Image via Ramal Brown
Steven Louis will not migrate Slack to Teams, he has no idea what any of those words mean.
The hottest breakthrough rap act in California is once again locked up. This is the first time that EBK Jaaybo has been charged as an adult. It’s also the first time that he’s been incarcerated with a charting single to his name. But everything else is numbingly, perversely par for the course.
The arrests began when he was 14 years old. A series of gun and burglary charges first sent him into perdition, a punitive sentence for a child mired in poverty and grappling with the murder of his father. At 21, Jaymani Gorman is now serving his seventh stint behind bars. He’s developed a routine, the self-described “dance moves” to cope with confinement. Once again, lyrics and video stills are in a California rapper’s case discovery files. Jaaybo has dealt with California’s gang enhancement penal code so many times that he can recite it word for word. To paraphrase another historically great rapper ensnared in the state’s cycles of bloodlust and jealousy: it’s regular but it’s definitely not normal.
EBK Jaaybo is the consummate artist for a country undergirded by violence and a society starved for unvarnished truth. He hails from Stockton, once the owner of the nation’s highest foreclosure rate and still the largest American city to declare bankruptcy. He is the human incarnation of Omar Little in the courtroom, rendering a shotgun and a briefcase as functionally indistinguishable. He’s one of the sharpest and most thrilling rappers alive right now, yet unlike most of his caliber, he seldom raps about his own rhyming prowess. Syllables get drawn out with snide enunciation before collapsing into frigidity and superboosted bass.
On “Apocalypse,” one of his first hits, Jaaybo puts together “Glock lifter,” “shot sender” and “mob member” with the attentive aggression of a gangland kingpin trying to teach stage direction. Schemes are tripled up with careful density before being unceremoniously dropped for a new, equally tangled rhyme. It’s gruff and chaotic, AAA/B cadences that feel like prime Steve Francis contorting to finish a self alley oop over the opposing center.
His breakout hit “Boogieman” is a singular oddity for viral music, one of the most unlikely social media smashes of this generation. The pressurized bass damn near rattles a phone screen, synching on the down beat with borderline arhythmic key smashing. It’s blemished jet-black anti-pop, a gladiator’s theme for the year 2100, with Jaaybo “dropping bangers with no hooks again”. Somehow, it has reached the “hot women doing choreographed dances” part of TikTok.
Jaaybo’s mushrooming popularity belies the music’s cruelty and vitriol. The opps are not faceless; in fact, entire songs like “Fly Exterminator” and “Had Enough” are smirking, blood-soaked dedications to a Stockton rival set. Some songs, like the searing emo banger anthem “Do Not Disturb,” are compression chambers for pain and trauma. Others, like the Beabadoobee-sampling “Death Bedz,” feel like reconciling with broken pride – “they say I’m valuable but move like I ain’t worth a cent”. It stings every replay.
The latest project, a 21-track collection called The Reaper, is mostly what he calls “straight-up street shit.” He’s aware that this energy works counterclockwise to his rehabilitation efforts, but he seems content to let his listeners sort out the contradictions and the discomfiting intersections. The motifs are strange and unique if not chillingly hyper-specific. Jaaybo loves firearm switches and vector clip magazines, he’s spinning like a tornado and eliminating rivals with a fly swatter. The ski masks are still on the ground. Conspicuous silences in the middle of verses still create gaps for things left unsaid. There are no features here, just raw and unforgiving menace.
We connected with Jaaybo from San Joaquin County Jail, where he gave his first official interview since going back down for illegal firearm possession by a felon in January. The night before his 21st birthday, Jaaybo spoke with righteous defiance and a hardened familiarity with solitude. Again, no part of the carceral experience is new to him. But Jaaybo shares a clear and motivated vision of what his future holds. Jaaybo sees a mansion for his kids to grow up in, far away from Stockton; they’ll never know what their father’s Nightingale block looks like, or how it feels to have their heads on perpetual swivel.
He reveals that he’ll be back home in four months, with plans to tour and make new music. He says that he misses his fallen soldiers and his father Rary, but no longer believes that physical presence is the measure of company. As he sees it, he’s never going to “die by the gun,” but he also doesn’t think he’s living by it any longer.
