Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Lopez.
Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up the only boy out of 5 kids and I was the youngest. Grew up in the projects of NYC. Alfred E Smith government Houses, located on the lower east side of Manhattan. Grew up poor on welfare.
Didn’t have cool sneakers or a lot of toys. But my mother did the best she could to provide a good life for us all. We moved to California in the 80s then came back to NY and my mother and sister Krissy were homeless. We were going from house to house of family and friends. Till my mom decided to move us to Florida. So, we moved to a little town called Kissimmee too. There I was twilight to rap by a kid from Philly named Smoove.
He wrote my first rap. And from there it was on. I started writing every day and got better over time. Over some years, I won competition battles I was making a BMW for myself. Which was Jterra the Machine (side note; I’ve been the Machine since Conway was Conway’s face!! So, I am the original Machine). I got that name from me being able to freestyle without crunching words or running out of shit to say, I would just keep going.
By this time, I opened for many people artists too many to name. Lox DMxRon browses Kali buds Green Lantern and many more kiss, Joel Ortiz. Started my own company and did parties with Memphis Bleek and his partner my brother Steven Rosado aka DEBO I worked hard to make a name for myself.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was homeless for a while when I came back from California. Besides that, just jealousy from so-called friends who had a horrible relationship with a girl I did business with and that put a space between me Bleek, and Debo.
And the city of Orlando doesn’t rate artists on skill. It’s a popularity contest. It’s the only city I’ve lived in where you can be the best rapper/MC if they like you!! Ya skills DO NOT MATTER IN ORLANDO. Being likable does. So that put a lot of restraint on my movement.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The way I write is to either educate people or wow them. Without trying. I separate myself by being genuine like DMX. Feel nobody’s perfect and I admit that and don’t like when people act like nothing is wrong with them or as if they have no issues at all.
Being “real” is all we have. Being who we truly are. You know like believing in God wanting to do good or be a good person regardless of influence. That’s what separates me 100% and these rappers aren’t saying anything I want to hear. No substance no concepts. Trash.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yep! At the end of the day, it’s just you and God make sure you please him in every decision u make!!!
And go get that 1990-something audiobook/mixtape out next summer on July 8th, 2024 it’s out on Vinyl ONLY A REAL RECORD ON WAX.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jterraofficial and @Nomoreyesmen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOMOREYESMEN/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@NOMOREYESMEN?si=6F1Ri_GoOJ04ve1l
- SoundCloud: @Jay Terra
Image Credits
Daniel Sanchez, For Nightowl Post-production, and David Reyes of Dreamers and Ballers
