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Joell Ortiz Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Wednesday 7th December 2011 | Osh
The straight talking rapper from Brooklyn, Joell Ortiz was in London for a show at Cargo last month. We caught up with him after the show to talk about his new record and how things were going after signing for Shady Records.
How was your show at Cargo on the 10th of March?
It was great, we teared it up! I love performing my shows, especially in the UK.
How are you UK fans different to your US fans?
Well I don’t come around in the UK as much as I should so it’s more exciting for me and for them because they don’t get to see me all the time. Back home, where I constantly do shows and I’m always in people lives. But over here, they are like ‘oh shit, he’s here’. It’s always a good feeling. It’s always a live party at my shows in the UK. And the women are beautiful, love it.
You released your second record Free Agent last month. How did you go about writing it? Was it easier to write after your first record The Brick: Bodega Chronicle?
The same way I go about writing everything I record. Going to the studio, throwing out the beats, let the beat follow me, figure out what I am going to talk about and just whipping it and rythm it. I just have to make sure I give it my all every time I approach a song. It’s a simple process, there’s nothing to it, but the going in and feel of where I am going to go with the track and just execute it.
Would you say it was easier than writing your first album?
For the same reason, I think it was easier and harder at the same time. I think it was easier to express myself but I think it was harder to better myself (laughs). You know, the ideas might come in a little bit easier but the way I’m going to go with it may be a harder a longer process because I want to beat the last time out. Every time out, you want to be better, so it’s still a bit of both worlds with that one.
I understand you have another album in the pipeline possibly being released later this year called Get Rich Homie. How is that coming along? What’s it going to be about?
That’s just a rumour. I would love to Get Rich but no, that’s not happening.
Your music style, it seems, does poke fun out of some Hip Hop artists today. Do you feel the genre is watered down and is not genuine?
Well I don’t feel like that, I just feel there isn’t a fair choice. That sort of Hip Hop is only about one thing and it’s just dancy, clubby and radio sounding music is the way to win. I just do my best to do what I do to give the fans a choice. There’s a lot of different styles like hard beat, lyricist, oriented and method that I use that can still ram a club, still be used on the radio and still inspire other people. I just want kids to have a choice, to like what they like.
Are you trying to bring it back to the way it was in the 80s and 90s?
Yeah, I’m trying to bring it back to that feeling but in an updated fashion. You know, I don’t put on gold chains and four fingered rings and wear a flat top but I’m just trying to protect the art to wear Hip Hop originated from.
Your mini group Slaughterhouse is still going I believe, when is the next instalment coming from you guys.
Of Course, We are droppin’ a new record later this year. It would usually take us just 6 days days to create the whole record. We just need to see when everyone has the time to sit down and do the record. We are all busy at the moment doing our own things.
You recently signed your record deal with Shady Record which of course is Eminem’s record label. How much of a privilege was it to sign there?
Forget about it, it’s another level of creating music and a new platform for me to perform to the best of my abilities. We have already collaberated on my track 2.0 which I released online and the whole Internet lit up for it. I teamed up with Eminem for his track Session One on his Recovery record. There is certainly room for more in the future.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to a lot of old stuff because their aren’t that many new artists who talk about good areas in life. There are a lot of people who are talking about fantasy lives and not too many people are doing it for me. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few US artists out there. J.Cole, is one who has a bright future.
In terms of UK artists, I like a few artists such as Tinie Tempah. I did a song in 2008 with Giggs and I enjoy his work. There are a lot of good things coming out of the UK at the moment because they are rapping about relavent topics in their life and they are keeping it real.
If you were invisible for the day, what would you get up to?
I don’t like being invisible, I would find out how to be visible for that whole day.
If you could have a swimming pool filled up with anything, what would it be?
Probably water. I don’t want anything else. I’m not driven with any materialist. All the good things in life. Maybe Jack Daniels
Can you give us an exclusive?
