If you know me AT ALL, you already know how much I love James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla, Jay Dee, the best producer ever to bless the beats, and all the other nick names he has come to be called. I don't even know what to say beyond that... this man's music has changed so many peoples lives, in so many different ways, it's hard to find the words to even talk about it. ...but more than that, I just straight up and down love him and his music. Period. From beat making and production for himself, his groups, and countless other artists, to his verses, to the type of person he seemed to be.
In this day in age, especially in hip hop, it can sometimes be hard to find artists that you can look at on every level, and respect. J Dilla has my respect. He should have yours too.
I would say take today, and play some of his music, but fuck that... fuck Dilla day, or Dilla month, or any of that shit. Play his music every month, every day. I can't think of a better artists whose music deserves constant rotation more than this man... A Jay Dee beat is an audible expression of love. His music is great. He is Great. Fuck the rest.
...that being said, I collected a few of my favorite J Dilla works, and a few other things to introduce you to him, if by some odd and disturbing chance you don't know him already. Enjoy!
...by a few, I meant 10. Of 500. He has worked with the likes of Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock, De La Soul, the Pharcyde, the Roots, Common, Black Star, etc. I could have kept going all afternoon, but I just wanted to hopefully give people who don't know Jay's music a taste of what he did... that didn't even begin to touch the full range of his work, but those are a couple of my favorites.
Lastly, I wanted to put up this interview with Dilla. I have probably listened to this interview 3.7 million times. I can basically recite the whole thing (I know, I have no life, you don't have to tell me... it's clear to me). It's a bit long, but trust me, it's SO worth it... if you haven't heard it already, shit, even if you have. . . give it a listen. This man, his words, his music, his whole being. . . it's love. Period. ...enjoy!
For more information, check out the sites below. The Stonesthrow link offers a full discography, which is soooooo dope. Just, enjoy him. Love him. Respect him. Rest in beats J Dilla. We miss you. <3
This is one of the hardest songs of all time... tell me that beat doesn't make you want to run like 27 miles. It's not hard in terms of talking about baby murders and heroin addiction and shit, it's just. . . hard. As shit. Amazing. DILLA!
So I’ve recently had the pleasure of interviewing Detroit rapper Danny Brown… if you don’t know him yet, please believe that you will soon, cause the boy got bars. From having a track on Jay Stay Paid, to working with the likes of Elzhi, Quelle, Marvwon, and others, Danny Brown is holding his own in this hip hop shit, so you should know about him… if you don’t already. Check this shit out…
“I think I just have to do… whatever I want. I don’t put limitations on myself” -Danny Brown
Danny Brown - Contra (feat. Elzhi)
Danny Brown, Danner Tanner, Danny the Hybrid… how would you like to be referred to? …and can you give me a brief run down of who you are, where you’re from, and what you do for those assholes that don’t already know.
Just Danny is cool with me… if you know me good enough Daniel, but. . . I ain’t really trippin’ on your nick names. Just don’t call me wack. I’m from Detroit, and umm… I rap. And. . . umm… I like video games.
(laughter ensues)
I’m just a rapper.
Another rapper from the D… shocking. So, what makes you different from every other amazing rapper from the D? …or are you different?
I think… (what makes me different is) just because I am different. I mean, I’m not saying that they’re not different (other Detorit rappers), but most of them just got like a certain image or a certain style that they just have to do, you know? I think I just have to do… whatever I want. I don’t put limitations on myself, you know? Pretty much, like… say they’re a super underground, hip hop, Detroit artist… under the J Dilla influence - if they wanted to do a song with Soulja Boy, then it would be like (weird). . . you know what I’m sayin’? But I could probably do it, and people would be like, ‘Aight, he’s just Danny’, you know?
“I can kinda understand all aspects of hip hop. I can kinda understand it all… and I kinda like it all…” -Danny Brown
Aight ‘just Danny’. . . who influences you? Who has helped make ‘just Danny’ the person that he is? Musically speaking of course…
I can say Nas. . . and then it goes to someone like Dizzee Rascal. Then like, E-40. . . those are my biggest influences. Wu-Tang too… that’s pretty much it for my biggest influences. …MF DOOM too.
Fair enough. So where are you right now? What are you doing? Sorry if that came off as creepy, I just like to get a feel for the random shit…
I’m in LA chillin’. . . watchin’ Slum Dog Millionaire.
Wait… while you’re doing this interview? …you know what, nevermind. Instead, tell me who is getting a lot of play from you right now? Wait. . . lemme rephrase that. Who are you listening to right now? I hear you don’t even listen to all that much rap. Which I understand, because rap sucks. . . but, if I were to push play on your MP3 player right now, what would I hear?
Right now I’m listening to Lil B a lot. I kinda like Yelawolf a little bit. . . I dunno, that’s pretty much it. I just listen to Lil B. …and I listen to Yelawolf.
I like Fever Ray. Yeah. I like Fever Ray a lot, and I like… I’ve been getting’ into Animal Collective. I liked the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s last album… I’d never heard that, and it’s extremely dope. It’s kinda old now though, and I just got up on it. And yeah… that’s pretty much it. Fever Ray though… I didn’t know how good that number was.
Danny Brown - Head
Enough about your idea of what’s good… In MY opinion, as much as I love Contra (and talk about it virtually every day, not to mention listening to it repeatedly), I think Head is my favorite song of yours… (I’m a girl, so sue me) What is your favorite song of yours? Why?
