JELLY ROLL  (December 2004) | Interview By: Nima

      Dubcnn.com hooked up with producer Jelly Roll to chop it up about his youth, how he got into the game, hooked up with Snoop & the Pound, his upcoming Compilation, Dre & Snoop, Game, the new west coast artists, and so much more. We have both the transcript and the audio for you to check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: nima@dubcnn.com

 

Huge thanks to Jelly Roll for taking time out to answer the questions fans wanted to know! (Interview was done by phone in December 2004)

Questions Asked By : Nima

Jelly Roll Gave Dubcnn.com A Shoutout! Check That Here

Full Interview In Audio : Here
 

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dubcnn.com: First, everybody wants to know how you got your name.

Well, man! Shit I got my name... Well actually it started from a couple of fellas trying to talk about me in the hood. Actually, one particular partner of mine, one of my patnas, he used to make fun of me cause I was a big guy in the hood and I always kept it movin', you know? So that's where the Jelly Roll came in, cause my nigga looked at me one day and he was like "You look like a big ol' Jelly Roll!" So my name started out from just my partner tryin to make fun of me. And it stuck! And then, the name itself pretty much gave it its own definition behind it, as the years went by. Like, the Jazz musician Jelly Roll Martin! I didn't know nothin' about him! And then I had a chance to learn that he was one of the first creative jazz musicians! So I look at it like I'm trying to be one of the all time creators of this rap game man! In this production game man. So you know...


dubcnn.com: What did you do first, singing or producing?

Oh man, singing from a knee-high man, to a g-high!


dubcnn.com: So how did you get into producing?

Shiit, you know, my big brother Blaqtoven been doin' this forever man! So that's somethin' I had been watchin' my brother do forever. And then, as I got to high school, he was playin' in a band, I was lookin' at him come home with all his music equipment, and it made me wanna start doin' it! So I went out a stole my first drum machine! *laugh*


dubcnn.com: Who were your main influences growing up, as far as producers go?

As far as producers go? See, back then, it wasn't really producers, it was rappers! Everybody wanted to be the hottest rapper man! And then, the beats started from me wanting to rap, so I would try to make my own beats! So it just all started happening man! It all just started happening! Like one of the guys in my neighbourhood, by the name of Sunny Man, I need you to put that name in there, that name is very important to me. So my man Sunny Man, he got us a keyboard, he brought the neighbourhood a keyboard! I used to go to the neighbourhood nad use to mess around on that! It goes from there!


dubcnn.com: I actually forgot to ask, where did you grow up?

Northside Oaklahoma baby!


dubcnn.com: When did you realize you wanted to become a full-time HipHop producer?

I'd say like '94?


dubcnn.com: How did you realize that?

Being around a hundred niggaz, everyday, hustlin', and everybody doin' nothin' but rappin' everyday! And I'm just husltin' and makin' beats! And then, the fact that I was able to be the centerpiece of all these rappers around me? Cause everybody felt like I had it! Bruh, it started from there man!


dubcnn.com: Who was the first artist you produced a song for?

Aw man, well, I guess I started.. We had a group called The Foundation man. It was The Foundation consisting of Blaqtoven who was Crazy T *laughs*, his name was Crazy T, and DJ Clear, Jame O Jay, you go Rick No1, MC No-1, so it's just like, it started from a group that we had called The Foundation. And I was the baby! I was the baby, just lookin in on stuff. And I didn't even get to mess around, cause pretty much my brother Toven was doin' all the production! Plus he was rappin! So I was just lookin' on the inside until he left, and then that's when I pretty much stepped in cause they had a meeting one day and took me to the neighbourhood. So you know, that's how I became part of the Foundation. So it started from a group called The Foundation man.


dubcnn.com: How would you define your production style? It's real different from other shit.

