Read the full interview on Flaunt.com!
London Jae has written for all the greats, but he’s more than just a songwriter. The Atlanta native is an artist in his own right, with a love for fashion. The 32-year-old even has his own line of jeans that he frequently wears, cut and sewn all on his own. But when it comes to the music, he simply states, “there’s no way around me Atlanta.”
His catalog of hits records is truly inspiring and motivating to anybody with dreams of making it in the music industry. Bhad Bhabie’s “Gucci Flip Flops,” Hitmaka’s “Thot Box,” Tinashe’s “Like I Used To,” and most importantly, Cardi B’s “Bartier Cardi” which would earn him a Grammy as Invasion of Privacy won the category for Best Rap Album last year. He actually co-produced the record, describing it as “it’s all her, she takes over the world.”
With an IG name that reads “King Pen,” it’s hard not to lose. London could care less what you think of him, he just puts his head down and works. The majority of his time is spent locked in the lab, while being a father to his two kids. His unwavering work ethic is passed down from his mother, whom he loves dearly. His entire life he’s only had one goal, and that’s to achieve enough success so his mom can retire.
From being on Young Thug’s early mixtapes to signing to B.o.B. to joining T.I.’s Hustle Gang to writing for the likes of Rihanna and Beyonce, London solidifies his place as a well-respected, go-to hitmaker. Flaunt caught up with London Jae via FaceTime, who had just left a studio session with Asian Doll in Atlanta.
Songwriters are always artists, but there’s always this weird in between right?
I don’t get it. I used to look at it like, “why the fuck isn’t my artist shit running this fast?” I’m the same person, these are the same words I would’ve said because when I write songs, I write as if it’s me. If it’s a girl I’ll say girl shit, but the cadence is basically the same. So why didn’t this connect for me as an artist as fast as it did it as a writer?
Do you think it’s because you got those placements? Your name became known.
I think so. Not gon’ lie, it was a blessing because of my character and who I am. I don’t really like attention. I shy away from attention. I don’t like cameras. Being a writer made all of the sense in the world for me, I could still be who I am. Nobody’s paying me any attention, but I’m the reason this is happening. I can celebrate, but nobody knows why I’m celebrating.
Your Instagram handle says “King Pen,” so of course people are going to think you’re a songwriter.
As they should. Me now, I lead with a songwriter because it’s what I want to do. I like being a writer over an artist. That baffles people, most people want to be an artist. I don’t like attention though. When people meet me, they’re like “why haven’t you put any of your shit on Instagram?” I never talk about what it is I’m doing. Not on purpose, I’ll forget. I’m focused on working, I just want to work.
People say “didn’t you write such and such?” Yes. “Why the hell didn’t you say it?” I’m like “I forgot.” A lot of times, I don’t put myself in the middle. I don’t like taking away from the artist. Most fans don’t understand that having a writer is a good thing, they don’t get that process. I can say “oh I wrote this,” all of a sudden they’ll run straight to their page and say “oh you have a fucking writer.” That shit doesn’t even matter because 9 times out of 10, your ultimate favorite artist has a writer.
Speaking of, “Thot Box” is a straight banger.
I wrote “Thot Box.” I wrote the hook, originally for YBN Nahmir. The original song was the guys, Hitmaka flew to Atlanta like “let’s put all girls on it.” I said I’m down. I hit Mulatto like “I’m finna pull up on you, you at the studio?” She’s like yeah. I pull up on her, said “jump on this.” I rewrote the hook for Mulatto, she jumped on it. In Atlanta, there’s really no way around me. There’s not a lot because everybody goes to LA. I’m really the only one here, me and Landstrip Chip. That’s my boy.
Songwriters are always artists, but there’s always this weird in between right?
I don’t get it. I used to look at it like, “why the fuck isn’t my artist shit running this fast?” I’m the same person, these are the same words I would’ve said because when I write songs, I write as if it’s me. If it’s a girl I’ll say girl shit, but the cadence is basically the same. So why didn’t this connect for me as an artist as fast as it did it as a writer?
Do you think it’s because you got those placements? Your name became known.
