Music equals movement; a simple phrase that expresses more than what
meets the eye. This phrase seeks to portray a lifestyle; one that
doesn’t stop at good enough, one that doesn’t stop in the midst of
heartache, trials, and tribulation, and one that doesn’t count failures
but is always looking ahead to the future. This is the phrase and
lifestyle that defines the new and upcoming hip-hop artist, Jay aRe. Jay
aRe, also known as Joe Redmond, was born on February 28th 1990 in
Chicago, Illinois. After five years of living in the windy city, the
Redmond’s decided to move to Aurora, IL in hopes of bettering their life
as a family. As a child, Jay aRe was always intrigued with music and
took great interest in Michael Jackson’s “BAD” album. It was the album
of choice for years whenever the family would travel back and forth to
Chicago to visit relatives. At the age of 7, Jay aRe picked up piano and
started to gain an understanding of time, rhythm, and theory. This
eventually led to his involvement in the local church choir where he
began to sing. It wasn’t until his Junior year at Aurora high school
that Jay aRe found his love for hip-hop and rap. Long time good friend
,“Lewie XIII” challenged Jay aRe to a freestyle competition after
school one afternoon and from that point on, he knew he had found his
niche.
Over the next few years Jay aRe began to write day to day, experimenting
with different beats and sounds, and listening to any and all types of
music- submersing himself in the genre. One of the first influential
groups in Jay aRe’s understanding of the music industry and hip-hop was
WARREN & Wesley. Their love for music as a craft changed the way Jay
aRe listened to and analyzed hip-hop and rap. Other influences include
Jay-Z, Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, Kanye West, Chris Brown, and
Drake. Through listening to an assortment of styles of music as well as
hip-hop, Jay aRe found his home in the rap game. Seeking to connect with
his audience and fans, he has made it a point to use his experiences,
stories, and faith as fuel for inspiration and creativity.
In 2009, Jay aRe released his first mixtape, “Re-Applied” that
established him as a new hip-hop artist with his local hometown and
campus. He then spent some time co-producing and appearing on WARREN
& Wesley’s second studio album, “Reaching Fallen Arms.” From there
he took his newest material and released his second mixtape, “How Far
We’ve Come” in 2010 that garnered even more attention from the
Chicagoland area. “How Far We’ve Come” was a stepping stone in Jay aRe’s
career. Rooted in the talent and truth, the mixtape gave audiences and
fans a deeper look into the struggles Jay aRe faced when trying to make
his newfound dream a reality. On October 8th, 2011 Jay aRe released his
first and highly anticipated full-length album, “The STORM Before The
Calm.” The album gained widespread respect and became a popular hit
among the Chicago and Aurora areas as well as Jay aRe’s local campus.
The “STORM Before The Calm” is a story album that ties the struggles of
creating a name in the music industry, along with the triumphs that have
come out of essentially nothing. Throughout the years, Jay aRe has
worked with many talented artists and singer-songwriters: Rich Ndembe,
“Lewie XIII,” Mackenzi Jo, Shaina Williams, Lauren Finders, and many
more.
Looking to the future, Jay aRe is set to release his next album in the
fall of 2012. “The Mirror Room” will be his most technical and
comprehensive release to date. The potential for this young artist is
high. His music pulls at the emotional strings differently than other
hip-hop acts; rather than just words over a "cool" beat, he aims to tell
stories that directly impact his enthusiasts. He compels them to take a
deeper look into what he is about, in hopes that they will walk
alongside him and experience life together. So with that said there is
just one question, will you join the movement? Years of preparation,
hard work, determination, and a little luck have come down to this very
moment.
He’s ready.
The question is….. aRe you?