Well, I don't know, it's a gumbo man. It's a gumbo... I look at it like cause I grew up in a few different cities and I heard alot of music, my uncle Charlie Wilson is from the Gap Band, I went to church all my life, and then you go Rock&Roll, a nigga love Rock & Roll, it's just so many... I call it a gumbo man! Because you know, I was very influenced, Dre, Battlecat, and I'm from Oaklahoma, so we got ALL the music. We didn't really discriminate between East and West, but we kinda felt closer to the West. But the influences is ridicolous man.


dubcnn.com: But what if you had to define your style in one word?

Wow... okay.. one word? *pauses* *laughs* Man... one word.. one word... one word.. Canabis!


dubcnn.com: Canabis?

Yeah, Canabis, it's that fire man, it's that high! The ultimate Canabis! Whooooo... *laughs*


dubcnn.com: Which rappers were the easiest to work with, artistically and business wise? Which were the worst?

Wow. Artistically and business wise... Okay, artistically, everybody kind of had a nice lil thing about them, but you know, Snoop man, that's OG man, Snoop, he the shit, Xzibit, he the shit, Doc Dre!!! He's the shit! Game, he's the shit! Busta Rhymes! Everybody man. I gotta keep it real brotha, everybody that I've had a chance to sit down with, is the shit, brother. I didn't even get to sit down with Jadakiss, but from a distance, how we got the record done and how we communicated... But OH MY GOD, DJ QUIK homie, DJ Quik, that's top of the list! *laughs* Oh my god, DJ Quik, top of the list! That's my nigga!
Then you got Battlecat, oh my god... Battlecat, I got a gang of shit with Battlecat. That's how I got in the game professionally. When I moved out here, in '95, Christmas day! I didn't even get to eat Christmas dinner! My uncle Charlie Wilson from the Gap Band, he had just cleaned his life up, and got married, came home for Christmas, and he saw how I was doin' it, and he always knew I had that lil talent for like a couple years before then. So he got me up out of there man, we left Christmas day! He was like "We gotta get you up outta here right now!" It was like a film! And I moved to Palmdale! And my brother Blaqtoven was already out here, so he came to pick me up man. January, it's a wrap man, I got on records professionaly! Messin' wit Battlecat! Battlecat used to always come pick me up! He kept me in the game, I already knew alotta shit about making beats, and our styles kind of compatted with each other. Our styles was alike and stuff, so we clicked immediately. He used to take me around with him, when I had no money, fresh off the streets, all kinds of shit man! And then, one day, he had a session with Snoop Dogg man! He took me wit him, I helped him do like three songs, as far as I played keys, and not really helping him, but playing my part. It was a good time in the studio! And I will never forget, the engineer. If it wasn't for the engineer man, telling me to touch that equipment... Man.. I prolly woulda gotten put on a little later man. But I cut the volume all the way down, and I made a beat! Battlecat came in, and you know, was like "SEE! THAT'S WHAT I'M TAKLIN' ABOUT! You see how good God is? Me and that brother was just outside talkin' about Cat, how he should go in there and start another one. And when I did that beat, he shook my hand and he turned it up, and oh my god it was so banging! That's when I came wit the first one I did! "We all shining stars.. who you aree..." (Snoop Dogg - Party Wit A D.P.G.). That was that first one man! That was my life man! And then somebody bumped me about 5 minutes later, I turn around it was Snoop! He was like "ooh I gotta have that!" So you know, I got on, God got me on man, he put me wit Battlecat! I got on! That day!


dubcnn.com: You worked with both Dre and Snoop on the Wash soundtrack, and you saw their chemistry. Can you understand why they haven't worked with each other in so long??? And why they don't do an album together?

Yeah, I can understand. Because that's two guys that have their own path. They connected at first, to get their dream together. Now that they have their destinies together, they both have visions that they're trying to fulfill. Eventhough, I'm not saying that they will never work together because I don't feel that! I feel like, if they don't do a whole album together, they'll eventually put somebody on together, I could actually see that coming. Cause their chemistry is wayyy incredible. I mean, I don't know, I think that's a chemistry that'll never die out, time is not a matter. It's not a option, it doesn't matter, because that chemistry will never die out.


dubcnn.com: Right, but you know, the fans are always fiending for the best music possible, and you and me both know that when they get together, they bring the best out of each other. And they act like they don't wanna work with each other because of their egos! And people get pissed off! They ain't feeling that new Snoop/Neptunes record!