I think so. Not gon’ lie, it was a blessing because of my character and who I am. I don’t really like attention. I shy away from attention. I don’t like cameras. Being a writer made all of the sense in the world for me, I could still be who I am. Nobody’s paying me any attention, but I’m the reason this is happening. I can celebrate, but nobody knows why I’m celebrating.
Your Instagram handle says “King Pen,” so of course people are going to think you’re a songwriter.
As they should. Me now, I lead with a songwriter because it’s what I want to do. I like being a writer over an artist. That baffles people, most people want to be an artist. I don’t like attention though. When people meet me, they’re like “why haven’t you put any of your shit on Instagram?” I never talk about what it is I’m doing. Not on purpose, I’ll forget. I’m focused on working, I just want to work.
People say “didn’t you write such and such?” Yes. “Why the hell didn’t you say it?” I’m like “I forgot.” A lot of times, I don’t put myself in the middle. I don’t like taking away from the artist. Most fans don’t understand that having a writer is a good thing, they don’t get that process. I can say “oh I wrote this,” all of a sudden they’ll run straight to their page and say “oh you have a fucking writer.” That shit doesn’t even matter because 9 times out of 10, your ultimate favorite artist has a writer.
Speaking of, “Thot Box” is a straight banger.
I wrote “Thot Box.” I wrote the hook, originally for YBN Nahmir. The original song was the guys, Hitmaka flew to Atlanta like “let’s put all girls on it.” I said I’m down. I hit Mulatto like “I’m finna pull up on you, you at the studio?” She’s like yeah. I pull up on her, said “jump on this.” I rewrote the hook for Mulatto, she jumped on it. In Atlanta, there’s really no way around me. There’s not a lot because everybody goes to LA. I’m really the only one here, me and Landstrip Chip. That’s my boy.
You were actually signed to B.o.B. What’s your guys’ relationship?
B.o.B., that’s my brother for life. I just separated. Nobody knows this but Bob called me, we’re talking about records. I’m like “hell yeah, let’s do another album. I think I have 2 more albums.” He’s like “n*gga, you’re still signed to me??” [laughs] Bob’s like “fuck no! You have no business being signed to me, you’re your own boss. I’m about to call my lawyer.” But I’m not really trippin’. I’m cool with being signed to Bob because that’s who found me. If Bob would’ve never given me a shot, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.
I was cool with the fact that Bob’s still tied to me all of this time. I would’ve never separated. He hit me 2 days ago to check my email, it’s a severance letter. He’s the realist n*gga on the planet. Nobody’s doing that, especially when an artist goes on to be really successful. If you could be attached, you’re going to be attached. He didn’t care about none of that, he’s like “no, fuck that.” That’s my brother for life, I’ll do anything for him.
Songwriters are always artists, but there’s always this weird in between right?
I don’t get it. I used to look at it like, “why the fuck isn’t my artist shit running this fast?” I’m the same person, these are the same words I would’ve said because when I write songs, I write as if it’s me. If it’s a girl I’ll say girl shit, but the cadence is basically the same. So why didn’t this connect for me as an artist as fast as it did it as a writer?
Do you think it’s because you got those placements? Your name became known.
I think so. Not gon’ lie, it was a blessing because of my character and who I am. I don’t really like attention. I shy away from attention. I don’t like cameras. Being a writer made all of the sense in the world for me, I could still be who I am. Nobody’s paying me any attention, but I’m the reason this is happening. I can celebrate, but nobody knows why I’m celebrating.
Your Instagram handle says “King Pen,” so of course people are going to think you’re a songwriter.
As they should. Me now, I lead with a songwriter because it’s what I want to do. I like being a writer over an artist. That baffles people, most people want to be an artist. I don’t like attention though. When people meet me, they’re like “why haven’t you put any of your shit on Instagram?” I never talk about what it is I’m doing. Not on purpose, I’ll forget. I’m focused on working, I just want to work.
