Interview: Criss Jrumz Talks About His New Album "Street Light Therapy"
We recently reviewed Criss Jrumz’s new album “Street Light Therapy” and now we’re connecting with the talented Broward County, FL based rapper and Soul Ground representative for an exclusive interview. During our interview with Criss, we touched on what the album’s title signifies, how he decided to sequence the album, what he did with the songs that didn’t make the final cut and much more.
After reading our Q&A with Criss Jrumz, be sure to stream “Street Light Therapy” on Spotify and connect with him on his website and social media.
Congratulations on the release of your new album "Street Light Therapy". Who contributed beats on the project and how long did it take to complete it?
Peace. Thank you. It feels great to finally have my first project out! The beats were done by a few dope producers who were able to create the Soul Ground vibe. The production was done by YondoMusic, Bliss, Def Starz and our in house producer DJ ULI G, who helped me piece together the overall sound for the album.
I always had different ideas of how I wanted to go about creating the project. Aside from two joints, the majority of the songs were done within the past year. I just kept on digging until we found the right ones.
What does the title "Street Light Therapy" signify to you?
"Street Light Therapy". The "streetlight" part came from this fascination I had as a kid. I used to stay up late and listen to music near the window, watching the city move beneath the lights. I always wondered to myself, if those streetlights could talk, what would they say? There's so much history with the streetlights and Hip Hop as well. Historians say in the beginning, when it all started, the street lamps were used as a power source to spark the jams in the parks. It gets deeper for me on a personal level since I grew up with a solid idea of my roots and background. The "therapy" part was just my overall approach with he music. I felt like it was time to get some things off my chest.
If you had to select one song from the album that reflects you the most as an artist and music brand, which one would you select?
Damn, just one? It would have to be "Pain" off the project. That song features my little brother Jay London and my sister Kiahni Aaliyah on the background vocals. I kept the project mainly in-house and family oriented. But that's not the only reason why. To me, that track is a small peek into what Soul Ground is trying to bring to the world. Honest, genuine. I feel like a moment was captured on that record.
Though you are now based in Florida, how would you say that New York is reflected in your music?
Coming from New York and having the type of upbringing I did, the move down south helped me understand music differently. I realized music didn't have to one dimensional. My approach became different as well, since I noticed early on that my music wasn't necessarily what everyone was doing. I cherish my New York roots but acknowledge myself as a rapper from Broward simply because that's were I was raised. The south helped me understand soul music too. There's a reason why the south took over Hip Hop, and I personally feel like they haven't let it go since. Rightfully so, Hip Hip is for everyone.
Did you record any music that did you chose not to include on the album? If so, why did it/they not make the cut?
Yes I recorded a bunch of material that didn't make the cut. Some of those tracks made it to my Soundcloud, a few I've put out sporadically throughout the release of my project. I felt like I wanted to keep the album short and sweet. To the point. I focused more and capturing moments than capturing songs. And I feel like the strongest ones made the final cut. But who knows. Soul Ground is always cooking up and you never know what you might hear on the next one...
I'm always curious about how artists sequence their projects. How did you decide what order the tracks appeared on the album? Was it a decision made solely by yourself or by your team?
I took my time with this one. I got to really sit back and marinate with the records. Sequencing is a big deal when it comes to putting out an album. It's like a movie. It has to have a beginning middle and end. And you can never forget the climax! So yeah, I made sure to keep it interesting for all parties involved. Even the causal listeners can enjoy! And I must say, I am extremely proud of the responses. Soul Ground all day.