Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Zapata
Jacob, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Making music began for me at the age of 11 years old, when I was handed a CD full of Dr Dre instrumentals from my dad. Writing music became an outlet for me throughout my teens, and it slowly turned into something more. I began investing more time into writing songs, come 2021 I made a song called ‘HardWay’, I remember showing a couple of my close freinds and family as I normally would with my music and they convinced me to do something more with it! Words led to meeting Honcho MGMT— who shot the visual for the song. He posted it on his YouTube channel, it stamped me in the city and my music took off from there!
I than began working on a group cypher, known as ‘Texas Talk’ and ‘Texas Talk 2’ which features Young Clean, 1030 Montana, Nez tha Villian, Tone Brigante and YNT Bandzz. They’ve accumulated over a million views on social media and have gained the attention of many well known influencers.
I’ve currently got two projects out on all streaming platforms, ‘Pain, Poverty & Progress’ was my first EP to drop, then I got in the studio and started cooking with my brotha 1030 Montana and we released ‘Project Mindset’. A few other songs that have done great are, ‘Broken” ft. Young Clean and ‘Where I’m From’ ft. rising Texas Superstar Wacotron.
Everyday I push myself to get better at my craft, dropping visual after visual and staying consistent with making music. I am a father of 4, so I love showing my children that you can do anything you set your mind to. Being ambitious and following your dreams will take you far in life, and I strive to become a better artist in all aspects on the daily.
I’ve gained attention from Chingo Bling, Lil Flip, Paul Wall, and well known producer Salih, just to name a few. I’ve performed in many cities throughout Texas, even taking it as far as Chicago to perform apart of a music contest.
I’m a rising star coming from the Eastside of Austin, trying to paint a picture that tells the story of the daily struggles and tribulations people in my city have to face in order to make ends meet and survive. Through my creations I hope I can inspire and motivate others to chase their dreams and break generational curses many of us are faced with coming from where I come from. I am LiljayfromdaO AKA That Texas Made Mexican!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely has been a bumpy road, but I’m always moving forward!
As a father I have to find balance between family, music and work. I’m grateful to have a strong support system within my family.
There’s instances where I take time off, to recollect and give my head clarity as I get writers block.. sometimes I write and write for hours and then BOOM, I’m stuck and I just need a few days to get a clear mind so I can return to making great music.
Another struggle as an artist, coming from Austin Texas specifically, where it’s known to be the Music Capital of the World, is that there’s not a lot of major record labels in the city or people associated with scouting talent. I often have to venture out to Houston or Dallas for opportunities to get noticed in hopes to get signed one day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am best known for my ability to be versatile and my cadence on melodic rap beats.
My ability to create songs that has meaning and many people throughout all walks of life can relate too, sets me apart from other artists that are from my city. I don’t speak about the topics most of these rappers speak on. I strive to be unique and create new waves/trends. I don’t like to put myself in a box regarding the genre of music I create!
I’m most proud of my dedication and perseverance! It hasn’t always been easy for me but I always see the light at the end of the tunnel.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The biggest thing I’ve taken from the COVID-19 crisis, is that in-person/ face to face contact is very important when networking and trying to work with other artists. Yeah, it could be all done via social media/online.. but Nothing is better than someone hearing my music live, connecting with it genuinely and then proceeding to make the networking connection because they genuinely like the music I create.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liljay_02
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TexasMadeMeskin02
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialLiljayfromdaO
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/liljay78702
