JAKEWITHSPACES! is an experimental hip-hop artist pushing the boundaries of sound, lyricism, and underground culture. With a distinct sonic palette that blends raw emotion, abstract beats, and genre-bending flows, JAKEWITHSPACES! creates music that’s as confrontational as it is hypnotic. Known for a DIY ethos and a fearless approach to artistry, he’s built a growing reputation through self-released projects, immersive live performances, and a loyal digital following. His latest release, DOPEFUMEMIDI, showcases a sharp evolution in both vision and voice — cementing JAKEWITHSPACES! as a rising force in the next wave of independent hip-hop.
With JAKEWITHSPACES!’s debut album, DOPEFUMEMIDI, out now, we took some time to hear from JAKEWITHSPACES! Read below to learn more about JAKEWITHSPACES!, the story behind DOPEFUMEMIDI, and what’s to come.
Hi! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
I got my name paying homage to the great MF DOOM. I always thought it was the illest thing that he had multiple aliases and different avenues to release various sonics. So, I came up with the name as a witty way to have more than one artist platform, with J A K E literally meaning “Jake With Spaces” and the alias being it spelt out “JAKEWITHSPACES!”
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I’m from Boston, MA and still currently based here. Looking to pivot and relocate at the moment though, I’ll see where the wind takes me.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
Man, as an artist, I don’t think there’s ever a clear “start date.” We go through life with so much weight in our souls until you find the medium that speaks to you directly and you navigate from there! I’d say about 16/17 years old, I starting searching for sounds – I snuck out my house one night and drove to upstate New York to cop a MPC 2000 with a busted screen off eBay, from there the universe did the rest.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I’m not quite sure to be real. I never like the idea of trying to categorize art or compare it to things we already know / are familiar with because I don’t want my sh*t to sound like anyone else. Bottom line is I need the listener to know that when they press play on any of my records they are now entering the world of “JAKEWITHSPACES!,” where all of the rules and things we’ve been programmed to expect in music like arrangement and form no longer exist!
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
One thing people don’t know about me is I really am a composer and arranger outside of this rap sh*t. If I’m not looking ten steps ahead in the world of “JAKEWITHSPACES!” I am most likely composing music for media, constantly trying to expand my understanding of the world that surrounds us – to then take it full circle and implement these ideas into a different context. There is nothing I have “to do” to stay creative – in fact, its actually the opposite, I can’t sit still.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
I’d prolly say Cities Aviv, MF DOOM, Kim Gordon, MIKE, Aphex Twin, Earl Sweatshirt, Erykah Badu… I mean for real this a criminal question because I’m leaving so many pivotal creatives out, but you get the point. Real recognize real.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I’m not really proud of anything yet to be honest. They still sleeping on me like I’m a f*****g tempur-pedic mattress I swear! Obviously I have a lot of pride for the sound that I found and am pushing, but until the job finished these audio files gon’ be filled with angst and precision.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
The greatest lesson that I done learned in my 22 years is simply just to shut the f**k up. You don’t always need to have a full a** opinion on something or pick a stance – sometimes, you just need to take a step back and observe the world around you! There is something oddly powerful about silence and restraint. If I have something important enough to share I will put it inside of my .WAV file, other than that you won’t hear from me.
Now onto your release, DOPEFUMEMIDI. What inspired this album?
A lot inspired this record. The driving force of this sound was trying to find a happy medium of incorporating the exotic low end 808’s that the new generation gravitates towards, while still having that raw sample based hip-hop feeling at the same time. I was born in 2003 – I feel like kids from like ’99-2005 got the perfect mix of the analog and digital world, and that’s exactly what this album sounds like to me! Like we still grew up copping physical art and watching cable TV, but we also know what it’s like to have an iPhone at 11 years old, hahaha. Overall though, I just wanted to find a sound I had NEVER heard before. Something that when you press play if you aren’t an alt rap listener, you’re going to be pissed off!!!
What is the overall theme of DOPEFUMEMIDI?
I think if I boil DOPEFUMEMIDI down to its simplest form, the overall theme of the record is just f**k everybody. Be yourself. You don’t need to fall into any specific category or standard. You don’t need to dress and act how those around you have been programmed to. DOPEFUMEMIDI is the leader of a sonic rebellion in which I will continue to advocate for.
What was the creative process like when making DOPEFUMEMIDI?
So, now you want me to give away the sauceeeee???? HAHAH, nah I’m playing, but f**k this album was hard to make man. I never had a record where I was this specific in detail while I was making the project. I had such a laser focus picture of what the record sounded/looked like that there was so many “throw aways” or demo ideas that got binned for this sh*t, nevermind how many different versions of the songs there are, haha. The project is 18 tracks, and I probably made like three albums worth of songs. But that’s the difference between me and these other artists, I’m not just up in the studio all night recording at 3 AM trying to make a hit – I go to bed early and wake up early as f**k with a sonic agenda, sharpshooting.
How long did it take to complete DOPEFUMEMIDI?
This was the longest that it ever took me to make a project actually. I dropped the “rapslycooper” in September of 2024, and I was probably already starting to make dope fume demos around that time. I’d say I didn’t have a full grasp of the project until march or April 2025.
Is there a specific song on DOPEFUMEMIDI that speaks to you the most? If so, what is it called, and what is it about?
Probably “REAP WHAT YOU SOW!” There’s some lyrics on there that at the time I wrote them, I didn’t realize the weight they had or what I exactly even meant. That’s the most beautiful thing about writing music to me is how much I learn about myself in the process. As life unfolded and I started to navigate the months of the new year – things I said in that song almost came to fruition and showed themselves to me IRL…this music sh*t is really that powerful.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from DOPEFUMEMIDI and your music in general?
“BEFORE I DIE I PUT THAT MF IN A AUDIO FILE!!!!!” That’s really all they need to know, HAHHAHA!
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
Lots of live shows, lots of new music, extreme focus on the visual realm as well.
LONG ISLAND 10/25
NASHVILLE 11/14
Where can we follow you on social media?
^ anything you need should be here
@JAKEWITHSPACES – my handle for everything.
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
