One of Sacramento’s newest faces on the hip-hop scene, Jo Vegas, projects a clear sense of self on latest release
Words by Andrew Bell • Photos by Jeff Mars
Rapper Jo Vegas is a fresh face to the Sacramento hip-hop scene, but to call him a rookie would be an incredible disservice to the 916 lyricist. Seemingly coming out of nowhere with a heavy cosign by Sacramento super producer Lee Bannon, Vegas’ first album, ID, released in 2011, sounds like what Rick Ross could sound like if he spent his summer reading instead of rapping in that weird, trying-to-dislodge-food-stuck-in-his-throat voice like he usually does.
Vegas’ baritone bellows over new school bass heavy beats are sure to have your trunk rattling and your rear view mirror shaking. Somewhere between trap and traditional boom bap, Vegas finds a sound that will resonate with both the hip-hop snobs who are primarily concerned with lyrical content and their girlfriends who only care that the beat hits.
The road to his hard-hitting, soulful new release, ID.1, documents his long journey from being an injured sports hopeful to one of Sacramento’s newest rap notables. Vegas, whose given name is Jovon Bray, is a Sacramento native who played both football and hockey at American River College before suffering a career-ending injury to his left shoulder in 2006 during a football game. Since then, many of the lessons he learned on the field have translated to the music industry. We sat down with Mr. Vegas to talk music, sports, psychology and small jungle cats in order to find out more about the new kid on campus.
Where do your roots in this rap thing start and why the name Jo Vegas?
I have always had a passion for all art but the music is in me. My pops and all my uncles either played or still do. I thought I was going to play ball but reality did not. I ended up running into Lee Bannon at the mall on some “meant to be the moment” stuff, and he was like, “My parents just got me this beat machine. You should rap!” Sounds stupid but it’s the truth.
My name, though, is something that I hold in high regard because the Vegas means so much. To me it represents the internal battle I fought with myself every day in order to become the person I became and the person I will be. The fact that I adopted the moniker Vegas was to tell you to expect the unexpected. Anything goes.
With everyone talking about finding/creating their own lane in the hip-hop world, what is your lane, and what separates you from the million other hopeful MCs with a new album out?
I just want people to become conscious of themselves and their surroundings. I understand it is not for everybody. I am especially human, though, with my opinions so don’t get offended by the contradictions of my thoughts, because then I will be offended that you’re offended. Then we’ll just both be offended. Lighten up, it’s just wrestling.
You used to rap, and then you were on a promising trajectory athletically, and then you suffered a career ending injury while playing football and returned to rap. Which would you rather be doing now? Rapping or playing ball? And how do the two compare?
I love sports. I’m a fanatic like I’ll paint my face team colors and pout and cry when they lose, but honestly I love what I do and to be at the beginning of this long journey and to have people tell me they respect my mind is something I value highly, because it wasn’t always like that. I think the spirit of competition is what really motivates the drive to become relevant in people’s conversations. My goal was/is, when it’s all said and done, to do it at the highest level possible. My only dream was to be able to inspire my brothers and take care of my parents and Jaelyn, my daughter. I am confident that will happen.
Your new album is called ID.1 referring to Freud’s structural model of the psyche, and it’s the first of a three part series that will include the ego and the superego. Where does your interest in Psychology come from and how do you relate it to hip-hop?
I was at a low point, and I felt like I was losing myself, like I was mad depressed and knew something had to change. The more I started writing, the more I began to see things differently, with an enlightened eye, and that made its way into the music. When it comes to songwriting, attitude and behavior mean everything to the moment so being in control starts there. I think if more rappers did harder things [in the world of hip-hop music] wouldn’t be in such bad shape. There is nothing wrong with being you. That’s why I can appreciate all of the A$AP Rockys and Danny Browns of the world. It is unique. It is appealing. Most of all they look like dudes who are really comfortable in their own skin. I think it’s dope.
What do you hope to accomplish with ID.1 and what can listeners expect?
Expect that you can’t put this in a box—plain and simple. I’m going to give you what you want and what you need. You see, I am an artist and art takes time, so don’t expect Rome on the first try. But I do expect Egypt.
Tell us about your upcoming record release party for ID.1.
That’s going to be over at the Parlare Lounge (Downtown Sacramento) on Feb. 27, 2013. The project drops the next day. We’ve gotten a lot of hits back, so it should be pretty live. Special thanks to Jacquie Yo of FreshPages for taking that on, as well as DJ Epik and fam for holding Jo Vegas and Team Tokyo down. Grazie, fellas.
What’s one random Jo Vegas fact that we would never guess about you?
My first rap check I will be skipping over cars and houses. I am getting an exotic baby jungle cat of some sort.
Catch Jo Vegas live at Parlare Lounge for his release party during Shine on Feb. 27, 2013 and be sure to check out the new album ID.1 as it drops Feb. 28, 2013. For more information on Jo Vegas including download links to the ID album, Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, and more go to Jo-Vegas.com. You can also look up the video for his song “Long Journey” on YouTube.
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