In a rare case of a mutual split, Jinx Da Juvy has left Def Jam with the blessing of Russell Simmons.
Check the press release:
New York, April 13, 2004 – “Even when the biggest hip-hop label in the world signs you it’s still a muthaf**n grind,” declares Hip-Hop underground phenom, Jinx da Juvy.
Eighteen year-old Jinx da Juvy lost no sleep making the decision to bail from drama-ridden Def Jam Recordings in order to blaze the independent trail. Recalls Jinx, “I realized it wasn’t just Def Jam that was in trouble, most of the majors were cutting back on budgets and shelving artists. If you look around it’s only the Independents that are taking risks and allowing new artists to put their creative thumbprint on the music world. Independents are the life blood of the industry right now. I have no hard feelings toward Def Jam. Me and Russell are still real tight, he is my mentor and totally supports my departure and the vision of my production team Teflon Muzik. And the results speak for themselves. In three months I went from sitting on the shelf at a major to having the number #1 college radio record in the country, I’m all over the mixtapes and my album, “From a Young G’s Perspective,” is ninety percent complete. I’m still working with Russell though and lending my face to the new Def Jam University clothing collection.”
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Born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, birthplace of rap legend Notorious B.I.G, Jinx grew up in the aptly named Langston Hughes Projects. He started hustling at an early age, rapping being secondary until he met local producer J. Swift who connected him with Kool G Rap. “I was thirteen when I started rolling with G Rap, I signed to his label Igloo and he took me to Roc-A-Fella and Ruff Ryders to spit for them. There was a lot of interest but we ended up inking a deal at Def Jam where I started recording tracks for Hi Tek’s album and DMX’s “Cradle to the Grave” soundtrack. But being a new artist I was not a priority and the waiting games was grimy.”
Jinx continued hustling, became a father, got shot twice (once by the police), and beat an attempted murder charge all before he turned seventeen. “After the second shooting Russell came down to the hood. He actually came into the PJ’s. What he saw made him change my situation and move me out. He linked me up with my production team Teflon Muzik and we went to work.” But unknown to Jinx, Def Jam was already experiencing financial problems and the writing was on the wall.”
Jinx is determined to ride the wave of this “Indie” musical revolution and follow the success of his smash underground hit, “Get it ,Get it” with a new single, “Party Tonight,” and full length mixtape, “Get Down or Lay Down,” in April. Asked if he was in talks with any other labels Jinx replied, “The only shelf I wanna be on is in the record store, if you can make that happen holla, otherwise don’t waste my time. The climate is right and my music is right now!”
