@WhoIsClayJames #FreshmenOfAtlanta Interview

1. Where are you from?

• Savannah muthafuckin GA down by the river! That C-PORT, home of the late great Jason "Camoflauge" Johnson

2. When did you fall in love with hip hop?

• When Master P's "Ghetto D" album dropped...its was like 97' or 98'

3. Why do you rap?

• I rap to release emotion. I rap to inform people bout underlying things that are goin on in this society. I rap so that people who are like me, have someone to relate to and the ones that cant relate to me, hopefully I can expose to my life and way of thinking. I rap for competition. I rap to leave my mark on history. I rap to inspire.

4. Who are your influences in music? 
• Outkast, Boosie, UGK, 8ball & MJG, Goodie Mob, Devin The Dude, & T.I.... basically I'm inspired by that old south substance music. Country niggas with content.

5. Describe your musical style.

• Old South + SouthernPlayaLisitc + lyricism = Clay James

6. What was the first song you knew from start to finish? 
• West Savannah by Big Boi (outkast) off that Aquemini album

7. What made you name your tape "The Resurrection"? 
• I named it The Resurrection because its a "jackin for beats" mixtape. So I'm takin "classic" beats from back in the day. This time I RESURRECTED beats from classic south shit. But I plan on RESURRECTING classic beats from the east coast & west coast too. I'm gonna drop these tapes in between my main projects.

8. Will you drop another tape this year? 

• I sure am on DEC.10th "Clay James" Vs CJ Da Fly Guy" mixtape hosted by DJ Iceberg, DJ SR, & DJ Outtaspace drops on livemixtapes.

9. What is your least favorite song that you have recorded?  

• This shit from back in 2010 called "Moet Or Goose" go look it up! It was off my 1st mixtape....its horrible lol

10. How long does it take you to record? 
• About 20-30mins per song and thats with writing on the spot included and sometimes I may only right the first 2-4 bars then I will freestyle the rest.

11. Where do you think you fit in Atlanta hip hop?

• Its doesn't matter where I think I fit in...I'm not the one downloading this music or coming to these shows. I'm not the one that's makin these blog post and magazine write ups. I think I'm very very very underrated and THAT angers me sometimes. But the question is Rain, where do you think I fit in Atl HipHop?

12. How does what your doing now shape your next 10 years?

•  In 10 years I will be getting the recognition I deserve. I believe I will have made MANY advancements for the culture in both music and fashion. I think I will be known for being very ambitious and hard working. I willl be mentioned in the list of artists that put on for the south and really represented the south well on a national platform. And I'm not talkin about the new south...I'm talking about the old south. I wanna make outkast and ugk proud. I want to do a collab with Big krit because I felt like this lane's torch has been passed to him. I want to be mentioned with krit when its said and done.

13. You also have a clothing line called "Bliss Clothing" why did you start that? 
• I didn't start Bliss. lol, it was started in 2006 by my homie Darius Graham a skater & free-spirited graphic designer from South Bend, Indiana. Around 2009-2010 Darius and I began to work together on the line. He is the CEO/President and I am Vice President. 

14. Do you like fashion or music better? 
• I like fashion better because I been fly my WHOLE life forreal. So I KNOW fly shit. But with music, I only been rappin 3yrs so I have a lot to learn about this game. 

15. Is there a such thing as a perfect beat? 

• Nah because I can rap on anything. Sometimes I rap on a bullshit beat on purpose just to see if I can make the song turn out DOPE. And a lot of times I accomplish my goal.

16. What is your next track that your going to drop be? 
• Don't know when this will be published but Monday I am dropping "So Fly" feat Trayon Pass. After that I am droppin a collab with Mic Barz & Kris J. After that I am going t drop a collab with Naj Murph

17. What was your first rap name? 

• CJ Da Fly Guy

18. How did you get your rap name from?

• At GSU, I was literally one of the flyest guys on campus when I attended school there. Like I was supa FLY like on some fonzworth bentley type shit. Anyways, I am CJ and they started calling me "fly guy" jr after I crossed kappa because my big bra was William "Fly Guy" Johnson. So the 1st day I was in the studio Trayon Pass was like. "Your name should be CJ DA FLY GUY" and boom there you have it.

19. you had to listen to one mixtape for the rest of your life what would it be? 

•Aquemini

20. What is hip hop by your definition. 

• Freedom of speech, expressing emotion, conveying a message, and enlightening people but doing this in a DOPE manner. And doing it your way no matter what. Its really art.

21. What experiences in life have made you who you are today? 

• Too many to listen....but losing my homie Randy Hamilton was pretty tough back in high school. Me moving to Atlanta, Ga and experiencing life in a big city outside of Savannah. And the birth of my son Channing.

22. When everything is said and done what do you want GOD to say to you?
•  "You did exactly what I put you on earth to do...be a STAR! And I'm so proud of you!!" *high fives* 

23. Who are you? 

• Clay James Nesmith formerly CJ Da Fly Guy. An outspoken, free-thinker, rapper, fashion exec father from Savannah Ga that won't stop until he sees millions and his family is well taken care of.