Sometimes when I’m listening to hip-hop for a prolonged period of time, I catch myself wondering: where the ladies at? Back in the 1990’s, women like Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim began sawing through their male counterparts with lyrical swords, often mesmerizing listeners with their unabashed and shameless styles. Closer to home, Jay MfG, known to most as Jamie Gugino, has melded her lifelong love of writing into a burgeoning hip-hop career.
Gugino is a mother, writer, student, mentor, hairstylist, and psychic. She mentions the psychic epithet as she examines a fallen Tupac poster in the hallway of Nickel City Records, and says she has experienced ghosts and connected with spirits. Perhaps the spirit of Tupac is alive and roaming around the recording studio as we sit down for our Buffalo Rising interview? Indeed, she does seem rather spiritual and creative, a sassy spitfire brimming with opinions and ideas.
Today, Gugino is clad in an aqua and purple psychedelic print maxi dress, and her mood is colorful as well. Having grown up in the Riverside/Black Rock neighborhood, she developed a friendship with fellow Buffalo emcees Cove Blackbelt and DJ Optimus Prime that has spanned almost twenty years, going back to their childhoods. Gugino is now primed to release her first major full-length album, titled “Food for Thought.” The record release party is tentatively scheduled for DBGB’s next month. In the meantime, check out Jay MfG at Broadway Joe’s on July 18 for a poetry/mixed media/music event, and the Anti-Warped Tour outdoor event July 21 on Rhode Island Street.
Buffalo Rising: When did you begin your hip-hop solo career?
Jay MfG: I started writing poems when I was 8, and my oldest cousin introduced me to hip-hop. I listened to The Beastie Boys, and when I was 13 I really started writing, mostly freestyles.
BR: What were some early influences?
Jay MfG: Wu-tang Clan, Outkast. I was in high school from 1993-97, so there was Busta,Tupac, and Biggie. In my opinion, I experienced the classic hip-hop era, so I didn’t have to go and look it all up. I never took it seriously until I was around 22. That’s when I started doing shows. I’m in school studying English right now, and I write every day. I’d call myself a writer before anything. A writer, an artist. Music just so happens to be my favorite thing in the world.
BR: What kinds of topics do you write about?
Jay MfG: Everything, everything, everything! I do a lot on the spot. I carry books with me If I don’t, I have notes that go right to my e-mail from my phone. Anything that sparks some type of interest, and to get through different things in life, I’ve definitely used writing as my therapy. I write it out.
BR: What were your most recent shows?
Jay MfG: The last thing I did was a poetry reading at UB in April. The “Food for Thought” album has been a two year project. Now it’s done. We plan on having the record release next month. I’m doing a video for one of the tracks on it [“The First 48”] with Nick from Nickel City Blend, and then I have a Nickel City Blend video the next week.
Do you collaborate with other artists?
Jay MfG: Yeah, for this album I really tried to get everyone from EVC [Essential Vitamins Crew] on the album. I recorded something with everybody from EVC. So Spec K, Keith Concept, H2O the Aquaman, they’re all on the album. I tried to include all of them because I have done things with all of them [in the past]. I really do like to collaborate with people; I like to work with other artists. My album cover was just done by Jessica Saddleson, of Arm Candy Events. She is an artist, a muralist who draws live to music. So when I have my show, she’s going to come in and perform live art during the show. Optimus Prime will be DJing and hopefully, since the album is called “Food for Thought,” I’d like to include some food!
BR: Have you had other feature length albums?
Jay MfG: I’ve been on some albums released by DTR [Deep Thinka Records] and one of Optimus Prime’s mixtapes. I put out my own mixtape called “Chivalry is Dead” last year . I released it on Valentine’s Day . I put it all together myself and it was basically one 45 minute long stream.
BR: What do you think you can bring to the Buffalo music scene, as a female?
Jay MfG: When i go onstage, I really don’t wear anything sexy. I would rather have people listen to what I have to say, to the actual words. I’m super picky with music. It seems that everyone getting into the music business right now is absolutely horrible and has completely lost the concept of what hip-hop is. I guess if I wanted to sell my soul and go against myself… like, Nicki Minaj bothers me more than anyone in the world. Back in the day – I watched some videos from before she got mainstream – it was her own, her girls were in the videos, and it was kind of dope. But that’s what they do…you get into the music industry and they completely change. She is a parody of herself. I’m very critical of my own music and my own writing. I have kids. My oldest son knows the difference between rap and hip-hop. It’s a big thing in our house.
While Gugino thrives on her creative prowess and power for the written word, her plans include teaching writing at a collegiate level and mentoring younger Buffalonians through her art. She has battled homelessness as a pregnant teenager, family obstacles, and basically obstacles from every direction in life. But now, with more on her plate than most would be able to juggle, Jay MfG is more than capable to emerge like a phoenix from the flames.
Check out her music on Soundcloud (soundcloud/jayGtheMC), Reverb Nation (reverbnation.com/JayGtheMC), Facebook (facebook.com/jaygthemc), and her videos on YouTube (youtube.com/JayGeiMaj).