With a legendary music scene, how does being from Chicago help you as an artist?

BJ The Chicago Kid: I grew up not knowing the whole history on Soul music, Gospel and Blues out of Chicago but it’s crazy how it all just came into fruition as I grew up. Growing up in that and having my own life experiences, having a full Mom and Dad at home, I grew up with a nice balance of the city in general. Chicago has so much to offer than the hip-hop and fast rapping that we were known for back in the day. It was a tremendous way of building my soul format. The soul comes from the church. Ray Charles came from a church he just transferred his message to be about a woman.

What do you want new listeners to know about BJ the Chicago Kid?

BJ The Chicago Kid: It’s so much more to BJ than just the music that you hear and many more styles of BJ than what you love already. I’m at the point of giving you guys more levels of what I can do musically. I’m willing to show my stretch, my boundaries, how widespread it can be. I directed my first video on the EP, my first release from Motown, so I’m really getting into letting the world know that I’m more than a singer, songwriter, entertainer.

What artists influenced your style?

BJ The Chicago Kid: Growing up I listened to everybody from: The Winans, Commission, The Clark Sisters, John P Kee, Daryl Coley down to R. Kelly, Dave Hollister, Joe, Scarface, DMX, Jay Z, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel. Slum (Village),  Dilla, list goes on. It’s so much that I listen to Aretha (Franklin), Marvin, Brandy, Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder’s tone is impeccable. Stevie Wonder can make you cry by singing the simplest words. He is one of my favorites of all-time for sure, and he’s still living to give you more.

When someone turns on a BJ the Chicago Kid record what do you want them to feel?

BJ The Chicago Kid:  I want to cause a strong reaction, to the point where they have to find out how they can get this song. I want to cause them to damn near crash the whip when they trying to find out who it is looking at the radio. I don’t want nobody to lose their life but I want them to know this music comes from my heart and my soul.