*laughs* Yeah man... I mean I didn't make that record neither (speaking of R&G) cause of sample clearances... I did make the international verion though. I had another beat for Snoop, but I guess the game said it was time for me to change, so I gave that one to Xzibit! And that's Xzibit's second single.


dubcnn.com: That Saturday Night Live?

Yeah, that's his second single. I've been on the road with Xzibit performing that, I performed probably 11 shows with him now.


dubcnn.com: That "I'm the shit, Xzibit you the shit..." I like that.

Thank you man, you think it's gone do somethin' as the second single?


dubcnn.com: I hope so! It's different...

Yeah, everybody I've come across liked it, I got a strong feeling about the song, so we'll see!


dubcnn.com: Are you still affiliated to Doggystyle Records?

Oh, always man, always, that's home base!


dubcnn.com: Okay, cause you never know, with everybody fallin' out with Snoop Dogg lately.

Ay but you know what though? I don't fall out with Snoop Dogg because I understand this is a business and I don't hang out with Snoop Dogg. II do business with Snoop Dogg. And when I hang out with Snoop Dogg, I hang out with Snoop Dogg for family shit. Like him and my uncle Charlie are good friends. So it's like he like my Uncle Charlie's nephew. And when I see him it's family stuff. That's how I get it done, business is business, and then when I see him it's family man! That's when I get to kick it with him. Other than that, it's business!


dubcnn.com: Are you signed to anybody?

No, Jelly Roll is a free agent. What's crackin' ya'll? *laughs*


dubcnn.com: You trying to get signed though?

Oh, come on! You know what? I didn't even know I wanted to be an artit until Xzibit put it on front of me. So I gotta keep it real man, I've always did songs and all that kinda shit, but then they drivin' me towards bein' an artist.


dubcnn.com: You closely work with Mami Gun. Tell us about her and your relationship with her.

Well you know, she's like way dope, brother! She's actually just got off the road with Cee-Lo! She had a chance to tour with Cee-Lo, and actually, she just got back in town last night. And we're trying to get together to get some more work done, because where we're headed with her project, I feel like it's way past due man! That's like my pride and joy, I put alot of work into that. Blood sweat and tears. So that's somethin' that has to happen man, I can't wait for the world to get that. So right now, we're just trying to keep it rock hard man, and keep it movin'!


dubcnn.com: Let's clear this up once and for all, cause people still ask me about it. Who sang the hook of "On The Blvd" off The Wash?

Uhhh.... I think his name is Jelly Roll. *laughs*


dubcnn.com: Okay, cause you still have people arguing that it's Kokane, so...

Well, okay, you know how people can distinct it? The Jelly Roll flavor when he sings like that is more Church, it's not George Clinton. I don't mock people. You know? Everything I do, my background comes from growing up in church, so that's the Deacon man.


dubcnn.com: But will we see you working with Kokane though?

Oh my god, heck yeah man! Actually, me Kokane and Mami Gun, we was doin' a song already. We got a jam together, and it was supposed to be for Koka's album, but I don't know what's up with that. It was some real hotness man! Kokane is dope man, real dope!


dubcnn.com: A while ago, you told me you were recording a compilation album... What's the status on that?

Okay, well actually, the status on the Inner State Traffic... we gotta direct that a little towards a better type situation, because the situation we were dealing before, as far as business, we didn't pretty much click. So that's a name that we own, I got alot of music for it, and all. But I changed it, I'm not gonna do that one first... I'm gonna do "J-Day" first!


dubcnn.com: J-Day?

*laughs* YUP!


dubcnn.com: Will you be producing the whole thing?

Yes sir!


dubcnn.com: How much singing will you be doing on there?

