Georgia and Dayton, Ohio as a kid showed Jamal many aspects of the industry. On one hand, you have a large city that is a major powerhouse for rap music, and on the other, you have a medium-size city that breeds unforgettable musical legends.

Being mixed in with those different factors, as well as having a substantial sense of humor caused JamalTheCreator to become the entertainment genius he now is. Even at the tender age of 19, Jamal has already bypassed many miles that others consider to be apart of “The American Dream”.

Rhyme Junkie caught up with JamalTheCreator to discuss some of the experiences and people that inspire him, as well as his mission as a multi-hyphenate content creator.

How did you get started in music? What’s the backstory? 

Growing up, music has always been a huge part of my life. Every morning on the weekends, I would go to my grandma’s room and cut on the Music Choice channel, then sit there and listen to music for hours at a time while reading about the artists. That’s how I discovered Zapp & Roger who happens to be one of my favorites and used to have a studio less than 7 blocks away from where I lived in Dayton. I was always inspired by old-school music and used to write lyrics with my younger sister in hopes to land a record deal haha. It’s just always been there with me from the jump. I love it!

Where does the name JamalTheCreator come from?

I’ve always had a passion for creating music and making people laugh. It’s just something I do to please myself, and I cannot help it. Initially, I was going by my silly Instagram username (@hoodgeno), but it had no meaning whatsoever. Once I started making content on YouTube, I knew that it was time for me to re-brand and create a name that represented who I was. That’s when I came up with ‘JamalTheCreator’. I’ve just always been great at entertaining myself and others through all forms of content, and many people can’t do that. Pranks, vlogs, skits, music, filming, editing videos, writing tv show ideas, you name it.

Which artists influenced you the most?

I have many different influences, so it’s kind of a hard question to answer. My environment and living in the places I’ve lived in had an aroma of different creativity in itself. I grew up with my grandmother for a while, and she used to have me listening to old-school R&B artists, and because of that I have an “old soul”. Some of my most inspirational artists for R&B are BBD, Mtume, Zapp & Roger, SWV, The Isley Brothers, Gap Band, etc. As far as Rap music, I’ve been inspired by Kendrick Lamar, Lil Durk, Kaytranada, Buddy, Mozzy, Nipsey Hussle, and mainly some other West-Coast artists. Oh, and EDM plays a HUGE role in my music intelligence. I enjoy all kinds of music, and it all impacts what I create.

Which artists are you listening to right now?

Currently, I’m mainly listening to Mozzy, Lil Durk, Nef The Pharaoh, and a bunch of other cool artists. I usually listen to the same 50 songs for a year and then rotate new music randomly.

How do you feel about people seeing you as a “YouTube Rapper”?

It doesn’t bother me as much as it does for other YouTube artists. The thing is, no matter what kind of Rap you’re making, you will always be given a sub-genre by music listeners. For instance, Lil Baby is a rapper, but his niche is being a “trap-rapper”. Me being a YouTube rapper doesn’t mean that I’m soft/ lame just because I don’t rap about violence. I actually think it’s kinda cool to be one of very few artists in this sub-genre.

How do you manage multiple entertainment projects at once?

As you get deeper into entertainment, tasks and projects pile up on you fast. You learn to adapt and start hiring assistants, and professionals that are specialized in certain areas to help you conduct successful projects. Another thing I make sure I do is to keep a team that will hold me accountable, and also let me know when I’m “overdoing it”. Things can get overwhelming, so I try to keep my tasks to a minimum and work only on time-sensitive things until I get free time to work on other things.

Why do you make music?

MUSIC IS LIFE! When I was trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do as my main career focus, I constantly faced the fear of having to write-off my music dreams. Everyone loves music, everyone listens to music. It’s almost necessary to have music in the world, or we’d be some unhappy people down here. Making music is so unique and gives you a chance to leave an impactful mark on the world forever. That’s why I love it so much because it can’t be replaced!

Hip-hop is the most popular genre of music in the world. How do you keep your sound fresh?

I do my absolute best to make sure I’m constantly trying new sounds and new techniques. When many people start to sound the same, I go in the opposite direction. It’s very important to always be unique in anything that I do.

What are your greatest accomplishments?

I feel like the simple fact of getting started had to be my best accomplishment. I literally quit my job, lost a ton of money, lost friends, and much more to pursue my dreams. It was a struggle at first, and still is sometimes, but it’s worth it in the end. The feeling of living out your dream is such an amazing feeling. Many people are scared to take the risk of pursuing their dreams for many different reasons, so they never know what it feels like to maximize their full potential.

How are you handling the coronavirus situation?

I’m handling it well. I’m not worried about it at all honestly. Many people are getting afraid and not risking things anymore. I realized that even in bad circumstances, great opportunities open up that many people don’t notice. It may sound crazy, but this virus is a blessing for me because it put me in a different mindset as far as my work ethic.

What’s next for you? Any goals?

I always have multiple things in the works. Currently, I am rebranding my new YouTube channel to bring even more exciting content, because I want to change the platform overall. I am also working on new music of course, which will be available very soon. One of my biggest goals is to just open opportunities for teens and young adults my age, and inspire others to live in love. Down the line, I want to finally launch the influencer management agency that I have been dreaming of for years.

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