That’s like… a weird question. I can’t really just say that - like, if I have a favorite song (of mine). But I guess it would probably be Dilla Bot Vs. The Hybrid. That was just like my comin’ out party, you know? A lot of people knew about me but… I got more respect and shit from off that. It was like a good look, so. . . it showed that if you give me a good look than I’ll knock the ball out the park. You know what I’m sayin’?
J Dilla - Dilla Bot Vs. The Hybrid (feat. Danny Brown)
Speaking of Dilla… Considering you are on that track with him, I’m morbidly curious to know the answer to this one…Who’s the one artist you would like to work with most that you have yet to?
Wow… artist that I would like to work with that I haven’t… I always pick Jack White when I get asked that question. So I would say Jack White would be it. Most of the people I’ve wanted to work with… I’ve worked with. So it’s like, I gotta… you gotta set your goals kinda… too high. Where you can’t reach’em. That’s like on of them big, too high goals.
…okay. Favorite MCs?
My favorite MCs right now… umm… Quelle and Crown Nation, of course like, everybody else. Danny Swain… I like The Cool Kids a lot… Ummm… yeah, that’s pretty much it.
That’s pretty much it. …I didn’t say Lil B? I like Lil B a lot so… Lil B is like the new Too $hort right now to me. I’m heavily influenced by Too $hort so…
Sounding unreasonably unconvinced, I interrupted with: Lil B is like the new …Too $hort?
I really don’t like music that your parents - like, you know how hip hop got kinda soft? Like, you can listen to hip hop with your grandma and shit. There ain’t too much shock value in it. Versus like… Lil B. It’s not something you can listen to with like… an older person, you know what I’m sayin’?
(laughter ensues)
A lot of people came up with Too Live Crew, and were like, ‘this shit is wack as fuck’, but after years on it, it’s like, wow, you really understand now what they did back then. It’s dope. Like, real shock value… nothin’ fake - where you talkin’ about eatin’ up babies or some shit like that. You know what I’m sayin’? Something just that simple, as a nigga sayin’, ‘I fuck bitches every time I can’.
You gotta have all of it… and I like that. I like that, because that’s what I was raised on. My momma used to tell me to cut that shit off… steal tapes from me and shit like that, you know? That’s why I say some of the shit I say… for the little kid that’s gonna piss his moms off. It’s not for the little kid that’s gonna vibe to the song with his mom. Like, cause his mom like it too. This (music) ain’t for yo’ momma. Like… you know what I’m sayin’? It’s for the little niggas. The young niggas.
Danny Brown - New Era
Understood. …speaking of young niggas - you’ve come a long way from Cocaine Cowboys (even though you’re still pretty young). . . What’s on deck for Danny Brown? Tell me about what’s in the works… projects? Collabs? Album? Burgeoning career in the adult film industry? (yeah, I read your tweets)
I’m just finishing up The Hybrid. …it’s almost done. I’ve been working with Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest. He’s sort of like my mentor right now. He’s just been helping me, teaching me and shit, so… that’s pretty much it.
“I’m not alright with that… that shit is wack.” –Danny Brown
Who is one rapper who you really don’t get? The one that, when people talk about how much they love them, you think they’re fuckin’ crazy?
You said… like, a rapper that I think sucks?
Umm… I can’t really say anybody, because… like, music is music. It’s really your self expression. What you think is wack, another person thinks is good.
So, I really don’t listen to too much – a lot of new rappers… I really don’t be like, ‘that shit is wack, won’t nobody listen to that shit’, you know what I’m sayin’? I’m tryin’ to think hard, but… everything I come up with in my head, I can figure out why somebody would listen to it. Like, (I could think of) what type of person would listen to some shit like that. So, I really can’t say that. It’s not nothin’ out there that’s just so wack to me where, I cannot listen to it… cannot understand why somebody would like it.
I can kinda understand all aspects of hip hop. I can kinda understand it all… and I kinda like it all, so. . . That’s a good question too. I’m tryin’ to think… like, it just hasn’t been somethin’ that I’ve hated on in a while.
I remember when Gucci Mane first, first came out … I’m talkin’ bout when he came out with ‘So Icey’. I thought that was wack, but, obviously Gucci Mane’s not wack now if you look at it - what’s he’s done, you know what I’m sayin’? So… I really don’t… I can’t say that. I really wanna answer that question too. I’m tryin’ hard to think…
I interjected with …eyebrow raised in the most skeptical voice ever… Why do you think Gucci Mane’s not wack?
Because he can kinda rap… it’s just that his accent is so crazy. Gucci is one of the real ones… you know what I’m sayin’? I think that inspires a lot of people - to do good in some sense, because he came from the same shit that niggas is goin’ through, and look what he’s doing. . . So that might make a nigga be like ‘Man, Imma try somethin’ else…’ you know? It’s really positive, if you look at it. Yeah, he talks about his negative experiences… to show people what type of person a person can become. People can change their life… cause obviously he’s not doin’ the same thing no more, you know what I’m sayin’? He gettin’ into rapper trouble now… but that’s not street trouble, you know what I’m sayin’? So… I can’t really hate on it.
I’m really tryin’ to think of something that I hate. Like… who do I really just HATE? Like… ugh. Who fuckin’ sucks? Like… I would say somebody like Flo Rida - but then I see why people like Flo Rida too, you know what I’m sayin’?
My response: WOW. No. …but, yeah.
I can see why people like that. That’s good fun, techno, Miami, spring break… ‘I’m white from fuckin’ Illinois, on vacation, Imma go ham on some Flo Rida right now… I don’t care what he said, the beat sound good! …I’m drunk, we dancin’. . .’ It’s got its purpose, you see what I’m sayin’?
