2 PISTOLS - Ozone Magazine

Words by Ms. Rivercity & Luchi
different cities trying to get a buzz, putting
CDs on cars at the malls and clubs.
You may be familiar with Memphis
native Chris J from his HOOK
ON Plies’ single “Put It On Ya.”
Last year the singer/songwriter
appeared on a segment of BET’s
106 & Park, sparking the interest
of Big Gates Records who signed
him to theIR roster. Things have
been moving fast for Chris J ever
since.
How did you connect with Plies What’s the
story
I hooked up with Plies through his brother Big
Gates. He was watching 106 & Park and I was
singing on the Wild Out Wednesday competition.
That was the same day Plies came out
with “Shawty.” Him and T-Pain was performing
on there and the label was watching me. It was
actually Plies’ first time on BET too. After that,
Big Gates asked me to send more material to
the label. I sent about 17 songs, from there
they said they was interested in signing me as
an artist.
Did you write the single “Put It On Ya” How
did that come together
That’s something me and Plies did together.
Somebody else wrote it, but I’m not sure who
it was.
You were doing your thing for a while prior to
BET and getting with Big Gates. What did you
have going on before your current situation
I been grinding for more than 8 years. I’ve
opened up for many artists, from Anthony
Hamilton to Gerald Levert, Marques Houston
to Mike Jones, Genuine. Me and Nick Cannon
headlined a show here in Memphis that was
big time. I been passing out CDs in different
cities. Me and my crew take 300 CDs with me
when I go out of town. I wasn’t trying to sell
them ‘cause nobody will buy your CD if they
don’t really know who you are. I would give ‘em
to people, or ask for a $2 donation or something.
We would take trips to Atlanta, Nashville,
How did you end up on BET
When they first started Wild Out Wednesdays,
I was telling my manager at the time that I
wanted to get on that show. I thought it would
be a good opportunity. He said he had the
contacts and he sent an email to try and get
me an audition. He got a date set and we had
to pay to fly to New York. When it’s an opportunity
I’ll take my last dime, my light bill and
house note money, to be seen. I went up there
and out of 500 people that auditioned, they
were only going to call 3 people back. A week
later, Pat Charles, senior writer at 106 & Park,
he called and said, “Congratulations, here’s
your date for 106 & Park.”
What happened from there
I just started promoting for people to vote for
me at high schools and colleges and radio.
Much love to the radio stations here, 97 and
107.1. They really put it out there. Me singing
on BET was a great opportunity, plus meeting
the other artists that were there.
You mentioned having to spend your bill
money to go to New York. What kind of check
did you get for singing on a hit record for Plies
Well, let’s say that life is pretty good right now.
I am very happy. Sometimes I have to pinch
myself. I haven’t even been with Big Gates for
a year and everybody is knowing Chris J for
the “Put It On Ya” record. Financially I will say
that I’m blessed. I’m honored and I do pay my
tithes.
I read somewhere that you were the first
Memphis artist to perform in the Fedex
Forum. Explain why that was big for you.
That boosted my career. It was a show with
Monique and Gerald Levert. They gave me 15
minutes to sing. A lot of people in Memphis
knew me and loved be because my “Bubble
Bath” song has been circulating here for a
minute. It’s the song I won the 106 & Park
competition with. But standing on that stage
in front of about 12,000 people was really an
amazing feeling. To get off stage and people
OZONE MAG // 17