Well, if it's singing, it's gangster. All the singing on there is gone be gangster. So you know, it's gone be... The record is gone be very melodical! But thug! It's gonna be alotta that on there, but its' gone be alotta rappin too. But the singing is basically Curtis Mayfield.


dubcnn.com: What kind of guest features can we expect on there?

Well, most definitely, expect all artists from my camp. Like the Crimees, which features One Punch and Du Lo Street, and you got Super V, he's actually appeared in a couple movies back in the days, Sister Act 2, he was the guy, the rapper guy and the graffiti. Super V. Then I got several cats man that I've been dealing with for a long time man, I got this young cat by the name of A-B. He's outta control! He was in San Andreas, that was his caracter! That was his talking! That's my dude! And he moves around alot. Then, who else I got, Bad Azz, fo sho, get the Strong Arm Steady Gang, Krondon, Phil Da Agony, Mitchy Slick, X2TheZ, I'ma have them, and I don't know if you familiar with Cali Swinging, but they got this DVD that's out, they hot, they got one of the hottest rappers homie, his name's Jay. I fuck wit Jay, I've been trying to connect wit some of these North Hollywood niggaz man! Cause I don't think alot of niggaz know that these Hollywood niggaz got it too man. Cause I'm just a dude about talent. I don't give a fuck where you at or where you from, it's how you spit it and how good you can spit it. And how well you live it. Cause number 1 I don't want fake niggaz. Niggaz don't like fake shit. Oh and of course, I gotta have OG Dogg (Snoop), gotta go with Dogg, I'm sure I got Dogg cause I got songs wit him already. Fingers crossed that I get one with Game, I would love to get one with Game, matter of fact anyone out of the G-Unit. Any of them cats in the G-Unit. I would like to get something with them cats man, besides a couple of local cats out here. Cause I can't forget certain cats comin' up that's doin' it. We got an artist by the name of Young Holla, Young Holla The Hustla, most definitely be on there. So it's a bunch of different artists, all the artists that I've fucked with, they gone be on my shit. It's gone be a whole new era, how Dre came with Snoop and everybody, I'm trying to see which is going to be my lead out artist. But I'm really trying to get Mami Gun out there really really bad. So I'm trying to see what's going to be the head start of this whole thing, but right now how they pushin' it, they pushin' it on me. So if it's gotta be pushed to me, fuck it, I'll headline that shit, and all my niggaz can get down!


dubcnn.com: Yeah, I like the mixture you got of new faces, along with veterans.

Aw man, it's gone be off the hook man! It's alotta other people I didn't name, Suga Free, C-Bo, i mean all these cats that I got songs with! *laughs* Litterally got jams with... Pomona City Ridaz! Weasel Loc, Pimpin Young, Haha.. I'm tryin' to put myself with the new hottest cats man that's out here. And cats that's been in the game out already. Niggaz like Techniec man, Techniec, Dogg Pound! That's fire! He's fire man! So it's time for the West Coast man! And one of my cats that I fuck with, Cartoon homie, from the 909 homie, he got signed to Ruff Ryders. He's the first West Coast Ruff Ryder! Young Toon man. He's hot. That youngster right there homie, he's a monster! And I got all the thug gangsters. I'm trying to come with a whole new breed of MC's out on the West, aswell as the East and South, I don't discriminate brother! And right now it's my opportunity, I'm getting to work with everybody! So I'ma be movin' around. When I go South, East, it's the same thing, set up shop!


dubcnn.com: Do you have anything with Crooked I, Butch Cassidy or Goldie Loc?

You know what? Goldie Loc, that's my number 1 guy. I got one with Goldie Loc called "Pill Popper", that's one of my number one club snatches. I haven't had a chance to work with Butch Cassidy yet, same thing for Crooked I.


dubcnn.com: You know Crooked I, Bad Azz, Techniec and Lil C-Style are hooking up to do some songs together, on some collabo-group type shit!

