Just Wulf got his start as a kid watching Dragon Ball Z and listening to Christian rap and other positive hip-hop, which has helped style his music into uplifting music. "I don't use profanity in my music, so it's all ages all ears. So you can pop it into a car, and nobody has to say turn that down it has too much swearing on it." Wulf went on to say, "I want listeners to be able to connect with my music." A task he personally achieves very well in his music. Fitting of the label 'down to earth' and 'uplifting' music
Just Wulf likes to use a "kick drum" style of music, creating a beat first then rhyming over the track making the most powerful words drop just before the beat hits adding empathies to his words making us dive deeper into them. Most of his songs are written in a sitting allowing him to capture a complete feeling and express it in the lyrics, also in recording he insists on doing the verses in their entirety so as that they will flow better and mesh smoother together in the studio and are more appealing to hear. If I had to compare Just Wulf to any groups I would say a mixture of Heiruspecs and the original pioneers of hip-hop, but only because of the style of beats he uses and how they very percussion oriented but still counter balanced with guitar or keys.
One year, when Just Wulf was more of ‘Just Cub’, his parents gave him Pro Tools (sound studio editing program) for his birthday/Christmas present. After a period of messing around and teaching himself how this complex program worked, he started to record and mix his vocals. "Every aspect of music has me really interested and digging into them more." His first "show" was at a talent show at his middle school (Capital Hill Magnet School), at that time he used recording of himself beat boxing (an art in and of itself) and then rapped over them. After that talent show he was met with a lot of positive feedback, feedback he used to motivate himself to explore the art of hip-hop. When I asked him about music and its influence on his life he said, "It built my self esteem, it’s gotten me through a lot. I can sit down and vent, sit down and just write lyrics, so that you know how to get through that situation next time."
(Normally I would make a list of other artists someone has worked with, but this time if I even tried that I'm sure this page would double in length. Just Wulf is a prime example of 'Minnesota Nice' and artist co-operation. He plans on setting up a studio in his home for artists to be able to come in and record their art, because as he said, 'twin cities hip-hop isn't a competition it is co-op.’ He is one of the most genuinely kind artists I know of. After the interview he asked me what I did, i mentioned the book, and without a moment’s hesitation he said, "I would like to buy a copy when you are done with it, and if you ever want to record it or your spoken word, just hit me up." Now that is an artist that deserves some good old fashion 'Minnesota fan love', a true uplifting artist.)
After the interview was finished he said something really interesting, "It is (hip-hop) something i can see myself doing for a long time, even if no one is listening, because my music is for me. In my old age mixing tracks and enjoying it." Music is self motivation, you have to know to make music for yourself first and others second, because when you change your music to become what someone else wants it to be you lose some of yourself, and isn't music just a way to express yourself?
(Check out Justin Time Monthly, new free song the last day of every month at http://justwulf.bandcamp.com/, also check out Peace By Piece produced by Prime Cut, great album)
