If you’ve been following jev. through Nefarious Supply, you’ve watched the story unfold in chapters: the early work that felt like a diary, the transitional weight of The Color Grey, and the way lonrwrld functioned as an introduction—sonically and aesthetically to a bigger world. Now, we’re checking back in at the exact point where momentum starts asking harder questions.
This conversation isn’t a recap it’s an update on mindset, discipline, and what jev. is protecting as everything accelerates. Call it a temperature check before the next release turns the page.
Take us to a recent moment that captures where your life is right now (studio, soundcheck, hotel room, drive, a message you got). What happened, and why did it stick with you?
It was in London when I was on tour, I had a studio session with an amazing accomplished producer and he told me something that really stuck with me, he said “don’t ever stop being hungry”. I did 2 tours in one month and I was exhausted and ready to go home but that message stuck with me and ultimately reignited the fire and passion I have for this music thing.
In our earlier NS interviews you described yourself as “a creative at heart” beyond rap. In 2026, what parts of that definition are clearer, and what parts have changed?
I’ve been learning how to write scripts. I realized my love for art or creativity comes down to storytelling, that's why I love music so much, it's the story and how they put it together. Creating something from scratch is my passion. I want to maximize my creativity on this earth, so whatever sparks my interest, I'm going to dive in head first.
DRC, South Africa, Canada: give one concrete example for each of how the place shows up in your music today (rhythm, melody, language, pacing, textures, or even how you tell stories).
I think with DRC because that's my origin I look at it more for inspiration , “you have to know where you come from to know where you are going” . Whereas South Africa is where I my love for rap and music was birth, a big lesson living in SA taught me is that music is a universal language and that made me pay more attention to melodies, rhythm and everything in between , Canada is my stomping ground , i perfected my craft there and became the artist i am today.
Untitled 01: you once called it a diary from your high school years. What is one song from that project that still feels emotionally true today, and one you have outgrown?
Honestly every song on there are still emotionally relevant to me , those songs are the reason why i keep going, everytime i listen to them i’m transported to my childhood bedroom when i was making them and remember how much love and passion i had for music
What did making music in that era (bedroom recordings, phone vocals, learning from scratch) give you that you are careful not to lose now?
It gave me trust and belief. My rule for every artist, TRUST YOUR TASTE. I was alone making those songs and didn’t have anybody to be like “nah, that's wack” so i would love the songs and upload them. There was no second guessing, just love and execution. Its something i try and continue today by minimizing the time from creation and execution and the amount of ears get to hear it before its out to the public
The Color Grey is built around transitional periods and the grey area between them. Looking back now, what transition were you personally in when the concept clicked, and what do you think you were really documenting?
The concept clicked literally 2 weeks before the tape dropped. All the writing I was doing was subconscious and it was really just how I felt at the time dealing with work, school, family life, and just being a young man in your early 20’s. I was making songs in hopes it would be a project eventually. At first I was gonna call it “little boy blues” or “untitled 2” but as the concept began to come to me about the transitional periods and the grey area between them, it clicked!
“Where’s The Confetti” captured the feeling of gaining momentum without feeling celebrated. Since that record, what has changed in your relationship to support, community, and who you let close?
I now understand I have to be my biggest cheerleader, even if nobody is , I constantly have to be the one waving my flag. However my community has grown and my support system is thriving. I have a small circle that shows me love and really appreciates what I'm trying to do . I’ve learned its the quality of people and not the quantity
lonrwrld was framed as “an introduction to my world, sonically and aesthetically,” and you said you doubled down on brand and image with new eyes on you. What does brand mean to you in real terms today (visuals, videos, wardrobe, language, pacing), and what is non-negotiable?
I have a simple answer , whether it's wardrobe, visuals, or language. Trust your Taste and vision, nobody knows what's right for you more than you
Opening for Clipse: describe one night on that run that changed how you think about performance, presence, or what a “real room” feels like. What did you learn watching from side stage?
It was the Paris night, I was watching them on stage and was in awe because of how seasoned and comfortable they were on stage and their level of stage presence. It made me step up my game even more, it also taught me so much about songwriting, especially hooks, they have such well written songs with hooks that the crowd can sing back!
Your own headline tour: what did carrying your own show teach you about your audience, and what was the hardest part (logistics, stamina, nerves, vocals, crowd energy)?
The hardest part was the logistics, i didn’t have a tour manager, so i was doing it myself and then going on stage, it was taxing for sure. The best part was that the fans showed up every night and showed me so much love, it taught me that I actually have people that live with my music day in, day out and they are rooting for me . I need to go harder for them
The Justin Bieber co-sign: what changed in the next 48 hours (messages, opportunities, pressure), and what did not change at all?
Just a lot of love from the fans and people that have been rooting for me
You’ve talked about mental challenges (is it good enough, will I make it) and not seeking outside validation. What does your mental maintenance look like now (routines, boundaries, who you keep close), especially when things move fast?
I’ve developed a routine that keeps me in check . You really have to parent yourself (innerchild), and that's what I do.
Centering the new music coming in Q2: what is the emotional through-line of this next run, what are you experimenting with (lyrically and sonically), and what do you want it to change about the jev. conversation?
It's not about the jev. conversation , it's about getting jev. in the conversation.
Huge thank you to jev. for tapping back in with us and giving Nefarious Supply another honest temperature check as everything keeps accelerating. Make sure you’re following jev. on Instagram @thelonerjev to stay locked in with the next run. And if you’re an artist interested in being featured, follow Nefarious Supply on Instagram (@nefarioussupply) and submit your music here.