(intense laughter breaks out from both parties)
I’m still tryin’ to think of somebody that really sucks. …Won-G sucks.
Me: …who?
You don’t remember him? Did the video with Paris Hilton in it? I’m not alright with that… that shit is wack. You know? YOU KNOW? That’s my answer.
(…continued laughter)
Uh… on that note. What should the world know about Danny the Hybrid? Anything at all, from the random to the completely inappropriate, to the boring. . .
I’m just… you know, happy that people enjoy my music. I’m just tryin’ to… you know, make people smile… that’s all. I’m just about (being) positive and being good and happy.
Me: REALLY? …okay.
Yeah, I mean it feels good to make you laugh. I don’t wanna make you feel bad, you know? Even if I’m talking about bad situations, I’m still putting some humor and comedy in it, you know? You gotta laugh at the bad shit man… that’s how we get through it. That’s it pretty much.
So that concludes my interview with Danny ‘I love kittens’ Brown (you said you wasn’t trippin’ off nick names… you can’t take that back now). Hopefully you learned a little something, and will check this dude out if you haven’t already. Look for The Hybrid, which will hopefully be out sometime soon, and in the mean time, check out some of his other shit, like Hot Soup and/or Browntown. Not to mention the track he is on with J Dilla on Jay Stay Paid entitled Dilla Bot Vs. The Hybrid. Peace!
I was gonna be an asshole and put up a picture with 9th in it too... but. Fuck it, I start enough shit. Just know that I feel like LB isn't really the same without 9th. Though, with or without 9th, LB is one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time. That being said... LB's latest (and hopefully greatest), entitled LeftBack, will be available for consumption April 20th. The album features production from Khrysis, Denaun Porter, Zo!, Symbolyc One, J. Bizness, and King Karnov. Guest appearances by MCs Torae, Truck North, Jozeemo, Chaundon, & Median, as well as singers Darien Brockington & Yahzarah. I know I'm excited. . . no, really. I love LB, and I can't fucking wait. Salute.
Cot damny. . . I'm not gonna lie, I have been listening to several hours straight of Royce Da 5'9". . . and it's got me a little mixed up in the head. That being said... (and no, I didn't mean for that to rhyme), this video and song are bawse... it's sick, in like, both a positive and negative way. . . but, it's even more awesome because of that duality. Sidebar: Royce lightweight looks like Ray Charles with those stunnas' on. . . okay, enjoy!
Bun B just became my hero. . . If you listen to the first 5 seconds of Dick Cheney Freestyle, you might be ready to throw yourself in front of a train on some 'not another Exhibit C remake' type shit. . . but then. Bun B. You're just my hero. UGK FO' LIFE! On the homies. Okay. . . enjoy!
Over the past week or so, I was given the privlage of interviewing a gentlemen and scholar by the name of 14KT. I could write a witty little intro, but... fuck it, let's just get into it.
For people who maybe don't know (how unfortunate for them..... but I guess they are about to come up in the world). . . who are you? Tell me about what you do, from the basic, to the intricate, to the broad ranging... also, how did you get your name?
What up world? I go by the name of Kendall Tucker (KT). I am a bighead light skinned alien from a place called The IS. The IS is where I work. I am a recording engineer, emcee, child of God, DJ and producer there. I also Co-own a Day Spa called My Day Spa as well. Many know me as 14KT, I got my name in high school from playing basketball (number 14...Kendall Tucker), started rapping with my brothers Athletic Mic League and the name stuck with me cause it made sense in more ways than one.
So... I hear you make beats. .. . what's with that? How did you get started? Drop some beat making history on us. . .
Yep, I’m known to tinker with the beats a little bit. Well, I started writing rhymes in 93'. I wanted beats/breaks to rhyme over so I started making the pause/play/record cassettes tapes, looping breaks just so I could rap over them. When I linked up with the AML crew, I started getting more heavy into the beats. Then around 95'-96' me and the Lab Techs Production crew got up on a computer program called Cool Edit Pro and been using that ever since. For the last 6-7 years, I’ve been getting more into playing instruments and messing with synths, but that's basically what's up!
14KT - Gee Whiz
Fair enough... so, being a fan of your beats myself, I kinda wanna know, what inspires you? And, even more than that, who inspires you? Both in terms of their career and their actual music... is there a difference between the producer whose career you are modeling yours after versus the producer who has the most tracks on heavy rotation in your iPod? If so, why?
That was like 3 questions in one...haha. First of all, I appreciate you being a fan of the music! What that inspires me? God, creativity, records, emotions, challenges, downfalls, relationships, women, family, peace, joy, love, hate…all of which are apart of my journey and purpose in life. There are way too many artists to name that inspire me, but to name of few Stevie Wonder, Dilla, Organized Noize, Quincy Jones, Dexter Wansel, and my crew Athletic Mic League. In terms of careers, I think of Quincy Jones the most... Now, I would be lying if I said that I liked and owned every project that Quincy Jones was involved in, which I don't, but when I look at his accomplishments in his life as a producer/composer/arranger/artist/etc...it is VERY inspirational. As far as the producer who's career I’m modeling mine after versus the producer who has the most tracks on heavy rotation. If you saw my iPod, you would probably think that I’m modeling my career after Dilla. Obviously, if you've heard the material that I’ve put out and the fact I’m from Michigan, it would be easy for you to think that. Really, I’m just a HUGE fan of his work and naturally I study things that challenge myself in life. However, as much as Dilla inspired me, I'm definitely not looking at his career as my model. I’m looking at ME as my model. I want to have the most tracks on my iPod honestly. There is no one person or artist that I shape my career after. So, everything that inspires me, I use that inspiration as tools to shape my career. Kanye said it best, everything I’m not made me everything I am…haha.
