The Empire is an underground American Hip-Hop group based out of Fayetteville, NC. The group is currently composed of Mista J, 5th Letter, Speak no Evil, & Prince Imperial. They had 2 other members that left the group in 2000. The group is also the cornerstone of the rap collective The Roundtable. They have released 2 albums independently in 2004: NCC Records Presents The Empire, and 2007: The Dark Ages.
Mista Jay moved to the Fayetteville/ Springlake, NC area at age eleven or twelve. He’s been writing full-fledged songs since the age of nine. When he hit high school age he used his songwriting skills to express his isolation. During his freshman and sophomore years, the death of his foster brother Brandon Moore and his older running partner Robert “O.G. Big Rob” Stenton affected his writing style. These events sparked his reflection on life and made him take the rap game more seriously, which was the main advice of big Rob. As a result, he entered himself and in some instances, his group in talent shows to develop his stage presence. 1..r. Furthermore, he concentrated on the studio and recorded sortie songs with people who would later become the thefclundation of Ottieka Clan and the Empire in March of 95. Jay loft to attend college in Providence, Rhode Island. For a small, Nvorthtit town Providence had a healthy music scene, and he continued to write and record. He came back in the summer of 1998 and now wants to create the same kind of atmosphere in his adopted hometown. \Working as a manager at different levels of Omega Clans development because of the four different managers that the group has had. Now, at this new level of the game, his style represents a.rnaterial and spiritual balance that he’s trying to achieve. This balance is known as the H.U.S.T.L.E.R. Ls, I.F.E. which stands for Holy Universal Soldiers Trying to Live Every Reality, Legendary Icons Fighting every day
Name of Artist: Mista Jay
Music Genre: Hip Hop
Other Genres: Real Hip-hop
Websites or Social Media Pages: www.empiremusiq.com
Face Book Ncc Records The Empire: https://www.facebook.com/nccrecords.theempire/
IG NCCCEO :https://www.instagram.com/nccceo/
TiK ToK: NCC REcords The Empire
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NCCRECORDSTHEEMPIRE
Twitter nccrecordempire: https://twitter.com/nccrecordempire
What Musical Genre Do You Feel Best Describes Your Music And How Would You Describe Your Sound?
Hip-hop Real lyricism
How Did You Get Your Name? Is There A Story?
Just wanted a name that conveyed respect it was evolution from the name I started with.
What Are or Have Been Your Musical Influences?
KRS -ONE LITTLE BROTHER ICE CUBE RAKIM WU-TANG SNOOP DOGG
What Are You Working On Now? Any Future Collaborations We Can Look Forward To?
ALBUM ONE HEART BEAT AWAY COMING SOON AND SPECIAL Collaborations coming on the album.
What Is Your Ultimate Goal In The Music Industry? What Is Your Plan Of Action?
To be a steward of the culture and bring lyrical diversity back to the forefront of hip-hop.
What Is Your Favorite Track To Perform Live and Why?
One upon a time has become my newest favorite and there are a couple more to come off of this upcoming album.
What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career Thus Far?
Promotion is always the biggest hurdle even more so during the era of Covid.
What’s Your Typical Songwriting Process?
It varies mostly gathering beats seeing which one inspires me and then write to them.
How Has Social Media Influenced Your Career As An Artist?
It has opened up some lanes to promote and show the history of my art group and label.
What Are Some Tracks and Artists Currently On Your Playlist?
Other artists, I’m currently listening to Busta Rhymes MF Doom Mic Geronimo Rapsody, and DMX.
What Did You Do Before You Started Making Music?
I have always been making music in some shape or form I have been writing songs since fifth grade. I
Any Advice For Young People (Men or Women) That Want To Succeed In The Music World?
I always say in every interview I do I say networking is an important network with every like-minded artist or others involved in music in whatever function. The reality is everybody doesn’t know everything but everybody does no anything.
What Would You Change In The Music Industry If You Were A Top Music Executive?
I would change the access to radio video outlets so that more talent gets the chance to be seen and heard and stand up for the diversity of thought in art.
How Do You Feel About Originality?
Originality is everything in music especially in Hip-Hop it is the difference between the viability of an artist and the survival of the culture.
Is There Anything Else We Should Know About You Or That You Would Like to Add?
Check out our social media and the website http://www.empiremusiq.com support real Hip-hop!!