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  J-Zone Interview
interview 0180 added
18.02.04 words: Mr Hiz
technical:
QED
J Zone, aka Captain Backslap – the man who
made ‘Music for Tu Madre’
and threatened to open ‘A bottle of Whup Ass’ on
us before presenting ‘The Old Maid Billionaires’. Is he really ‘$ick of being
rich’?
 He calls himself a Rapper, not an Emcee because he’s “too rich to fit in that
category”. He’s worked with and produced beats for the likes of Jehst, Diversion
Tactics, High and Mighty, Tha Liks, DM & Jemini, Cage, Tame 1 and Biz Markie (to
name a few) and has attracted a huge fan base from all over the globe.
Ladies and Gents I present to you – Big J Zone…..
Firstly, introduce yourself...what you about...where you repping?
J-Zone aka Captain Back$lap, baby! I'm about good hygiene and my bank account!
I'm from a small planet called b*tch pleeze! Haha, naah, I live in Queens, NY
but I don't rep any one place. I just rep myself and Old Maid Entertainment.
Give us a brief description on how you would categories your style of hip
hop.
I would describe it as funny, funky and downright rude. It's ign'ant and crass,
but you have to be quick-witted to get the jokes. It's uncompromising. If you
don't have a sense of humour or an open mind to beats, you won't like it.
How do you work when constructing a track...is it a case of beat first, raps
second or vice versa?
I work awkwardly. I always have to write rhymes to silence, then I make or pick
the beat afterwards. I match the beat to the rhyme, then I edit the rhymes and
start hooking up the beat in more detail.
Who are the Old Maid Billionaires?
Currently it's myself, $tallion and DJ Contakt. Al-Shid and I are still working
together, but he's focusing on his own thing. We still make songs together
though. Huggy and I went our separate ways musically, but we're still cool. No
beef at all. The Old
Maid Billionaires was originally all five of us.
"...Recently, I
did some stuff for Akinyele, Biz Markie, Gm Grimm, Prince Poetry, Celph Titled,
7l & Esoteric...I have a lot of people writing to beats I made, but I won't name
names until the songs are done...”
Are you concentrating more on J Zone material or are you going to do more Old
Maid Billionaires stuff?
 I'm focusing more on J-Zone.
Who else is dope in New York just now? Maybe some up and coming acts that the
UK might not have heard of but might want to check for.
Man, I'm so out of touch right now. I couldn't tell you. I listen to more West
Coast and Southern Rap and Old School than anything else.
What are you working on just now?
I tried to do a production album where I didn't even rhyme, just got all my
favourite artists on my beats. But I'm not Dr. Dre and I don't have a million
dollar budget, so people were kinda flaky about it and I was just getting
frustrated. I took a trip to the West Coast to start this project and came home
with nothing. Guys didn't show up after they said they would, so I collaborated
with only a few special guests and decided to work on another J-Zone project and
rhyme on it myself. It' s like music for Tu Madre, a short 40 minute album. It's
coming out real nice. I've learned that the only person I can depend on to get
records done how I like to is myself, so I've accepted the fact that I'm an
artist/rapper. Even though I'm a producer first.
Do you have a release date for it?
October. That's a promise.
What about UK acts...who you feeling from the UK?
Diversion Tactics and my man DJ Jazz T, my man Harry Love, Verbal T, Jehst,
Lewis Parker. There's a few dudes doin good stuff. I like that dude Pitman, he's
got his own sound and he got the guts to do what he feels and break some rules.
How did you come about writing for hip hop connection?
Mike Lewis reached out to me back in 1999 when my first album dropped. He said
he liked the personality and asked me to write a column in Fat Lace as a guest
writer. I wrote the ign'ant piece and the feedback was good, so I became a
regular. When HHC picked up Fat Lace, they approached me about the column.
Now, you've done tracks with Jehst and Diversion Tactics....are there any
more plans to work with more UK artists? If you could choose, who would you work
with?
 Yeah no doubt. Any of the above
I mentioned would be cool. I got much love for
the UK. The fans are real supportive and I love the vibe they give over there,
but the weather and the food gotta go!
Are there any Rappers, DJ's or Producers you would really like to work with
(from anywhere in the world)?
Yeah some rappers. Suga Free, Too $hort, Redman, Milk D from Audio 2, E-40,
Luke, Devin the Dude, Ghostface, Ol Dirty, Project Pat and if they were living
definitely Eazy-E and Big L. Mostly rappers that aren't in the "underground"
scene. Actually, I already collaborated with one of the artists I mentioned for
my upcoming project, but it's a surprise. I can't tell which one. You'll have to
wait till it drops this fall!
Have you ever ghost written for anyone?
For my alter-ego Captain Back$lap. He doesn't write. All he does is sleep, chase
nasty rich girls and count money. He sings R&B though.
"...Suga Free,
Redman, Milk D from Audio 2, E-40, Luke, Devin the Dude, Ghostface, Ol Dirty,
Project Pat…..Actually I already collaborated with one of the artists I
mentioned for my upcoming project but it’s a surprise, I can’t tell which one,
you’ll have to wait till it drops this fall!...”
Would you ever make a Jiggy track? Maybe if times were hard and it was
guaranteed to make you a load of money.
Maybe, but I probably wouldn't put my name on it. I'd ghost produce my way to
the bank! Nobody would know!
Who else you producing for just now?
Recently, I did some stuff for Akinyele, Biz Markie, Gm Grimm, Prince Poetry,
Celph Titled, 7l & Esoteric. I have a lot of people writing to beats I made, but
I won't name names until the songs are done.
Here's some random, quick fire questions.......
Who's the best Lyricist in the world?
 Straight lyrics? Either Kool G. Rap or Common Sense in their primes.
Who's the best DJ in the world?
DJ Scratch from EPMD
Who's the best Producer in the world?
That kid J-Zone!
Who's the best Graffiti Artist in the world?
I give any dude that risks jail time and third rail execution credit!
Who's the best Breaker in the world?
I give any dude who spins on his head credit!
Who's the best Beatboxer in the world?
Doug E. Fresh
Speaking of Beatboxer's, Rahzel has done an advert for a Scottish newspaper.
It just shows you how far Hip Hop has come over the years...where do you see Hip
Hop in ten years?
See, I did a record called "5 years" back in 1998 and asked that question. I
thought it would be extreme, like dudes shootin each other on stage to sell
records. It hasn't changed much since 1998, so I can't say in 10 years.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully I'll be hella rich and a legend by then and working behind the scenes,
teaching music at a college and have all female students and assistant coaching
high school basketball. Basketball is my second love to music.
 Well mate, what ever you do, I hope it all works out well for you.
Thanks Dog.
That's pretty much it from me, is there anything else you want to add....any
shout outs?
Yeah, I got 4 albums out...buy em all!! Album 5 coming this fall. You'll love
it! Best stuff yet. Much respect to the UK and UKHH.com and peace to all the
J-Zone fans and haters. Eff a George Bush, eff a Tony Blair...find your niche
and get yo money there. Hey, that rhymed! I'm out!
-
Mr Hiz
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