How did you get your name?
My name was given to me by my brothers when i was a child. Jaca is a nickname from my full name Jacarlte. They would call me Jaca Zulu just as a play off names but it stuck. Especially when I researched different things about Chaka and the Zulus.
What made you decide to become a rapper?
Rapping developed out of my knack for poetry. I wrote a poem about 9/11 in like the 7th grade and somebody joked about buying it from me to rap it. I just started writing more but with the idea that I’ll be spitting these poems. It gave me a new confidence.
What was the first rap song you ever heard? Where were you? How did it affect you?
The first rapper i heard and stuck with me was 2Pac. I remember “Dear Mama” and “Keep Ya Head Up” always hitting me when i was younger because they were uplifting, healing in a sense. When i heard Jay Z's "Where Have You Been?" later in life, that solidified my place in Hip Hop. I realized how much music can connect us and bring understanding and i wanted to use my gift to continue that.
How did Graine come into existence?
Graine came to existence when DJ Smash Lames approached me and Ben about doing a project together for his dy-ad series. B3nbi and I were on very similar frequencies as far as the next sound we wanted to make. We wanted to make an experience. On my end with the writing I wanted to make it a soul-questioning experience. I wanted to give gems to people.
What’s your favorite album of all time and why?
I don’t know. i haven’t made it yet. But the closest would have to be Jay-Z’s Black Album.
Twitter [@jacazulu_hrg] | Facebook | I
Twitter [@b3nbi] | Facebook | Soundclo
Twitter [@b3nbi] | Facebook | Soundclo