Meet Jian J | Artists/Rapper & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jian J and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Originally when I was 15 my thought process behind starting my own business was to be an African American man from Compton being an entrepreneur leaving through creativity. Also being a person that can be a positive impact through my story of growing up in Compton (LA County) and be apart of the evolution and change in my community through music, clothing, and creativity in general. The music & clothing is the forefront that can help me build revenue to create other businesses in the future such as laundromats, Barbershops, creative Spaces/ venues; as well as giving back through toy drives, back to school give aways, and having programs for the youth who are creatives.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is based off of my personal life experiences and the life experiences of others that surround me and impacts our community wether it’s negative or positive, the goal is to make people aware of these stories through my music. Also for people to see the growth while being on this journey, to give people hope and to show the possibilities of success no matter what “hood or ghetto” you come from. What sets me apart is the vulnerability in my music, to give the perspective from an average joe in Compton, being a representative for the culture. I’m proud when I do shows and drop music and just to receive the love and respect from people in and outside of my community, getting messages from older homies that are involved in the streets, that tell me to keep going and we proud of you or just getting love from random people from all over, keeps me going. It’s not always easy being the artists, but you honestly have to be willing to go through every emotion, knowing there will be times you up and times you down; and when you down, to have the will to get back up. Also don’t worry about showing the world all your progress or every play you make, or every win to stay so called “relevant”; put in that work for you, then you’ll have something to show to the world to the point where the pressure is always on and the foot is steady on the neck.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly in Compton/ LA it just depends on what’s going on that week, because we literally have random or organized events and pop ups every week out here. For instance if they here the first Sunday of the month I’ll take ‘em to “1stSundaes Open mic” on Compton Blvd. If they’re here on a Thursday or Friday I’ll take them to Jazz Night in Compton by PeaceOfMind at MoonWaterFarms. If they like Mexican food we can slide down Atlantic from Alondra to Compton Blvd to hit up one of the many taco trucks. If they want some good fried Chicken we hitting up the Louisiana Fried Chicken off University in Del Amo/Carson. If we tryna go bar hopping we going to downtown Long Beach or 2nd street in Long Beach. If they wanna hike we can hit up Runyon Canyon in Hollywood, if you wanna have fun you can hit up any flea markets, brunches, or party type gatherings in South central, Inglewood, or downtown La!! Here in LA County everything is situational and on the week to week basis, so it’s hard to be specific, because you really got options depending on the day, week and month.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my moms and pops first and foremost because they truly instilled entrepreneurship and my drive to create my own businesses because even though they were working folks they always had side hustles that I’ve witnessed and learned from first hand. Of course my parents wanted me to go to college, have a good job with 401k, but they also respected that I had my own dreams outside of the ordinary American dream, while also teaching me how to survive in this world. Shoutout to “The County Creative Era” Team including Kay, LB, and Cameron; these three have truly believed in my vision as an Artist & entrepreneur in some form or fashion. Whether it was creating clothing design, being at studio sessions, investing into the business, driving to shows, planning events, being supportive, truly playing any role that is assigned or a role they can execute they have been there for it. Shoutout to my dawg Kani and my “Peace of Mind” Family, I have learned so much as an entrepreneur, event planning and teamwork through them. Kani is my homie and now Dj, but I look up to him as a leader in our community and I look up to Peace of Mind as a pillar in the creative scene of Compton and LA County. Shoutout to my brother “Aye Mitch” from Long Beach Ca he is truly my mentor as a creative even when he don’t know it, he taught me a lot on how to be self sufficient as a artist and as a person, by example. Shoutout to all the folks that come and go, I learned what to do and what not to do through those situations. My father taught me you can learn from a persons bad deeds just as well as the good deeds and I’m thankful for it all.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyntjian?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https:// https://youtube.com/@jianj4865?si=DIpWMblE0ZEBNXj9

Other: Link tree: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2FJianJ%3Ffbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYmcf_DNFwJpFjZC4mALEt0RH35Ssx2MazeSotbRgvcaLhfRL6akp_P4cM_aem_AY8vY6X_11JaddCNMW_ui56o4gHzXGOAg2yRIQSAVu84uioZDX0DRNXgHurYjs6A38oJreImYk8Ooey_UtL9Zcts&e=AT2vzsMpA11jpf4coqvI_1UXnUKbUCbweW9aJ4QB1ApbORAeBChtGstZQwLT8ULKHHOI7J7NqcMTzV7d75Zg1iUeNY44iU96k4OTOhk-cWpl0HyxBh8I_g

Image Credits
Ravenne Star, ESOJ Lens, Kevis Manuel, Ursula Vari, Chasen Day