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JEFE is the newest artist signed to Mike WiLL Made- It, and he’s next up out of Atlanta!

Hailing from Edgewood, Atlanta, otherwise known as Zone 6, JEFE hopes to inspire others the same way he was inspired by the greats that came before him. Artists like Busta Rhymes, UGK Dipset, and Biggie were not only huge influences on his music career, but also personally as a human being. Being able to convey truth through his lyrics is something he will always pride himself on.

In describing his music, JEFE states it’s ”melodic and unorthodox. I’d keep it there: melodic, unorthodox. That’s about it.”

Growing up in the same neighborhood as late rapper Trouble, JEFE found himself in the car one evening, on the way to Ear Drummers Studios in Atlanta where he eventually met Mike WiLL… the rest was history.

Now, JEFE just released his newest single and visual for “Moreland,” paving the way for his two other singles “Peep Move” and “6” to follow. He’s also slated to unveil his forthcoming debut EP titled 6er Project.

Sheen Magazine spoke with JEFE virtually to discuss his background, meeting Mike WiLL, new music, and more!

 

For those who don’t know, who is JEFE?

I’m JEFE from the Eastside of Atlanta. I’m the future, the present, the everything.

What was it like growing up in Zone 6 of Atlanta?

First off, it means you one of the fly guys. You one of the ones that don’t have to stress it. You don’t got it all figured out, but you know how to swag through it. It was like any typical ghetto shit, black ghettos. Ghettos of Americas, ghettos of the world, all the same. Fun, until it’s not fun no more.  [laughs]

There’s a lot of greats that come out of Zone 6, so how did you fall in love with music?

The same way everybody else did, I just had first-hand experience. I’ve seen a lot of these dudes. I seen the trajectory from being young and seeing Gucci, people like that. I had a first-hand experience with a lot of these dudes. I got introduced to music the same way as most, the average person that that does is for a living. It’s embedded.

Is Gucci one of your favorite artists?

I wouldn’t say favorite artist. I don’t really have a favorite artist for real. I listen to a lot of music. I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite artist, but he’s definitely an inspiration though fasho. But I wouldn’t say favorite artist. 

You don’t have a favorite artist?

Nah. Dang, nope. I can’t say I have a favorite artist for real.

What about biggest influences?

I don’t know… Kanye. Because I don’t want to sound cliche, these are the dudes that’s doing it at the highest levels. Of course, I’ma be influenced by the Kanye’s and the Jay Z’s and the Future’s. It go all the way back. I’ve been inspired by a lot of these dudes for real, on my way, But I don’t really like to rank people and do that, I take it for what it is.

How’d you get your name?

JEFE, I just started calling myself that. I always see myself as a boss for real. I used to kick it with some Hispanic guys when I was incarcerated. They used to greet me that way, like “JEFE, JEFE!” So I just ran with it. Once I came home, it was something I ran with.

How long were you locked up for?

Almost two years.

What did you learn from being behind bars?

What didn’t I learn from being behind bars? [laughs] I learned a lot man. I learned how to be who I am now.

You were mobbing around with Trouble, right? That’s how you met Mike WiLL?

You could say that. Once I first came home and I seen Trouble for the first time, that was the first time I got introduced to Mike. That first time. I wouldn’t say mobbing around, but that’s the homie though. RIP Trouble.

Rest in peace. How did that affect you?

That was crazy. It’s still crazy to this day. We took a big hit, he was one of them guys for real. 

How was it meeting Mike WiLL? And then signing to him.

Ear Drummer way! The first time I met Mike, we didn’t really have a big dialogue like that. Because I was with Trouble, he was working on his album at the time. Over the years, you know how sometimes you bump into people, and you keep bumping into them? It was God for real. Over the course of two or three years, I really had more of a dialogue with Aubz. Aubz used to be giving me beats, I used to get beats from him. I used to send them the songs back, this over the course of a year or two. 

One day, he said “pull up to the studio.” I guess he played Mike some of the songs, then Mike didn’t know who I was forreal. He knew who I was, but I was going by two different names at one time. Some people that knew me called me one thing, and the people that knew me for music called me another name. Once I came, he heard the music. We started building from there, just organically. It wasn’t no “bro, I want to sign you.” None of that. It was just “bro, I like the music.” That was it. Once we started building and we formed a catalog, it was natural for us to handle the business. We locked in. We didn’t plan it, it happened organically.

How’s it been with him? Is he producing your new music?

He has his hands on everything. As far as the production, everything. We all work in unison for real. We have a collection of producers that we all work together, we all sitting right here working on this music. It’s been great. I look at music differently now of course, just from even being Mike and around the team. So I approach music differently.

How do you approach it now? 

I’m more intentional now. It’s still fun though. I still keep it fun, but I’m a little bit more intentional about how I approach the music and the recording processes. I try to make sure I’m elevating and growing as I’m recording, as I’m putting these shots up in the studio. 

You just dropped “Moreland” —

“Moreland” out right now! Go get that. Go stream that. Go whatever that, “Moreland.” My bad to cut you off, I’m excited. 

You’re good. What inspired this record?

I wanted to make a song for the women, something the women can listen to. I don’t want to say it’s like empowerment or whatever. I want to make a song for the women that’s stuck in rush hour, on the way to work or on the way to lunch. I needed to make something for the rush hour, the people that’s going somewhere and handling business. Doing something productive or working out, or anything like that. 

I wanted to make something for them to listen to. That was what encouraged it for real. Hey, I’m talking about the most normal girl that I’ve had encounters with over time. These were the types of women that I was around coming up. The ones that were hustlers, go-getters. They made it happen. They still making it happen, shout out to y’all.

What can we expect from “Peep Move” and “6”?

“Peep Move,” you can expect energy for sure. It’s a different energy. Uptempo. When you want to party and feel good, go listen to “6” and “Moreland.” You want to hear some gritty, some vibey hood shit, that’s “6.” It’s also “Moreland,” but it’s more so “6” and “Peep Move.” “Peep Move” is me shining light on all sides of Atlanta, because Atlanta is huge. I’m shining light on all sides. You remember “Welcome to Atlanta” by Jermaine Durpi? I didn’t want to go that way with it, all the way commercial with it like that. So I kept it real hood and kept it real to my roots for real.

Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?

I got a lot of goals. For sure I’m ready to do some big stages. I’m ready to pack out, I’m ready to get to that level. I want to be able to broadcast this music to the world, to the universe. More than that, we aren’t worrying about the Grammys and all that. That stuff gon’ come when they come. Just shining light on Atlanta for real, on where I’m from right now. Just bringing more attention to that. Because we was talking about earlier, we lost Skoob (Trouble). We don’t really have nobody right now that’s doing it. I want to be that guy right now. It’s gon’ take it to where it need to go, shining a light on the hood forreal.