(This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.)
What’s going on, Jaaybo?
EBK Jaaybo: I’m feeling good, bro. I just got my package. Kool Aid, the ranch flavor Doritos, stuff like that.
What are you more appreciative of these days?
EBK Jaaybo: The little things. Honestly, just waking up. And the fact that fans are still supporting a n–. I don’t get caught up in the bullshit. I’m thankful for this Kool Aid especially right now, because it’s like 100 degrees here, on G.
You say that a lot, either on tracks or in conversation. On the G, 2100 block, Nightingale, all that. Why do you think it’s important to rep like that?
EBK Jaaybo: For me, I can never forget about [EBK] Mad Max. Free Mad Max, bro. Free [EBK] Lil Play, free [EBK] Lil Sleaze, free my manager Dada, on Southeast. It gets real political, real golitical, but I had to put the G on my back. Everywhere I go, the hood is with me. So, if I talk about the G so much, blood, then the people listening are gonna damn near start worshiping that shit, like it’s holy. If I have to let the world know about my brothers and the members on every song, then that’s really all it is. It’s my responsibility. I’m the landlord of Nightingale. All of us are from the same neighborhood, so it’s on us to uplift the community and keep the name powerful. I never feel like I’m bigger than the G, because nothing is.
What would you say are the codes and values that the G lives by?
EBK Jaaybo: Look, we push Every Body Killa. The courts want to label us as a gang, or some street terrorists. But we feel that EBK is just a way of living. Killa mentality, like we’re up on everybody. We believe it’s us against the world, blood. We preach loyalty, but honestly, we know that everyone has a lil bit of a snake mentality in them. That’s nature, we just don’t hide that fact. Loyalty is cool and all, but in this world we’re living in, it ain’t enough. You won’t survive that way. But if you think like EBK, there won’t be too many holes for the snakes to slither through. You can’t trust n—-, blood. We do not leave any room for backdoor activities. We’re on some fuck the world shit, because all we have is the G.
Like so many other recent cases in the rap world, you have two sets of enemies: the people in the streets that want to see you dead, and the prosecutors using your lyrics to get you in prison.
EBK Jaaybo: For real, blood. Both sides hate young n— that stand on business. That just comes with the territory, though. The same shit happens in the business world. Shit, I’ve done bought chains and the jewelers are telling me that they have opps, that they have competition to handle. So it’s everywhere. They say we glorify violence, but in reality, we all do. On blood, we’re the ones who actually rap about it, but everyone in this world has enemies. Everyone in this world has malice and aggression in them. Everyone moves the way we move. We just do it publicly.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
What are you more appreciative of these days?
EBK Jaaybo: The little things. Honestly, just waking up. And the fact that fans are still supporting a n–. I don’t get caught up in the bullshit. I’m thankful for this Kool Aid especially right now, because it’s like 100 degrees here, on G.
You say that a lot, either on tracks or in conversation. On the G, 2100 block, Nightingale, all that. Why do you think it’s important to rep like that?
EBK Jaaybo: For me, I can never forget about [EBK] Mad Max. Free Mad Max, bro. Free [EBK] Lil Play, free [EBK] Lil Sleaze, free my manager Dada, on Southeast. It gets real political, real golitical, but I had to put the G on my back. Everywhere I go, the hood is with me. So, if I talk about the G so much, blood, then the people listening are gonna damn near start worshiping that shit, like it’s holy. If I have to let the world know about my brothers and the members on every song, then that’s really all it is. It’s my responsibility. I’m the landlord of Nightingale. All of us are from the same neighborhood, so it’s on us to uplift the community and keep the name powerful. I never feel like I’m bigger than the G, because nothing is.
What would you say are the codes and values that the G lives by?
