Producer/Artist Interview: J-Zone

Benzito: On the production side of things what equipment/programs are you using right now?

J-Zone: I’m still old school. I use Pro Tools with a G4 Mac, but everything else is hardware. The same MPC-2000 I’ve had since 1997 with 2 broken pads, a Tascam mixing board that shorts out, a sony f/x processor and an Art tube compressor. I got Little Phatty Moog recently and I’ve been using a Roland JP-8080 and the TR-Rack for a while.

Any artist that you’d like to work with that you haven’t yet to this point?

Suga Free. He’s the most entertaining MC in the game, hands down.

What’s the last movie you watched?

When it comes to movies I got the attention span of a third grader. The last one I can remember was Gridiron Gang.

Got any good recipes?

White Castle onion rings, hot sauce and Muscle Milk. It’s called the He-Man diet. I test it out in this you tube clip which is the trailer for my new project, Chief Chinchilla: Live @ The Liqua Sto. If you wanna get diesel in a short period of time, take notes

Pink: J-Zone & Chief Chinchilla: Can I Get A Sip? (download)

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If Starberry leaves the Knicks, you gonna get a try out?

Here I am ballin in this you tube clip, another trailer for my album.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmTDRXsUaEk
I suck, but I’ll stink up the Knicks for 1/4 the price that Marbury charged to do the same thing.

What are the chances of seeing the Old Maid Billionaire in Wisconsin anytime soon?

Gimme some cheeeeeeeeessseee and I’ll be there hahaha.

What would an episode of J-Zone cribs look like? Or at least the fridge?

Tacky. Clean, but tacky. I just got my first set of decent sheets. I got tired of the funky 40 year old sheets my grandmother had stashed in the closet with the faded flowers on em. Not a good look. So I went out and got some plain black sheets and some silk joints for when I’m in the mood to sleep like a pimp. As for the frig, I’m a seafood fanatic, so you’ll find a lotta smoked salmon, fish sticks, tuna fish, etc. I stopped eatin junk food (except when I do my my onion ring/Muscle Milk workout) and started a workout routine so I’m eatin healthier food. Vegetables and shit, egg whites, chicken breasts. Tryin to get my Apollo Creed on, so its not a typical rapper fridge.

Who where the main influences on you musically growing up?

I had a lot for different reasons. All that old funk shit like Kool & The Gang, James Brown, Ohio Players, Cameo, BT Express, etc. Rap wise, it was producers like The Bomb Squad, 45 King, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, Mr. Mixx, Hollywood Impact, DJ Muggs, DJ Pooh, etc. The MC’s I liked were always the entertainers and funny dudes more than the super lyrical cats. I liked Eazy-E, Tim Dog, Ice Cube, JT Money, Suga Free, Ol Dirty Bastard (RIP), Willie D, Devin The Dude. As for DJ’s I was always a big fan of DJ Scratch and plus, EPMD was my favorite group.

Pink: J-Zone: The Drug Song (Instrumental)(download)

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Drink of choice?

Even though I just did an entire album of malt liquor commercials, I quit drinkin last year. Seriously. Had to stop but I saved mad money because of it and stopped embarrassing myself by doin dumb shit at 2AM that I pray never winds up on you tube! With that said, I like Grape flavored Propel water.

What do you think of the Bucks and their off season moves?

Awful. Mo Williams was better fit for them than Richard Jefferson, but then again they were losing last year so maybe this will help. Michael Redd is the man and I was a Bucks fan in the Ray Allen days but they stink as of late.

What’s next on the horizon for J-Zone?

Just promoting this Live @ The Liqua Sto album I did with my man Chief Chinchilla. Its essentially an album full of malt liquor commercials, like the old St. Ides joints from the early 90’s. It features Prince Paul, RA The Rugged Man, E-Swift (of Tha Alkaholiks), Celph Titled, Louis Logic, Poison Pen, Breeze Brewin (of the Juggaknots) and more. The album is a ride in comedic malt liquor advertising. It drops September 30th, so check for it. Besides that, just Djing and doing a lot of shit behind the scenes like doing music for TV commercials, teaching music at a college and covering high school basketball in New York for SLAM Magazine.

Stink: J-Zone: Project Paradise (featuring Poison Pen) (download)

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If you didn’t know, now you do. If you already did, keep showing Zone love & support, he deserves it. Much respect and the TUNAWAX family thanks you J for taking the time.
http://www.myspace.com/jzoneoldmaid

Chief Chinchilla (J-Zone Presents) – Live @ The Liqua Sto (AUTOGRAPHED)

Love, Peace & Bacon Grease-
Zito.