DJ Jazzy Jeff
Is there any chance for another Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince album again?
We’ve been talking about it. I’m supposed to be spending New Years with him. First of all Will’s the biggest movie star in the world then he’s got three kids so everything is different. Its not that he doesn’t want to do it or we don’t want to do it its just the timing and the scheduling. I’m touring like crazy, in the studio like crazy and he’s doing movies so if we could just find the time and block out a month and just go do it I would love to do it.
Be honest with this one. I’m sure Will previews a lot of his new music with you. Do you ever hear some of his stuff and be like that’s kinda wack dude maybe you shouldn’t do that because a lot of Will’s music is questionable lately.
I have enough respect that I’m not saying that’s wack I’m just knowing I wouldn’t do that. That’s the level of respect where I can’t say that it’s wrong because it may work for you. When he did ‘Men in Black’ I did not like ‘Men in Black.’ ‘Men in Black’ was a huge record. It grew on me, but I didn’t like it when he first did it. But we did records I loved that nobody else liked so maybe that was a bad call on my part. Will is very talented and when he focuses on what he wants to do he does it. I’ve watched him get into movie roles where he became that person. When he did Ali he made me uncomfortable. He would call me and talk like Ali the whole time. He gets into character. I laughed the first fifteen minutes and then after that it was like yo nigga you got to stop. So I know how much he puts into what he does when he wants to do it so I guess its kinda hard when he is working on movies to get into that mind set of music. I’m in the music mind set twenty-four seven so it’s a little easier for me than it is for him.
Who are some people out right now who you feel are pushing the creative limits?
Outkast is the shit. I like them because they march to their own beat. They have never done anything that you expected them to do. They are very good at being themselves and I love that and respect that.
Who are the current members of ATOJ and how does someone get down with the team?
Right now we got this kid named Damon and his father is Michael Henderson and this guy Peanut whose dad is one of the original Ohio Players so I got a lot of offspring from old soul down here now. You got the hiphop dudes Kev Brown, Ken Wood, and Dave Gaines. There’s no prerequisite its just kinda like if you have the love for music and this is something you are willing to do and willing to put in the time you come down and holla. A lot of times you get people who are really good and can find a place down here that just don’t have the patience.
Do you accept demos?
All of the people that I’ve ever had or worked with came from somebody. I don’t like taking demo tapes. That has never helped me. I always said talented people breed talented people. If you know someone who can rhyme I guarantee they know ten other people who can rhyme. If Jill comes to me and says this guy can sing his ass off its like ok where’s he at.
Last question before we go into the bullets what do you guys have in store for 2004.
More than anything ATOJ is gonna become fully internet based. I don’t want to be dependent on a record company to say I believe your shit is good let me put it out for people to buy it. What we’re gonna start doing is making our own records and putting them on the website. You’ll be able to preview some of the songs and if you like it then you can buy it. I think thats where the music industry is going just being more self sufficient. Im just tired of depending on an industry thats extremely unstable. I got an mc Chef Word and his album should be out early spring, I got a soulful arftist V that we do all kinds of stuff from soul house to r&b. he has a really big record out that myself and kenny dope put out under the name Soul Fusion called I got rhythm. We have a young lady Tanten thats like a young Mary and we’re finishing up her album. All of the ducks are lined up its justr a matter of going into the studio making sure they’re projects are done right and moving onto the next one.