EBK Jaaybo: Look, we push Every Body Killa. The courts want to label us as a gang, or some street terrorists. But we feel that EBK is just a way of living. Killa mentality, like we’re up on everybody. We believe it’s us against the world, blood. We preach loyalty, but honestly, we know that everyone has a lil bit of a snake mentality in them. That’s nature, we just don’t hide that fact. Loyalty is cool and all, but in this world we’re living in, it ain’t enough. You won’t survive that way. But if you think like EBK, there won’t be too many holes for the snakes to slither through. You can’t trust n—-, blood. We do not leave any room for backdoor activities. We’re on some fuck the world shit, because all we have is the G.
Like so many other recent cases in the rap world, you have two sets of enemies: the people in the streets that want to see you dead, and the prosecutors using your lyrics to get you in prison.
EBK Jaaybo: For real, blood. Both sides hate young n— that stand on business. That just comes with the territory, though. The same shit happens in the business world. Shit, I’ve done bought chains and the jewelers are telling me that they have opps, that they have competition to handle. So it’s everywhere. They say we glorify violence, but in reality, we all do. On blood, we’re the ones who actually rap about it, but everyone in this world has enemies. Everyone in this world has malice and aggression in them. Everyone moves the way we move. We just do it publicly.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
You say that a lot, either on tracks or in conversation. On the G, 2100 block, Nightingale, all that. Why do you think it’s important to rep like that?
EBK Jaaybo: For me, I can never forget about [EBK] Mad Max. Free Mad Max, bro. Free [EBK] Lil Play, free [EBK] Lil Sleaze, free my manager Dada, on Southeast. It gets real political, real golitical, but I had to put the G on my back. Everywhere I go, the hood is with me. So, if I talk about the G so much, blood, then the people listening are gonna damn near start worshiping that shit, like it’s holy. If I have to let the world know about my brothers and the members on every song, then that’s really all it is. It’s my responsibility. I’m the landlord of Nightingale. All of us are from the same neighborhood, so it’s on us to uplift the community and keep the name powerful. I never feel like I’m bigger than the G, because nothing is.
What would you say are the codes and values that the G lives by?
EBK Jaaybo: Look, we push Every Body Killa. The courts want to label us as a gang, or some street terrorists. But we feel that EBK is just a way of living. Killa mentality, like we’re up on everybody. We believe it’s us against the world, blood. We preach loyalty, but honestly, we know that everyone has a lil bit of a snake mentality in them. That’s nature, we just don’t hide that fact. Loyalty is cool and all, but in this world we’re living in, it ain’t enough. You won’t survive that way. But if you think like EBK, there won’t be too many holes for the snakes to slither through. You can’t trust n—-, blood. We do not leave any room for backdoor activities. We’re on some fuck the world shit, because all we have is the G.
Like so many other recent cases in the rap world, you have two sets of enemies: the people in the streets that want to see you dead, and the prosecutors using your lyrics to get you in prison.
EBK Jaaybo: For real, blood. Both sides hate young n— that stand on business. That just comes with the territory, though. The same shit happens in the business world. Shit, I’ve done bought chains and the jewelers are telling me that they have opps, that they have competition to handle. So it’s everywhere. They say we glorify violence, but in reality, we all do. On blood, we’re the ones who actually rap about it, but everyone in this world has enemies. Everyone in this world has malice and aggression in them. Everyone moves the way we move. We just do it publicly.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
What would you say are the codes and values that the G lives by?
EBK Jaaybo: Look, we push Every Body Killa. The courts want to label us as a gang, or some street terrorists. But we feel that EBK is just a way of living. Killa mentality, like we’re up on everybody. We believe it’s us against the world, blood. We preach loyalty, but honestly, we know that everyone has a lil bit of a snake mentality in them. That’s nature, we just don’t hide that fact. Loyalty is cool and all, but in this world we’re living in, it ain’t enough. You won’t survive that way. But if you think like EBK, there won’t be too many holes for the snakes to slither through. You can’t trust n—-, blood. We do not leave any room for backdoor activities. We’re on some fuck the world shit, because all we have is the G.
Like so many other recent cases in the rap world, you have two sets of enemies: the people in the streets that want to see you dead, and the prosecutors using your lyrics to get you in prison.
