Real J. Wallace

Interview with Real J. Wallace 8/29/2020

Real J. Wallace has been a Hip Hop recording artist for the past 10+ years and is a board member of the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art. Real J. dedicated to preserving Black culture through music and storytelling. He was born and raised in San Diego, California and people in his city know him as The Last Black Man in Barrio Logan.

Real J. Wallace is most known for releasing projects with former Universal and LA Hip Hop legend Blu and Soulection’s Abjo. In 2015 his career took a leap when he won a trip to the Grammy’s with Macklemore producer Ryan Lewis where he learned the ins and outs of the industry. In 2020 he plans to apply all that he has learned. He recently linked up with producer Daniel Koestner (Real j & DNYKAY) and CA. $later whom Wallace is working releasing albums with soon.

What projects are you currently working on?
My most recent collaboration is with Daniel Koestner entitled Cabin Fever, a 4 track EP that evokes the feeling of insanity w/ a compounded cabin fever that we are now all too familiar with. With 4 different takes on the same idea, Daniel and I burn down our worlds, ready to build something new.

As buildings burn and protests proceed, everything seems to be getting more violent. But we see these movements for what they are: the end of the road for a system which has never served Black Americans. Over the horizon is liberation for All Black Lives and a post Covid-19 consciousness.” says Real J.

Hip Hop was built as the Bronx burned, what will we build?”

I also recently re-released my single and accompanying music video titled “My Mama Black.” I describe the song as a warning from a mother to a son about what it means to be Black in America.. centering around the idea that everyone and no one is Black.

My releases are based on what is happening in society so who knows what will be out by the time this interview is posted. Just know that it is reflective of the times.

How has the pandemic affected or shifted your practice?
The Pandemic aligning with the age of information is legendary! Everybody finally has a chance to catch up with all of the information. Or at least the philosophy behind all of the information. We are downloading the newest update of ourselves and getting to know the new self is a process. It’s a marathon of practiced patients. I can hear Mos Def singing, “Slow Down”.

What has your journey been like as a creative/artist/small business-owner?
My journey as an artist has been my journey as a human. It has been full of letting go and ego balance. Once you create something as an artist, it immediately belongs to someone else. This is the artist’s sacrifice. What are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good? Perhaps it’s the position of power that you inherit from your experience and the choices you have been given. Undoubtedly art has led me to many social, political, philosophical, and spiritual boundaries. For myself, Hip Hop is my religion, and that isn’t hyperbole.

Do you have any tips for up-and-coming, or rising artists/creatives?
” A mouth will say anything” and ” 90 percent of communication is nonverbal”.

Learn more about Real J. Wallace
@realjwallace
realjwallace.com