If you could make a record with anyone... who would it be? Why?
Simple…either with Stevie Wonder or Outkast. Stevie Wonder because he's my fav all time artist and it would be blessing to work and learn from him. Outkast because they're my fav hiphop group and they are always trying to stretch the game out with their creativity and that's where I wanted to be!
Define yourself musically. Are you hip hop? Soul? R&B? Some sort of hybrid? What do you relate to and/or aspire to most in terms of your sound and how people perceive it?
For the most part, I'm Hip Hop because that's really how I fell in love with music & found my place to express my art. However, as I got older, I would say I embody an Hip Hop Gospel Electro-Soul style...haha.
Okay Mister Hip Hop Gospel Electro-Soul..... why hip hop? Why do you love it? What does it mean to you?
Well, I feel Hip Hop music gave me my voice in music. It gave me confidence. It taught me that it was okay to be unique, be me, stand up and represent where I’m from because that's what made Hip Hop music dope to me! So I was attracted to that when I was young. That's why I love it. Honestly, the shine of Hip Hop music got kinda dull to me, but when I hear records where cats tell you exactly who they are...like if you love eating frosted flakes and you make a song about it not caring about if anyone else likes it, if it’s a hit and the song is dope...that makes me love Hip Hop you know?
Speaking of hip hop losing it's luster, how do you feel about radio/mainstream hip hop? Are you as jaded as some of us... and by some of us, I mean me. Or........... do you have some sort of hope or something? Would you like to someday be considered 'mainstream', or do you want to keep it more underground?
Honestly, I don't care too much about radio/mainstream. It's hard to keep up with all that cause it's tons of new artists who make songs that sound the same and I can't tell the difference between none of them...haha. I always have hope because hope is all I got. Plus, I know tons of artists that make great music that I wish was "mainstream". I love the "underground", but a lot of underground music sucks. However, there is a lot of "underground" music that I wish was mainstream like Black Milk's “Tronic”, Foreign Exchange "Leave It All Behind", Mayer Hawthorne "Strange Arrangement", Buff1 "There's Only One", PPP "Abundance", Dam Funk…I don't want these artist to be underground! This is stuff that needs to be heard on a bigger scale! It was inspiring to see Foreign Exchange nominated for a Grammy! That's hope right there!
Speaking of music you support... what's on heavy rotation in your iPod/CD player/boom box/8 track player/record player/etc right now..?
Well since I'm working on a lot of music, I've been listening to beats and tracks I've done with my brothers Mayer Hawthorne, Othello and my brother Ro Spit for our albums we're working on together. Three different albums. Besides that, M83 "Before The Dawn Heals Us" LP, Ab "Student of my Dreams", my man Black Milks new joint "Keep Going", Elzhi "The Leftovers"…that 5 man Hustle joint is my ish… Swiff D "Basic Cable", some New Wave ish and a lot of afrobeat, Nigerian rock music...haha..
Your state... is pretty much embarrassing other states in terms of music. Invincible, Apollo Brown, MarvWon, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Slum Village, YOU. . . and about 96 million other ridiculously talented people. Without gloating... what are your feelings about that? Anyone from the Mitten us non-Mitteners need to know about that we might not know about already?
I love my state! I love that…when it comes to music, everybody here goes 200%. That's why I still stay here and surround myself with all these talented cats. Hmmm…cats you should know about? Nametag (Black's Cousin), Young RJ, Ro Spit, One Be Lo, Magestik Legend, Cold Men Young, Street Justice, Miz Korona, Nick Speed, Illite, Kodac, Fes Roc, DJ Dez, Cream of Beats, Will Sessions, Ren Cen, Fat Killaz, Yoshi, Fowl, Denmark Vessey, Celsuis Electronics, Othello, Finale, Now On, I can go on and on.
Invincible - Sledgehammer! (prod. by 14KT and Haircut of the Lab Techs)
Yeah, yeah, yeah... we get it, your state is awesome. Now tell me more about the Athletic Mic League, and any other projects you have going currently, or that are in the works.
Athletic Mic League a.k.a Mic League Kingz…that's my brothers. My Team. 7 man Hip Hop group from Michigan consisting of Buff1 and Mayer Hawthorne aka DJ Haircut. We're actually in the process of putting together our 3rd official group album after a 6 year hiatus. I'm planning on putting out at least 3 new projects this year including an album with Othello of Lightheaded and an album with Ro Spit. I’m also working on my 3rd Solo that will hopefully come out in the fall. I'm also working on full lengths projects with my man Ab, Dibia$e, and a New/Dark Wave album with Mayer Hawthorne...dropping albums like mixtapes.
Okay so, it sounds like you have some amazing things in the works... but let's take it back. What's your favorite project of your own that you've done so far? It can be a track, an album, etc... and why is it your favorite?
Aaaahh...I don't really have a favorite cause every project I’ve done has been different. I would probably say my projects are a tie between Athletic Mic League - Sweats & Kicks LP and the Jungle Gym Jungle LP because they were the first time I had really put together a real official album and they're like my "Southernplayalisticcadillacmusik" and "ATLiens" respectively.
Athletic Mic League - RU???
There are a lot of beat makers who will be reading this who I'm sure would love any advice you could give them... So... give it up, give it up, give it to me... errr, them? Anyway, advice for beat makers?