EBK Jaaybo: For real, blood. Both sides hate young n— that stand on business. That just comes with the territory, though. The same shit happens in the business world. Shit, I’ve done bought chains and the jewelers are telling me that they have opps, that they have competition to handle. So it’s everywhere. They say we glorify violence, but in reality, we all do. On blood, we’re the ones who actually rap about it, but everyone in this world has enemies. Everyone in this world has malice and aggression in them. Everyone moves the way we move. We just do it publicly.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Like so many other recent cases in the rap world, you have two sets of enemies: the people in the streets that want to see you dead, and the prosecutors using your lyrics to get you in prison.
EBK Jaaybo: For real, blood. Both sides hate young n— that stand on business. That just comes with the territory, though. The same shit happens in the business world. Shit, I’ve done bought chains and the jewelers are telling me that they have opps, that they have competition to handle. So it’s everywhere. They say we glorify violence, but in reality, we all do. On blood, we’re the ones who actually rap about it, but everyone in this world has enemies. Everyone in this world has malice and aggression in them. Everyone moves the way we move. We just do it publicly.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
I do like having some n— that aren’t on our type of time, some nerd friends, because they can open up doors that my gangsta friends can’t get through. You don’t have to live the life I live to be on the kinda time I’m on. You really ain’t gotta be from a hood to do some gangsta shit, and you don’t have to go to jail a thousand times, blood. That’s not what it is. In reality, snitch n— kill n—, and they; not gangstas at all. Anyone can throw salt in the game. But being from a block does not make you a gangsta. I’ve seen my momma do some real gangsta shit, and she is not a gangsta. You feel me, blood? This shit in you, not on you, as they say.
What’s your thought process as you turn 21 years old and drop a 21-song project?
EBK Jaaybo: Dead homies, I’m really excited, because I’m a 21 baby. That’s in me spiritually, blood. I’m very excited.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
But is it weird to celebrate all this while you’re still locked up?
EBK Jaaybo: I mean, like, no. Honestly, bro, there’s a lot of people in my life that aren’t here to witness it either way. There’s a lot in this life shit that you can’t physically see happen, but you know it’s happening on the outside. A n— ain’t gotta be there physically to know that I’m doing something special. I could be locked up, or in Paris, or dead and gone, and this shit’s gonna happen no matter what. They can’t stop the glow, so I don’t look at it any type of way to not be out there for it. What I will say, a n— gotta change this pattern. I can’t keep letting the same shit happen to the point that I’m always watching from the sidelines. I should be in the game, blood, there’s no reason a n— on the bench. That’s elevation, and growing up.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
How do you think the legal system has treated you thus far in your life? You’ve now been tried as both a minor and an adult.
EBK Jaaybo: This prison shit, they don’t wanna see a n— go home. They don’t want to see us have money, or actually get out and prosper. But I’ve learned that you need dance moves in here. A n— has dance moves, left, right and all that. If you have dance moves, nothing can keep a n— in a real predicament. I’ve had to run a couple fades. No Ls this time, but I’ve definitely taken a few Ls in the past, I ain’t gon lie.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Do you think the system is making an example out of you specifically?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure, bro. I went down for a pistol. My codefendants got 30 days working on the outs. Like you said, this is my first adult case. And they were trying to give me four years, on blood. I do think they’re making an example out of me, cuz a lot of n— with their first pistol charges are getting out or at most doing a year in the county. On blood, they sent me straight to prison! And they made me take gang enhancement shit. They definitely fucked a n— over based on who I am. But this can also happen to any n— with a record. I’ve had a record since I was 14, so they can label a n— a gang leader. Bro, I’m just a human that came from the struggle. All I’m doing is rapping about my life and trying to make it out. I ain’t been convicted of any serious crimes, and they can’t really judge a n— until they got the proof. They’re trying to make an example out of me, yeah, but they ain’t trying to see a n— any smarter or any more aware for the future.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
California’s gang enhancement policies are especially bogus, in my opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, but the good news is that it’s getting harder to actually prove. I got my first gang enhancement at 17. This time, no one on my case pleaded to anything gang related. I can’t be a gang member by myself! The law says it’s gotta be me and at least two other “gang members” going in together. The n— I was with this time, they’re not even from my hood. So in all reality, I never should’ve taken any gang enhancement shit, I was just trying to get home, you feel me? The laws are definitely changing here, so it works a bit better for the inmates. They know that this is modern-day slavery, and that they’re for sure making money off this. On Southeast! That’s why you gotta have dance moves, like I said. A n— ain’t hop off the porch just to end up in jail. You don’t plan to come in here. That shit ain’t bool, dead homies.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
How do you keep from going insane, with all that considered?
