Who is SNT JMS? [Artist Interview]

Based in Costa Mesa, CA, SNT JMS effectively engages in the world of hip hop, while also being an advocate for positivity and strength for his audience. As an artist, he strives to reference hip hop icons, while also maintaining a vision for what hip hop can become. Outside of music, SNT JMS is also the founder of the NBDYVILLE cultural collective, which serves as a clothing brand and a group that empasizes working together to reach a common goal. His most recent release, “For the Love,” is a collaboration with Grace Weber and Roben Rojas about the positive impacts of choosing love despite hardships.

What parts of your life do you feel led you to making music?

“Being sushed a lot as a youth. Being made to feel small or asked to be small to make others more comfortable, and mostly seeing the elephant in the room and feeling like SOMETHING needed to be said that wasn’t. This happened in a lot at home or in school or with family or just in the norms of society requiring one to be as they NEED first and as you ARE second. I came to this world with a backpack full of energy. I was loud and funny and just a big smile on a skinny kid. I didn’t have to take a class for this energy or buy it…it just came with me. And a lot of times, I didn’t know what to do with it so I was in trouble a lot. Music helped me put that energy into something special. Music was a way for me to say my piece, share my vision and really the first time I was invited to be precisely who I am.  Unhindered and unapologetic. Flaws and all. That’s part of what I love about it. There’s a catharsis to self-expression that has real magic in it.”

Are there any other artists on the scene that you’re hoping to collaborate with in the future?

I like what Piff Marti is doing for the culture. Childish and Tyler are artists I feel like I would create crazy vibes with. Rae Khalil has such a special sound I just know the energy together would be exceptional.  But the real Dream list is Hov, Kendrick, Mos Def & Zach DeLaRocha.

Is there a certain beat/production style that you’re gravitating towards at the moment?

I’ve definitely been pushing more into gospel and rock sounds. There’s an energy that I’m hunting that’s just missing. I like shit that’s gritty and textured. I like grandiosity and things that move people’s emotions. I like minor chords and when bass lines make you feel like you got punched in the ribs. So the goal is to always try and push that energy…but sometimes the song finds you in the places you’re least expecting and when you’re NOT.

When working on new music, what keeps you motivated/can get you out of any creative slumps?

“The way music whispers to me…it’s always talking to me. Asking me what I want to say. It’s not motivation, it’s like a compulsion. But real life can be a big block for me. Hustling for loot and making ends meet can sometimes make my creative mind quiet. Responsibilities come up we can’t eat freestyles and hooks. But slumps can happen every day. They can block a whole song or can block a single word that closes the perfect line. You just gotta lean into them because every time there’s a block it’s because you’re critiquing before you’re expressing, which is a fistfight for me. That’s always going on. I’m always critiquing because I wanna get better, but you gotta let yourself be better too.  It goes back to your first question. 

There’s a voice in my head that picked up all that shushing and it’s afraid I am gonna share too much.  But that’s also why you have to commit. It’s why this process is needed. It’s all happening in my head and sometimes I gotta do it because of how it makes me feel instead of how much profit it makes or how famous it’s gonna make me. I try to remember to just have some fun and that we don’t work music…we play music. So it should always come back to that… play.”

You appear to be someone who is always looking to encourage others. How do you work this initiative into what you create?

“It’s natural…I know the power of the village and what the village has done for me. So to lift others up and to be a source of hope in this world is part of the burden of artistry even if it’s indirect. To sing is to believe there are ears that need to hear it and so it’s a relationship. But I believe my visions and my vulnerability in sharing those visions will ultimately serve my culture and the people who listen. I may not be the next Tupac but I’m the first SNT JMS and you never know my music might inspire the next Tupac.  You never know who’s listening.”

How does the NBDYVLLE Collective align with you as an artist and creative?

“If SNT JMS speaks for the village then NBDYVLLE is the village. We understand that to be an artist is to be in an active rebellion at all times. But Imagine a space where all of our creativity was nourished and invited or better yet NECESSARY. NBDYVLLE helps push the mission of being an artist from both the business side and the creative side. The VLLE reminds us if you want something that lasts then you must create with excellence in all phases because NBDY lives forever and doing anything great takes a village.”

When it comes to writing lyrics, how do you narrow down to a subject to focus on and how does your writing process work from there?

“That can be tough. Sometimes I just need to talk my shit in my own way. And sometimes inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes the song title guides you. Sometimes a line pops into your head and you run with it. Sometimes you mumble your way to an answer you never knew you were looking for.  Remember many times you do not “write” the song, but it is written THROUGH you. So it’s important to be listening for what the song is trying to tell you. What is it trying to say? And what about YOU as the artist is being pulled out because of these notes and rhythms? Everything is trying to say something. 

From there I just start putting down my feelings around the subject and let whatever comes to me come. I might write 10 verses for a song and pick 2 that say what I need to say most clearly or most cleverly. Sometimes it all happens in one freestyle that just comes from the inspiration of hearing the beat. So we always record first listen of a beat. ALWAYS. 

But I encourage artists to write (actually write…like with a pen) every day. To work the muscle of expression.  Keep a journal. Make it a part of your day. Just tell the pages what’s on your mind. What pisses you off or what amazes you and how shit makes you feel…anything and everything…no judgement, just write.   

When lyrics come do not direct them…but allow them. And when you get into the flow don’t stifle it because maybe it doesn’t work with the song you’re currently writing.  Let it flow and deal with its manicuring later. Learn to trust your process but you gotta give to it, nurture it and hammer away at it.  Discipline and sacrifice turn talent into skill. Lean in.”  

What do you envision/hope for your future as an artist?

“I envision having my own venue where I can give other artists the spotlight they deserve and where we can put on real shows that share music the way it was intended to be shared.  I envision my music pushing into new heights of energy and sound and really touching people’s hearts and continue pushing the narrative that the people are hiphop and we are so much more than what they are selling in the industry. And finally, growing NBDYVLLE to be the beacon of the artistic rebellion, self expression and hip hop culture it is always intended to be. I also see myself having a few hotels and traveling the globe.  Having some babies and singing them to sleep every night. You know some real baller shit. I envision having my own venue where I can give other artists the spotlight they deserve and where we can put on real shows that share music the way it was intended to be shared.”

Amen. 🙏