„The harder you work, the greater your return.“ Does it describe your working process on Steel Yourself?
Absolutely. I am really proud of this album. Sonically, it’s far more cohesive and more professional than the last. I graduated from a Boss digital 8-track to Digital Performer. I had a label to support me, better mics, better back-and-forth between the producers and myself and a better knowledge of what I wanted the final product to sound like. It was about not settling, it was about planning. I did put in a lot of work and got a better album as a result. With willingness to learn and put in the time comes progression.
Can you explain the song Potential Paralysis?
Ahh, yes. Sensitive subject this song. I have a friend whom I love dearly- but he seems to get caught in these same patterns of stagnation. I basically just let loose on him in a way that I could only do in song.
How did you meet Maker?
Through Adeem. Come to think of it…I can’t remember how I met Adeem- but the first time I met Maker was when Glue played in Portland and they stayed at our house. Maker is the greatest. I just got to stay at his house while performing in Chicago recently. He has cute cats and a cute girlfriend.
Dilly Dilly is featured on 4 songs. Can you introduce her?
Hello world, if you don’t know about Dilly Dilly, you should! I first met her in Portland when she was performing with the band, Cerberus Shoal. We started collaborating back in 2003. She was on one song on my first album and through time and connection we were able to collaborate a lot more for this one. She’s simply amazing. I feel as though together we could conquer the world. There’s something about working with another female who loves music as much as you do. She is pure inspiration. She is a talented and versatile vocalist, writer and multi-instrumentalist. She’s currently in the process of working on a full-length solo album. (check her out at www.myspace.com/cerberussiren)
What does it mean to you being among URB´s 100 up and coming artists?
It put a fire under my ass to produce something worthy of the title in the same year that I earned that recognition so I could prove them right for selecting me.
Listening to the album, it seems that your marriage has been a very important moment in your life, right?
The commitment to another human being that comes about with marriage is like no other relationship you’ve experienced prior. It’s intense, it’s work, it’s rewarding, it is love in the form of two people.
What is it like when two rappers are getting married? What was your wedding-song?
There are a lot of rappers, producers and deejays in the wedding party and as guests. We contemplated having an all hip-hop wedding where the entire wedding party would have to be connected to hip-hop in some way. We thought Bleubird would make an amazing flowergirl. But then we didn’t want to leave out our non-musical friends…so we mixed it up a bit. We actually didn’t have a wedding song. jdwalker doesn’t dance folks.
What are your live shows like?
I just did a two and a half week tour with Dilly Dilly and Gabe FM supporting me on my new material from, Steel Yourself. Dilly Dilly on vocals and various instruments, Gabe FM on the turntables and vocals and myself on vocals and once in a while a shaker or tambourine. It’s good energy and on-stage chemistry between the three of us. There are props, skits, choreography. It’s been a lot of fun to perform with these two lately. Our tourmates, Ghettosocks and Fresh Kils claim that watching our performance for the first time was a cruel reminder that they needed to step up their own game.
In Old Orleans you rap about Katrina and problems in the city after the hurricane. Last week there was a huge fire in California and a lot of people say that people in Cali were treated in a much better way then the ones in New Orleans becuase of the money and the race issue. What´s your opinion on that?
I think people get attended to or neglected based upon the repurcussions that may follow. If people are empowered to fight back than they‘re more of a threat. Someone with a lot of money, power and persuasion is going to be saved before someone that doesn’t have the means to cause a stir that could potentially create a high visibility case for themselves or against those they’re fighting.
Aesop Rock: None Shall Pass, Ghettosocks: Get Some Friends, Beirut: Gulag Orkestar
Voices from the Storm, Down in New Orleans, Map of the World, Surviving Justice, What is the What
