Jelani Imani Talks Latest Project "Floatin'" + Quarantine Life As An Artist
With around 5,000 listeners on Spotify alone, Jelani Imani continues to make a name for himself in the city of Atlanta. His latest project, Floatin’, was released in November of 2020, and the young artist has no plans of slowing down. Learn more about Jelani Imani and his 2021 plans, now:
Tell me a little about the making of Floatin’? What did that process look like for you?
Wassup Flurry and wassup to the people. I hope everybody safe and healthy.
Initially, it wasn’t like a serious thing, it was a simple like SoundCloud audiomack mixtape concept. As the pandemic and shit started to kick in full gear, i just sat with the songs longer and made more. Over time I convinced myself to make it a project. Got beats from the homies and just tapped in.
On the lead song, Floatin’ I say “The sky and the ocean they’re mirroring but either way it go, i’m floatin’.” I’ma do what I do regardless and I felt like that image would be a pretty fye way to symbolize that. No matter the circumstance ima do my own shit. Shoutout Nomadic Manny for really bringing that shit to life bruh a talented ass artist.
How has Quarantine changed the way you move/ how you release music?
Pre-quarantine, I stayed to myself mostly anyway. I enjoy people but I just get drained really easily. I enjoy my time and my time with bucks (mila) & I think I work better that way in my opinion. In the beginning tho (March2020), that’s where most of the floatin’ material came from. As it dragged on tho, kinda got depressed so I wasn’t cooking up shit really. I mean I’m always cooking up so maybe just not as much as usual. I was scared to drop considering, but ion give a fuck now. It’s up and stuck.
We’re officially one year into Quarantine life. What’s one thing you know now that you didn’t know then?
Every room I go in I’m supposed to be there and if not I’ll know and move accordingly. I don’t sleep on myself like I used to. I know the importance of checking in on the others. People die everyday you’n wanna feel like you should’ve talked to a friend or some so hit ya people. A big thing also is discipline, if I didn’t “feel” shit then I wouldn’t cook nun. But now even if ion feel it I still try because I could push through and make the fyest shit ever known. It’s all about working out your mental muscle.
What are some upcoming plans you have for this year?
So 2021, I’m dropping 3 songs every month. I feel generous. I really snagged a love for playlisting and I always was into that shit but in quarantine, music was a big part in getting us thru this shit. I started Floatin’ radio where I curate playlists of shit I’m listening to, to share with y’all. Also expanding to a podcast around the summertime. More visuals and just getting better at actually making songs. I wanna be like Stevie Wonder rn.
What does nostalgia mean to you?
Just something old that makes you feel something. Miss my dawgs by Lil Wayne reminds me of riding to kindergarten in Memphis. That’s nostalgia. It can good and bad.
