Interview: Tracy Garraud
Call 21-year-old Jeremih an R&B singer and he’ll smack you with a smirk. The Chicago native only recently discovered his talents as a vocalist and by recently we mean less than a year ago. While his cousin Willie got his man-band on auditioning for Day 26, Jeremih was busy experimenting with engineering science, instrumentation—and what do you know—rapping. But after transferring to Kanye’s drop-out school, Columbia College, Jeremih solidified his passion in music and when Chi-town caught on, everyday started feeling like a birthday. Currently perfecting his Def Jam debut, Jeremih talks to Rap Radar about the current era of R&B, how he created a radio monster and who’s birthday cake he’d like to taste.
RR: Congrats on the single reaching #1 on iTunes for R&B. That’s a real good look.
Yeah, thank you, thank you. It’s crazy to see how things are going right now.
Yeah, you’re receiving plenty of love super early…
Man, this has only been a matter of months. I wrote the song and recorded it in September of ‘08 and it was October 31st when they first played it in Chicago.
I heard that you just went in to the radio station and asked them to play it?
Well in Chicago they offer a power hour of local talent. They played it back to back like it was a new R. Kelly track. And they were still mispronouncing my name, but I didn’t care (laughs). Then my manager, Louis, gave it to the Hot Boyz from Power 92, who said that by that night their lines were just filled with calls talking about who’s this new “Birthday Sex” dude and from that day on it was more of a reaction record because people would call in every day and be like it’s my birthday.
Ha! Did you have that in mind when you were writing the song…that it could work every day?
I mean some people like it, for it’s sexiness, for it’s words, for it’s content, but some people like it for just it’s composition, for it sounding just like a good ass song. I didn’t think about it when I was writing it, but you’re right, it’s a birthday every day.
How does your mother feel about you having a song called “Birthday Sex?”
(laughs) She sings it now. At the end of the day she knows…
…You’re a grown ass man.
Yeah, and who doesn’t love to have sex? I mean that’s how she had me (laughs). But I managed to write the song, have the title, and have the radio play it, so that means a lot and that it really wasn’t that vulgar. It wasn’t on some, “let me put my dick in you.” I was able to write it more with metaphors and that’s how I write period.
That clip was actually pretty entertaining, and you can tell Tony Yayo isn’t holding back when it comes to speaking on legal situations and industry drama. It’s interesting how he points out that real legal expertise comes from actual experience, not just talking, which is something many people overlook. In serious cases, having the right professional, like an fda lawyer, can make a huge difference because legal knowledge is very specialized and not something you can just pick up casually. The situation also highlights how public statements and media appearances can sometimes hurt more than help when legal matters are involved, something even professionals warn about. It’s a reminder that whether it’s hip hop disputes or complex regulatory issues, relying on a qualified fda lawyer or legal expert is always the smarter move. Overall, the video blends humor with a real underlying message about law, representation, and knowing when to let professionals handle things.