EBK Jaaybo: I’ve been doing this, bro. I first went to jail at 14, blood. Then I went to juvenile hall at 15 and did two years. Got out at 17, was only out for a few months, went back and did two more years. Getting out last year was how I was able to drop my biggest music and get that platform. Then I caught the case with Verde Babii and them. Bailed out, then had to turn myself in. All those times, blood, I was by myself. A n— has learned how to walk this road alone. There are some roads you have to walk alone. It ain’t gon break you or make you, if you get used to being solo and facing obstacles by yourself. That’s all it is. If you can’t handle that, you need to find a different occupation.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
On blood, anyone can shoot a gun, all you gotta do is move your finger. So unless you don’t got no fingers, anyone can kill a n—-, dead homies. That’s not what makes a gangsta. It’s about standing on all 10. I haven’t been crying or beating myself up. I can get in my head sometimes, but a n— need them moments, blood. That’s the only way to learn from mistakes. The only thing we’re promised is life and death, and a n— number will be called one day no matter what. It may be natural causes or it may be by a bullet, but either way, karma is real. So you gotta just take this shit like a man, bro. It comes with time, and I’ve prepared myself mentally for that. I’d still rather be here than in an RIP post.
Clearly nothing was going to stop “Boogieman” from doing numbers.
EBK Jaaybo: On blood, they fucked up letting me in the door. I ain’t gon lie, I’m very excited that song’s doing what it’s doing because it means they can’t blackball a n—. They really let a young n— from Cali in, they fucked up! With the type of music we make, they were tryna convince us that it wouldn’t go nowhere. “Boogieman” proved all that wrong, so I’m hella grateful and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I see the sucka shit they say about us rapping, but now I’m not blind to the fact that we’re doing something they want. Two years from now, I will not be telling you this from a jail cell.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
I think it’s insane to consider how that song got so popular. Artists are always trying to go viral on social media, with a dance or a hashtag or a chorus or a weird song name. “Boogieman” is mean-ass piano smashing, loud bass, a “banger with no hook again.”
EBK Jaaybo: I don’t think I could make some sucka shit even if I tried. A n— ain’t doing all that, no “lick it like a lollipop” shit. I really can rap, blood. I do think I could make a dope ass love song, though. Now that I’m seeing real Gs from this music shit, I’m about to come home and rap so crazy. A n— ain’t just on this killa shit, I can really make music about love and pain. I really want to be great. I never wanted to be famous, not even as a kid. A n— just want something with legs to stand on, be successful, on the dead homies. I’ll never be fine with bare minimum. I didn’t know I was gonna be this big, and occasionally a n— have doubts. But I’m gonna see how far I can go with this shit. By the time they’re done slapping Jaaybo, I’ll have already fucked the rap game over.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
What’s your favorite stuff from The Reaper?
EBK Jaaybo: “Pops Punch Me In” goes crazy, dead homies. I may know how to turn my feelings off and be hard sometimes, but in all reality, I still got feelings, blood. I get mad, I cry, and I put that in my music too.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
I really feel that pain on “Lost Inside a Graveyard.” You’d expect a song like that to be real Reaper music, like of course the reaper would want to be in the graveyard.
