Chicago's Jeremih scores No. 1 hit

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When Jeremih first contemplated a career in music, it wasn’t silky soul, but rap that intrigued him the most.

“I had so many beats on my computer (and) people were telling me I sounded like I could be the next so-and-so,” says Jeremih (pronounced JEHR’-uh-meye). “But after all the beats and rhymes, I felt like everybody around me was rapping and so I was like, ‘I got to do something to stand out’ ... so I started singing.”

It’s clear he made the right choice: The newcomer, who turns 22 today, has a No. 1 smash with his very first song, the bedroom slow groove “Birthday Sex.”

While that’s a major accomplishment in itself, the Chicago native (who plays drums, piano, saxophone and bass among other instruments) doesn’t want to be just a hit-making singer. He’s had a game plan for long-lasting success that stretches beyond singing.

“I wanted to make that P. Diddy move – to get my own company, birth talent and make stars,” Jeremih said, whose looks are reminiscent of a young Sean Combs.

Was it always easy for you to pick up different instruments?

I feel like I always had an ear. I have the ability and the gift to hear a song and really play it in a matter of five to 10 minutes and make my own version out of it. So it’s always been easy playing by ear. Now reading, that’s a whole other story.

You graduated high school at 16 and went to college at 17. What was that like?

It was a challenge. At the University of Illinois, I stayed at an unisex dorm and everyday it seemed like there was something going on non-school related. And with me being so young, with the clubs out there you at least had to be 19 to get in the clubs, let alone drink. So I found myself getting in a lot of trouble by graduating (high school) early. It was all lessons learned.

Will you go back?

At first I was like, “Man, don’t tell me I just wasted four years of my life without even getting that piece of paper.” At the same time, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity. I really do plan on finishing – I came too far.

Was it a challenge to get Def Jam to let you and your friend self-produce the entire CD?

My biggest fear, honestly, was that you got Ne-Yo, you got The-Dream, you got Rihanna and Kanye West, all artist-songwriters, and how am I going to blend in? How am I going to make it at this label and not get lost in the mix? But once I thought about it, I’m 117 percent confident in my music ... I felt I could blend, I can hang with the rest.

A lot of young fans listen to your music. Will you be an advocate for education?

Yes. It’s so important. I felt it’s really helped me out with speaking with executives and even with this interview right now.