Hello Big Jess, from people hearing your music they may not know many details about yourself. So how about we start this interview by asking for your real name? Jesse Michael Semanko How did you get the name Big Jess? Just a nickname I gave myself. Sh*t, I'm a pretty big dude! How about your Age? 27 Where were you born? MPLS Where do you live now? North MPLS When did you start Rapping and why? 6th grade. Just kinda happened. My friend Ron introduced me to some early hip- hop. Couldn't get away from it ever since. Who are some of your influences? Special Ed, Slick Rick, NWA, 3rd Bass, D-Nice, Will Smith, Jay-Z, Outkast, man the list can go on for days! Do you do most of the UPs production/when did you start making beats? Yes I do the majority. MaD SoN also is nice with the beats. I started when I was about 15 or 16. What kind of equipment do you use? Started with an alesis drum machine and Roland module, then to an MC-303, then got the MPC 2000. Favorite UPs' song? Damn. How bout one off each album...Never, Changes, Just Like You. What other albums have you been on aside from UPs albums? I've done a lot of production for cats. Try-D, Gamble, Bobby Hatfield, Versifier, Musab, Ernie Rhodes, GeofferyWatsonMC, Chuck U, 6-1-$tew, 7th Street Coincidence, Shades of Darkness, D.A, and others I can't think of at the moment. Favorite Rap album? Damn...I really like Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z. But Captial Punishment by Big Pun gets alot of play. So does Ready to Die by Biggie. Favorite non-rap album? New Edition NE Heartbreak. How did you and MaD SoN meet and form Unknown Prophets? We met in high school. Back then, I was solo doing talent shows rapping, and he was a metal guitar player. One day he said he wanted to record a rap song. I was so blown away by how good he was. We've been writing together ever since. Favorite song you produced? Damn man! Makin it hard on a brother...Never, Nitty Gritty, Now You Know, Just Like You, It Could Happen to You... Artist you would like to work with? Jay-Z...no doubt. I could get down with Ludacris fo sho! Have you toured? No, not YET. Do you have any tatooes, what/where are they? Yea one great biker lookin thing that says Big Jess on my right bicep. It is not very pretty. Favorite movie? Boomerang/Karate Kid Favorite TV show? Probably Married with children. What do you collect? Old Nintendo games. Got any? Favorite drink/beer? White russians/The old Grain Belt Premium. Favorite spot to "kick it" in the Twin Cities? Maybe First Ave or in my studio. How long have you been bowling for? About 6 years. Rollin a 210 average. Favorite thing about hip hop? The influence it has on others lives. I also love performing. Least favorite thing about hip hop? How bad some of the groups are that are BIG. And how us underground acts get overlooked. What would you like to be doing in two years? What do you think?