Chester Watson: I really meant that feeling of being trapped in a dark place against your will. I ain’t gon lie, I’ve been to a lot of dark places. To be lost inside a graveyard, that’s the darkest feeling on this earth if a n— really think about it. I be calling myself The Reaper, but I’m gonna have a different outcome, dead homies. I wanna be the reaper that breaks his generational curse. That’s how I’m doing it. All that shit, “live by the gun and die by the gun,” I don’t believe in none of that. I’m not dying by it, on G, point blank. And I’m not really living by it either. This is just for protection, fuck all the stereotypes, we’re breaking that. On blood, we’ve already done the impossible coming out of Stockton. The impossible is no longer impossible.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
On “Tornado Season,” you say “please don’t choose this life I chose.” What did you mean by that?
EBK Jaaybo: That it’s ok to grow, blood! You can take the streets with you and still stand on business. The shit I used to be willing to die for, I don’t love it like that anymore. Now I have kids, and I actually have some money now. People say this all the time, but I literally remember going into my pockets as a kid and pulling lint out, blood. I was looking for quarters to buy Backwoods. That’s nothing to live for. Now that I have something to live for, why would I really jeopardize that? I have to take these opportunities and stand on real principles, no matter if they’re positive or negative.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Have you seen this online petition to make you Mayor of Stockton?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah bro! I seen that shit, and I appreciate the people for finally getting woke and realizing they need a team member in office.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
What would be Mayor Jaaybo’s first order of business?
EBK Jaaybo: Free the thugs! For surely grabbing Max and Dada and all them. That’s inevitable though, I’m doing that regardless of whether I’m mayor. I’m getting my homies out for sure. Realistically, on a positive note, I would make more Boys & Girls Clubs for the kids. Our kids need something else to do, instead of all that negative shit and that weirdo social media shit. Maybe on a more negative note, I would make the gun laws different. If I really had power, all that shit about not being able to carry a firearm, we’re off that. And I think switches should be legal. N— is snakes, dead homies! One plus one equals two, right? So if a n— switch, you hit em with the switch. Why is that illegal? A n—- has a fed case because I had a gun that shoots extra fast. Shit, no matter the speed, they’re still bullets. I dunno, blood.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Have you been writing any new shit in there?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve made a few slappers in here, and I’m still working on perfecting my craft. My raps are my life; no one else is writing this shit for me. So, if I’m going to turn into a better man, my music will have to reflect that. A n— don’t believe in writing practice or nothing like that. This ain’t drawing on paper. The way you progress your music is to progress as a man, blood. I don’t rap about shit that don’t matter, this shit is serious. So you need to go through certain situations to rap better.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
And as you’re growing, who will you want to work with once you’re outside?
EBK Jaaybo: I listen to other rappers, blood, don’t get it wrong. But I’mma honestly leave all that to the label. I don’t have my eyes set on making a song with anyone in particular. I’m coming out on my EBK shit! I’m not no bougie n—, I’mma tap in with the homies. I don’t like the whole “let me send you this song” shit. We gotta be in a room together, I gotta be around you and make sure you’re the type of n— I want to work with. We’re grown ass people, we need a heart-to-heart in your face. But nah, no one comes to mind. I’m solo dolo, trying to get myself together right now, blood. Not even worried about the other shit, they’ll tap in anyway.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but there’s no way Kendrick wasn’t tapped in when he said “certified boogieman, I’m the one that up the score with ‘em.” But that’s just my personal opinion.
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing] Everybody talking about a boogieman now! Let Jaaybo have some shine! I love that song, but at this point I’m already past the boogieman stuff. I fuck with Kendrick though, on blood. I don’t know if he listened to the music, but I do know he’s tapped in with the youth movement in Cali. I definitely support him, and I think he supports us.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
So much of this music finds a place of pride in being Rary’s son. Have you considered how your lost relationship with your dad will influence how you are as a father?
EBK Jaaybo: For sure. I’ve been in jail for most of my son’s life, because he’s only two. But I swear, we must have strong genes or something, I can already see we’re on the same type of time. He’s Baby Jaaybo! And I want to steer him away from all this. I honestly never want my son to go to Nightingale. I want him to turn 18 at a mansion, and have enough money to live on his own. My kids will never have to worry or struggle. My baby mom and I are not together, but still, she won’t have to work or nothing. I got away with a lot of shit because my mom was always working, and I won’t let my sons grow up the way I grew up. The streets matter, but the little stuff like hanging out on the block and drinking, fuck all that, dead homies. I’m a real Nightingale n—, I still have addresses out there, and I’m still good walking into any part of Southeast. But what do I want to be out there for? I push through when I want to, on block patrol. But I don’t wanna be there all the time on unfinished business, I want that generational wealth, dead homies.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
As you just now enter your 20s, what would you ask 30-year-old Jaaybo if you were given a time portal or something?
