Features : MJ38’s Death to Self is a three-track rap ode to gifts of life

“Banging” is their word, but it’s objectively true. The beats bang.

“Death to Self, we kind of spitballed about it a lot,” said Matthew. “Because it’s one of those things that feels right. As soon as we heard it, we were like, ‘Oh, I think that’s what the story is supposed to be called.’ And then we dove into it to understand it better.”

He continued, “Part of what it means is that we want less of us and more of God.”

“I feel like I get in my own way all the time,” said Justin, expanding on the theme. “Whenever I’m doing more of what I’m supposed to be doing, and less of what I’m trying to do, things go better for me.”

Which, it seems, is part of what they mean by “it feels right.” Is that their approach to music, too? Justin picks up the thread.

“I think that’s a fair assessment,” he said, “and also, I guess, it was the idea that it was something that was given to us, like the way that your name is given to you from birth.”

The “given” theme recurs when Justin is talking about his creative process. “There’s not really any pressing specific instances in life or anything that I’m trying to articulate. My typical music process is just to listen to the instrumental or listen to the beat over and over again until the song more or less presents itself to me.”

That is also a description of how they came up with their name, MJ38. Partly it was given — “We just kind of took the band name that was given to us through life,” said Justin — and partly it was branding considerations — easy to remember, easy to put on merch. Matthew’s number, 8, has followed him through life. Justin’s 3 resulted from some serious numerological calculation.

Their outlook, music, lyrics, message, all have a lot going into them. From “God’s Favorite”:

Uh, You don’t even really speak my language
But you thinking that we on the same shit.
Busy blowing blizzies in the spaceship, it’s amazing.
It’s amazing. Bitch I said I’m Him, I’m not mistaken
I’m Keanu Reeves up in the Matrix
Woke up feeling like I’m God’s Favorite
I’m his favorite, and it’s amazing.

Their take on hip hop and rap comes from San Antonio, Texas, where they live, make music and perform. They cite among their influences Kirk Franklin, Big Sean, Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Jay-Z, J. Cole, Michael Jackson, Donald Glover (Childish Gambino), and Russ.

They kept Death to Self in three tracks as a business and artistic decision, as more accessible and audience friendly. All three tracks are different, each with its unique sound, cadence and tempo, said Justin.

“Mr. Jefferson,” he said, is slower and darker, “more brooding, but the saxophones lighten it up.”

“Soulful,” added Matthew.

Justin agreed. “A little more soulful, with the real instrument of the saxophone and some of the piano in the back, but it’s darker, harder,” he said, “like a dark purple kind of a beat,” thus adding yet another element to the metaphysical mix.

“Room,” said Matthew, “is awesome. The beat is heavily influenced by Big Sean’s ‘A$$.’ This song was intended as the club banger. The beat sounded like ‘A$$’ in our own mind, so, while we were in the studio creating it, there’s a point where Justin’s like, ‘Go stupid, go stupid.’ It’s a shout-out to Big Sean.”

“God’s Favorite” and “Room” are two more examples of things given. They were working with Nick Shan as the producer and, said Justin, “He was able to make both of those on the spot.”

Justin and Matthew describe “God’s Favorite” as “easy listening.” It has a soft instrumentation background, like a gently singing breeze.

“All the beats are more new school,” said Justin, “definitely not so much boom bap, or like ’90s, early 2000s hip hop. It’s more of a new wave sound, but it’s not over the top.”

If their approach sounds lackadaisical, it is not. They work hard at their music and they also have a regular podcast show on YouTube, and a podcast entity, MJ38 Productions.

Their ambition, articulated by Matthew, is “to go the top.”

“To the top,” repeats Justin, “or as far and as high as God will allow.”

“And part of it,” said Matthew, “is not just raw ambition, that I want to be the best, but I think that Justin and I have a specific and particular message that the world needs to hear.”

At least part of that message is to show artists who come after them that success is achievable, to “open up a route” for them, Matthew says, as other artists have opened up a route for MJ38.

Their approach is business-like, with the aim of producing “more music, more consistently.”

“That’s a better approach to marketing,” said Matthew.

To share in the musical gifts, stay connected to MJ38 on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

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