As the son of Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James Prince, discovering and cultivating talent comes just as naturally to 29-year-old Jas Prince. About as natural as throwing up the ‘H’ comes to a Houston native when Z-Ro’s “Mo City Don” plays at the club (or anywhere for that matter). Making long-lasting, disruptive sonic splashes with stealth is in the bloodline of Jas Prince and essentially embedded in his DNA. Taking business acumen from his highbrow father, he was able to give the world Drake, a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated global recording star who just wrapped up a 60-city Summer Sixteen Tour with Future, which grossed over $32 million. Jas eyed the upcoming rapper’s star quality very early on, quickly moving him from Toronto and into the ears of every living soul (re: college student) residing in Houston during the So Far Gone era.
Even while being involved in a years-long, drawn-out, $11 million dollar lawsuit against Young Money and Cash Money Records over Drake royalties, he manages to find the time to develop the next potentially global superstar, who he says has the capabilities to break just as many records as Drake; 21-year-old R&B crooner, producer and songwriter Tone Stith.
With crystal clear vocals and a range that could rival Prince, songwriting skills that could maybe touch Quincy Jones’ pen and dance moves that could possibly match Michael Jackson’s, the world may not be ready for the behemoth that Tone could become but he’s here. Already, he’s earned placement on Chris Brown’s #1 album Royalty, penning the cuts “Make Love” and the Grammy Award-winning singer’s lead #1 single, “Liquor.”
The young musician, born Antonio Stith, has been working on his forthcoming project California 70 with the production team Prblm Slvrs for a minute now and according to Jas it’s pretty much done.
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If history has any chance of repeating itself like the old adage says, it appears Tone Stith is next if Jas Prince is any indication of its truth.
Tone Stith & Justin Bieber’s Hand In His Discovery
HipHopDX: Last I heard, Tone was working on California 70. What’s the status of the project?
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Jas Prince: The project is done. We’re just sorting out the flow of it. Last night we were working on it. We’re just figuring out the outlets to put the project out. We’ve had a couple of meetings with different streaming companies. Tone, Prblm Slvrs and myself have worked really hard on putting the project together to make sure that everyone here has it just right. There’s a couple of features that he suggested to me last night and I’m on it right now but I’m not going to wait on them to put out the project but if I get them done it would be nice to get them on there but if not it’s still going to be a great project.
HipHopDX: So when does it come out?
Jas Prince: Pretty soon. We’re wrapping up now and I’m trying to get him on the PARTYNEXTDOOR and Jeremih tour.
HipHopDX: What’s the story behind Tone Stith’s discovery?
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Jas Prince: I ended up discovering the group first. Tone was in a group called SJ3 and discovered the group on YouTube while I was at Justin Bieber’s house. He actually showed me the group because they did a cover to one of his songs and he was like ‘Yo, bruh I love this group I think I want to do something with this group’ and I was like show me the group. He showed me the group and I saw the group and I was like, oh okay, that needs to be done. I was like do you need me to reach out to them and he was like ‘yeah go ahead, I’m busy, I have a lot of things to do.’ So I reached out to them and he stayed busy for awhile so I signed them and I developed the group and I developed Tone and everything. Tone, I wouldn’t say he was the star but he was definitely one of the top leaders of the group so I saw vision for his career, which everyone else did too. I went that route.
HipHopDX: So, Justin Bieber had a hand in Tone’s career?
Jas Prince: Justin definitely had a hand, he showed me Tone’s group SJ3 on YouTube, we thought they were dope! Now Tone is more than an artist to me, he’s like a little brother.
Tone Writing For Chris Brown On His #1 Album “Royalty”
HipHopDX: There was speculation that Tone Stith didn’t write “Liquor” and that another member from SJ3 wrote the song.
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Jas Prince: Nah, Tone wrote “Liquor.” He wrote and produced it. It’s no confusion on it. It’s a lot coming from he say, she say, he did this, he did that but that is definitely a Tone piece of work. For those people that say they did it, do another one.
HipHopDX: What was it about him that made you want to say you want to work with him?
