Mauleano Da Don

Growing up, JMaul was surrounded by hip-hop music, spending much of his childhood in the studio with his father, founder of Smoke Records and the label his music is produced under, Jemal Lewis.JMaul began writing rhymes at the early age of eight and has been inspired by great lyricists such as Jay-Z and Nas in particular.“I’ve always just wanted to make music that everyone can relate to. There are so many other artists out there with gimmicks – and they work if you want to sell ring tones or be known for a dance, but I wanted real music and real lyrics to back me up,” JMaul says. “I wanted to create something sustainable.”On his debut album 2nd Hand Smoke, JMaul hopes to put Staten Island back on the map and to bring the old-school style of hip-hop back, focusing on the charm, soul and originality of great lyrics and beats.With the first single, “Put Your Hands Up,” JMaul collaborated with Staten Island producer Fantom, of Fantom of the Beat (Ghostface Killah’s “Apollo Kids,” Li’l Kim/50 Cent’s Magic Stick, and Busta’s “Take it Off”) to create this fun and fast-paced party track reminiscent of classic hip-hop.Though still young at just 17-years-old, JMaul feels that current hip-hop and rap has pursued a more commercial direction, giving in to corporate wishes forced to leave behind the true roots of New York hip-hop. Many critics would agree with JMaul especially with the increased attention given to so-called “Ringtone Rappers.”“I feel like I am both the present and the future of hip-hop,” JMaul says. “It’s tough these days to balance between something commercial with just a catchy hook and music with a deeper message, but I have to stay true to what I believe.” On the song “On da come up” produced by Buckwild, who has produced hits for many Bad Boy artists, his rhymes don’t seem like that of a teen just out of high school.With “Swagger on,” JMaul brings something for the ladies with this PG-13 flirtatious song. Produced by Gooch MUsic, JMaul is clearly able to see music from a global perspective but brings it back to hip-hop roots.It’s not been an easy road for JMaul, despite his father’s connection to the industry. “It was hard getting anyone to take me seriously. My age stands in the way sometimes, and when I was younger, in the studio, my father and the other artists would brush me off.”But after gaining experience and more time in the studio along with being able to demonstrate his talent, investing time and thought into his rhymes, JMaul was able to put his debut album together with smart and clever rhymes and radio-friendly songs.He offers a few words of advice for other young artists trying to get noticed in the industry:Go with an independent label to start. Put everything into your music, let it reflect who you are. Be prepared to be frustrated, success definitely doesn’t happen overnight.You can hear JMaul by visiting myspace.com/mauleanodadon.