Four Years of 1Side
By Alexander Terlecky, Contributor
This Friday, January 27, independent record label 1Side Music Entertainment will becelebrating their four-year anniversary in style at The Union Bar and Grill. Currently located in Athens, 1Side is headed by Ohio University students Chris Summers (DJ iShine, CEO) and Jéan P. Johnson (Jéan P., Chairman of Music Division).
Founded in 2008, 1Side began as fatedly as the friendship between Summers and Johnson. Initially, 1Side began with its focus on music production, but that idea quickly morphed when Summers ran into Johnson, who pitched his own idea of rapping, during his first fall quarter.
“I thought he was just joking, and I kind of ignored it,” Summers said, jokingly. “Then I got to know him a little better and found out he was serious about it.”
The first song the two produced together, “For What It’s Worth,” was played over Common’s “The Food”. “That was the first song we recorded. He didn’t know how to mix, and I sounded like a 12-year-old,” Johnson said.
From there, progression began to shape the boundaries of their relationship. Following the song, Johnson, (under the name Jéan P.) began work on his album, 2009’s Thought Process, enlisting the help of Summers as producer. Overall, Johnson and Summers emerged as two guys who let their ambitions--as experience hadn’t yet graced their presence--guide them along their paths.
1Side began to expand after Summers enlisted the help of DC Moore (King of Hearts) to experiment with their sound and tonality. This served as the first step into increasing the label’s numbers from two, into the current roster of six artists (including Briana Brandy, IZ,BOOM! and E. White), which, according to Summers, is plenty. “We’re going to keep it like that because we’re still a growing label. We don’t want to have too many people under our belts.” With a very situated head on his shoulders, and as the head of a young label, Summers understood the privilege of independence that emerged as a representation of himself and 1Side.Throughout the four years, 1Side has relied on trust and communication to keep it functioning. There is an undeniable sense of camaraderie that envelops the growing label and serves as foundation to their business. “We connect outside of music,” Johnson said. “The key to making good teams and brands is the unity.”
“We’ve seen each other at our best days, and we’ve seen each other at our worse days. I think that’s the whole beauty of it all,” Summers added.
1Side, during its existence, has operated out of Athens, which, to Summers, is a bit of a mixed bag.
“I mean, it’s a good thing and a bad thing," he said. "When you’re in Athens, Ohio, people put the stamp on you, saying you’re a college label, or as a college artist. I don’t like that term because if I’m a college artist you play me in a pool with others who don’t have the same passion as me, or that are just wasting their time, that is something to overcome.”
“I hate the college rapper term, it’s so corny,” Johnson said. “We’ve gotten our start here and we’re very grateful. It’s the best support system we’ve ever had. But we’re not from Athens; we’re not a college label. Our college life is our college life. Our music life is our music life.”
As with any long-term endeavor, the creative processes behind 1Side, at times, became questionable. “I remember this one time, feeling it wasn’t even worth it. I was kind of confused at the time, because if I was making all this music and people weren’t listening to it, then what’s the point of doing it,” Summers said.
“We’ve all had times where we question--when we’re a part of something” Johnson added. “It’s when you’re personal life intervenes. I was out of school for a year, on top of that I found out my son was coming; I didn’t have faith in what I was doing. Talking with my friends, telling me to keep going, it’s taken them to realize my worth in music and you keep going off of that.”
On 1Side’s website, presented in business-like fashion, their mission statement speaks to “revolutionize the world of music” by starting at the foundations. For Johnson, this means much more.
“We just want to make quality music, music people can remember. This generation, everybody wants to make a “hot” record, but you have to remember, what gets “hot” eventually gets “cold.” But, when something is timeless, it’s set in stone, it’s going to be there forever,” Johnson said.
Throughout the journey, and especially now, 1Side has found itself wrought with momentum. “We’re definitely stronger now. When we started up, everyone thought, 'These guys are jokes,' then we came out with (Jéan P’s 2010 album) A Rhyme and a Dream, and they wanted to see us grow. People are paying attention,” Summers said.
For both Summers and Johnson, 1Side, once a small project, has become something bigger, carrying much more meaning for the both of them. Their paths in music are no longer side projects, but rather the beginnings of a budding career. “I want to break out as a DJ and producer, and carry 1Side with me,” Summers said.
“I want hip-hop to take me further than where I am now. And who knows what may happen, but hopefully great things will,” added Johnson.
As for the four-year anniversary at the union, Johnson promises its worth. “It’s a celebration, a party. Come through, kick it, and have a good time.”
The show, going on from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m., will feature performances by the label’s own IZ and Jéan P., with iShine presiding as the night’s DJ. The cover charge at the door is $4 for 21 and under and $3 for 21+. More information about 1Side Music Entertainment can be found at 1sidemusic.org.
