Today we’d like to introduce you to Jojo Picasso.
Hi Jojo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey started with me joining a music after school program in middle school to enhance my skills with creating a song. It was a Rap class I enjoyed going to with Ralio and JT they taught us how to write a verse, make a hook, what goes into recording a song and also performing it for the whole afternoon school program which I was overwhelmed about. That turned into me years later performing my own work opening up for people like Dizzy Wright, T Rell, Montana of 300, many more. This all was because of my love for music mainly R&B but I had to start somewhere because what young little boy from the hood didn’t like mixtape Lil Wayne. Music has paid me through streaming, sync deals, song writing opportunities, and eventually studio engineering and it kinda helped my transition into modeling which I did for years until I had hardship with family and slowed down for a while. I used what I learned from those endeavors to push me into entrepreneurship which allowed me to travel through Europe, South America, and eventually help me see parts of Asia. I’ve been able to collaborate with brands and artist alike from Minnesota and elsewhere of my artistry and hoping at this point I’ll be able to just do because I enjoy it and not because it’s something I’m planning on getting reach from but I enjoy doing it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No learning how many No’s come before a yes, how much it cost to invest in yourself, how many people you lose along the way, learning that not everyone wants the same for you. It’s a lot of discipline and boundaries you’re setting to not allow yourself to get taken advantage of while being open enough for new opportunities. If I knew how much it’d would’ve cost in my youth I probably would’ve chosen to learn music for the love of it rather than the ideal of this might change my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a creative who’s made music for self as an artist and behind the scene I make music that may be genre bending or experimental for the basis of staying open minded to creating good music. I’m most proud of the fact that I learned how to record myself and I spent whole summers creating some of the best music I’ve ever made not even for people to hear it all just because I wanted to make great music. I’ve created some amazing memories with amazing creatives alike in the pursuit of learning more, gaining opportunities, collaborating with other individuals. That’s the best part to me the process of learning how good you can get from genuinely networking with people who love art as much as you.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Being adaptive and coachable meaning never having the idea theirs no more to learn or that you know everything. Being strong willed because it might not be today, or tomorrow but being patient through certain trials this life will put you through is a major quality that you need to survive unfaithfulness, disappointment and even betrayal.
Edited with Afterlight
