Today we’d like to introduce you to Zeus Money.
Hi Zeus, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started rapping at age 14. I wrote poetry throughout grade school and loved writing out my thoughts and playing with words but in high school, I discovered that rappers were essentially doing the same thing but to a beat. It was 1995 and I just bought a KRS one tape and after listening to that record my mind was made up. I wanted to do this as a hobby. After listening to that album, I realized I could be any kind of rapper I wanted to be, and from there was born one of my lifelong passions. I was part of a group in high school that performed at talent shows, and open mics and set up our performances.
We were good, I revered the members of our group. One of our members even made it into the Source magazine which was the biggest deal at the time. After college, I continued my journey making beats and rhyming on an independent label but the evolution came when my nephew and I formed a group called ZH aka Zelf…Hatred aka Zeus and Hades. We would go on to create multiple albums but strictly for us and a handful of family and friends. It was something we loved doing. Late nights in home studios writing, making beats recording was a way for us to release life’s positive and negative energy.
When Covid hit a long-time friend Excel was looking to focus his energy on music production and asked that I pen a few verses as a reference. He was so impressed by the work we continue to create songs and before you know it an album was completed in three months. Since everything was locked down the majority of my energy was focused there and the result was amazing. The focus of the album was love. It was especially needed in a time when so much inner turmoil was happening here in the U.S. Politics, shutdowns, riots, and so much more. The album was created out of that turmoil. It’s called Out the mud.
It was my first solo project primarily because we were all locked in the house. Excel the producer and long-time friend/brother is a world-renowned DJ and founder of the Skratch Makaniks crew. His guidance and expertise is what takes this album to the next level. The arrangement, the sound quality, the presentation, and much more were his doing. His instrumentation is so particular and is set to make other producers acknowledge the hand-picked samples and production techniques. He would send the instrumentals from Los Angeles and I would record the vocals here in Philly Pa and send them back.
The idea for the title was a collaborative effort but a Lotus rises out of the mud hence the name. It is the analogy of what was created during these trying times. The release was amazing so much positive feedback and Excel even created a care package that was sent to top DJs throughout the country. That included high-quality merch. We are currently finishing up album number 2 and can’t wait for our fans and new fans to hear it.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I embrace struggle so it’s hard to say or pick something specific but what comes to mind is sticking to being original. I listen to hip-hop often and originality is hard to come by these days. Many rappers or emcees are saying the same thing or emulating another rapper who has clout or recognition of some sort.
That has truly been the hardest part of this journey. So many critics want you to sound like someone or don’t relate because the topic or how the song topic is relayed is different than what they are used to. Fun fact- the Out the Mud album has no curses on it. This was done by design. The goal was – I create an album that is clean in context and delivery and still represents the culture.
A lot of fans don’t know that about the album but it is a staple principle in its creation. That’s why it doesn’t sound like many rap albums that have been created before. Part of the reason is because I am a martial arts instructor and I wanted my students to be able to listen and get to know me in a way that was real and sincere.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
On top of being an emcee/rapper, I am a martial arts instructor. I teach all ages and have a beautiful school in Newtown Pa. I have been teaching in this community for over ten years. Building our students’ confidence and teaching them self-defense along the way. I have been training in martial arts my entire life.
I have black belts in multiple styles and have competed as a full-contact kickboxer for many years as well. I am a Master in Korean karate and love what I do. Teaching a student how to believe in themselves is how I view and share my martial arts experience. This is also another motive behind why and how I share my music.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
This is a hard question to answer. I had a regular 9-5 job many years back and I decided that I wanted to do something different than just clock in and out. At the time I was fed up with my job and I quit with no backup plan. Scary when you have a young daughter.
In this time of unemployment I remembered a conversation I had with my friend Rami he said “If you ever want to start teaching martial arts again let me know” so I made that call and was teaching two weeks from the time I quit my job. I came to realize that this was a part of what some may say is a calling. I still struggled for a long time, doing part-time gigs here and there to make ends meet. I even took my savings out of the bank and started my program until I eventually found a partner and opened a full-time school.
We struggled there for a few years in the beginning but through Covid and many ups and downs, I am still teaching in Newtown serving over 250 families in our community. When I quit my 9-5, I knew in my heart that there was something greater waiting for me and that gut feeling was right. My career is amazingly fulfilling and I never regret taking that risk even with the struggles that followed. It made me stronger and slightly more formidable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaycruz84.wixsite.com/zeu-site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeus__money/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zeusmoney1902?si=zTb8m9ZeRCr14h1i
Image Credits
@djimpulse, DJ Excel, and Hades of ZH
