On the heels of releasing his first album in nine years, New York producer/rapper J-Zone discussed the machines that made him a late 90s underground mainstay.
Sitting down GoVillianGo, Captain Backslap revealed some of the techniques he employs in the studio including how he limits his technology use to challenge himself.
“I always kind of felt that too much technology was a bad thing when it came to making music,” J-Zone said when discussing his equipment. “To me, it can kind of have an adverse affect on your creativity because you see all the new software coming out–advanced Marty McFly shit, super duper high tech but the end result, at least from the Hip Hop side is kick, snare, hi-hat and it’s always been. So you have all this capability to do stuff but nobody really uses it.”
J even goes backward in time to give himself even more of a challenge and produces a product he believes is better quality.
“Whenever I’m working on some music, every once in a while I like to challenge myself by going backwards in that process and limiting my studio equipment as much as possible,” he explained. “By being limited in my tools I like to see what that brings out of me as a producer. What you don’t have in equipment, you have to compensate for in brain power and creativity.”
J-Zone also shows fans what he considers his “two girlfriends,” two pieces of studio equipment he holds dear to him.
“That’s what I like to call them, my two girlfriends. Every once in a while when my MPC is not working I’ve got to call up my two girlfriends so we can have a little threesome here in the studio.” “My two girlfriends are called ‘Betsy’ [his four-track]… And the new edition to the family… Diana [another four-track]… Instead of going out and buying another MPC, instead of updating the software and dealing with all that shit, I decided to go backwards and decided to get a hold of some of the old four-tracks from the 80s to track some of the music out for my new album.”
J-Zone has released five studio albums starting with 1999’s Music for Tu Madre. His most recent project release was all the way back in 2007 when he dropped To Love a Hooker. He will release his newest album, Peter Pan Syndrome in September. Watch the full interview with J-Zone below:
RELATED: J-Zone Returns To Rapping, Plans “The Peter Pan Syndrome” Album
No sound like the Analog Sound
I told all of you Jay-Z stans that he is broke. Jay gave all of his money to stay in this fake marriage. Jay is in a homosexual relationship with former KC Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Now that Jay-Z gave all of his money to Beyonce and MCHG flopped, Jay can no longer afford studio time. This is a classic riches to rags story.
imma a big homo obessed. first i was on wayne’s dick. then i did the same with drake but under the screename drake runs rap. now im doing it with Jay Z. Im obsessed with his money and looks. I NEED HELP
i want cocks for days
big ones lil ones the more the better
Wayne n me kissing in the tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G
whooo whoo WHAT WHAT IN TEH BUTT
FRUITY POWERS UNITE
blah blah. VANDALISING IS COOL
HEY FAKE LEAVE ME ALONG SIKE
STOP HATING OH STOP HATING IM SO BUTTHURT
I HATE ON YA FAV RAPPERS BUT IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME THEN U A HATER
im so confused
This has nothing to do with Jay-Z at all and everything you say is a lie.
WHO?!
Sounds dope. You really gotta work a lot more on the digital machines to get that gritty sound. More power to you but I’m not dealing with floppy/zip disks anymore.
8=================================================D my mouth
8===========================DD=========================8
8======================D ~~~ ~~~ D===========================8
ima fuckin pervert
this is wayne: 8=D my mouth
oh yeah
lalalalala
boomshakalaka
gggggggggggggggggggggggg GAY UNIT
WHAT WHAT IN THE BOOTAY
IS THAT CHRIS BROWN’S BROTHER???
WHY YALL POST SHIT ABOUT IRRELEVANT PEOPLE???
J Zone is the ish, def a slept on producer and he does his thing on the mic too, very funny in fact with some of his rhymes. Also wrote some great journalistic pieces about Mobstyle, Tim Dog etc. i will put my hand in my pocket when this drops….shouts for the Divine Styler Lp in the background, classic LP…oh and the Pete Rock/Cl Smooth 12″ with The Creator on it, Master Ace, Slick Rick….all the ish i grew up listening to…LEGENDS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRYe-jk_SA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZwsdW6TAl8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZUGpOjswDk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH-cIzI4iQA
Who da fuk iz this fag?
I had never heard of dude but just watching the video made me see his dedication for his art/craft and that is the type cat you want to make music with!!
my neighbor’s step-mother makes $69 hourly on the laptop. She has been out of work for 6 months but last month her pay was $19099 just working on the laptop for a few hours. this article… http://www.Cafe44.com
Caressing Pac’s back? Wtf? Are you didn’t confuse that with the picture of Birdman and Lil Wayne giving each other mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1tG-m4NSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhkB95J5c9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-KjVLS6Uk