Young Poor & Angry Press

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

So you just wrapped Brothers, how was that experience?

We wrapped that two years ago actually, well, just about. It was fun but so long ago I don’t recall many of the details.

You’ve been in a lot of movies. Big and small. What’s been the most enjoyable experience filming experience thus far?

I just finished a movie called UNSTOPPABLE that Tony Scott directed and that was very enjoyable. I don’t know that it was “the most” enjoyable movie I’ve done but being the most recent I will go with that one.

Tell us about the Star Fucking Hipsters project?

Sturgeon (the lead singer, formerly of Choking Victim, also the lead singer of Leftover Crack) is a friend of mine and he mentioned that he thought it would be cool if when they came through LA they got some footage of me beating him up in an interrogation room. My brother-in-law who introduced us decided that we’d shoot their entire video here and we just went about doing that. It’s for their new single called 3000 MILES and it should be up on YouTube or available on their MySpace soon.

What was one of your favorite episodes of Boy Meets World?

The first one, I had to grab Corey and slam him into a locker. It was also my first acting job.

As a follower of yours on twitter I noticed a tweet about making the Breakfast Club into a TV show. You expressed a slight disgust for such allowed to be possible.. what are your thoughts on the latest craze (so-to-speak) of taking old classic films, and even 80’s and 90’s TV shows, and re-vamping them for ‘’today’s generation’’?

We as a society seem to have run out of ideas. Sucks for us.

Going along with my previous question do you think they will ever remake Boy Meets World? If so, would you want to make an appearance in the show?

That’s funny. Laughing Silently To Myself

What prep work did you do to get ready to play Seth Ryan in American History X?

I was really into the LA ska scene in the early 90s and familiar with the skinhead subculture so I knew something about it from the beginning but I had to play basically my worst enemy. I tried for a while to look back at what kind of music or tattoos those guys were into but my only real contact with them was in fights. The director pulled in some guys from OC and I had to bite my tongue while I listened to them spout their garbage philosophy. I really hope I made them look like idiots, that was my main focus.

The tattoo you had in the movie is of an American Oi band named Anti-Heroes. Any thoughts on their lawsuit?

Maybe if they  hadn’t done such a spot on cover of Skrewdriver’s Anti-Social, Nazi morons wouldn’t have been into them.

Did you ever see the fucking sailboat? Cause I damn sure know I didn’t.

Yep, I sure did.

What have you been listening to lately?

Al Green, Gallows, Star Fucking Hipsters, Symarip, Mariachi El Bronx, Op-Ivy, John Holt, Contropotere, D’Angelo, Amebix, Against ME! Those are the most recent bands I’ve forced upon my kids. The list changes almost weekly.

How long have you been into hardcore and punk rock?

Since I was a kid. When I was 12 I started getting dropped off by my mom at the Reseda Country Club for the all-ages shows, that’s where it started.

You grew up in Manhattan and you’re in California now. Which coast’s music do you prefer?

I wouldn’t know. I like what strikes an emotional chord in me and it doesn’t really matter where it’s being made. I left Manhattan when I was really young and didn’t really grow up with NY Hardcore like the kids out there. If I was gonna go see a NYHC show, like the Cro-Mags or Gorilla Biscuits when I was a really young kid I made sure to go with a big group, those shows were a lot of fun but attracted a rougher crowd and there were always fights. But NO ONE back then was doing that fucking lame “hardcore dance.” The first time I saw that was at a Madball show 5 or 6 years ago and I was bugging out, like what the fuck are these kids doing?! I’m sure it’s what my parents would’ve thought of a pit way back when but there’s a beautiful aesthetic to a good pit and these “karate kids” look like a bunch of morons having epileptic fits…

What’s your take on all these new school hipster kids and the Rod Stewart hair?

I don’t really understand it. I don’t know what a “hipster” is really either. I thought they were the kids listening to folk and always about to kill themselves but now there are these other “hipsters” with flock of seagulls hair and eye-liner that don’t really seem like they’re suicidal but they want it to look that way. Bizarre.

Has fatherhood mellowed you a bit? I know you let some rage out on Twitter occasionally.

Yeah for sure. I’m not allowed to fight anymore, that’s my wife’s rule but I stick to it and also you want to set a decent example for your kids. I have daughters so we try to use words to defeat people in any kind of altercation. That’s what I’m trying to teach them. Or that’s it’s alright to be wrong sometimes too and even though your mad or freaked out, realizing that you’re wrong and admitting it can make all the frustration go away. If I had sons we’d just be at the MMA gym all the time and fighting with people and it’s be fun but less cerebral and there’s something really good about thinking clearly.

I see you are a supporter of Invisible Children. Do you happen to know about Outlet Thru Noise? If so, what are your thoughts?

I know nothing about them, I’ll look into it.

I have some Silly questions for you:

Twitter or MySpace?

TWITTER BITCHES

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Both are awesome but I would put on the Beatles before the Stones…

Xbox or Ps3?

Not allowed, wife, kids etc…

Coke or Pepsi?

