Jazz in the Bronx: Chisholm’s Yankees persona lights up far beyond the diamond
- September 3, 2024
- 10:49 am
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Follow UsDuring a Sunday morning interview at Yankee Stadium, Jazz Chisholm demonstrated a unique dedication to his role as the clubhouse DJ, frequently pausing the conversation to change songs. Despite apologizing for the interruptions, it was clear that Chisholm took his musical duties seriously.
His intense focus on the music sparked curiosity about his song choices. When asked, Chisholm surprised the interviewer by revealing that the tunes weren’t just pulled from a personal playlist—they were actually his own original creations.
The Yankees’ starting third baseman explained that the smooth voice filling the clubhouse was his, proudly noting that every track playing was his work, not just a selection of favorite songs. Chisholm even shared his phone with the interviewer, displaying a lengthy list of song files he had personally recorded.
Chisholm clarified that he considers himself more of a rapper than a singer, though he humorously described his style as “rapper…ish.” In his musical endeavors, he goes by the stage name Prince Jazz.
”Damn, I forgot how quick that song is,” he said. “Sorry, one more. These are songs I like. This is me.”
This unexpected disclosure shed light on a different aspect of Chisholm’s life, highlighting his creative side beyond the baseball diamond. It showed how he infused his personality into the team environment, blending his love for music with his role as a player. His willingness to share his musical passion offered a glimpse into the diverse interests and talents that professional athletes often possess, revealing there’s more to them than just their athletic prowess.
Intrigued by Jazz Chisholm’s musical talents, the interviewer asked if his Yankees teammates knew they were listening to his own tracks. He, with a playful grin, revealed that most of his teammates were oblivious to the fact that the music playing in the clubhouse was his. Only the clubhouse attendants were in on the secret.
“They don’t know. Nope,” he said. “Nobody in here knows they’re listening to me — except the clubbies. I go home and I forget about baseball. I’m not a baseball player outside of baseball. Just rapping about my life outside of it.”
As he spoke, Chisholm nodded toward two clubhouse attendants, who exchanged knowing smiles with him, much like siblings sharing an inside joke at a family gathering, unnoticed by everyone else.
Chisholm went on to explain his creative process, detailing how he collaborates with his close friend and former Marlins teammate, Nick Gordon. Their recording sessions take place either in professional studios provided by Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s agency, or at home during downtime after games. Chisholm described how Gordon often sparks their creativity by sending new beats or lyrics over FaceTime, leading to spontaneous recording sessions.
The duo works closely with producer Julio Angel Fernandez Jr., known in the industry as July Da Producer, to turn their ideas into polished tracks. Chisholm shared that this musical hobby, which he began a few years ago, has become a way for him to unwind and step away from the pressures of his baseball career.
Chisholm emphasized that music offers him a mental escape from the game, allowing him to switch off from baseball when he’s not on the field. He views his musical persona as separate from his athletic identity, using his rap to express parts of his life that don’t revolve around sports. This glimpse into Chisholm’s off-field interests highlighted the complexity of his character, showing how professional athletes often nurture passions and talents beyond their primary careers.
He described music as a way to mentally disconnect from the game, viewing his rap career as a separate facet of his life. This revelation into Chisholm’s interests beyond baseball highlighted the diverse talents of professional athletes and how they often develop passions outside their main careers.
Chisholm’s overrated clarification
A recent survey by The Athletic has labeled Jazz Chisholm as the most overrated player in MLB, with 12 out of 59 players (20.3%) voting him into this spot, outpacing Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon. Although the survey didn’t provide specific reasons for the votes, some speculate that Chisholm’s prominent role on the cover of last year’s “MLB The Show” might have shaped this view among his peers.
Despite the label, Chisholm’s contributions are pivotal to the Yankees’ postseason hopes. Entering Monday tied for the best record in baseball, the Yankees have won four of their last five series, partly due to Chisholm’s influence. He is among just five MLB players this season with at least 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases, joining the ranks of Elly De La Cruz, Shohei Ohtani, José Ramírez, and Bobby Witt Jr. Within the Yankees’ lineup, Chisholm ranks as the third most effective hitter, behind Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
“What was it, like 11 players? I definitely knew who they were talking to, too. It wasn’t hard to find out who the players were,” he said. “I didn’t really care. Who cares what somebody else has to say about me? If he really voted that I’m overrated, that means you got something in your psyche, brother. Like me, I’m not going out and voting who’s an overrated player because I don’t even know who an overrated player is. I don’t look at people that hard. I only look at people who are good, I’m sorry. So you call me overrated, I gotta be good. That’s how I look at it.”
Chisholm has also addressed the Yankees’ third base dilemma. Though he had never played the position professionally before joining New York, he has taken on the role with determination. His adjustment has had its challenges, including a fielding error on Sunday—his first in 12 games—but overall, his performance has been strong. In 107 innings at third base, he has recorded 2 defensive runs saved and 2 outs above average.
Chisholm’s ability to learn a new position while delivering a significant offensive impact underscores his value to the Yankees. His role in both stabilizing the defense and bolstering the lineup highlights his importance to the team’s success, regardless of the “overrated” label from his peers.
Outside of baseball, Chisholm has ambitions in the music industry. He aims to own a record label and release an album. Earlier this year, Chisholm collaborated with former teammate Nick Gordon on a song titled “Upset Your Maker,” released on SoundCloud under the name Nick & Jazz by Festine. He also mentioned plans to use one of his own tracks as walk-up music with the Yankees once it is officially released, as he previously did with the Marlins.
Despite his musical aspirations, Chisholm remains focused on his baseball performance, understanding that his contributions with the bat are currently more critical than his musical endeavors.
Although Chisholm’s musical persona, Prince Jazz, is not widely known among his teammates, the Yankees recognize his essential role in their championship pursuit. Chisholm, who recorded his latest track on August 3rd in New York, encouraged listeners to keep following his music, hinting that both his athletic and musical pursuits are worth paying attention to.
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