Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazz Anderson.
Jazz, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since I can remember, I’ve always loved the art of literature and hip-hop/rap music. I feel as though true lyricists, poets, and MCs can tell a story on a beat or composition.
I never intended on being a rapper…I simply wanted to try it when I was 13. I admired Lauryn Hill and Kanye West’s cadence, storytelling, and wordplay, so I wanted to take a stab at lyricism too. One day after school, at age 13, I uploaded a freestyle to Kid Cudi’s “Day N’ Nite” on my Facebook page. About a week later, without any submission from my end, it ended up on Worldstarhiphop with the headline, “Kenny Anderson’s Daughter Raps!”. It was my first time truly getting the opinion of others on my craft because I’d always only rapped for my Facebook friends or in my room. This was my first time getting the opinion of others, whether true, cruel, inspirational, or indifferent.
I wanted to prove the doubters wrong and the believers right. After the video started developing more views day by day, I started to read more meaningful pieces of literature (plays, thesaurus, biographies, poems) so that I could expand on my vocabulary, which my mom said was important if I wanted to be taken seriously as a female rapper.
Since then, the rest has been a perpetual upward motion; history in the making.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Many people try to put me in this box of being a “celebrity kid” that is just riding the coattails of my parent’s fame. Hence the name of my latest project “Separation Anxiety”. People have watched me grow up on television and have a hard time separating their perception and pre-conceived notions that they have of me based off of what they see on television, from the lyricist they know is apparent when on the microphone. I want them to not be afraid of allowing me to grow and show the depth that I know is within me. It was more of a struggle to separate Jazz Anderson from “Tami Roman and Kenny Anderson’s daughter” when I first started out but now I am making a name for myself in the hip-hop industry…a name that people are taking serious.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
When it comes to female rap, there are so many different lanes you can take. As for myself, I want to be able to bring a substantial message to my listeners, without seeming as though I have all of the answers and am above them. I like to be relatable in my music and give thought-provoking records. In addition, I stay true to myself and my image. I am me and I am who any Jazz fan or listener can see their self in.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being humble and honest. Many artists will change their beliefs and falter on integrity to achieve whichever level of success they wish to attain. When I hit my pinnacle, I will feel comfortable in knowing that I am still a God-fearing woman who stayed true to who she was externally and internally.
Contact Info:
- Website: JAZZANDERSON.COM
- Email: jazzandersonbookings@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagr.am/jazzanderson
- Facebook: Facebook.com/itsjazzanderson
- Twitter: Twitter.com/itsjazzanderson
Image Credit:
Bennett Raglin, Serrandon, Greg Doherty, Ralph Hendrix, Ke’Er.
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