YPA: Recently Puerto Rican Myke has passed you the torch as the second singer of Skarhead. Tell us how the experience has been so far? Big shoes to fill?
Ceekay Jones: It’s an honor to be asked to do this. PR Myke is an amazing vocalist and his energy on stage is like none other. Ive said it before, “I could never fill the shoes of PR Myke, but I do my best to represent what he brought to Skarhead”.
As a solo-artist your styles are very eclectic. Does it make it difficult to classify yourself into one genre such as hardcore or hip-hop when it’s really a bit of everything?
Definitely, and over the last few years I’ve done so many different projects in so many different styles of music that I feel like I’m just now putting it all together into a sound I would classify as my own. I’m constantly growing as a musician and in that growth my sound changes and progresses. I think thats the reason I have yet to release a solo record. When I started to record my solo stuff I had an idea of what I wanted and then in the course of recording, over the last year especially I have evolved into something entirely different than what I started with. I think it keeps me on my toes and fresh that way.
How have you seen street culture change in the past ten years or so?
Ya know, I think that statement “The more things change the more things stay the same” is fitting for that. Everything evolves and then circles back to its starting place. Although it never will be exactly the same as it was 10 years ago, I definitely see it moving in cycles. Of course dollars will alway influence a movement so we’ve definitely seen that, but in everything there is always the original style and sound that stays a float. You just gotta look deeper into a scene or a movement to find the real…
Tell us where “Gucci Punk” comes from?
“GUCCI PUNK” is me! That term I created to define who I am. I’m not your typical hardcore street grimy cat. Im into high fashion and looking good, but on the flip side I got a gutter punk mentality as well. It use to be that you were “punk” if you showed up at a show sporting a mo-hawk and leather studded jacket, but know thats mainstream “Hot Topic” gear. I like showing up to a Hardcore show or a Punk show wearing “GUCCI” or “John Varvatos” and contradict all these cats that dress and act a certain way to fit in. Im me and I represent myself, my family and my crew to the fullest. “Real Recognize Real”….I am the “Original Gucci Punk” ….WHAT !!!! [Laughs]
You’re currently working on a lot. Tell us about some of the projects you’ve got going on right now?
Well honestly in the last 3 years I’ve done so many projects that I wasn’t allowing me to do my own stuff, so I have cut down the load so to speak to focus on the stuff that is most important right now, like SKARHEAD and my solo record. But, I did this year release a EP with my old band “The New Tabu” and I continue to do collaborations in Hip Hop with lots of cats….
Some describe your rhyme style as “grimy.” Would you consider that a fair assessment?
I don’t know, I’m a jack of all trades. I think people only describe what they have heard from me thus far. I’m actually very well versed vocally. I sing and went to school for voice. I think in the near future I’ll be showing the world a whole new side people didn’t know I have. No one knew I could do the Skarhead thing and look what I did there. I wrote and recorded all my stuff in less than 48 hours for that new Skarhead record. I’m just getting started to show people what I can do !!!! [Laughs]
How is working in hip-hop different than working in hardcore?
Well, Its a lot different. I don’t make beats, so in Hip Hop I purely am a writer but in Hardcore its more of a band concept. I started in music as a frontman for a band so I will always enjoy that process more than the Hip Hop side. I get bored writing raps so I think thats why I end up doing so much other stuff musically. But don’t get me wrong. I love it all…I don’t think I answered that question to clearly !!! [Laughs]
Skarhead released it’s first album in more than five years. What’s it like being a part of that insanity?
Exactly how you just put it, “Insanity” ! But it is a lot of fun and like said, its an honor to be apart of. There are so many great artists involved and being amongst that list of names is dope…
There are a lot of rappers out there and not a lot of MC’s which is something that developed during the “No Limit Solider” era of the genre. You rap about similar things, yet somehow have a tendency to avoid being in that pigeon-hole. Why do you think that is?
Again, I think that is only because I’m being judged on a very small body of work thats out there to hear from me. I have definitely at times fallen victim to writing for a certain group, sound or style and because I haven’t really released anything SOLO yet Ive done myself an injustice. Again, the stuff I’m gonna unleash on the world in the next year will really change the view people have on what my style or sound truly is.
When you’re not working in the studio or on tour what do you do to keep entertained?