People say “didn’t you write such and such?” Yes. “Why the hell didn’t you say it?” I’m like “I forgot.” A lot of times, I don’t put myself in the middle. I don’t like taking away from the artist. Most fans don’t understand that having a writer is a good thing, they don’t get that process. I can say “oh I wrote this,” all of a sudden they’ll run straight to their page and say “oh you have a fucking writer.” That shit doesn’t even matter because 9 times out of 10, your ultimate favorite artist has a writer.
Speaking of, “Thot Box” is a straight banger.
I wrote “Thot Box.” I wrote the hook, originally for YBN Nahmir. The original song was the guys, Hitmaka flew to Atlanta like “let’s put all girls on it.” I said I’m down. I hit Mulatto like “I’m finna pull up on you, you at the studio?” She’s like yeah. I pull up on her, said “jump on this.” I rewrote the hook for Mulatto, she jumped on it. In Atlanta, there’s really no way around me. There’s not a lot because everybody goes to LA. I’m really the only one here, me and Landstrip Chip. That’s my boy.
You were actually signed to B.o.B. What’s your guys’ relationship?
B.o.B., that’s my brother for life. I just separated. Nobody knows this but Bob called me, we’re talking about records. I’m like “hell yeah, let’s do another album. I think I have 2 more albums.” He’s like “n*gga, you’re still signed to me??” [laughs] Bob’s like “fuck no! You have no business being signed to me, you’re your own boss. I’m about to call my lawyer.” But I’m not really trippin’. I’m cool with being signed to Bob because that’s who found me. If Bob would’ve never given me a shot, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.
I was cool with the fact that Bob’s still tied to me all of this time. I would’ve never separated. He hit me 2 days ago to check my email, it’s a severance letter. He’s the realist n*gga on the planet. Nobody’s doing that, especially when an artist goes on to be really successful. If you could be attached, you’re going to be attached. He didn’t care about none of that, he’s like “no, fuck that.” That’s my brother for life, I’ll do anything for him.
Does that mean you’re going to drop?
Yes, I’m about to drop a shit storm. What’s so crazy is in the past 2 years, I’ve done 8 albums. Packaged and ready to ride, I never dropped them. The only one I dropped was King of Hearts, on Valentine’s Day in 2019.
Are you a tough critic on yourself? Because if you get to packaging it, that means you’re about to drop.
I always get to that point, I’m like “nah.” Everyone around me: “what the fuck are you doing?” I’ll scrap it. When I do an album, I do it in a week. I’ll record 100 songs in a week and pick my album from it. It’s too much for me to go back and pick through songs, because I record a lot. Since the day I started this, I pride myself on recording at least 5 songs a day. Imagine how many records I have.
How do you keep track of all that?
Hard drives and folders. So many records I haven’t seen in years, albums I did and didn’t put out. Probably 15 albums I didn’t put out, 20 songs I didn’t use.
You say you don’t listen to music, why is that?
I listen to music but if I’m in the car just riding, nothing’s on. If I’m at home getting ready or getting dressed, I’ll have the radio on. I have a clothing line too. I’m hands-on, I actually do my own cutting and sewing. People ask “how the fuck are you doing all of this?” I do it in the studio. I might be in a session, cutting and sewing, writing at the same time. I might have the mic outside of the booth, I’m sitting there cutting, sewing, and rapping. People say “what type of n*gga are you? You a machine?” Everybody who sees it be trippin’. If you go to my Instagram, the jeans that I have on I made.
What’s the premise of your clothing line?
It’s called Hyphen, basically jeans. Sometimes I go left and make a hoodie, sometimes I don’t. I haven’t dropped it fully yet. So crazy, I was in the mall right before Corona in Neiman. A dude walked up to me, “aye, I’ve been trying to reach out to you bro. Idk if you get my DMs, you’re London Jae right?” I said yeah. He said “I need these jeans!” I stopped to talk to him: “I haven’t dropped them yet, the ones I’m wearing are the ones I make on the spot.” He said “I know, I need them for the store.” He owns Pure Atlanta, a real premiere store in Lenox Mall.
Are y’all making that happen?
We’re actually making it happen now. When the Corona shit happened, a lot of shit went left. The malls closed down. He hit me a week ago, “bro we’re about to open back up, what we doing?” He’s dead ass serious.
