Prophet Jones – Interview

K.D.

What’s up?

How you feeling?

Pretty good.

How are you?

Great. Life is good.

What are you up to?

We’re in DC rehearsing for some shows we’ve got coming up. We’re getting the show tight.

What’s the show like?

It’s ridiculous. Weeeehooo. We’re still doing a little a cappella, some beat boxing, and some other stuff. It’s a lot of soul.

When was the album done and how long did you have to wait?

It’s been like three years. We’ve recorded like sixty songs through the years and finally we can come out with our music. It’s been a battle. It’s been worth the wait.

Did you ever expect to be waiting so long?

I think a lot of new artists think just because they just got signed that their video is going to be right on BET or Mtv in like three months. There are advantages to waiting because we learned about the business and it humbled us.

You must have learned a lot while you were waiting.

It taught us a lot and made us more of a group than we ever thought we were. Just the ins and outs of the music game are crazy.

Goldee

How do you choose the songs you wrote and songs others wrote?

We wrote “Lifetime” and “Come Inside” and a few others, but as far as the first single, “Woof”, we met with the producers and writers. They got a vibe for us and they made the song for us. We just turned it into our style. We put our stamp on it.

How do you choose your parts in the arrangements?

We go back and forth. We know each other’s voices so well that we just know. We are four different individuals and we all have our own styles. I’m the laid back one of the group and people say I’m the quiet one. P. Rowe, he is right in your face. He just comes out ready to set it off. Hollywood has like a million personalities and keeps everyone laughing. KD is a straight ladies man. When we write songs, whatever we are writing about, and if it fits one of our personalities we know who should run it.

How is the show?

It’s real raw. It’s just straight rock-n-roll and hip-hop. Our show is a lot of soul. You see a lot of emotions and energy. We vibe off each other. I may see KD jump off a speaker and I might jump into the crowd.

How long did it take to get the chemistry together for the group?

We didn’t grow up together, but we were going through a lot of the same things. Even though P. Rowe grew up in Florida, Me and Hollywood grew up in D.C. and KD was in Baltimore. We was all going through the same things and listening to the same music. When we first hooked up, we were vibing. The next day we were in the studio and started writing and singing together. And as we talked we realized we all went through the same things. Then we all moved to New York while we were recording the album for like two years. We just got to really know each other. We became tight as a unit. It doesn’t feel like we were together for only three years, it feels like we’ve been together forever.

P. Rowe

Is there anyone in the group that you’d like to take their quality for yourself?

Hollywood has this unique ability. First of all, he is the comedian of the group and funny for no reason, to make you laugh. He can mimic anybody from the Isley Brothers to Barry White. I wish I had that quality. I wish I were that versatile. I’m funny in my own way, but he is ridiculous. I love everyone in the group as a whole, but he is just hilarious. I think you’ll see that personality come out as with the rest of ours. I mean, we are talking to people about doing a tv show.

That has to be exciting.

As far as taking it to another level, like acting, it’s amazing. We’re not just singers. We write, we produce, and do a host of things.

Did it help that it took three years to get this album together to bond?

Yeah. We became a group. We weren’t really a group at first. Hollywood and Goldee were together already and KD was down the road doing shows and they met. I was at Florida State University hustling, putting my music here and there. Thankfully Mya was touring at the time and I opened up. The president of university entertainment signed me up. I met the guys and it was an instant connection. The three years we were together we gelled. We struggled, we were broke, and then we made a lot of money. Going through those things together was a blessing.

It must make you appreciate it a lot.

Exactly. We’ve been all around the country performing with big artists. It’s amazing. And we got to talk with some legends. Like I got to talk with K-Ci. Just during our brief conversation I learned so much about the game. I’m staying humble. Every time my mom calls me she quotes me with scripture. I feel blessed.

Hollywood

Is it tough to live up to the name?

I don’t know man. I think by having the name it lets everyone know I’m wild. I don’t pay attention to what I do every day but I guess they’re all right. I am wild.

Did you inherit that name?

Yeah. I joke a lot and I’m flashy, I like diamonds, and they was like, ‘Yo, you Hollywood.’ I got my neck tattooed with it and everything.

Were you the one who kept everyone’s spirits high when things seemed dark?

Yeah, when they was crying and everything I told them we’d make it. (laughs) I keep everybody rolling.

Are you happy now that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel?

I saw the light when I first saw the video on BET.

How much has your dream become reality?

When I was trying to get a deal to today, I look and say, ‘Damn, I’ve accomplished a lot.’ I have friends who are still trying to make it. It starts off as a dream, but now it’s really becoming a reality.

Everyone seems to point to your personality as being one they’d like to have. Do any of the other members have a characteristic or quality you’d like to have?

Hell, no! (we both laugh) I’m just playing with you. Everyone is real spiritual. We’ve lived with each other for three years and I’ve smelled their nasty breath for that long. And I’ve gotten to know them really well and each has their own strong character. Each one of them keeps me on a different level. P. Rowe takes me to a point, when I’m ready to give up he pushes me. KD keeps me neat. He’s a clothes man. (laughs)

What are you listening to in your car?

I listen to Prophet Jones. (laughs) If you were riding in Hollywood’s car, I drive a Lexus, and I have a twelve-cd changer and I have old songs. I go back to Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, the first Janet album, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and Midnight Oil. I guess each comes with my characters. I’m crazy. You know, I’m finally realizing that I’m crazy. I’m finally seeing what people have been saying for years.

Is there any way to prepare to be away from home?

I think it’s fun. When I do come home I do enjoy myself, and when I’m away I do the same thing I would at home. It’s all on you. It’s on each of us to make this thing as fun as possible. It’s fun. Who wouldn’t want to be doing something they’ve wanted to do their whole life. What could be better than making people happy? I just bring home with me.

Finish this statement. If you haven’t heard Prophet Jones…

… It’s sad!

+ charlie craine