“Stay underground! Know your worth! Stay consistent and stay humble, no matter how big ya get!!” –T-JAKS
OUR INNER CIRCLE exclusive interview
October 2026 / İstanbul – Ohio
Löpçük fanzine: Hello T-Jaks, I really loved your talk on the Chatting with Staxx Show; you described yourself and your musical career so well, I think that you didn’t leave much for me to say; but orders come from the top, and we wouldn’t want to anger the Italian mobster Tony Slippaz! So, for those of us who have just started listening to you, could you briefly tell us about yourself, the history of O.I.C. which formed by four MCs who were making music as solo artists, the group members and the backgrounds they come from?
T-Jaks: My nickname T-Jaks came from my brother Scherm that’s no longer with us, and my brother Ss Fame. Scherm played a big part of me becoming who I am!
I started as a concert goer and supporter of all my homies. So basically he brought me into the scene and I knew I could do the same thing as long as I was with the rite team and had the support needed. My first track was with my bro. Low E of Mirror Immage and then started a lil movement called O.F. Muzic dedicated to my neighborhood (Oak & Fassett) that consisted of myself, Big homie, Jhood and my brother Mike Zak that’s no longer with us! We use to go crazy on the stage. Rip Z3!
“With myself and Bizz from Toledo and Ss Fame from Detroit and Lex from Cleveland. We had 3 different styles and energies that nobody could top and I’ll still stand on that to this day!” –T-JAKS
Me and Mike Zak eventually branched off and did a few songs together and started performing some big shows. He was shot and killed being at the wrong place wrong time! That was one of the toughest losses I’ve ever took!! I went thru some tough times after that.
I ended up linking back with Ss Fame and Lex (Rip) and J Bizz and came to the conclusion we need to turn O.I.C. into a group. Our Inner Circle became something bigger than we knew as we was being booked left and rite for events/shows. With myself and Bizz from Toledo and Ss Fame from Detroit and Lex from Cleveland. We had 3 different styles and energies that nobody could top and I’ll still stand on that to this day!
Lex had some health issues that started from a stroke and he had no choice but to have tracheotomy which led him with a hole in his throat. He insisted to keep going with recording and performing and everyone knew he was special cuz in real life ain’t to many that could do what he did under the circumstances!!
He unfortunately had another stroke shortly after the Lyte’s Out event and he lost the fight. I honestly didn’t think we could continue but something told us keep going and make him proud!!
“You’ll get more support from the Juggalo community before the Hip Hop community!” –T-JAKS
I’d like to touch upon the festivals you’ve been involved with recently. We are seeing large-scale festivals taking place across the country, events like the Gathering of the Juggalos, HogDaddys Family Reunion, and Gorefest, drawing hundreds of attendees; and I imagine there is a commercial aspect to these festivals as well. As a music listener unfamiliar with your region, I am curious about how the concept of the “Juggalo” emerged and the sociology behind it.
Everyone has some Juggalo in them!! Juggalos are a community “family” that welcomes outsiders, weirdos, and people who feel alienated or looked down upon by mainstream society.
What is the difference between a hip-hop festival and a Juggalo event?
My opinion…. I’d rather do a Juggalo event before a hip hop event!! Two different crowds if you ask me! My experience… You’ll get more support from the Juggalo community before the hip hop community!!
Did this concept gain prominence primarily through the Horrorcore movement? I mean, I’m interested in the psychological reasons behind performing in face paint and masks.
We personally don’t do the paint or masks, but yes majority of artists wearing paint/masks come from the horrorcore/Juggalo community.
“Scum and Insane Poetry opened a door for us that made us who we really are! They might not know this but it’s real!” –T-JAKS
When we look the horrorcore movement, we witness an intriguing evolution in the conceptual content of rap music which originated on the streets, as the lyrics shift focus from street life to more internalized themes such as psychological struggles, melancholy, and a propensity for suicide; could this perhaps signal a crisis afflicting the new generation of American youth?
Suicide? I wouldn’t say that!! Horrorcore ain’t for the youth first and foremost. I’d say horrorcore is more on the lines of rapping about blood, guts, murder and expressing horror thru rhymes. We personally don’t do the paint or masks, but yes majority of artists wearing paint/masks come from the horrorcore/Juggalo community.
As an artist who is familiar with this scene, how do you view this phenomenon which shocks society much like the punk movement of the late 70s?
I love everything about it!! Most of the horrorcore artists I’ve met on this journey are some of the coolest and solid people.
“I’d say horrorcore is more on the lines of rapping about blood, guts, murder and expressing horror thru rhymes.” –T-JAKS
You also mentioned on the Staxx Show that you’re a huge LSP fan. That collective has really caught my interest lately, too; what is it that makes LSP special to you? Could you tell us a bit about that? Within the horrorcore scene, Insane Poetry is a highly respected figure, and Scum is a very prominent name as well; could you briefly touch upon these artists and what they mean to you?
Scum and Insane Poetry opened a door for us that made us who we really are!! They might not know this but it’s real!! LSP runs the underground and are some of the most solid people I’ve met in this industry thus far!! It’s where we wanna be!! Not only do we rep the L, we’d love to be apart of the movement!! I got Scum and Poetry’s back for life!!
Hip-hop, particularly in the US, is a vast landscape where many artists face significant struggles regarding both their music and their careers; you’ve even lamented the fact that many artists never manage to make it out of the studio. To what do you attribute the fact that Our Inner Circle has made such a splash and truly made a difference? Is it the fact that it’s a group that takes its art seriously, or is it the professional seriousness and entrepreneurial mindset, What’s your take?
It’s gotta be the seriousness for me! Most will stay in the studio yelling at the mic and think they the best! Us… We yell at the mic and stay in motion, not just in our city/state, we travel and network with other artists and show support.
If we were to ask you to briefly summarize the stages that generally mark an American rapper’s rise from the underground to the mainstream, what would you say?
Stay underground!!! Know your worth!! Stay consistent and stay humble, no matter how big ya get!!
Despite making good music, what do you think are the worst challenges they will face in order to prove themselves?
Having the finances to push yourself/team!! It’ll take some time to prove the people you ain’t playin!!
“The cheat code is just stay consistent!” –T-JAKS
You have stated that, interestingly, you will be releasing your new album, “The Chopping Block”, primarily as a physical copy before making it available on digital platforms. Did you make this decision as a group? Could we learn the reasons behind it? And if you have any other ideas you would like to share with fellow musicians and your fans, sort of like a “cheat code”, we would love to hear those as well.
Yes, we make all decisions as a group! Physical copies promises fast money while streaming can take some time to earn. I think every artist should have this mindset on releasing music. The cheat code is just stay consistent!!
Thanks a lot for the interview, T-Jaks; it’s truly an honor to meet you. Many thanks and regards to Tony Slippaz as well for creating the opportunity to meet a talent like you! I’m eagerly looking forward to your new album, “The Chopping Block,” and the “Meat Circle” EP (if I recall correctly). Take care of yourself until then, my friend; from here as Löpçük Fanzine and Turkish rapcore bangers, we send our best regards and respect to the entire O.I.C. family.
Just have fun
and make a positive impact
that’ll last e t e r n i t y ! !
➽ OFFICIAL O.I.C. MERCH
➽ OURINNERCIRCLE419 youtube
➽ OUR INNER CIRCLE FACEBOOK PAGE
➽ T-JAKS of O.I.C. IG
