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The story of the independent music artist is usually marked with challenges and hopes of eventually \u2018making it big\u2019 and signing a record contract with a major label. For rapper J.R. Clark, his path as an independent artist has brought challenges, but also success without a major label deal. Here\u2019s how J.R. Clark found stability and success as an independent artist.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>Hi J.R, it\u2019s a pleasure to speak to you.<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>Of course, thanks for doing this interview.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>So J.R, let\u2019s talk about your origins, where are you from?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark:<\/b> Well, I grew up in Virginia\u2014Newport News\/Virginia Beach.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> I don\u2019t think Virginia gets enough recognition for the artists it produces.<\/span><\/p>\n J.R Clark:<\/b> For sure, we have Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Pharell, Pusha T. The list goes on.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>When did you know you wanted to be a rapper?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>I was actually a studio engineer at first, but I got tired of recording people [laughs].<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>What made being an engineer tiring?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>Folks couldn\u2019t pay their studio bill, so in my mid-20s I decided to pursue rap. I knew song structure and concepts, and I understood how to make songs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> Who were some of your inspirations as a rapper?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark:<\/b> When I first started rapping, I was on youtube typing \u2018chill beats\u2019, and this guy Curren$y kept coming up. I found out he was a rapper, and I started looking him up on Datpiff.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>You were a natural then?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark:<\/b> Musically, for sure, but I took my time to get my sound right. When I started, mumble rap was so big. I tried that sound and I was like, this is not for me [laughs].<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>You\u2019re currently an independent music artist. What has been the biggest challenge so far?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark:<\/b> I can\u2019t say there\u2019s been just <\/span>one<\/span><\/i> challenge. I\u2019ll say that as an independent artist you have to make more phone calls yourself. You have to be involved at almost every step.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> For you, what\u2019s the biggest difference between being independent and signing to a major label?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>The major labels have the money, and when they give you a budget you have to pay that back. For me, the difference is having the machine of a major corporation behind you. Music labels are businesses, I wish more artists understood that.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>When did you feel like you\u2019d finally made it?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>You know, I guess I feel that way right now. Independent artist life is great, I\u2019d say just having stability in my career feels amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>I went shopping recently and bumped into Rick Ross and then Santana<\/a>. We were all buying stuff from the same place. For me, it\u2019s a reminder that you have the power to make your own dreams come true.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>That\u2019s amazing. Have you had the chance to work or perform with any major artists recently?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>Thanks. I performed with Pop Smoke and that was a big deal for sure. I just did the<\/span> 420ish <\/span><\/i>festival\u2014everybody was there: Rick Ross, The City girls, Gucci Mane, you name it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>I heard you went to Regent University? I know they have a law school, are you a lawyer?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>\u00a0No way, I\u2019m not a lawyer [laughs]. I studied criminal justice as an undergrad and got my masters at Regent University in government studies.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> What made you study criminal justice<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>I knew of so many people, even family members in federal prison. I think it was my way of understanding how not to end up in the same place I\u2019d seen others in.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick: <\/b>How does your education influence your music?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark: <\/b>I\u2019ve been formally educated and educated by life experiences and those influences end up in my music. I was in the streets at one point, so that\u2019s part of my history. Today, I rap about how my life is <\/span>now<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve traveled to so many different countries, and I\u2019m a business person too. I incorporate all of my experiences, I\u2019m not just talking about the streets.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> Speaking of traveling, will you be taking your music abroad anytime soon?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R. Clark:<\/b> I\u2019m actually going to Colombia soon, but that\u2019s for vacation with my family.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> Oh, do you speak Spanish?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R Clark: <\/b>I do actually, a lot of people don\u2019t know that. My mom is Latina\u2014-Haitian and Dominican.<\/span><\/p>\n Roderick:<\/b> Very cool. You know reggaeton is making a comeback, and I feel like Latin music, especially from the Caribbean is really doing well right now. Ever think about making some reggaeton<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n J.R Clark:<\/b> Yea! I just did a reggaeton song called \u201cEl Trafico.\u201d But the Latin music I really love is more old school like bachata and salsa. I\u2019m not sure Reggaeton is my lane, but it\u2019s nice to branch out.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n