It’s dope people recognize it without you having to push it on people.
Yeah, that’s my whole intention. You’ll see me with them on and want them, before I ever ask you to want them. I’ll never ask you.
Do you have the same passion for fashion as you do for music?
Yes, it’s hand in hand. My sister always asks me “if you had to do one, what would you do?” I don’t know. I can’t say one or the other, because I really like fashion. I like the art of making music, more than music.
How would you describe your fashion style?
It’s laid-back. Real basic, but not at the same time. That’s the name of my company, Not Basic. As far as the apparel, it’s not basic but it’s really basic as fuck. Everything’s plain, nothing’s too far over the top. I try to make my clothes match my personality.
What’s your personality?
Chill, probably too laid-tack. I don’t really talk loud. It’s a lot of shit I don’t do.
Are you an introvert?
Man, the worst kind. I hate being an introvert, but it works in my favor. Me being an introvert always works for me. Say you and whoever are in the studio, if you call me, I probably won’t answer.
What have you been working on recently?
I’ve been doing some Beyoncé records, some Rihanna records. It’s a lot, my plate’s so crazy. People don’t understand, I do a lot of shit. Different artists ranging from country to rap.
Does that excite you, working with someone like Beyoncé or Rihanna?
Yeah, I like it. I like doing those records because it challenges me more than a regular rap song. Rap comes second nature, so it’s easy.
How do you put yourself in that mindset?
Man, I have a secret. If it’s someone I’ve never worked with before, I’ll go to their Instagram while I’m in the booth and pull up a picture. If it’s a girl, I go to a face shot. I set it down and stare at it, that’s how I make the songs. If the person’s new, that’s how I make it.
How do you go from Beyoncé to Bhad Bhabie? “Gucci Flip Flops” went crazy.
Bhad Bhabie’s hard. When I first met her, I had to understand what this is. This is who she really is. This girl’s hard, she’s full-blown crazy. I said “you really act like this?” She’s like “act like what?” It came so easy, because my son’s 14. I put myself in his mind. My youngest son’s 10, I listen to them. I don’t listen to the rest.
Who else are your kids listening to?
My oldest son is NBA Youngboy insane. Youngboy’s different because he controls all his music. When he’s going to drop, how much, whatever. You have to give free range to these artists because it’s not what it used to be. These kids wake up 13, 14 spending whatever last money they have on a 2-hour session, making a fucking smash not knowing anything about music. How the hell can we dictate what music? We can’t, we have to get out of their way. We need to learn from them instead of forcing our way. I learn and move. I sit back, watch, and take off.
Most of the content I write is where I come from. Even if I’m writing for Bhad Bhabie, it’ll have elements of the hood. If I disconnect, I’m behind. Going to LA, you’ll get behind so fast not even knowing. The only way I polish myself is to go where I was created. I have to go sit in my neighborhood, 3 or 4 hours a day everyday. I’m in my truck or I get out and fuck with everyone. I kick it. I’m the only writer who can do what I do, who talks the way I talk. These writers don’t talk like me, so everybody wants that conversation. All artists want the new lingo, it’s always me who gives it to them. I did Tinashe’s last album (“Like I Used To,” “Link Up,” “Cash Race”).
What’s your vibe with someone like Tinashe, who’s more R&B?
I knew for Tinashe to make sense, I had to flip her inside out. Music isn’t on this super pop stuff, because of the kids. It’s still dope, but you have to blend urban sounds and urban lingo with that sound versus shooting a straight pop record in the air. Tinashe has these big pop records but it’s not about her making music, it’s about her being cool. I had to understand that without telling her, so I never said anything. I’m in the booth thinking she has to say cool shit. A record I did got leaked, they ended up not putting it on the album. I know it would’ve went crazy. When we did the record, people were like “this is Tinashe?! Hell no.” I did “Throw A Fit” too.
How do you go from Beyoncé to Bhad Bhabie? “Gucci Flip Flops” went crazy.
Bhad Bhabie’s hard. When I first met her, I had to understand what this is. This is who she really is. This girl’s hard, she’s full-blown crazy. I said “you really act like this?” She’s like “act like what?” It came so easy, because my son’s 14. I put myself in his mind. My youngest son’s 10, I listen to them. I don’t listen to the rest.
