Having been first discovered by Luther "Luke Skyywalker" Campbell at a Miami talent show, Jeffrey “JT Money” Thompkins, along with Debonaire another member of the collective, went on to sign as the group Poison Clan to Luke Records in 1990.
The native Magic City rapper would later unleash his debut solo album, Pimpin' on Wax, spawning his biggest entry to date; the gold certified, Billboard Hot 100 signature hit offering, "Who Dat," featuring Solé and produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
First things first, let’s hop into this lead single, “Miami Mt. Rushmore,” featuring Rick Ross and Trick Daddy — Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?
It came to fruition because it is what it is. It is the Miami Mount Rushmore, we’re just missing Luther Campbell. It’s like an unwritten thing with Luther Campbell there, and then there’s these three dudes doing that record, but I also have to give a shout-out to DJ Khaled for taking that thang on the video, I got us. He repped for us on that. Miami Mount Rushmore is that. People have been looking for an album [from us] for 10 years. Took me 10 years to get a single so, you know, Miami Mount Rushmore that’s how it is.
Of course “Miami Mt. Rushmore” comes courtesy of your new LP, IMMORTAL — Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?
What does it represent? “If you don’t know, now you know.” It’s Biggie’s line. It always been that. It just means stating facts and then with my brothers right there cosigning like “yeah, nigga, he ain’t lying” you know what I’m saying? So what it means to me is like all my kids, I love all my kids.
How then does IMMORTAL either differ and / or compare to previous JT Money efforts?
The difference is it’s more involved with new producers, new cowriters, young cats. Normally it was just me by myself doing whatever I did besides when I worked with the system, you know, major labels and doing things but the difference is working with new young, hungry cats. How it relates in the same ears, it’s gon’ be like Poisonous Mentality, Pimpin’ On Wax, Return of the B-izier. It’s Immortal. It’s going to live beyond me.
Also on the album is a long overdue Poison Clan reunion record, “Give It To Me” — Talk to me about this joint…
It’s all in the question. You said it; it’s long overdue. It’s Poison Clan, but it’s definitely a record I like; it’s just that vibe. The way they tried to place Poison Clan besides our lyricism but that Miami Bass, that Miami sound, that jook, etcetera. Back then it was bass, but now here go them boys again with that Dade County jook style and it’s good just to have all the boys together on one record. Madball, Uzi, Debonaire, JT Money. We have Drugz on some records. We rockin’, we’re getting ready for that Poison Clan album. That’s just a sneak peak, but that really ain’t “the one” but I selected that for my album just to give them [the fans] something to love.
When you sit down to pen your rhymes, where do you draw inspiration from?
My inspiration is day-to-day living. I’m out here for real, and I see what’s going on. I converse about facts in my opinion, what I feel and solutions to any problems. That’s just JT Money, but my inspiration is day-to-day life, living.
Now last year (August 11th to be exact) also marked the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop — What exactly does that mean to and for you?
Happy birthday Hip-Hop, but it means I’ve been involved with her for 35 years. I think she loves me for real! laughs She didn’t just use me to get on. She didn’t use me to get no nut! more laughs She loves me to hang with me for 35 years, but, nah, that’s good, man. It means a lot for them to put a date on it so now we can do another 50, another 100, and another 200, you know what I’m sayin? So it won’t be a question about do they remember when anybody else started? Do these other niggaz have 100-year anniversaries? Do Rock-n-Roll have a 100-year anniversary? Blues? Gospel? You know what I’m sayin? Because, remember, when we started, they didn’t think it was going to last. They didn’t believe in it, but we stood the test of time and now the whole world is Hip Hop.
To quote the late, great The Notorious B.I.G., “You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far!” — Was this something that you ever could’ve imagined?
I wouldn’t have imagined it. Like me, I just do whatever I’m doing, see how it turns out and live with my decision but to see it go that far and to still be able to participate or help or push it forward, that’s a blessing within itself so I didn’t imagine it. I didn’t know where it was gon’ take us, but we here today and we good and we happy, thanks to Hip Hop.
What are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments / memories during your lengthy tenure in this thing called Hip Hop?