100% COKE, but not for quite some years as I’ve been dieting.

UFC or NFL?

NF-who? UFC!

King of the Hill vs. Family Guy?

Family GUY!

Alcohol vs. Pot ?

Been sober for almost 9 years so neither, but I am pro legalization.

Marvel vs. DC ?

Which released Sandman? (Editor’s Note: DC Comics….)

Sex Pistols vs. Ramones ?

As a kid the Pistols seemed to embody Anarchy better, as an adult my kids have not been exposed to them but will request Blitzkrieg Bop by name and I doubt that I have any Pistols on record or CD…Maybe an old cassette.

Jayme Foxx started her modeling career at the tender age of twelve when most girls her age were just starting to put away Barbie Dolls and get into boys.  In the past six years she has made a name for herself not only as a model, but in the punk, hardcore and metal scenes as well.  Foxx recently joined in the “Fur is Dead” campaign for Peta2, Fred Segal and Skelanimals 2008.  She was just seen in the Jared Gold Fashion Show for La Fashion Week.  Currently Foxx has her own show on Altitude TV called “Crazy Like a Foxx” where she interviews some of the top bands in the industry. Recently I sat down with Jayme to talk about her life as a TV host, some of the things she’s had to over come and her distaste for socks.

Where are you from originally?

Fort Worth, Texas

Where do you live now?

Dallas Texas and Los Angeles, California

How long have you been in the metal/punk/hardcore scene?

Since I was in 8th grade. I remember my friend Scott was really into punk rock because of his older brother. He would always play tapes on his walkman. He shared with me his info on the music and the bands. I just got really into it.

What kept you in the genre?

I think it was the freedom it gave me.. to say what I want, wear what I want, think what I want…  As cheesy as that sounds, it’s true. I hung out with squatters,cute punk rock boys, hardcore punk rock chicks, pop-punk kids… It has just always been a part of me.

What exactly do you do?

Well currently I am a TV host of Crazy Like a Foxx for Altitude TV, an interviewer for Altitude TV, and a model.

How did you get involved in TV?

The executive producer from Altitude TV contacted me on myspace. Said he loved my look and wanted me to come in and do some green screen promos. At first, I wasn’t that into the idea. I figured it was more like acting and that isn’t something I really want to do.  Well when I ent in for my interview I got really pumped.  I couldn’t believe how much fun I had and how much I got into it.

Was it a big culture shock to go from modeling to TV?

I was completely excited when I got hired on at Altitude TV.  I love it so much. Modeling was always my passion. I never put my focus on anything else.  When I started doing TV it just came so natural.

What’s your average day consist of?

Well, aside from waking up and feeding my dog, I try to organize my life.. DAILY!  haha!  I am currently trying to expand myself as much as possible. Working on TV projects, modeling gigs. Whatever gets my hands dirty.

What’s the most entertaining part of your job?

Well I would definitely say meeting all the bands and fans.  Some of the stories I’ve gotten to hear are awesome. I have met some of the most interesting people. The fans are amazing, to say the least. They are the ones who make the bands who they are…  it’s a great family

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I love checking up on new bands.. I also like to spend time with my fiance’ Brad and my dog Monroe. Traveling, eating Mexican food, watching movies, hanging out with friends and family, getting tattooed. Oh! and robbing banks  (Editor’s Note: I think Jayme is kidding, but you never know….)

Being the busy bee that you are, is having balance in your life between work and a social life difficult?

When I was living in Los Angeles it made it hard becuase Brad lived in Dallas. So seeing each other once a month was hard. Especially when the other person is even busier than you are. We made it work and now im currently in Dallas going back to Los Angeles for work. Traveling back and forth sucks too when the other person is traveling. You make it work and are happy when you have time with each other. My social life kind of struggles sometimes because my friends live all over, so its hard for me to see everyone all the time.

Any bands you’re currently really excited about?

I have started to really get into LadyHawke.  I love her voice and her lyrics. I know im probably going to make a few people mad for saying this but, I really am starting to like Lady Gaga! Her videos are amazing and her style is different than anything going on right now. I love it when people have their own style and it doesnt fit a certain criteria and they are still very successful.

Do you feel as if you’ve got a responsibility as a role model for the girls in the scene currently?

I guess so… I mean I would like to be a good influence on the ladies, but honestly I’d rather be an inspiration than a role model. It would be awesome if a girl told me that she followed her dreams and worked really hard because she saw me do the same thing.

Do you feel as if you don’t get taken as seriously in the music industry because you’re a woman? Or has it been something that’s been helpful instead of harmful?

I have had alot of respect in the industry. I think being a woman helps. People still take me serious but also are more open to talking with me or working with me because I am a woman.  Being talkative and friendly always helps, plus being sexy.

Tell us something that very few people know about you.

I’m Polish, I am allergic to Pomegranates, I quit drinking 3 years ago, I haven’t had anything carbonated in almost 10 years, I don’t like to wear socks, and I HATE pencils.

What is your nerdiest trait?

I wear sunscreen everyday!