Word…before I say anything...I'm definitely following my own advice, haha...but beat makers need to embrace the creativity they have within. Everybody was created uniquely, just master your uniqueness! Don't feel like there's rules to the "game" of beat making, so chop a record how YOU hear it, not how Premier or Dilla or Madlib would. Also, work on crafting your ear. Study and practice some type of music theory, pick up an instrument, learn scales and chords. Anything that will improve yourself as a beat maker and producer!
What do you want the world to know about you and your music? Or about life in general... drop some knowledge on us KT...
As far as my life and my music, I just want the world to know that I'm part of "The New Model" that me and my A-Side Worldwide crew exemplifies. God put me on this earth to inspire. God has a purpose for everyone and if you're living on earth and you don't know what you're purpose is, you need to be working on it! It's important! While I'm here on earth I going to do the most I can. I already accepted the fact that I'm never gonna be a superstar or crazy famous, but I gotta work hard anyways and hopefully I will inspire someone or something that will be greater than me and change the world. Sorry to get all deep...haha. But that's how it is right now...oh yeah…Celebrate life!
So that concludes my interview with beat maker, producer, and all around super human 14KT. I hope you enjoyed this interview and have learned something... or not, whatever. I would like to thank 14KT again for allowing me to interview him, as he and you already know by now, I am a huge fan of his and it was an honor. If you wish, hit this light skinneded big headed alien on Twitter at: @14KT - and make sure to keep an eye out for the limited edition gold vinyl of The Golden Hour, coming at you very soon.
One of the artists who I love almost as much as J Dilla... I grew up on Pac. Pac was probably my first exposure to hip hop, and listening to him has defined a lot of who I am... Pac was/is my big brothers favorite, and my brother was the one who put me up on hip hop. . . definitely one of the greatest to ever do it. Thug life. Period.
"My attitude is 'fuck it', cause mothafuckas love it. . ." -2pac
UGK FO' LIFE! ...okay, that being said, this shit is out of control. . . Bun B just released two tracks yesterday. . . 3 more today? Cot damny! And all them shits GO HARD, especially 2 Damn Trill... Geezus. . . this mothafucka must got a point to prove or something... Enjoy!
Okay so... maybe I'm not the biggest Slaughterhouse fan. . . and maybe I haven't talked about Royce that much in comparison to how much I talk about other artists from the D. . . but honestly, this track is. . . well... ummm... how do I say this? Lemme think... ummmm. . . It's REALLY FUCKING GOOD. Like, really... This shit is going in the car... on repeat... riiiiiiiigggghhhhhttttt... NOW. Enjoy! Royce Da 5'9" - Pick Ma Balls
I would literally sell my soul if Lauryn Hill would come back to music in full effect. . . she was so amazing, and a perfect example of how women are just as good, if not better, than men in hip hop. . . I'm just sayin'.
A few weeks ago I was privileged enough to interview Detroit rapper Frank Nitt. What you are about to read is the product of that interview. It is not suitable for all audiences. Proceed with caution.
“This is rapper shit right here…” –Frank Nitt
First things first… Who are you as an artist? Who are you as a person? What do you want people to know?
As an artist Frank Nitt is one half of the Detroit crew Frank ‘n’ Dank. Hailing from Detroit, but everybody should know that (from the previous comment). Detroit is pretty popular these days, is what I’m finding out. You know, that’s really about it. I’ve been doing Hip Hop for- first record out in 98 I think it was, so for 12 or 13 years I’ve been an actual artist putting music out to the public, not just making it in my house. You know, that’s really about it. The history is there.
“I make records. I’m not a battle MC. . . I can make a record. If you want to make a record, call me up.” –Frank Nitt
L.O.V.E. the latest and greatest, but it’s a little bit different than what we are used to from you. What was behind that?
A lot of people just don’t know that musically I am all over the place. You know what I mean? Like, if I started playing things that were unreleased, you would hear a whole range of music, from up tempo, being 140 BPMs, to the normal things that people are used to from me. My range is all over the place. I listen to pop music, and rock, and rap, and country music - I listen to anything that sounds good to me. So, I draw from a little bit of everything as well.
Me doing L.O.V.E. when I did it was – it wasn’t a second thought from me. It was just me and Terrace Martin in the studio and J. Black had laced these crazy chords/vocals, and I just jumped in there and did what I do. So, it wasn’t really like a thought of ‘oh, I’m trying to be different’, it was just really – it was a natural thing. I guess musically it’s different for people, but you know, that’s the vibe we had going that that moment.
L.O.V.E. is the latest song/video put out by Frank Nitt, which can be viewed here:
“We’ve made good music…” –Frank Nitt Prior to L.O.V.E. you came out with Concert Hall, and that was a little different too. It was a pretty dramatic sound. Talk to me about it.
It was a different sound for me, but that was the purpose. As a solo artist, people are used to me in the Frank ‘n’ Dank kind of – in that realm. You know what I’m saying? So when I decided to do the solo tape, I wanted to do something different, and I wanted to touch on certain subjects. You know, people call us party MCs, and that’s good, it feels good to be able to rock a party. For us, a lot of our shows are filled with girls because of the records we put out. We put out records that girls can, you know, dance to, and even though we’re real raunchy on those records, I love the ladies for stepping up and being a little on edge. It ain’t all lovey dovey, you know? I might smack it up and flip it one time, you know what I’m saying? (intense laughter ensued from both parties)
So, even though I couldn’t totally turn away from that (part MC title), because that would be foolish on my part, I didn’t want to just repeat Frank ‘n’ Dank again with just Frank. That makes no sense.
