Photo: Alexander Richter

Ego Trip debuts the third excerpt from J-Zone’s upcoming book Root for the Villain: Rap, Bullshit, and a Celebration of Failure and the “Music for Tu Madre” MC is three for three.The previous excerpts covered rap songs that got him in hot water as a youth and compared today’s “Gadget Hoes” to yesteryear’s pay phone pimpin. In the latest feature, he discusses what it’s like making the transition from a semi-successful, temporary music career to accepting life as a 9-5er.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing after the high school basketball game I had been covering was over.

“Yo man, you J-Zone?” the point guard asked me before I could ask him about his 19 point, 8 assist performance.

I asked him to repeat his question. Not to flatter myself, but to make sure I’d heard him correctly. My ears weren’t bullshittin’.

“Ummm,” I stammered.

“Dude,” he cut me off. “The YouTube videos of you chillin’ in the drive-thru at White Castle and licking whipped cream off those foam titties are classic!”
…

But the most enigmatic of all is the quasi-successful middle ground musician. He got to enjoy his I-do-what-I-love-for-a-living phase, only to be awoken by a 500-foot drop into the working world that the other levels of entertainer don’t typically experience. He had potential, but never really got over the hump. His music is now largely available for free on various blogs and virus-laden bit torrents on the internet, but these days he’s got bigger fish to fry – like trying to get some overtime. By the time he gets home, he spends his hour of free time in the kitchen preparing tomorrow’s bag lunch and ironing his shirt and slacks.”

Read the full excerpt at Ego Trip. If you’re currently pushing your career as a artist, J-Zone’s words might be VERY relevant to you, considering the state of the industry. I’m not trying to be a dick, but let’s be realistic.

J-Zone’s Root For The Villain will be released on November 15th.