EBK Jaaybo: [laughing again] That’s a good question, but by 30 I’mma be retired bro! To be honest, I feel like I have maybe another five years to really go crazy. I’ve been on 10 every second of my life, because a moment slipping could be my last moment, blood. I don’t care if we’re going to McDonalds or the library, my head’s still on a swivel making sure there are no weird goers. I’ve been on the war tip all my life, so 10 years from now, I see myself cooling out and retired, being rich. I don’t see myself ever going back to jail, unless it’s for having a weapon on me, and that’s just reality. That’s every n— reality, to be honest. I’m not going to speak it into existence, but that’s the only way I’ll be back here. I’m not going to be on bullshit. In 10 years, my sons will be 12 and 15. We’re going to be very successful, on dead homies.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
If you’re retiring early, do you think you’ll still be involved in other endeavors, like media or fashion?
EBK Jaaybo: Yeah, blood. My label is called Drop Ski, for my brother Ski, free him. I want to do a streetwear line around that. In all our pictures, we drop our ski mask to the floor and point at it. We’ve been setting trends, because these days everyone’s pointing at the floor and dropping ski. I’d love to come out with actual ski masks, on blood. For the kids, Drop Ski means drop the ski mask and pick the books up. I’m always wearing a ski mask, and I keep another in the back pocket because I stay losing shit.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Have you been able to speak with your mother and grandma?
EBK Jaaybo: I haven’t spoken with my grandma in like a week. But I just talked to moms last night, blood. She’s doing good, she ready for a n— to come home. Once I come home this time, I’ll have that big bag for her. I feel like when I come home, it’s gonna be like [NBA] Youngboy in Utah. I’ll go off somewhere and get my mind right. I’m not trying to hop straight back in, this shit is chess and not checkers. I’m not trying to come home and just die. And I’ve also been on the other side of that discovery package, where they got lyrics and posts and videos trying to pin you to real shit. Indictments are real, blood! All I went down for is a pistol charge, and there was so damn much in my discovery. Mom knows I’m not playing with my life, not being nonchalant. I can still rap about what I rap about, because that’s music, that’s entertainment. But she knows I’mma tighten up my movements.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
To anyone reading this who somehow doesn’t know your music, where would you start them off? What’s the best EBK Jaaybo song to earn a new fan?
EBK Jaaybo: For a sample song, I’d go “Music is All I Know.” For hard stuff, I’d show em “Apocalypse” or “Mr. EBK.”
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
And to the real fans who know what’s up…what else do they need to know about your life right now?
EBK Jaaybo: I know people are wondering why I always be going to jail, blood. That makes me mad. Do you think I be going to jail on purpose? A n— transitioning, blood. I’m trying to do better, I’m trying my best.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Do you think there’s something to be said about the fact that you get bigger every time you go behind bars? Like, they’re making that your problem, but do you think it’s also our problem or the rap game’s problem?
EBK Jaaybo: I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m always going to jail, so like, my career just happens to always line up with bids. I ain’t spiritual, I’m not religious, but someone clearly wants a n— to make it. Because I’m not dead, I’m not checked out. The fans still love me and a lot of people still speak highly of me. Other artists have gone to jail and then fell off. Someone’s clearly rooting for me.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
What do you want to be doing with your regained freedom?
EBK Jaaybo: I won’t be golfing or shit. I wanna go to the strip club, beaches, real malls, all that vibe shit. I wanna go places. A n— want to turn up in Miami. For once, I don’t want to stop myself from having fun.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.
Any last words to the listening world?
EBK Jaaybo: They got four months! Reaper’s back in four months! Dead homies, I’m back and I’m stepping on necks as soon as I get home.