So, I looked to change the sound up, and then, even some of the subject matter. We got like, sort of political songs with the ‘N-Word’ record, know what I mean? Relationships and different things on the ‘Stop Calling’. It’s five different subject matters for me. So that was the purpose of that, and then the whole larger scheme, the album will be Stadium Music. To everyone that doesn’t know, a concert hall is basically a small stadium, and that’s why it (Concert Hall) was just an EP, and then Stadium Music will be the full length. All I’m saying is I was trying to go with a new sound with Concert Hall and even with L.O.V.E. It was an opportunity to mess with something that was a different, cleaner, more radio friendly sound, and to have Terrace (Martin) come through with that, and obviously being able to get DJ Quick on the record and have him mix and match things, took it over the edge with me.
“You gotta have a certain hop to like my beats. If you like my beats, you gotta certain bounce to you.” –Frank Nitt
So I recently listened to your beat tape, and I liked what I heard. The beats. . . they’re dark, not real up tempo. Can you tell me about where you were coming from, and your plans for that beat tape?
Nah, I’m not a big up tempo guy. I mean, I’ll rhyme up tempo, don’t get me wrong, and I’ve made some up tempo beats, like this new project I’m doing, the Orio Circus, there’s some up tempo beats on there, you know, over 100 BPMs, so there’s some up tempo stuff on there. That’s just me, man. For me, I concentrate on the drums, the drums are what drive me. If you listen to most of my beats, the drums are slappin’. . . some people might say too loud. So, low key, for those beats, if someone just happens to want to rap on them, they can.
I’m all about building things. Anything given to me, I want to build a strong foundation, and that way it’ll last for a while, you know? I’m not really known for production or any of that type of thing, so right now the beats are just for people to- if they vibe to them and want to use them, you know, just get the name out there with that.
I never had to be a producer- I had Dilla right there my whole career. And if I didn’t have him, he had aligned me with so many great producers that I’ve never really felt the need to be a producer. Until I ended up in China somewhere, and, wasn’t doing a show, and didn’t have anything else to do. All the beats I had belonged to dudes that I couldn’t just get music out of. I couldn’t just say let me find a studio here in China and go do some music because there wasn’t- there was paperwork I had to go through, politics I would have to go through to make it happen. And that’s cool, they have this paperwork policy, and that’s cool, but, not when I want to create. . . because I just want to create. So, you know, from that point on, it was like- it was bugged out because it was like shortly after Dilla had passed, and while I was out there (in China) Proof passed away. It just kind of made me feel like, man, I need to step it up. You know what I’m saying? I need to become more self sufficient, more able to create music on my own. Hence, me on the beats.
“I’m either going to be a really good husband or Hugh Hefner.” –Frank Nitt
What does the future hold for you? What do you want 2010 to look like?
As we speak right now, (the) US Delicious Donuts tour (is) being planned with me and Illa J headlining (they are currently in Europe doing the Delicious Donuts tour). My solo record, of course, I’m working on that. Right now, as we speak, I’m on my way to the studio for the Orio Circus project with me and another MC/producer from out this way by the name off Grim Ace. He’s relatively new on the scene I would imagine, but he’s doing his thing. He’s also a photographer, and an all around artist of all trades. So, we somehow linked up, through mutual friends, and sat down (and talked). It was an opportunity where I was either leaving LA or staying in LA, and he was like, you can stay here, and while you’re here, let’s make something.
Being that I’m kind of a free spirit in that sense, a nomad for that matter, me just kind of being out in the world, it’s good for me, it’s kind of what I do. So, that was right up my alley, to have a spot away from MI, away from Detroit, where I could be, and create music, and try and work on something, because I like to create music for stuff. I mean, it’s cool to just do it, but I don’t really have that luxury anymore because I don’t do anything else. So I’ve got to be working towards something all the time. So, we sat down and we came up with the Orio Circus.
Also, a new Frank ‘n’ Dank record is coming, that I’m going to probably have some of the production credits on. I’ve got things in the works. I’ve got Madlib projects in the works, I did some work with Oh No, I did some work with Babu, you know, Rhettmatic’s still got an EP sitting over there. I got stuff everywhere. I’m trying to keep it moving but, we’ll see.
“I keep it hood though. . . it’s just that my hood is becoming more adult.” –Frank Nitt
Let’s take it back. . . how did all this shit get started?
Well, with the good old guys in the great Slum Village. I started off as a dancer, when I was a young, young, young guy. I was a breaker, and this was before I met Dilla, or Slum, or even Dank for that matter. I used to live in a neighbor in Detroit that was kind of- it was me and another black kid (it was a mostly Latin neighborhood). One of the homeboys, this Puerto Rican cat, from New York, his family just happened to move to Detroit, and he was a breaker. He was a little older than me, I was a young kid, but I could break. I was pretty good, so I was like the secret weapon. It ended up being a crew. . . a Spanish break dancing crew. . . and we would go and battle. Like on the weekends we would go to bank parking lots, like at night, and spot lights would shine like in the middle of the parking lot, and we would literally come out there with a big radio and a big roll of linoleum, lay it out, and be having battles in the parking lot. I got in so much trouble for coming home late, but I won the battles, so I didn’t care.
That’s kind of where it started for me as far as Hip Hop goes. That’s where I fell in love. I was really young so, my only real experience up to that point was my brothers bands. My brothers were both drummers, and they had bands in the basement when I was a kid or whatever, whatnot. So, it was that, and, you know, Prince, and Parliament, and Michael Jackson. Then I found Hip Hop, and it developed. Then from there, I moved out of that neighborhood, and the next neighborhood I moved into was where I met Dank, where I met Dilla, and that whole crew, and Dilla taught me how to DJ at his mommas crib on this old big ass ancient stereo. He taught me how to transform. From there I started DJing, and then me and Dilla for years, like through middle school and high school, we DJd parties, school dances, house parties for all the homies, like we were the DJs.
