HHNM: You have created your own lane as far as sound is concerned. You really seem to focus a lot on drums which makes your beats stand out. Where does the inspiration come from?
Jake One: You know, itās just the era of Rap I come from. I grew up listening to DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Dr. Dre. Hip-Hop used to be pretty much about drums purely. Iām just always trying to find out new ways to program and use them in different ways. I try to put a different twist to them. Like that āBody On Itā beat. It wasnāt what 50 normally raps to but I wanted to make something that fits. Even that other song I did for Wiz, āThe Grinderā. Iām really happy with the response to that one. Thatās the challenge I love. How do I make something thatās me but is different at the same time and doesnāt sound like 1990.
HHNM: Yeah, most of the times I do recognize your beat straight away. They have a certain edge to them.
Jake One: Yeah, itās like your DNA in music. Itās kind of a good thing. Everyone wants their signature sound and I donāt know if I exactly have that but everything of mine has a certain feel which is important.
HHNM: Drake previewed a new song the other day in a video clip while heās smoking hookah. Is it true that you produced it?
Jake One: Yeah, thatās the song I did for him.
HHNM: Tell us how that collaboration came out and where it will end up.
Jake One: You know Iām not even sure at this point. Iāve been talking to him off and on, sending him stuff. There were some records that he really liked. That was one of them he recorded. Hopefully, you will get to hear the music soon.
HHNM: Cool. That joint āSaluteā on T.I.ās last album was outstanding as well. Are you two working again on his next album āTrouble Manā?
Jake One: Thanks man. My boy Steve at Atlantic actually hooked that up for me. He made that one happen. But I havenāt sent him any beats recently. Iām not sure what direction heās going in with the new one. A couple of years ago I definitely made an effort to do more stuff for the guys in South because theyāre kinda running rap right now. And I think some of the stuff I do can make sense with that.
HHNM. Back in January 2010, you told me that you were trying to put out āWhite Van Music IIā before the end of year. Whatās up with that? When will our lucky day arrive?
Jake One: (Laughs) You know the main problem is that these artists do songs with me and then they donāt wanna give it to me. They just keep the shit. But I got about 9 songs right now actually. During 2010-2011, I started liking some of the new artists. I wasnāt really into that earlier. Iāve been making effort to get some of that on the album. And what happens is that these younger dudes usually know who I am and I think like āoh this should be easyā but then I have trouble getting these guys to actually give me the records! Actually the fact that Iām in Seattle also makes it a bit hard for me to catch people. I can put out an album right now but it wouldnāt be what I want because I donāt wanna do the same shit Iāve done on the first one. Itās definitely gonna be different. I really do have some bangers though. You know itās funny because I think I have a lot of singles but not really the meat of the album (laughs).
HHNM: Ha. So how much longer do you want us to wait?
Jake One: I donāt wanna even say it now. Iām just giving yāall the Brother Ali album. Everybody get off my back now (laughs). I got people on Twitter making fun of me saying itās Detox status now. But nah, itās not the same. Itās kinda cool that people still wanna hear it. The first one did well but this second one will definitely show a different side of me.
HHNM: Can you name some of the artists we can expect to hear on that album?
Jake One: Umm.. Mayer Hawthorne, MF Doom, Elzhi, Brother Ali, Freeway, Curren$y, Scarface. I have some surprises as well but I donāt wanna talk about it right now.
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