For some artists music is like a language that needs to be learned, for others it’s understood from birth. For Lazy J it’s simply natural instinct. Not even out of his teens Jelal ‘Lazy J’ Edmonds has already released two mix tapes, stacked up countless features, appeared on national television, and acquired a fan base into the tens of thousands. As one of the most unique young talents to grace Australia’s hip hop scene, it’s no surprise. Exploring his talent and love of music from a young age, Lazy started writing his own rhymes while still in primary school. Choosing to study the raps of legends Tupac, Notorious B.I.G and NWA over maths, science, and history, it was his mother who gave him the name we all have come to know, by telling him he was “so lazy” for never doing his homework. With one foot in the old school, one in the new, Lazy J combines an underground sound with slick beats and a perfectly effortless flow to create a style that is truly his own. Switching between solo tracks and collaborations with his duo partner, Big Guy, allows Lazy J to change up his style on the regular, throwing scripted lyrics against freestyles, production quality versus raw. Finding an equation that works, all it takes is Big Guy’s vocals + Lazy J’s rap + an acoustic guitar + a video camera = an ultimate listening experience. And with average YouTube views into six figures per video, it’s clearly a formula that works. It was with Big Guy that Lazy J first introduced himself to the nation on the 2010 series of Channel 7’s X-Factor, and then again in 2011. The duo made it into the top 6 of the groups category both times, being flown to the U.S. to perform in front of industry heavyweights Snoop Dogg and Usher. Receiving positive feedback from some of his idols, the biggest boost for Lazy was having the ‘Doggfather’ of rap himself compliment his flow, saying simply: “he’s got it”. This career changing experience gave Lazy J the confidence to explore himself as a solo artist, resulting in his first mix tape, Natural Instinct, produced by DJ Manny, in 2011