Then you know, from there, Dilla picked up the beats and started rhyming. It just evolved until one day I was in high school, and you know, slum, me, QD, slum village, well, yeah basically, not Elzhi, but Baatin, T3, and Dilla, we all went to high school together at some point. So, you know, we used to beat on the tables and rap, you know, the old school shit. That’s how we came up. T3 then said that I should try and rap. So, I went home, wrote my little rap, came back at lunch, did it, and they were like ‘aaaaaahhhhh man, you can rap!’. So, that was it, I started rapping.
Being that me and Dilla were tight, I honed my skills kind of just being around him while he was honing his skills. He was just more advanced then all of us. He was the best MC, he was the best beat maker, he was just the best at every God damn thing. You know what I’m saying? So, he was so far advanced from everybody that he was designated kind of the leader. Like, Slum was the bigger group, like the leader (group) of the group of our crew, but Dilla was kind of the unofficial leader (of everyone). He jumped off first. He got on first, and that Pharcyde record and that Tribe hook up and all of that, first. So, you know. . . I was Dilla’s right hand man. Ask anybody in the crew. I had to go everywhere.
At some point, before I had a record deal, before I had any records out, I wasn’t working. I quit working a job and it was all music all the time, but it was only because I was with Dilla everyday. Know what I’m saying? Like, every morning he’d call like ‘Frank, wake yo’ ass up, I’m coming to pick you up right now.’, and I got to get in whatever car is out there in the yard. You know? It was a couple years before Frank ‘n’ Dank was a group, but Dank still had a regular day job, and in the hood grimy, and doing all types of hood shit. Where me and Dilla were out, we was gone, traveling with Slum.
If he’d go to Cali, he’d be flying me to Cali. If he was in New York, he’s going to have me. It got so bad that Common was calling me- not Dilla. Common was like ‘Hey, Frank, I just booked your ticket so you could be here, so you have to get on a plane tomorrow and, we’ll see you in New York tomorrow.’ I’ve had like a weird ride in Hip Hop, you know what I’m saying? I was able to mix and mingle and deal with people like that were stars- stars then, and stars now. And you know, it was before I had a record, before I got to see so much, and maybe that’s why I am the way I am. But, I got to be around these great people, I got to, you know, rub elbows, with the greats. Some of my favorite MCs. Just all types of craziness. It was a great thing. So, the start really came way back when, as an MC with Slum, in high school, at the lunch table.
From there, once we did ‘Pause’, things were kind of given a different perspective. Up until that point, there wasn’t really anything- like, it was funny, it was like we were just making records for ourselves. Even the singles (that came out before ‘Pause’), like we kind of put those out, but we didn’t like- if I had a single right now, all the things I do to have a single right now, I didn’t even think about back then. Like, no press, no trying to get interviews, no anything to even make people aware that this music was out. It was just ‘we gon’ put it out’. It was just out. It was like, we took it at that, we were just into being. We were kind of in a bubble because of Dilla.
We got to see so much, and like, Frank ‘n’ Dank was like, not only signed artists and the artists he (Dilla) was dealing with, we were friends. I was there when Dilla got his first beat machine, you know? Like, his father used to put me out, like scream at me ‘Frank, get yo’ ass out my house! What is all that noise coming from up here? Get out! Go Home!’. Today, that’s still my family. . . Like we still laugh about it now, you know what I’m saying? So it’s like, for us, we were kind of in a bubble. We got to see things from a very, very special view. It’s a little crazy.
“Everybody should support good music. . . I’m going to be putting a whole bunch of it out real soon, so support that…” –Frank Nitt
So. . . you already know this is coming. Tell me something about Dilla.
It’s a lot of different ways to approach that question, or approach that statement. People don’t really understand like, everybody knows the music guy, and I know that guy too, but I know the personal guy. I know how he really perceived things, and how he really got down.
I’ll just say that, there ain’t nobody that worked harder than him. Like, I’ve literally seen him work till his fingers were bleeding. He would go lay down, and then put band aids on all his fingertips and then go back to work. You know what I’m saying? Like, all the music he did- it sounded like he did something really simple. It sounded simple to you (hearing it) because he had a way of making it digestible, very easily digestible. But the work that he did to get to that point- unparalleled. I don’t know anybody- I haven’t seen anybody work like he worked.
This is from high school, like he would skip school to stay in the basement and work. It wasn’t like he was skipping school and having fun. He was in the basement making beats. He was at a different school because, Dilla, he was kind of like a smart kid, know what I’m saying? He was really, really smart, and he went off to a aerospace high school where they teach you how to build and maintenance planes and all types of craziness. . . as well as your regular curriculum. By tenth grade, he was like ‘I ain’t going to school’. Like, his parents had to leave before him (in the mornings), so he ain’t going to school, he’s going to stay there and bang on the machine in the basement, and then when his parents come home, he’s going to put on some clothes, and make it look like he went to school. . . and then came home from school. . . and is back in the basement working. Nah, that nigga ain’t never left. As a matter of fact, I came there at lunch time and heard the new creations. Ain’t nobody work harder than him. I haven’t seen anybody work harder than him. I’ve seen some people work, but, not like him.
“I’m a new age MC. I’m like a well rounded guy. It ain’t just hood, it ain’t just suburban, I got a bit of every God damn thing. MC’s gotta become more worldly.” –Frank Nitt
Who are some people you have worked with that really stood out to you?