I’m going to be doing a bit of everything, touring and recording. 2011 is the year to achieve.
Joell Ortiz new album Free agent is out now!
How was your show at Cargo on the 10th of March?
It was great, we teared it up! I love performing my shows, especially in the UK.
How are you UK fans different to your US fans?
Well I don’t come around in the UK as much as I should so it’s more exciting for me and for them because they don’t get to see me all the time. Back home, where I constantly do shows and I’m always in people lives. But over here, they are like ‘oh shit, he’s here’. It’s always a good feeling. It’s always a live party at my shows in the UK. And the women are beautiful, love it.
You released your second record Free Agent last month. How did you go about writing it? Was it easier to write after your first record The Brick: Bodega Chronicle?
The same way I go about writing everything I record. Going to the studio, throwing out the beats, let the beat follow me, figure out what I am going to talk about and just whipping it and rythm it. I just have to make sure I give it my all every time I approach a song. It’s a simple process, there’s nothing to it, but the going in and feel of where I am going to go with the track and just execute it.
Would you say it was easier than writing your first album?
For the same reason, I think it was easier and harder at the same time. I think it was easier to express myself but I think it was harder to better myself (laughs). You know, the ideas might come in a little bit easier but the way I’m going to go with it may be a harder a longer process because I want to beat the last time out. Every time out, you want to be better, so it’s still a bit of both worlds with that one.
I understand you have another album in the pipeline possibly being released later this year called Get Rich Homie. How is that coming along? What’s it going to be about?
That’s just a rumour. I would love to Get Rich but no, that’s not happening.
Your music style, it seems, does poke fun out of some Hip Hop artists today. Do you feel the genre is watered down and is not genuine?
Well I don’t feel like that, I just feel there isn’t a fair choice. That sort of Hip Hop is only about one thing and it’s just dancy, clubby and radio sounding music is the way to win. I just do my best to do what I do to give the fans a choice. There’s a lot of different styles like hard beat, lyricist, oriented and method that I use that can still ram a club, still be used on the radio and still inspire other people. I just want kids to have a choice, to like what they like.
Are you trying to bring it back to the way it was in the 80s and 90s?
Yeah, I’m trying to bring it back to that feeling but in an updated fashion. You know, I don’t put on gold chains and four fingered rings and wear a flat top but I’m just trying to protect the art to wear Hip Hop originated from.
Your mini group Slaughterhouse is still going I believe, when is the next instalment coming from you guys.
Of Course, We are droppin’ a new record later this year. It would usually take us just 6 days days to create the whole record. We just need to see when everyone has the time to sit down and do the record. We are all busy at the moment doing our own things.
You recently signed your record deal with Shady Record which of course is Eminem’s record label. How much of a privilege was it to sign there?
Forget about it, it’s another level of creating music and a new platform for me to perform to the best of my abilities. We have already collaberated on my track 2.0 which I released online and the whole Internet lit up for it. I teamed up with Eminem for his track Session One on his Recovery record. There is certainly room for more in the future.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to a lot of old stuff because their aren’t that many new artists who talk about good areas in life. There are a lot of people who are talking about fantasy lives and not too many people are doing it for me. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few US artists out there. J.Cole, is one who has a bright future.
In terms of UK artists, I like a few artists such as Tinie Tempah. I did a song in 2008 with Giggs and I enjoy his work. There are a lot of good things coming out of the UK at the moment because they are rapping about relavent topics in their life and they are keeping it real.
If you were invisible for the day, what would you get up to?
I don’t like being invisible, I would find out how to be visible for that whole day.
If you could have a swimming pool filled up with anything, what would it be?
Probably water. I don’t want anything else. I’m not driven with any materialist. All the good things in life. Maybe Jack Daniels
Can you give us an exclusive?
I’m going to be doing a bit of everything, touring and recording. 2011 is the year to achieve.
Joell Ortiz new album Free agent is out now!
