About Me
Who is Allen Jay?
This 80’s baby does not waste time ghost ridin’ in the streets of Oakland to crunk hyphy music, yet he’s mapping himself all over the country to promote his music, and representing a new sound coming out of the Bay area- Fly Hyphy! It’s practically its own genre considering it’s not the cliché “hyphy†style that is currently giving buzz to the Bay area, but it’s “fly gangsta music!†It is a creative reflection of Allen Jay’s identity and experiences while growing up in the harsh streets of Oakland. The intertwining of his tantalizing voice over his hard-hitting lyrics, presents an easy flow that is tempting to the ladies yet the realism in the music has him well respected in the streets and in the music industry.
Allen Jay a.k.a Al Casino, said while growing up in the Bay, his block was flooded with violence and drugs. Though he had always been focused on his innate gift to make hits, the complexities surrounding him began to conflict with his focus on the music. During his sophomore year in high school, Allen Jay’s mother sent him to live with family in Connecticut to stray him from the negative influences in the neighborhood. While in CT, he “dibbled and dabbled†with musical production more intensely than he did back in the Bay, but writing was his fortay and it was effortless for him to do. After graduating with an astonishing 3.8 G.P.A, Allen Jay headed back west to study Criminal Justice at San Francisco State. After two years in college, Allen Jay decided to drop the books and strictly center on his art. He knew the fundamentals to being his own creative director of his type of music, in which it drove him to establish the up and coming music empire “INK PEN RECORDS.â€
Allen Jay is the CEO of INK PEN RECORDS, and currently has several upcoming Bay area artists under his label. Though he started out as a one-man company, his persistent networking efforts on the street and business level, attracted the attention of these artists, and they sought Allen Jay so they can grow under his wing. B- Legit’s manager. B-Legit a legendary rap artist out the Bay who was once part of the rap group “The Click†founded by E-40, invited Allen Jay to do local shows throughout the Bay; and now they hold ongoing performances twice a week. At the minimum, Allen Jay writes 7 songs a day, so he is always prepared to give his listeners new material. He currently works with the popular Bay area artist Keak Da Sneak, who proclaims he ‘coined the term hyphy,’ and FMG Music Group who both support the INK PEN RECORDS movement.
Allen Jay is poised to hit the music industry by storm. Allen Jay’s debut solo mixtape “Star Status†is hosted by the Bay areas finest DJ Juice. DJ Juice was the first DJ from the Bay to be featured in XXL, he is currently credited in the March 2007 issue of SCRATCH Magazine, and has worked with mainstream rap artists such as Lil Jon, E-40, Too Short, and has toured with Twista. It’s cliché, but game recognizes game, and the music biz acknowledges that Allen Jay isn’t another stereotypical hyphy artist just because he was raised in Oakland. Allen Jay is laying the framework for revolutionary music in hip-hop.
Listen to the new Allen Jay interview with CNET and Studio C!
