Renaissance Man: Just Blaze (Interview w/Honey Mag)

Inherently musical, intelligent, hard working and possessing a versatile style: Justin “Just Blaze” Smith  paved his own road to success in NY’s burgeoning and intensely competitive Hip Hop scene in the late 1990s. The Paterson, NJ native went on to become an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella records whilst his peers were still in college. Indeed, he churns out hits for superstars like Jay-Z, Usher, Kanye, T.I., Rihanna, Fabolous, Diddy. More notably, he has helped many underground artists cross over into the mainstream by lacing them with a “Just Blaaaze” banger (Joe Budden’s ‘Pump It Up’ anyone?). You can also catch him doing his thing in Eminem’s new music video for ‘No Love’ featuring Lil Wayne. With full production and some vocals by Just, it’s currently the number one music video from the US to the UK. Having also successfully branched out into clothing, gaming soundtracks, movie theme songs, sold out international sound clash tours and more, it’s safe to say that the Polo Ralph Lauren aficionado is more of a prodigal renaissance man than your typical super producer.

It’s a hot night in uptown NYC and Just is busy working at his new studio, kind of difficult to imagine that he had hundreds of clubbers wildin’ out to his weekly DJ set at Santos Party House until the wee hours of that morning (we did mention he was hardworking!). Just’s clean silhouette resembles a classic beat in itself. His outfit is fresh, fitted and tastefully set off with an orthodox and intricately designed diamond watch on his right wrist. His eyes exude an interesting mix of focus, humility and… humor. (If you follow him on Twitter (@JustBlaze) you’d know exactly what we’re talking about.)

To know the man behind the boards a bit better, Honey sat down with ‘The Megatron Don’ to talk about female Emcees, the reconciliation of Dipset and Kanye West’s global stardom.

Honey Magazine: How is the new decade treating you thus far?
Just Blaze: Great! I am an integral part of one of the highest and fastest selling albums of the year so far. [Editor’s note: Eminem’s ‘Recovery’ had just gone double platinum and returned to the number one spot]. It’s a blessing for me to be a part of that. I am also in the process of setting up a new studio, which has been a very trying process.

Your old studio [Baseline] closed earlier this year. Explain the legacy of Baseline for those who are not familiar?

The reason we’re building a new studio is because we closed Baseline. For those who don’t know Baseline was a home to Roc-A-Fella records [in it’s earlier years] and myself since 1999.  I‘d owned it for the past 7 years so, I personally shut it down. It was a good run but it had outlived its purpose. Most major recording studios in Manhattan have merged, closed or are in the process of closing.  It wasn’t financially motivated. The good thing about our situation is that I was able to bring in enough work where we weren’t in any financial trouble but at the same time you always have to think ahead when it comes to a business. I had to ask myself “in five years will I still be doing the same thing I’m

(more…)

PHP Freelancer