The Windy City’s Hidden Gem 👑

Artist Name: Jagwar Dot

Hometown: Chicago

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– Can you tell us about your background? Where did you grow up, and how has that influenced your music?

Well, my background is quite unique, and it’s destined to be a motion picture or a documentary one day. I’ll just say that. But I grew up all over the city until I was 11. I was born and partially raised in the Holy City on 16th & Drake, then I moved south to 119th & Justine with my grandparents. From there, I went up north to Lawrence Hall Group Home. However, at 11, my aunt managed to get me out of the system and moved me with her and my cousins to Maywood. So, I’ve been all over the place. And the way that’s influenced my music is that it’s made me very diverse and not afraid to experiment with different musical styles.

-What was your early introduction to music and hip-hop? Do you have any specific artists or experiences that inspired you?

My earliest exposure to music was through my parents always playing Al Jarreau’s album, “All Fly Home.” But, my first encounter with hip-hop was through watching “The Box,” [Music Television You Control]. My brother and I would spend hours sitting at the kitchen table, where a small TV used to be, watching music videos. Among the many videos we watched, Eazy-E’s “Only if you want it” stood out to me. I was only six years old at the time, and my brother was two, but I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career in music right then and there.

-When did you start making music, and what was your first project?

When I moved with my auntie at the age of 11, my cousins and I would take instrumental CDs that my uncle had in his collection. He was a music enthusiast, so we had access to almost every instrumental available. I would rap, and my cousins would sing or rap along with me on blank cassettes. However, it was during my freshman year of high school that I took my rapping seriously. I met Smokey Dollars at school, and we recorded a project in one night after a battle with other rappers. We titled it “Raw Equals War,” and the next morning, we began working on our second project, titled “War Equals Raw.” I was 14 at the time, but I was more interested in doing stand-up comedy and treating music as a hobby. I started taking it serious when Smoke introduced me to my big bro, Chi Rich, who had a group called M.E.L.L.O Family. We joined the group in 2004, but he got locked up for a while so Smoke and I decided to call ourselves Da Yungin’z and linked with our other big bro, DJ Trey. [The only DJ still in the streets] Our first official release was called “Bout Damn Time,” on Soundcloud, which was released in 2011 when I was 25 years old.

-How would you describe your style and sound? What sets you apart from other artists?

My music is 4 words. Raw, grimey, diverse, and real. I believe my diversity and vulnerability in my music sets me apart, and most importantly, my originality and personality. my big bro Cold Hard taught me that.

-What role does your hometown play in your music and artistry? Are there any local influences that you incorporate into your work?

Man, my hometown is everything to me. Coming up in Maywood and Chicago, you see both sides of life real early — the grind, the beauty, the struggle, the love. That’s the soil I grew from, so it’s naturally in my music. The way we talk, the energy on the block, even the pain and the victories — all that shows up in my music.

I grew up listening to the legends from the city — Kanye, Twista, Bump J, Lupe, Common, Do Or Die, & Crucial Conflict— but I also love the local underground Hip Hop cats like, Rufus Sims, Jae Haze, Ju Jilla, Panamera P, Vic Spencer, IAMGAWD, Philmore Greene— the ones that’s still putting in work to this day. That rawness is in me. I’m tryna carry that tradition but with my own twist, something that taste global but still smells like the Chi.

So when you hear my music, you’re gonna hear Maywood in the cadence, Chicago in the hustle, and the Midwest in the soul. I owe it all to where I’m from, so I make sure the world knows exactly who raised me.

-Who are some of your favorite local artists or collaborators you’ve had the chance to work with?

Well, I’ve only collaborated with a few artists, but let me name a few: Rufus Sims, Day Underscore, LAX, Tosha Marie, Noiramad, Jamari Mikell, Hank, Murf Dilly, Smokey Dollars, Darnell Bentley, Cash Mama, Chi Rich & Parkay [God Rest His Soul] is also on the list.

-How do you promote your music and connect with your audience? Do you have any tips for other independent artists?

To be honest, I’m not very good at promoting myself, but when I do connect with my audience, it’s primarily through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Recently, I started a thing on Instagram called freestyle Friday, where I post a verse every Friday. It’s also available on Facebook and TikTok. This is my way of keeping my fans and audience engaged with me and what I’m up to until I release a single or a project, which is coming soon.

My advice to other independent artists is to never stop working because people’s attention spans are very short these days, and you have to stay in the face to stay relevant. Also, always be willing to network with and support other artists because one hand washes the other both wash the face.

-How can people support you and your music as an independent artist?

By following me, subscribing to my pages, liking, sharing, and commenting on all of my pages, which are Jagwar Dot everywhere, and by purchasing my latest EP “I’ll be back” and singles I’ve released wherever you purchase your music from, I truly appreciate your support. I also value the subscribers of Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other platforms. However, if you want to help me out, I kindly request that you visit the Apple Store or like I said wherever you can buy music digitally and purchase my music directly. Thank you very much for your support I truly appreciate it. #Aaaahugh™️

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