Well, just the different levels, man. When certain albums come out, I see the response from the people. I love the response of the people. Like I’ve said this before but two of my favorite places to be is creating it, once I catch a vibe and creating it and performing, showtime. My fondest memory is when we first got signed. Every new level or phase is a memory so fondest is yet to come.
That said, what are your future plans and / or goals throughout the remainder of 2024 and beyond?
To finish 2024 with Immortal in every car, phone, stereo, DJ system, every club; I want to do that, but also I want to bring back that Poison Clan. I want to introduce a bunch of young cats like Ricky Staxxx, J. Dollaz, theTAYkeover. I want to put on my team. I want to open the doorway (where) young artists can do their music and be treated fair. That’s always been my thing. I plan on doing a bunch of B-movies until Hollywood calls. We’re going to spend the money and tell these stories. We’re going to TV next. They’re either going to pay us to be in theaters or go to their house and see us on TV already.
Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
I want them to get whatever they can get because let those with ears hear. They might not hear something or certain messages because it might not relate or pertain to them, but I want them to get it and see the vision because I swear I be talkin’ about how to live out here and how to live this long and how you move safely. So I really want them to pay attention and figure out the life game.
If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
One artist? Man, I don’t know why but my spirit is saying Gerald LeVert because I just love that nigga and he gon’ sing what I need him to say and I got the rest. I’mma talk that J-Baby and I’mma tell her why she need to stick to the script and love a real nigga. Fuck the temptation, but Gerald LeVert is going to sing that hook and say the same thing I’m saying. laughs again
If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Any venue. If they the biggest and the hottest, I don’t care if it’s whoever stadium in L.A. or whoever stadium or arena in New York, I want to be there wherever them people say it’s big. I want to show them what we do because I can rock their crowds, too. Take me to where they say it’s at and watch me do me because I’m gonna rock those people.
On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
My opinion on Hip Hop don’t really matter as far as happy, but I know what I got to do. For me, I don’t whine or cry about things. I just figure out the rules or the laws and play to win. The potential is greater. I think the people who controlled it before are greedier.
What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
My passion, my work ethic, just my endurance. My love for the game. Again, I love creating and I love performing so I think that play a part in my endurance. As long as somebody wants it, I’m gon’ give it to them. They’re not saying, “nigga sit down, lay down.” They like, “when’s the next one coming,” so they want it so I’mma give it to my people. I’m giving it to those who want it. I’m selling to my core audience, my people and I’m content with that…but I hope to engage new fans, but my core audience I can live with these people.
Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment?
I would just have to call it Philanthropy. I really believe I would put money behind dreams. If anybody close to me know, if they have a real solid business plan and I got the money to help them excel, I’m going to invest in them and that’s away from entertainment. It might be in tech, real estate or furniture or whatever. If it makes sense to me, I’m going to get behind them and help.
What’s an average day like for you?
There’s no such thing. Average? I make the shit up as I go and it’s always exciting. Just depends on who I’m with or who I’m around and what I feel like doing. Average would be what I’m doing when I come off the road and I go home and I’m tired. I sit home for two days, but then once those two days are over I’m back being awesome…so maybe the average is my downtime. Me recharging my battery is average.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
I would appreciate them, but I would want them to do better. I would really try to show them where I went wrong, where things could’ve gone worse, and I want them to understand that to do better. Make me proud. Take what you’ve learned and take it to the next level. My advice is do better.
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
I do see me happy. Still affiliated with music. I’d even perform every once in a while, on some legends shit or real shit but 10 years, I see myself happy.
Any “parting” words for our readers?
Just stick to the script, follow your dreams, trust yourself. If you make a decision and get to a level that nobody expected and then everybody got an opinion, but what you gotta do is stick to your script because once you start listening to them, then you doubting yourself so don’t doubt you, trust that first spirit, that energy, and go for it. Scared money don’t make none. Refuse to lose. Adopt my attitude which is to be relentless. Failure is not an option and that there’s always a way. Adopt my attitude and handle business accordingly. Don’t get upset and fold easily.
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