Fashion Glossary UK meets JFLOWZ
14th February
Words by Chimmy Lawson
“The British urban scene has come a long way. I’m sure it’s clear how music is being used to empower and strengthen the people again”
UK rap is barely considered a genuine genre but behind the banter and insults there is one particular person working hard to get people to stop laughing and pay attention.
If you Google the name, you get a stack of results. YouTube links, Sound Cloud tracks, interviews… 295,000 search results in 0.31 seconds. Impressed? Not yet.
His real impressive accolade is the music. Now I won’t pretend I wasn’t sceptical, and I definitely won’t pretend I expected to like anything. Because like everyone else, I had ruled out UK rap and I wasn’t interested in anything that wasn’t twerking straight from Atlanta and into the club.
I listened to his 2011 freestyle warily but before I knew it I had created an entire playlist and had his new single “Sounds Good” on repeat. I may not have known it at the time, but Flowz Fever had hit me hard. There is something about his voice, his demeanour, his downright cockiness and sorry to use this word, his swag. His reference to lyrics from popular American hip hop songs had me smirking at my screen and when I listened to his version of U.E.O.N.O I was nodding my head and saying yes like that damn Churchill dog. Like I said, I was feeling anything out of Atlanta, and that definitely includes my boo Future.
When asked about the remix Flowz said
“American music has influenced me to a certain extent. I could never be American though! I mean I’m far from British even with my passport being burgundy [laughs]. That remix actually represented how it is over here in the UK. I gave it a little taste of home”.
It would be hard to not be influenced by American music. I mean, even I’m running around acting ratchet and throwing shade with two snaps hunny. But there are some negative influences (what is shade anyway?). Hip Hop from the USA is often blamed for black on black crime and other violent acts.
J Flowz keeps things as real as possible in his lyrics, which could come across as him being aggressive.
When I mentioned this to him, he had this to say: “I think the finger is pointed at the source. It’s a shame that the media feed us with so much negativity. Music is one of the only industries that links up different colours, languages and people. I’ve never thought my music to be violent or aggressive, I just like to pick on the things we avoid to hear”
J Flowz’ passion for the industry is evident. He mentioned that he wants to inspire people to be “who they need to be” rather than having them cruising around town trying to relive his life. Out of curiosity I asked him what it would be if it wasn’t music, he laughed and then surprised me by saying "he always wanted to go into accounting and finance". Flowz said he’s always had a thing for numbers and data handling. Looking back at my GCSE days, I don’t remember there being anything attractive about maths but ladies I must say, as much as I love his music, I have to admit he would look hella cute in a suit…
For research purposes (I. Am. NOT A. Creep.) I did a lot of social media stalking. And there are two words that seem to be tied to J (after all the shadowing I did, I think I’m allowed to be on a first name basis with him...) and they are SONNE BIEN.
My French is a little rusty so to me that means “nice ring to it” but JF (yep nicknames too) politely corrected me, “[laughs] you’re real close! It’s just French for Sounds Good. That’s the name of the creative collective I sprout from. We learn from and teach each other, but Sonne Bien does have a nice ring to it in French!” He laughs and I can’t help giggling too.
Flowz rightfully wants his music to make a difference. When asked to name one thing he would change about the music industry, he says he wishes people could still get paid to make music but those who listen to it could do it for free. I know the CEO of LimeWire is somewhere looking like “preaaaach”.
He’s passionate, talented and driven. Oh and girls, when I asked him about M.O.B he chose B. I think we’re onto a winner…
J FLOWZ – SOUNDS GOOD “Taking the audience through a day in the life of J Flowz” released today via (Sonnebien.com)14 FEBRUARY
