California has always been a dominant player in rap throughout the genre’s history. Whether in the Los Angeles region or the Bay Area, some aspect of hip-hop on a national scale has always revolved around the activity of the West Coast. The state has unfortunately remained dormant for the last decade, with only previously established acts getting any real national attention. The last few years, however, have found a new batch of rappers breaking past the barriers of the traditional models to breathe some life back into the region. Twenty-five-year-old rapper and producer Jay Ant represents the latest Bay Area movement, slowly but surely making a name for himself.
Ant is cool and collected. Dropping “hella” in nearly every other sentence, he speaks candidly and freely, cracking jokes every so often. He is obviously comfortable among people and with conversing, even if it’s about himself. He isn’t famous at this point, but his name is gathering steam within the Bay and in certain other parts of the country. It is tough enough for independent musicians to properly make a name for themselves, but Ant chalks his success up to “genuinely going out and meeting people.”
“The fact that my homie really stepped it up and was going hard with me (also) helped a lot,” he added. He refers to his close friend and collaborator IAmSu!, the Bay Area’s newest star and most exciting musical product in years, but Ant is forging his own path. And with a recent performance at SXSW and co-signs from renowned DJ Mick Boogie and Fool’s Gold Records co-founder Nick Catchdubs, things seem to be heading in the right direction. It also doesn’t hurt that Ant is a talented musician.
Originally from Richmond, Calif., Ant started rapping at 14 on a whim after he and some friends decided to follow in the footsteps of one of the friends’ brothers. After high school, their group, The Diligentz, would do shows locally and ended up building a solid buzz in the area. “Before you know it, it became a job,” Ant said. “It’s been wild.”
Ant’s music is difficult to describe in that, like most rappers today, his sound draws from a number of influences. He has his party-oriented sound and his more reflective music. He can incorporate melodic elements and an entire array of flows, but most importantly, he has a knack for putting words together well.
Sonically, his music is relaxed and ambient with just the right amount of kick to it. He describes his own beats, which he has made since he began rapping, as hyphy music meets the Neptunes. Thematically, he has grander ambitions. “When you listen to the music, I want it to take you on a ride,” Ant said. “I want it to take you to another place. I want you to get lost in it.”
Ant’s latest project, last month’s “Blue Money” mixtape, showcases the more soothing aspects of his music. The music is minimal and spacey. “I wanted it to be a brain massage that takes you to a whole new place,” Ant said. “I just want people to feel good.” It’s not polished, but that’s also where some of the appeal lies. It is also slightly disappointing that the fiery wordplay from last year’s “Stoopid” mixtape with IAmSu! isn’t overtly present.
His music is noticeably positive and unaggressive, especially considering Richmond’s violent connotation. “A lot of cool people are coming out of Richmond right now — Kool John, Erk Tha Jerk, IAmSu! — and we’re trying to bring a new image to (the city),” Ant said. “We don’t want any negativity around us whatsoever.”
Moving forward, Ant plans to continue making his own brand of music, regardless of institutions like radio or other industry norms. “I don’t necessarily direct my music towards the radio,” he said. “I’m more in it to have fun.” That mindset seems to be working. “Blue Money” was moved from the independent section of mixtape hosting site livemixtapes.com to the site’s main page after gathering more than 75,000 views. “A lot more people recognize me walking down the street,” Ant said.
There’s still a ways to go for Ant, who currently works a job teaching kids how to make beats to supplement his rapping income, but the rapper keeps an unbelievably positive outlook on life. “I’m a firm believer in always entertaining the impossible,” Ant said. With his ambition and positive thinking, the only way to go is up. “I’m in this shit for the long run.”
Contact Rahul Pandya at [email protected].