Jake One’s debut album release, White Van Music, is definitely on my list of must-cop albums this year. Although White Van Music is his first album, he certainly is no new comer to hip hop. Having produced tracks for De La Soul, 50 Cent, E-40, and Nas, Jake has already proven his longevity in this game.
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to interview Jake One. Many thanks to Melanie, Jake’s publicist, for setting it up and actually conducting the interview for us. I never thought I would finally get this interview online as I ran into many problems in the editing process. This was my first phone interview and transcribing the audio was much more trouble than I thought it would be. Props to all the other bloggers who get that ish done! I finally decided to go the easy route and just post up Jake’s responses as audio. Hope this doesn’t make the interview to hard to follow. Jake has a lot of great things to say, and this interview really is a good read/listen.
Kevin: What’s up Jake? Thanks for taking time out to talk with us and special thanks to Melanie for helping conduct this interview. The new album is amazing! You’ve been producing for other artists for well over 10 years now. Why did you wait so long to put out your debut album?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: So when did the recording process start for the album?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: How did you chose who was gonna be on it?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: How did you go about crafting the tracks for the album? Was it based on the artist, what you felt they would sound good over or did you just send out beats?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: What’s your favorite track from White Van Music and which was the most difficult to finish?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: You have so many great emcees on the album… out of everyone you have produced for in your career, who has been the most memorable artist you’ve worked with and what is it about them that made that experience so unique and special?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: One of my favorite cuts of yours is De La Soul’s “Rock Co. Kane Flow” . If you can, explain the process of working with 4 legends of Hip Hop.
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: That song was one of the most absolute perfect songs in recent times, do you feel that you have crafted better or have been a part of a better track?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: Which leads to my next question, which beat of yours are you most proud of? And is there a song from another producer that made you say, “damn, I wish I would have created that!”?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: I understand you are a avid crate digger. What’s your favorite record?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: You’re obviously a fan of sampling. This year, there has been a new craze in the online hip hop community; compiling sample sets of our favorite hip hop albums. The idea behind this is to help build a greater appreciation for the inspiration behind the music and to help display the roots of hip hop. I’d like to think of it as a sort of “homage” to the producers who flipped and chopped the sample. The response from hip hop fans has been overwhelming; however, there have been mixed opinions regarding this topic as some say we’re “ratting on” hip hop producers by giving up their sources. What’s your stance on these sort of sample compilations?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: Your beats pack a soulful punch that I’m sure plenty of singers salivate over. Who on the R&B scene do you see yourself giving some heat to?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: I hear you were recently in Washington DC for the Red Bull Academy Beat Contest; a contest you co-created. Explain how important this is to you and how important it is to young up and coming producers.
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: On a side note, one of the competitors who made it to the final 4, Remot, is managed by our site’s very own Sean Deez. He’s a fairly liked name here on This is Hip Hop. If you can remember, what did you think of his performance and his production?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: So what’s next after White Van Music? Can we expect any new production from you in the coming year?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: One last question before we go. I ask this question to everyone I interview. Desert Island Hip Hop… what’s the one hip hop album you have on you if stranded on a deserted island?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kevin: Thanks again for the interview Jake! Closing words?
Jake One:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Alright you heard it… buy the album! Honestly, White Van Music is one of the better albums out this year. If you haven’t heard it, you won’t be disappointed. Check out Deez’s review of the album including a preview of the hottest tracks.
For an introduction to Jake One’s production, check out the mixtape HipHopDX put together to compliment the release of White Van Music.
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
DOPE
White Van Music is easily one of my favorite releases this year
is it working for everyone.. or am i the only one?
ok NOW its working
error opening files
yeah, it ain’t working for me either.. this one seems to go down quite a bit. Its a shame because it was dopeness