October 02, 2006 @ 6:59 pm

Jibbs: Fresh Out The Box

John Kennedy

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There’s nothing like a new spin on an old classic. For St. Louis rapper Jibbs, the ice cream truck jingle of “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” served as the foundation for his breakthrough smash “Chain Hang Low.” But despite the familiarity of the tune, Jibbs insists that his debut album will bring music fans two scoops of “something that they never heard before.” Such a claim should seem within reach for the 16-year-old rapper, who was only nine when fellow STLien Nelly introduced the world to a dose of “Country Grammar” with his own nursery rhyme remix. “That was real tight for me because nobody really came out of St. Louis before,” says Jibbs. “And he did his thing, everybody loved Nelly… That’s why I’ve always felt like I can do this.” Jibbs will get his shot on Oct. 24 with the unveiling of his album, the cleverly titled Jibbs Feat. Jibbs. Vibe.com recently chatted with the “big, big kid” about the St. Louis music scene, newfound stardom and his days in the boxing ring. Vibe.com: Right now you got one of the hottest singles out in “Chain Hang Low,” how have you been handling the fame? Jibbs: Man, it’s been crazy for me because nobody knew me just a minute ago. Now people recognize my face everywhere I go. And everybody knows the songs. When I’m performing – it’s never really been like that where 10,000 people know the song and their singing all at once. So it kind of amazes me. What was high school like for you? You were doing music while you were in school, right? Jibbs: Yeah, I was doing music while I was in school. A lot of teenagers out there want to do music and want to get a deal and everything but the truth is you’ve got to stay in school. If you drop out or even if you have bad grades, your deal won’t go through. My deal had to be approved through the courts before I even got signed. You couldn’t have a C average. Otherwise, they wouldn’t approve it through the courts and you couldn’t sign a deal, you’d have to wait until you’re 18. Were you aware of that before Geffen came knocking? Jibbs: No, I wasn’t aware of that until – actually I wasn’t even aware of it until [the label] told me. They were like, “You know if you ain't getting good grades, [the courts] won’t approve.” When they told me that – I had the eye of the tiger then. I didn’t see nothing but my work. I started trying to get them good grades. I tried to make straight A’s. Do you plan on taking your education any further? Jibbs: Yeah, I’m homeschooled on the road everyday. I’m definitely going to college when I get older. What do you think you might want to major in when you get older? Jibbs: Business and psychology. I wanted to be a doctor a minute ago. I wanted to be a surgeon, but I don’t know. right What was it like for you growing up in St. Louis and how did the STL environment influence you as an artist? Jibbs: I come from a close family off the rough edge of St. Louis from the roughest parts of Southside St. Louis. So I grew up in the hood. All of my sisters and brothers are closer than anything, the six of us. It was just crazy coming up because I grew up with my homeboys and we used to run around riding bikes and everything. Next thing I know, when I’m doing good, these cats out here doing bad. They out here doing the wrong thing and that ain't cool. Do you think St. Louis has a unique musical identity? Jibbs: There’s a lot of talent in St. Louis but I feel St. Louis has its own sound. But me, I have my own style different from anybody. No comparison. What makes you different? Jibbs: Because I’m not afraid to change it up or afraid to do anything. I’m the type of dude that would go for it. I see the lane open and I’ma go in it. So that’s what I feel makes me different. Plus my versatility – I can change it up anytime. I don’t stay stuck to the same scheme. And a lot of people will be able to tell that from my album, Jibbs Feat. Jibbs. That’s why the name is Jibbs Feat. Jibbs because some records it’s like me featuring myself and you will have to get used to that – that’s me. Nelly’s first big song, “Country Grammar” remixed a nursery rhyme and now your song, “Chain Hang Low,” also remakes a children’s classic. Do you think that’s a St. Louis thing? Jibbs: I can believe that it originated here, but I never looked at it that way. We both had nursery rhymes. I promise you I didn’t even know that. Someone brought it to my attention a little while ago; they asked the same question: is that a St. Louis thing? But I didn’t trip off of it. So yeah, I can say that’s a St. Louis thing, now. Do you have a relationship with Nelly or Chingy? Jibbs: Yeah, I have a relationship with Chingy, but Nelly, I don’t see him that much. But he’s a cool dude. I run across him ever once in a while. Have they given you any advice? Jibbs: Oh, yeah. Everybody gives me advice because I’m up and coming and I’m new and I'm the youngest in the game. They’re just telling me straight up, “Don’t let nothing stop you and don’t change for nothing because there’s going to be so many vultures out here saying you’re the best thing on Earth.” My people also give me the same advice, the people surrounded around me. “Don’t fall for that. Just keep your head on straight and keep doing this, because this is going to get real hard into a pressure thing one day.” As soon as my record started getting a little bigger, the pressure came down on me. That made me realize right there, that’s what they were talking about. So, you also box. When did you start doing that? Jibbs: A long time ago my dad was a boxer. He put all of his sons in the gym when we were four. My older brothers had been boxing. You can actually start getting in the ring and fighting when you’re eight. So I was in [the gym] when I was four just watching everybody, how they do it. By the time I was eight, I got a feel for it. I was just training until I turned eight. As soon as I turned eight, I had my first fight; that’s the year I started rapping also. I kept boxing as a side thing, but rap was my thing. That’s what my passion was. I just stopped boxing not too long ago. I stopped to rap. How did that first fight go for you? Jibbs: I don’t think I won my first fight. It was new getting in there. It had never been in the ring before. Usually, they’ll let you spar first and then get in the ring when you’re eight and they give you a little time. As soon as I turned eight I had my first fight so I ain't get time to spar or nothing. My first fight was like coming straight out of the box. Do you remember your first win? Jibbs: I won the second time I fought. By then I was used to it. To what boxer do you feel you are the musical equivalent? Jibbs: I’m not going to say one of these new boxers. I’m going to say Muhammad Ali, because he’s one of the greatest of all time and that’s what I want to do. I want to be one of the greatest. And he invented stuff in boxing, he wasn’t no follower. That’s the same drive I got. So what should fans expect from the album? Jibbs: They can expect for the album to be really versatile, different from everybody else’s. This is brand new, so they can be expecting something that they’ve never heard before. They can be expecting to hear features on there like Chamillionaire, Fabo of D4L, Melody of the Pussycat Dolls, Lil’ Wayne, Yung Joc, Rich Boy and Lil’ Mont. I got producers like Maestro, Beatstaz – they produced the majority of my album. That’s my older brother DJ Beats and his partner Reese Beats. When’s the album coming out? Jibbs: Oct. 24. Coming this fall, 2006. I need everybody to go out and cop that. In fact, they can cop three copies: one for the car, one for the house and just one to keep in the frame and look at. Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

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