Diandra Interviews PJ Sin Suela: How Being Indepedent Inspires People
PJ Sin Suela has impressed many with both his intelligence and his talent. The truth is that a well-educated man is attractive, but a wise man is inspiring. Sin Suela is both men with an added splash of Spanish Hip Hop pizzazz. He is flashy and thoughtful in verbosity; showing that the brightest thing you can displaying is your own mind and voice. While interviewing him, I got to understand how this doctor became a prophetical rapper.
Diandra: How do you think your studies of medicine influence you as a lyricist?
PJ Sin Suela: It definitely influences how I write because I am always reading and writing about medicine. So, maybe, the words that I use or my perspective, because I write everything that I rap, comes from something that I studied so long about. You can definitely see it in my music.
Diandra: How do you see music as a medicine for the people?
PJ Sin Suela: It’s funny because all my friends tell me, “Oh, you are like a psychologist!” In my studio, I have a whole bunch of positive messages, or the things people just tell me. Like, that “I listen to your music when I am depressed,” or “I started writing because of you.” They say, “Oh, you help me get out a lot of feelings!’ or “When my parents are fighting I listen to you.” I look at all those messages, and call them the “tattoos” on my wall. When I need motivation or to remember why I write, I look at those messages of people that relate to me, and remember I am not alone in feeling like this.
Diandra: Is there a particular “tattoo” that stands out to you?
PJ Sin Suela: I have this verse I wrote. It’s a chorus that I didn’t expect so many people to identify with.
Song:”Lo Que Nadie Quería Que Fuera”
Nunca he creído en el amor
Quizás porque soy egoísta y tengo mil planes
Y mil ilusiones y muchas pasiones
Y pocos añitos pa’ ver
Mi sueño crecer y ser
Lo que nadie quería que fuera
English Translation:
I never believed in love
Maybe, because I’m selfish and have a million plans
A million illusions and many passions
And so few years to see
My dream grow and be
What nobody wanted me to be
Diandra: Well, you have many years! (I said releasing my inner, optimistic grandmother!) You are so young, and you are tapping into the social conscious of people in a time when they most need and want that. Would you say that people are noticing more the craziness of the world, or the world is getting crazier?
PJ Sin Suela: Everybody is on their cellphone, and bad news travels faster than good because that is what people like to share. You turn on the news and everything is bad. I think their should be a newspaper that is just about being positive and good news like, “this man saved this man!”I don’t think that its the world is worse. This has been happening for years. I think that everyone is noticing more.
Diandra: So do you think that your music is apart of the world’s noticing and healing?
PJ SIn Suela: It can heal some things. If you identify with me through some parts of my music then, but that happens when I talk about my personal problems: not really politics. Sometimes, you know, when I rap about my politics someone will say, “Oh, he thinks like me,” and say how I am putting myself out there. But when I get personal, and someone says, “Yeah, I went through that!” that is when it hits me the most. Still, I know people that go to strikes, and have said that my music motivates them to support others more and that, instead of staying their house, they went out and let their voices be heard. So, it helps.
Diandra: Would you say that a person is divided between who they are socially/ politically and who they are spiritually?
PJ Sin Suela: Same person. I never intended to rap about politics. (he laughs) Everyone told me not to do it. You get enemies, and the biggest critics are people like me. Like the people who most critique me, agree with me that Puerto Rico should be independent. You go on social media, and find people that are on your side saying, “Psssh, he’s on something!” It’s like you can’t win. You can’t win with politics. You win fans. But I rapped about it because I was, personally, being affected by it.
It was never my plan. On the contrary, I did not want to rap about politics, but when Puerto Rico’s economic crisis hit rock bottom, I felt personally affected. You know working people were told to invest in Puerto Rico and its economic bonds. They were told to invest in their country, and that they would get their life savings back. My grandmother worked as a public school teacher all her life in Puerto Rico, and she bought bonds and gave her savings, and it was all lost. My sister graduated from law, and all my friends studied engineering and they all had to leave. There is no work. That is why I did “Representando.” Politics was affecting my life, and it is the same person that is rapping about drugs, sex, parties that is also rapping about politics, family, and religion. They all affect me. I just rap about life, and what I feel.
Diandra: So how do you envision an independent Puerto Rico?
PJ Sin Suela: Well, it’s not up to us right now, but a lot of people have the wrong mentality about it. They think that if Puerto Rico goes independent, Walmart and Burger King are going to leave. Obviously, things are going to change. We have had this co-dependent relationship with the U.S. for a long time and before that Spain, but we can make that change. We can depend on each other and speak for ourselves. People are just scared to. They make crazy comparisons to communism or think that will happen, and I don’t know how to explain it. (He shrugs!)
There is no denying PJ Sin Suela is an AWESOME rapper, but his talent is only a platform for his mind. He is an artist because he uses his thoughts to challenge and spark others to find their own. In doing this, he promotes fearlessness, and a belief that only when you own your ideas, actions, and feelings can you assure your well-being. Hence, it is no wonder he believes in Puerto Rico’s independence because he believes in an artistic and individual one, as well. For More Information On PJ Sin Suela Click Here.