Jas Prince: I have like a sixth sense in this music business and ideally I go with it. You see it with Drake, it definitely worked that time. His voice, his production. I would say Tone remind me of three people: Michael Jackson, Prince and Quincy Jones. I feel like with his sound and the way he approaches a record is bringing back the real meaning to R&B. The kid is crazy.
HipHopDX: Really huge comparisons. Explain to me how he reminds you of Michael, Prince and Quincy.
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Jas Prince: Man, where do I begin? Not only is Tone an amazing singer, but he writes and produces all of his own music. He can play a crazy amount of instruments: drums, keyboard, bass, guitar and I don’t know what else – he’s full of surprises. They way he moves on stage is amazing too, he can out-dance the best of them. The kid is a complete artist, you don’t find too many of those these days.
HipHopDX: Is that what you would say makes him special to you?
Jas Prince: Either you get it or you don’t get it. He gets it. He has a sound and he has his team. Tone and the Prblm Slvrs are like Drake and 40. He is definitely going to deliver.
HipHopDX: He also earned placement on Chris Brown’s “Liquor.” How’d that end up happening?
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Jas Prince: Tone had the song done and Chris [Brown] he’s a friend of the family. Chris was over and I was like let me play some music for you so I played some music for him. Chris has cut maybe six, seven of Tone’s records and “Liquor” is one of them. That’s how it came about is playing records in front of Chris and him saying “Ah, I want this record.” I thought it would be a good business call especially since it’s a single.
HipHopDX: Are any of the other records he did with Chris Brown coming out anytime soon?
Jas Prince: “Liquor” and “Make Love” are on the album because Tone wrote “Make Love” too on his album and “Coming Home Tonight” they dropped the video for that the other day.
HipHopDX: I know Chris is like family to you guys, but how has the drama between Chris and Nia Guzman affected your relationship with him?
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Jas Prince: I try to stay out of that because it doesn’t have anything that has to do with me so I just let that be. I just let grown folks handle they business and just keep me out of it because it ain’t got nothing to do with me so.
Status Of On-Going Lawsuit With Cash Money Records & Beyond
HipHopDX: Considering the lawsuit you just went through with Cash Money over Drake royalties, are you approaching your moves differently with Tone than how you approached it with Drake?
Jas Prince: Not too differently. He has support from me and Drake has support from me too so with that support comes a lot. I wouldn’t say we’re moving too differently, we’re just taking our time and just making sure we got all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed. Nah, Drake’s doing pretty damn well. The plan is to win so whatever it takes to win, we’re going to do that.
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HipHopDX: How happy are you now that your legal situation with Cash Money has come to a close?
Jas Prince: My legal situation with Cash Money is still ongoing, I know there are a lot of reports out there that say the opposite, but those are not true.
HipHopDX: A lot of controversy surrounding Lil Wayne right now, what were your thoughts when you heard that he was retiring over Birdman holding on to Carter V and money?
Jas Prince: Honestly, I didn’t really get too much into it. I’m focused on Tone. One thing about me I’m not about to listen to a bunch of media and all that kind of stuff so I just stay focused on what I am around and that’s Drake and Tone. I did hear about it but I didn’t know if it was true or not so I didn’t even bother to think about it.
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A&R Royalty: Discovering an artist of Drake’s caliber is nothing to sweep under the rug. Drizzy sure didn’t think so when he bought the music exec a Lambourghini for his birthday.
HipHopDX: I know your dad [J Prince] is trying to get Lil Wayne’s money from Baby.
Jas Prince: It’s different for my dad because I look up to him since you know, forever. Whatever he’s down with I’m beyond down with.
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HipHopDX: Anyone else you’re working with?
Jas Prince: Yeah, it’s a couple of other acts that I have but Tone is priority right now and I feel like after Tone goes on to blow up I can move on to my next project which is going to be the same thing and the same thing. I’m not gonna stop.
HipHopDX: I’ve watched Tone and noticed how you guys have been developing him as an artist over time. Something missing from the music industry today.
Jas Prince: Yeah I try to tell people man, over here at YEMG we make music for the world and not just the neighborhood.
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Follow Jas Prince @jas.prince & Tone Sith @TONESTITH on Twitter for their latest updates.
