JAMES ELIZABETH  (June 2010) | Interview By: Chad Kiser

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Interview was done in June 2010

Questions Asked By: Chad Kiser

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Dubcnn Exclusive – James Elizabeth
A Woman’s Touch (The Special Dubcnn Series)
By: Chad Kiser
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Dubcnn: You worked with multi-platinum producer Rick Rock for the upcoming “Monster” single, how did that collaboration come about?

I have been working with Mike Mosley and Darien “D-Buck” Smith for years, and one day D-Buck was going by Rick's studio and asked if I wanted to roll. When we got there, Rick said he was looking for a female artist to sing a hook for him, so of course I jumped at the opportunity; Rick is someone I admire a lot and have always wanted to work with. He was just flipping through, playing some of his tracks, just vibing until he came to the beat that would eventually become ““Monster””. I instantly heard a melody in my head and the track was like a sound track to a movie that was playing on repeat in my head, which at the time was of me wanting to ruin my ex-boyfriend’s life. I just started writing to it immediately, and the next thing you know Rick was asking me if I wanted to come back to lay something down once I had a chance to write it. I told him it was done, that I had already written it. So we ended up laying vocals that day!


Dubcnn: What is “Monster” about, as far as the concept & ideas?

“Monster” is about the fact that my ex made me a crazy bitch and that it was his problem to deal with me. It's specifically speaking on things that Suki was forcing me to do. You know, like his car "coincidentally" not working and "ironically" being evicted from his house. I had been warring with my ex that whole day prior to going to the studio and like I said, the beat was perfect for the shit that was going on in my head. It’s the perspective of the scorned woman. Most girls have that self-control, but when you get pushed to that point where you're passed the point of no return, there really is no limit to where a broken heart can push you to.


Dubcnn: You just mentioned somebody named Suki forcing you to do things, who is that and what are they making you do?

Suki is a bad-ass bitch who stands up for me! She’s had my back whenever I’ve needed to defend myself or get crazy. When I was scared and didn’t want to face something, I dug deep within myself to find a way to deal with the trauma and abuse, and there was Suki. She’s not afraid of a goddamned thing! I love Suki! She’s been around a lot lately, oh, and she’s a complete freak!


Dubcnn: I’m not sure where to go with that one, so let’s just stick to the next question (laughs). Working with so many well-known music producers like the aforementioned Rick Rock, as well as Mike Mosley and Big Hollis & Preach - - what does that do for your confidence?

They all are so ridiculously talented and have different facets about their talent, that working with each one of them is a way different experience. They each bring out a different part of me. As far as my confidence, I think the more you do something, the better you get and the more confident you get. It’s a little intimidating at times to usually be the only girl and have to bring it and keep up with the big boys, but it's also so much fun! I love holding it down for my ladies and talking all that shit! I'm the one in there saying the really crazy shit, just saying what I'm thinking.


Dubcnn: Can you explain the different production experiences with these three heavyweight producers?

Well, with [Mike] Mosley he's so chill and laid back, and I'm always bouncing off the walls, so he pulls me back to my calmer self. He’s very hip-hop, very “mob” music..I mean it's Mike fucking Mosley! (laughs) With Hollis & Preach, when they found me, I was lost, man; I was broken, abused and sad. When I met them they were able to pull me out of my funk and taught me how to embrace what I was feeling. There is nothing I can do to control what had already happened to me, but I could write my ideas out and tell my side of the story. They just get me, and I felt comfortable immediately telling them all the crazy shit I had just gone through. Originally we were just doing a song together, and now months later they almost did my whole album [“Bi Polar”]!

[Big] Hollis has this ability to just “make” whatever I explain to him. I remember I was in the shower the night before I was going to be in the studio with them, and I heard this sort of mocking chant in my head. I went in and sang it to him and he came up with the bottom line of the song. Preach was raised in the church and you can tell in his harmonies, he is just so dope; he hears notes that most people don’t. Between the two of them, they really helped me create my own sound and style.

With Rick, man, Rick is like my counter part to whatever crazy shit I say to him. He comes back with some shit that is just as crazy and exactly what I would want to hear back at me. He's a perfectionist like me, so we may just be in the lab for a minute, but everything that man does in music is so amazing! I don't think he even knows how to make a bad joint! He certainly brought Suki out more than anyone else did!


Dubcnn: You have a couple songs with bay area stars E-40 & Too $hort, what was it like collaborating with them?

Yeah I do, I have a song with each of them. With 40, I sent him the song with my parts done and he added his verse. With $hort, I was there with him in the studio and we actually did a video together, too. I much preferred actually doing the song with $hort. When you get to vibe with the artist and kick it with them, as a musician, it's just a lot of fun to get to be creative with another talent. I would love to get to collaborate with 40 in the studio at some point for sure!


Dubcnn: As you know, Too $hort has strong, often-times explicit subject matter especially towards women. Were you ever worried how you all would vibe in the studio?

Fuck no (laughs)! He has his style and says some crazy shit at times, but that's Too $hort. I think if you get offended by lyrics to the point that you're intimidated to go in the lab with someone, then you’re in the wrong profession. I'm not a rapper by any means, but my entire experience in the music business has been with rappers, rap and hip-hop producers, which are usually men. I know on my album I'm saying some pretty explicit shit about males, specifically my ex, and I would hope people would take it for the art that it is and not get offended. I'm talking about fucking up my ex's entire life and strangling him, but I would hope when I go in the lab with other artists they aren't concerned I'm going to hurt them! (laughs)


Dubcnn: Having worked with those iconic producers & artists, are there any other producers or artists you're looking forward to collaborating with in the future?

There are too many to name, but off the top of my head, I'd love to work with Gwen Stefani. We both have a very raw, heart-on-our-sleeve writing style. I'd love to collaborate with her on something for sure. Also, Jazmine Sullivan is dope, I love her voice! And definitely Eminem! He's so ridiculous. I want to make this crazy, addictive, psycho-sexy, music love baby with him! Is that weird?

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