JAMALL BUFFORD INTERVIEW

“I don’t think I am a victim, I’m more so effected by the modern age” says Jamall Bufford. This reflection comes in regards to his new joint titled “Victim Of A Modern Age” which was released this week. Probably better known as Buff1, the Mello Music Group artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan says he used his government name for this release because, “Jamall Bufford is about myself and examining my flaws. Trying my best to improve on them, and trying to improve some of my personal relationships.” In this regard, the album makes a beautiful swish — when using a basketball terms. With 14KT also on the production, Bufford explains tracks “Nineteen”, “EAT”, “Loser” and “Living Room Flo” from the album are ones that resonate with him right now. As “Nineteen” opens he says, “I thank God my mother raised me. I try to tell em every cliche the media feeds us about black men — diseases, deceased or illegal — from half way across the country it’s not easy to reach you. I apologize if I freeze when I’m speaking, that don’t mean I’m stupid, it means that I’m thinking.” He’s talking about his little brother here,”my little brother nineteen, he in the streets crazy thinking he grown”.

Floating above a sea of fame and drugs, women and material wealth, “Victim Of A Modern Age” get’s real. And though Bufford makes the distinction that Buff1 is more focussed on Hip Hop and the culture, Hip Hop is not forgotten on this joint; it’s just the vessel Bufford uses to get real with people. Later in the interview he admits, “I guess I am a victim. Haha!” It’s after I’ve asked him which piece of advice from his mother he feels was the best for him; he answers it’s when she told him not to cuss, and although he swears on this record, he maintains being told not to swear [when he was younger] forced him to find other ways of expressing himself. In the below interview with Grindin’ other complexities about this artist are revealed. I confuse him with a question about being misunderstood, however, he replies there is a freedom one feels once it is realised being misunderstood is all good.

What head space were you in when beginning to put together “Victim Of A Modern Age”, inspiration wise?
I don’t really remember where I was mentally, I just always try my best not to repeat anything I’ve done in the last. I did a few of the songs about 3 years ago, “Oh My God, Forever”, “Silencers”, “Praylude”, “Nineteen” and the title track “Victim of a Modern Age”. I was semi influenced by the movie A Clockwork Orange & things I encountered working at this teen center, and just life experiences. Then I wasn’t too inspired for a while, just kinda living so I can experience more, then a flood kinda hit me and I did the rest of the songs between June & July of this year.

Describe the process and chemistry/energy in the room when you and KT are working together on a beat from scratch?
It’s fun man, I wish we had time to do that more often. Even though I don’t know any technical music lingo at all and KT isn’t super technical we still manage to speak the same language, and we understand exactly what we’re trying to convey. I guess that’s what happens when you see, talk to, text or email someone 4-5 days outta the week for like 15 straight years. It’s either that or it’s just a connection from a higher power.

With the interview you did with Kelly Frazier, you referred to your music as Indie Hip Hop. Can you define, from your point of view, what Indie Hip Hop is?
Yea I think the definition of ‘indie hip hop’ varies based on who you ask. To me it has absolutely nothing to do with the sound of my/your music, to me and in my opinion it means you’re either doing everything 100% on your own and/or the money you discuss coming in or going out never reaches the millions or hundreds of thousands.

What are the perks that come with being an independent artist?
Freedom. Freedom to express your art however you want. Still trying to sell records though, haha.

Lyrically and consciously what’s the difference between Buff1 and Jamall Bufford?
Not a whole lot. The main thing is probably Buff1 being more about Hip Hop & the culture, & live performance. Jamall Bufford is about myself & examining my flaws & trying my best to improve on them & trying to improve some of my personal relationships.

What prompted you to work with children and people in youth centres? It seems a theme that is prevalent with the intro for “Nineteen” talking about your little brother also, why did the issue of troubled youth resonate with you creatively for “Victim Of A Modern Age”?
It just kinda happened really. One of the downsides to being an ‘indie’ artist is the money isn’t on the scale of the majors, so when you slow down so does the money, peaks & valleys. My boy M.I.C. was doing the emcee program at the Neutral Zone teen center in Ann Arbor, then he moved to Seattle for his music career right around the time I came back home from LA & touring. So it just kinda worked out, now I’m the music coordinator working with about seven different music programs.

The deal with my brother stemmed from thinking about how different we were at the age of 19, my Mom had just moved back to Atlanta and I was in college, working & doing music. My brother was out there messing with the wrong crowd at 19. We have the same Dad but we were raised by our different Moms. I also have an older brother who was close to a father figure to me, he’s 13 years older than me, same mom different dads but we were raised in the same household. And I’m 13 years older than my younger brother. Just thinking about how different our relationships our, my younger brother has been in Memphis & Pittsburgh the last 5-6 years.

How are you a victim of this modern age?
I don’t know if I’m a victim, I’m more so effected by the modern age. But “someone effected by the modern age” doesn’t have the same ring for an album title, haha. But this modern age is nothing new, been a few years. Internet pirating, the market being over saturated & flooded due to anyone being able to record & put out music instantly, how easy it is for anyone to get guns, even how social networks effect relationships.

Where did the sample at the end of “Wishing Wall” come from?
A Clockwork Orange.

What’s the most advantageous aspect about being misunderstood in society do you think?
I don’t know I quite understand the question but it’s very freeing when you don’t really care whether or not people understand you. Took me a while to get to this point.

In what way do you lead by example?
Just be myself.

What’s your hood like?
My hood is pretty chill man, minimal riff raff, minimal drama. A couple knuckleheads here & there but it’s straight though.

And what’s the music scene like in the city that you come from?
I don’t really know. I haven’t been going out much. I do know there’s a lot of young rap talent, I just don’t know if we have the scene to support it. It’s a college town primarily so the scene changes pretty frequently. There’s a few indie rock artists making strides from out here though.

What’s the best piece of advice your mother ever gave you?
Don’t cuss. Even though she cusses, haha. It helped me think of other ways to express myself. Even though I’m cussing on this new album, haha. I guess I’m a victim man! Everything else was just how she carries herself, no real advice.

In “Nineteen” you said you don’t usually like to talk about pain, why did you decide it was important to share that in your music this time?
Just wanted to challenge myself & do something I’ve never done before. Similar to why I decided to cuss on this album. Just little challenges to keep myself interested & motivated.

What’s your definition of Grindin’?
Working hard.

Interview by Aleyna Martinez