*laughs* OH MY GOD! That's vicious right there!! Oh my god!! That's real monster my nigga, Lil C-Style, Crooked I, Bad Azz and Techniec. Oh GET OUTTA HERE! I just wanna see the niggaz really get involved with each other and really get invovled with each other man! Cause if that's what its' gone be, on everything I love, them niggaz can come get it from me homie! You hear that combo man??? That's a sick ass combo! I would love to contribute to that! As long as it's the right cats and they got the right shit, niggaz can always have Jelly! Other than that, I'ma just keep producin', I'ma do my crew. The streets be talkin' man, you gotta be aware of everything, it's a monster out here on the streets my nigga.


dubcnn.com: You mentioned your camp The Crimees. Who are they?

Oh man, these cats grew up together man, they so hot man. They in the streets. The combo that they have, it goes way back. Just to feed off each other man, that's my streets, that's who I got the streets with, you can't leave the streets, you gotta keep it gutter somewhere.


dubcnn.com: Around what time do you think "J-Day" will be in stores?

Well you know what, to be honest... I'm not really a time person, it's more or less like, I would love for my fans to keep it open, keep it open for me man. It's most definitely coming. I got a email too, if people wanna say something to me, it's jellyrollville@yahoo.com.


dubcnn.com: Do you want me to put this out there so people can get at you?

Oh that's a blessing homie, I would love that!


dubcnn.com: Okay cool. Are you gonna try to blow up with this? Or is it an independent record.

You know what? We're trying to go all the way to the top with this record, sir! *laughs*


dubcnn.com: Do you make a good living off strictly your music?

Yes, I'm still living off my music!


dubcnn.com: You produced for Jadakiss, Method Man, Snoop, Xzibit and more on their new albums. Who else have you been producing for lately?

Oh.. I'm definitely trying to get my music to all them G-Unit cats right now. I worked with Game, so hopefully I'ma make that record. I gave him two joints, so I hope I make that project. Then, Busta Rhymes, I got some hot shit with him man, and I KNOW I made his record! Busta Rhymes, that's a hot one. Pretty much, that's just it besides the Strong Arm Steady Gang. Cause they doin' they album right now, Oh my god! That shit is is siiiiiick! *laughs* I ain't lyin' brother! Khalil!!! Khalil, homie!! He one of the hottest producers man, and he is SLEPT ON homie!! Watch this, when they put out that Strong Arm Steady record, they ain't gone be able to sleep on Khalil no more!


dubcnn.com: I hope so! Game called you the next Dr. Dre in an interview. How did you feel about that?

Whoooooooooooo......!!!! That touched me more than anything. Homie.. that stuck so deep with me in this game, brother! Game homie, I fuck wit Game man, and I'll go anywhere that nigga live, to fuck wit him. Aslong as he gives me the opportunity, I'll do that. And alotta times, I try to reach out to these cats, but they be busy man. He one of the dudes I fuck wit. That was special, to hear that.


dubcnn.com: What happened to the songs you produced for Game's album?

They have them! I have a copy of one, called the "Art Of War", it's a hot one man.


dubcnn.com: I guess we'll know January 18th when the record drops!

I guess we will!


dubcnn.com: Are you gonna work some more with Uncle Charlie Wilson?

You know what man? I think R. Kelly just did a whole record on Uncle Charlie Wilson!


dubcnn.com: For real?

Yeah man, so once that comes out, hopefully my Uncle sees in me to give me that opportunity, cause I've never worked with him.


dubcnn.com: Oh you've never worked with him?

No.


dubcnn.com: Damn! Hopefully we'll see that in future!

I hope so too, brother.


dubcnn.com: Who else is there out there that you would like to get down with?

Luda. I like Ludacris man. I just wish I really get a chance to work with Luda and work with him right.


dubcnn.com: Will we see you working with Kurupt or any Death Row artists?

Well I mean... It's really no discriminations brother, I just go where my heart takes me man. And right now it hasn't taken me there. If it takes me there one day, then it'll go down. But if my heart don't take me, it won't go down! But I don't know. Where that question come from?


dubcnn.com: One of the fans, wanted me to ask you that.