Who else are your kids listening to?
My oldest son is NBA Youngboy insane. Youngboy’s different because he controls all his music. When he’s going to drop, how much, whatever. You have to give free range to these artists because it’s not what it used to be. These kids wake up 13, 14 spending whatever last money they have on a 2-hour session, making a fucking smash not knowing anything about music. How the hell can we dictate what music? We can’t, we have to get out of their way. We need to learn from them instead of forcing our way. I learn and move. I sit back, watch, and take off.
Most of the content I write is where I come from. Even if I’m writing for Bhad Bhabie, it’ll have elements of the hood. If I disconnect, I’m behind. Going to LA, you’ll get behind so fast not even knowing. The only way I polish myself is to go where I was created. I have to go sit in my neighborhood, 3 or 4 hours a day everyday. I’m in my truck or I get out and fuck with everyone. I kick it. I’m the only writer who can do what I do, who talks the way I talk. These writers don’t talk like me, so everybody wants that conversation. All artists want the new lingo, it’s always me who gives it to them. I did Tinashe’s last album (“Like I Used To,” “Link Up,” “Cash Race”).
What’s your vibe with someone like Tinashe, who’s more R&B?
I knew for Tinashe to make sense, I had to flip her inside out. Music isn’t on this super pop stuff, because of the kids. It’s still dope, but you have to blend urban sounds and urban lingo with that sound versus shooting a straight pop record in the air. Tinashe has these big pop records but it’s not about her making music, it’s about her being cool. I had to understand that without telling her, so I never said anything. I’m in the booth thinking she has to say cool shit. A record I did got leaked, they ended up not putting it on the album. I know it would’ve went crazy. When we did the record, people were like “this is Tinashe?! Hell no.” I did “Throw A Fit” too.
How do you decide who to work with?
I always kept the same attitude as a businessman. If we’re going to do business, let’s do business. Let’s not do egos. Most of the time, that’s all that’s going on in these rooms. People in there pushing around egos, nothing to do with the song. Most of my sessions are private, it’s me and the artist. Right now, I’m working with Asian Doll. Asian’s hard, she’s about to drop crazy shit. When it’s an artist who I know, I grab onto it. Other than that, you have to be A-list. I’m not about to waste my time. It’s too much of a headache. If I like you personally, I’ll do It. All Asian has to do is call me. I don’t judge people by what they haven’t accomplished.
What do you judge them by?
Work ethic. If you’re willing to work for what you’re trying to get to, I’ll work with you.
You’re always working. What do you like to do for fun?
I actually like doing fun shit. I’ll go to Dave N Buster’s. I’ll ride 4 wheelers. I want to go do something fun, active shit. I also read a lot, I read more than I watch TV.
What do you read?
Honestly, I read anything. I read all types of shit. If I’m in the store, I’ll buy a book. I could be anywhere, I’ll buy some shit to read. I like reading. When I was young, my mom used to make me read a lot. I couldn’t go outside until I read the whole sports page. After school, I’m in the middle of the ghetto. Everybody walks home from school, me and my little brother would get in the house and have to read the newspaper before we can go back outside. Back then, I’d think “this is bullshit!” It made sense later on. Who would’ve known I would’ve had to play with all of these words? It stuck. It came later. When I didn’t have to read anymore, I stopped. But then I picked it up on my own.
What goals do you have for yourself right now at this point?
Right now, I’m not even concerned with shit. I started this shit with one goal and I still have the same goal: I want to retire my mama. My goal’s to retire her, don’t ever in your life think about working again. I want to retire her with some millions. Money isn’t everything, but it makes sense. That’s been my only goal the entire time, me chasing that would bring everything I’ve achieved to this point.
Have you achieved that goal?
I have. She hasn’t retired because she won’t, that shit’s harder than trying to get the goal. I’m knocking on the door. She has to know for sure, I just have to send her the deposit. “4 or 5 million in your account, stop going!” Maybe she’ll completely stop then.
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