I’ve been lucky. Somebody like Madlib- it’s crazy, just the sheer amount of work that he does, and the way he works is crazy. And then, for the quality level to be up where it’s at, because he’ll literally like- I’ll say ‘Madlib lets meet, I need some beats’, cause we’re working on an album, like, a Madlib - Frank Nitt album right now. But that’s hard work cause getting’ him in the studio. I’ll say ‘Madlib, let me get some beats’ and you know, I’m used to Dilla beat tapes, 20 beats, 25 if you’re lucky. But he poured over those 25. Madlib will give you three CD’s with 200 beats on them. AND they’re going to have skits and everything too. Mad is crazy. He’s an evil genius.
One of my favorite MC’s ever on the planet is Busta Rhymes. I’ve always been a huge fan of Busta as an MC. It ain’t about what he’s saying, per se, even though he says some crazy shit too. I think it’s more his style, like, he’ll bend styles in one verse. He’ll have 3, 4 different flows in a verse. If you go back and listen to my verses in that context, I do the same thing. You know what I mean? Busta Rhymes can rhyme on anything, he don’t have to pass on nothing. Only thing he has to pass on is the shit he don’t like.
“I sound like I’m kinda smart a little bit” –Frank Nitt
What have you learned about you?
I just learned that life is just bigger than everything that’s in front of your face. There’s always more. You don’t start living till you realize there is always something more going on. It doesn’t matter how involved in your shit that you are, there is always something bigger, something greater than you. Keep your eyes open and keep pushing forward.
So that concludes my very interesting/informative interview with Detroit rapper Frank Nitt. I can honestly say he is one of the nerdiest, most down to earth, all around cool people I have met in the music industry, and if you haven’t yet, you should really give his music a listen, cause he has made some pretty classic shit. On that note, I’ll just leave you with these:
“I’m a little older, like, I’ve been making records for a while, and, its not that I don’t want the kids to by my records, I want that, they should, you know what I’m saying? I think they’re good records. But, I think they would lose respect for me if I’m trying to be like them and I’m the old man in the room. I ain’t 17. I ain’t 18, I ain’t even 19. Even though I may look like I’m 22. As an MC, we’ve got to grow up. If you want to keep rapping, you’ve got to own your grown man. You can’t be a grown man trying to be a kid, you’ve got to be a grown man.” –Frank Nitt
“Big shout out to Delicious Vinyl and everybody over there. . .” –Frank Nitt
“I’m on the rappers diet. . . (McDonalds)” –Frank Nitt
With a newly dropped mixtape, an upcoming European tour with Illa J, and many, many, MANY things in the works, Frank Nitt has got a lot of shit goin' on. . . including, but not limited to, doing an interview with me, for http://www.yourtasteinmusicsucks.com/ . . . The interview will be up soon, but in the mean time, check out the new miptape here: http://buddybuddybuddy.com/
This mood doesn't need much in terms of description. . . We have all been there. This playlist is for when you're so mad, violence isn't an option. . . it's a fuckin' guarantee. "Fuck fight music, bitch this is losin' your life music. . ." Cause if someone else don't start some shit. . . you might. . . Warning: listen with caution, because if you're flirting with the edge of sanity, this shit might just push you over. . . happy listening!
1. Tupac - Troublesome 96' (2pac Greatest Hits) "Say my name three times like Candyman. . . bet I roll on your ass like an avalanche. . . A sole survivor, learn to get high and pull drive bys. . . murder my foes, can't control my nine. . . Hearing thoughts of my enemies pleading please, buster ass motherfuckers tried to flea. . . picture me letting this chump survive. . . Ran up on his ass, when I dump, he died. . . cause I'm troublesome!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdX79pwyBII
2. T.I. - Top Back (King) "Pistol way in the truck, got my knife on tuck. . . ya' think he ain't getting stuck? You got life fucked up. . . a couple stitches in ya' hip will have ya night fucked up. . . Will he live? Will he die? Guess he might luck up. . ." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-iM6EVKcJA
3. Shyne - Bad Boyz (Shyne) "Fuck yo' point is? My point is double fours at your fuckin' jaws pointed. . . hollow point shit. . . four point six. . . Need I say more, or do you get the point bitch?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BeTqapowAU
4. M.O.P. - Ante Up (The Underground Legends) "Ante Up! Nigga, it's game time. . . hand over the ring, kick over the chain. . . Gimme the fuckin' watch before I pop one in your brain. . ." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3U3R3b1dOg
5. D12 - Fight Music (Devils Night) "I slap your freak, bump you and won't speak. . . If you step on my feet, you get drowned in your own drink. . . I suffocated my shrink just for talkin'. . . came back and fucked up his pallbearers and made 'em drop his coffin. . . It's fight music!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeUc68hU83w
6. Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit (Enter The Wu-Tang) "I'm causin' more family feuds than Richard Dawson. . . and the survey says: YOU'RE DEAD!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2VxdVvsPQg
7. DMX - Bring Your Whole Crew (Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood) "When you pass me nigga, look me in my eye. . . Tell me to my fuckin' face that you ready to die. . . You'll be a dead mothafucka', red mothafucka'. . . Don't be stupid, you heard what I said MOTHAFUCKA'!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTZe3ZEQ5K4
9. Trick Daddy - Let's Go (Thug Matrimony: Married To The Streets) "Let's GO! If you want it, you can get it, let me know. . . I'm bout to fuck a nigga up..!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEb8TlSPDcY
You probably won't like this blog, so I'm not even going to bother describing it. . . In fact, fuck you for even reading this - don't you have some work you should be doing or something. . ?