*laughs* Oh okay!


dubcnn.com: Who's is the Next wave of WEST COAST producers that's bringing in a New Era of West Coast music (from da Bay to L.A.) to the mainstream to get us back in the spotlight? Is there anything in the works?

Oh man, it's a few of them. You got Rick Rude, you got cats like C-Note, he's so sick from the 909, and he's a youngster! You got my brother homie, my LITTLE brother! He's so sick! You got cats like Khalil that's been here that's gone get his shine. You got cats like... production is really something man. One night I was working with Focus, it was me Focus, one of my cousins Luz, he's gonna murder the R&B game! And we were all playing instruments one night, and it was a guy by the name of Keys! I mean I forget the guys name, but he played the keyboard, so we called him Keys. Man, I wish I knew everybody brother, but these are the cats I like right now.


dubcnn.com: Have you worked with Chill?

No I haven't had a chance to work with Chill but I hear alot about Chill.


dubcnn.com: What about Joself Leimberg.

*laughs* Josef, I haven't even met him! If I met him, I could distinguish. But I haven't had a chance to meet him yet.


dubcnn.com: I think you have similar styles..

He's dope.


dubcnn.com: What are your personal favorite West Coast records ever?

Oh man... MC Breed! I'm goin there homie, MC Breed's early shit, one of my hottest West Coast records ever... Then you got.. Pistol Grip Pump in my lap at all times! Pistol Grip Pump in my lap at all times! That's one of my favorite West Coast records ever, Volume 10! And then, you got all that Snoop Dogg and Dre shit, Dogg Pound, and... "I pimp my pen on cold michigan nights, and the bitch didn't freeze up on me when I wanted her..." YEAH MAN!!!! You know what I'm sayin???? That whole era man! That whole era, I was turned out! Menace 2 Society. That's when it really all started man. That's when I was like I'm doin this shit man. Fuck that! Yeah man, Boyz N The Hood, Music To Drive-By, the soundtracks brother, Too Short! Oh my god! *laughs*


dubcnn.com: Which albums were big dissapointments to you?

Uhhh, yeah. I ain't gone speak on them though! But everybody has. Hahahahahaha!


dubcnn.com: What equipment do you use to make beats?

I use a MPC 2000 XL, I got it customized and shit, look like a low low! You know, OG Keyboard...


dubcnn.com: What would you recommend an up and coming producer to buy?

Whatever fits you. I don't really.. You gotta have the MP though, you gotta have the brains. As long as you got a MP or a SP1200, something that's a beat machine, something that sounds good, feels good, you gotta have that. You gotta have the brains, and that's the MP. Because it's just something about it. Eventhough beats going to computers, and everybody is making beats off of their computer, all of that kind of shit, it doesn't have that authentic feel like a MP! That's why Doc Dre be havin' like 6 of them in there! At the same time! Wait I seen 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, yeah I seen 6 MP's in there! 5 for sure!


dubcnn.com: What's the most awkward or funny moment you've had in your career up until now?

Well the most awkward thing to me is... Everybody knows who you are, but your business is not up to par all the way as it should be, so you have to get that that way. What I mean by that is, everybody calls my name and everybody says this and that, but I'm just gettin now the right people that I trust to get the music to the fans man. And get my music to the right people. Cause if you're business is not correct, and people don't know how to get in contact with you, you don't get that ride like you should. So that's my most awkward moment to me, me being Jelly Roll, and I'm just now getting the right situation for me and my music. But I always work, cause that's number 1, and I don't ever quit producing brother! I can push play on a muthafucka anytime!


dubcnn.com: That's about it for the questions, is there anything else you'd like to let everybody know?

I appreciate everybody's ears, Jelly Roll and the movement, my family, my crew, my loved ones. It's gonna be something! That's about it man, I just appreciate the opportunity man, and just watch what we getting man, just watch what we bringing! Just watch what we bringing! That's it!