Acclaimed as important members of Roc-A-Fella Records’ dynasty having extended their reach far beyond since, Young Guru and Just Blaze put on a South By Southwest panel that was not to be missed. Though most discussion centered around their historic working relationship, various memories from Baseline Studios and tidbits kept listeners enthralled, including how Just risked upsetting Eminem critiquing his verses during a collaboration and Jay-Z’s infamous “PSA” being constructed after The Black Album had already reached the CD pressing plant. Following this talk, Just Blaze kindly took a moment to speak briefly with HipHopDX.  

A heavy supporter of recent Electronic Dance Music sensation Baauer, Just Blaze set the record straight to dispel worries that he is potentially abandoning Hip Hop in order to be a part of newer trends. He said, “At the end of the day, 90% of the [popular] music these days is electronic and  90% of it gets danced to. I dont like [being stuck with] the EDM badge or genre, I just want to continue making good music people like to dance to that invokes something in them.” Always one to let the music speak for him, his undisclosed forthcoming work plans to carry on his tradition of personal innovation while meeting the expectations of fans. With regards to his legacy and the process of maintaining his hard earned place amongst production’s elite, Just Blaze told DX “The key to my longevity has been the ability to adapt and change with the times, but I always stay true to what I love to do, which has always been a mix and match of everything. The thing to understand is times change, people change, tastes change, dances, genres and sounds change, and if you don’t change you’re gonna get left in the cold.”

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