[Laughs] This is where I differ the most from the people I run with. I’m really a mellow cat. I stay home play guitar, stay fit in the gym and run a lot. If I have off time, I normally relax with my fam or with a lady ! Touring has enough party and stress with it, so when I’m home, I’M HOME !!!
Any vices?
Beautiful women, Gucci, my guitar and some red wine. I bet you didn’t see that answer coming right?
What’s your craziest tour and/or strip club story? Any nights resembling The Hangover?
Every Skarhead Tour has crazy stories so I have plenty. Lets just say this “If you spend anytime on the road with Skarhead, your gonna have a good time weather you want to or not.” [Laughs]
I know lots of guys collect random shit. Rick Ta Life loves the horror movie toys and Toby H20 digs on everything Nike. Anything like that for you?
GUCCI!
What have you been listening to a lot of recently?
I have the broadest musical taste of anyone I know. I can listen to anything from Punk to Hardcore to Pop to Country. A good written song is a good written song. I just like good music !!!
TuPac. Alive and hiding out? Or dead and not coming back?
He’s eating bacon wrapped hotdogs with Elvis in the bahamas…hahaha…I don’t fucking know or really care honestly. (but I love TuPac’s shit and Elvis for that matter)
As a musician how have you seen the industry change with the slow decline of labels?
That question is an entire interview in itself. Its a whole new world and if you want to survive the changing of the guard you gotta stay current in social networking with technology and creating new avenues to take. The old way of doing the music biz is dead and if you don’t adapt to the new, then it doesn’t matter how good you are your gonna get left in the dust asking why you didn’t make it….
You’re from New York originally, but now you’re out on the west coast in Los Angeles. What’s the big difference between the two places? Was it a bit of a culture shock moving from the city that never sleeps to the weed capital of the country?
Well, I was born in Western NY, so I’m not from the NYC. I moved to New Mexico in High School and then moved around from there until I ended up in LA because of my original band touring and playing the West Coast so much. I love NY and always will, but I will never live there again. I love the West Coast. The weather, the vibe and did I mention THE WEATHER ? [Laughs]..Ive always been a traveling man so I don’t have culture shock where ever I go.
What kind of kid were you in high school?
I was an athlete. I turned Pro [while] Snowboarding when I was fifteen. I toured the world competing in half-pipe and big air until I was nineteen. Music was just something I enjoyed. I always looked a lot younger than I was (and still do) so I didn’t get my play in High School. I just smoked mad weed and Snowboarded. Mind you, I was in New Mexico in a small ass town so life was a bit different than the city folk.
You’ve worked with KRS One, Cro Mags, House of Pain, Alkaline Trio and a slew of other artists. What’s been the most memorable/insightful experience you’ve had? Has there ever been any star struck moments?
Ive been blessed so far. working with everyone has been so chill. Ive never been star struck though. Having Matt Skiba do the song “Kill for LA” with me was dope. Im a huge Alkaline Trio fan and hes a really chill cat so that was fun. Working with people you listen to or get inspiration from is always a blessing…I just try to absorb any kind of mojo they have and use it on my stuff.
Favorite breakfast cereal?
Don’t eat cereal, but as a kid I wished I could eat Golden Grams. My parents are ex professional Athletes so I was brought up on the healthy tip. I did sneak some bowls of sugar cereals at my friends houses growing up though…hahaha…My breakfast now is a Protein shake followed my Starbucks Chai !!! [Laughs]
If you could hang out with any three people on a desert island; who would you pick and why?
Damn thats a tough question. My first response was, I’d make it four and it would be my two brothers and my parents, but then I wouldn’t be getting laid so I can’t have that. Hmmmmm, probably then it would be my best friend Norm and two really hot chicks. If Im getting deserted then at least Ill be chilling on the beach with hot chicks and my best friend! [Laughs]
Any last words?
Much Respect…Look out for my solo stuff and I just wanna thank everyone for the support so far. Go buy the new Skarhead “DRUGS MUSIC AND SEX” record if you haven’t already !!! Big ups to my brotha from anotha mutha LORD EZEC aka DANNY DIABLO and all my BnB Brothers….Like I said your gonna see a lot of me starting this year. I’m just getting started in this bitch !!! hahahaha….ONE
