New Orleans-based Jealous Monk is a live hip hop band on the brink of major cross over success. The band began as the brain child of MC and DJ Jermaine Quiz. His goal? To marry the sounds of New Orleans funk with the lyrical stylings of the Bronx. The fusion was well received by the locals — the band now plays all over the city and is garnering quite a bit of buzz. This week’s free download “Black Magic,” is the hard-hitting lead off track from their debut album Sun Up To Moon Down. You can give it a spin while delving into this Q&A session with frontmen Jermaine Quiz and Intelligence.
First off, the story behind the band’s name—I reckon it’s a reference to Bob Dylan’s song “Desolation Row.” What made you guys decide on the name?
Jermaine Quiz: Surprising or not, I am a Dylanite. Bob Dylan is one of my biggest influences when it comes to songwriting. “Desolation Row” is about a place forsaken by God, in shambles; a dirty place with entire sections of the city wiped out… sounds like New Orleans to me! In the song, Einstein disguised as Robinhood and his friend, a Jealous Monk, were the last people playing music on Desolation Row. It just seemed fit and almost cryptic in relation to the state of our city.
SC: What was it like starting a band in New Orleans right after Katrina?
Jermaine Quiz: We had already been on the scene playing with other band for quite a while. We wanted to bring a new style to the New Orleans swagger. It was real rough coming back and seeing the city destroyed. What do you do? I guess the consensus was to rebuild. Every aspect from buildings to culture. People don’t realize New Orleans is still in recovery mode —but we are coming back!
Intelligence: For us starting a band right after Katrina was our way of helping to rebuild the city. Music is such an integral part of New Orleans’ culture that we wanted to continue the tradition of bridging two generations into one element that various people can connect with.
You guys have a lot of funk influences in your music—who are your favorite funk artists?
Jermaine Quiz: We are Funk! A lot of the close family of Jealous Monk are these legendary funk musicians such as George Porter and Leo Nocentelli (The Meters) and Kirk Joseph (Dirty Dozen Brass Band). New Orleans is known for the funk and we’ve taken our lessons… some of my favorite funk musicians are The Meters, Chuck Brown, Sly and so many more.
What was the recording process like for Sun Up To Moon Down?
Jermaine Quiz: The album came together over 2 years. Myself and my engineer Andrew Greenwood basically produced and mixed it together over that time. Producing a band hip hop record is way different than a beat-based record. A lot of attention to detail and I think [it] is a great medium between funk and hip hop. Funky hip hop with some rock edge. It was a really fun record to make with a lot of our friends. We are in the middle of recording our second one right now.
What are your thoughts on the current state of mainstream hip hop?
Jermaine Quiz: Hip hop is vast. Mainstream hip hop is what it is. There are some bright points: The Roots are still in the spotlight. Talib and Lupe are doing it. Hip hop is becoming more eclectic, but in today’s information age you really can program your own mainstream. Consumers don’t have to rely on the traditional forms of media dissemination like MTV or the radio. They can get it on YouTube or places like OurStage or Pandora. I like “my” mainstream.
Intelligence: Hip hop in it’s current state is cool, but it is missing the creative diversity that used to exist. Back in the day artists strived to be different and now it seems that artist have the mind set of “if it works for one then it works for all.”
Lastly, do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists?
Jermaine Quiz: Live it. Breathe it. Eat it. Sleep it. Drink it. Be it. Love it! Work. Work. Work. It’s a really tough industry. Rejection is everywhere. So much competition. But if you put in that 18 hours a day and you keep your eyes on your mission, ya might make it. That’s how I try and conduct myself.
