KHAYREE (August 2007) | Interview By: Eddie Gurrola

       Dubcnn recently linked up with legendary producer Khayree for an in-depth interview. In this exclusive feature, we discuss Khayree’s current views on hip-hop, and he describes the sound of his new solo projects. Khayree tells us about his duties as a Challenge Day Leader, and his other plans to give back to the community. We also speak about his recent collaboration with Snoop Dogg, and find out the latest on his Young Black Brotha record company..




As always we have both the transcript and the audio for you to check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: eddie@dubcnn.com

 

Interview was done in August 2007.

Questions Asked By : Eddie Gurrola

Khayree Gave Dubcnn.com A Shoutout! Check That Here

Full Interview In Audio : Here

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Dubcnn: What’s up, we’re here with Khayree! How’s it going man?

I’m doing good man!


Dubcnn: So, you’ve been relatively quiet for the last couple of years. What have you been up to?

Breathin’! Playing this Gibson Les Paul guitar that I’m getting ready to plug in; sitting on the cliff, overlooking oceans out in Half Moon Bay; loving my wife; taking care of my daughter; [and] loving myself. Doing my best to move slow.


Dubcnn: Alright, so let’s get right into your new solo project. Do you have a title for it yet?

Yeah, I do. Right now, my title is “A Few Things To Know.”


Dubcnn: OK. So, tell us a little bit about where you’re going with this project…

For me, it’s almost like I’m 17 again! I’m really coming from the heart, expressing how I’m feeling on a few different topics. I’m rapping on the album, I’m singing, and I’m playin’ [instruments.] You can say that it’s very organic – the instrumentation is just finger rolls, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and that kind of thing.

I want to say to the world that I would be [upset] living my whole life and never making a record with my own energy on every level. I’ve been doing this since 1978! I’m currently 47 years young, and I started doing hip-hop and became aware of it at 19 years old. A group called The Lost Poets in New York were the first group I heard do hip-hop. I don’t even remember the order. I know West Coast rappers, Egyptian Lover, of course Too Short.

Back then, I’d play on plastic-coated drums. In fact, you can find some of those 4-track recordings on iTunes. There’s an album on there called “Khayree’s Original 4-Track Recordings – The Birth Of a Musical Genius?” That album right there has some of the early influences. I rap on there a little bit. [That album] is where my roots are, and today, me doing a solo album is almost like a return to that. [I’m] not really trippin’, [and] there’s different elements, like rock and all that. Check out the Khayree Music Podcast.


Dubcnn: So that will give us a good idea of where you’re going with this album?

Yeah, it’s just a variety of music on there. I’m not trippin’ on trying to be on anybody’s top 40 list. As long as I am true to myself, and I’m happy with it, I hope everybody else likes it, and that’s where I’m coming from.


Dubcnn: We’re all fans of your past music, so I’m sure this is going to be great too.

Yeah, and I’m under no allusion about my rapping. It’s good enough to keep somebody’s attention.


Dubcnn: So you’re saying that the album is focused on production?

Yeah, I would definitely say so. The music is a big feature. I create to get that feeling, with a beat from music. Pretty much, you can hum or do anything on top of it and it works because that emotional basis, whether it raps, knocks, slumps – whatever you want to call it. That’s where I’m coming from. I like my music to have a feeling.


Dubcnn: Are you going to have any guests on this solo record?

I don’t want any guests right now. My only guest is the many dimensions of my mind. And for those that want to think a little bit deeper, and outside of the box, here’s an alternative. Here’s some topics that you might not really think about. You know, there’s a lot of things happening right now.


Dubcnn: Yeah, you told me something earlier about how you’re going to incorporate self-improvement messages into your music…

I think what it’s about is really being able to look in the mirror and genuinely like who you are, and what you see. Ultimately, it’s the fact that we don’t like ourselves that enables us to grab a gun, pull the trigger and hurt somebody else, or [to] disrespect and put down somebody else. That’s what caused a big division, and I’m trying to bring people back together man.

You know, when I was a teenager in my neighborhood, we got along, and we didn’t even have to trip on locking doors. It was a black community. Now, in my same neighborhood, Vallejo, California, it ain’t like that. So, I want to be part of the solution.

I think [that] for far too long, I put out records, and endorsed records, that are at this point no longer entertainment. They’re actually used to program. For example, if I show a young girl images of older women, that are 20-21, constantly shaking their asses with long weaves going down to their butt, and they see asses pumping and gyrations in rhythmic forms and fashions, [it’s going to have a negative influence.] This music reinforces a behavior now that is self-destructive, and it’s creating unhappiness and misery in our community. We create the music, and we don’t benefit from it. That’s personally [my opinion.] Now, my artists, they do their thing man. I don’t try to tell them - I’m not trying to edit nobody. I can give an opinion, but that’s never been my thing.


Dubcnn: This project is something positive, so are you hoping it will turn other peoples’ heads and get them to push a more positive vibe in their music as well?

What I’m saying is this man. I have a vision of this type of world. Currently, we’re working on setting up a musical school at the Omega Boys Club in Vallejo, CA. I love the idea. Anyone can come and learn to play the bass guitar, the guitar, and learn to play a drum set, [or] to build a drum set. Studio Ton, the producer from E-40 and The Click, builds drum sets, and is also a drummer. So, [at this school,] you can learn the art of hip-hop, you can learn the business of hip-hop, [as well as] what to do, [and] what not to do.

This is just one idea to give people something to look forward to. Right now, the forecast is gloomy. Foreclosure [is] on the rise. You know what I mean? Schools are shutting down, gasoline prices are high, the war is raging! Shit, man! Hope, please! Someone, give me something good! That’s what the fuck I’m sayin’!

Motherfuckers [have] got to be tired of the same old thing, over and over again. I’m not saying everybody’s album is doing that – there’s good music out there. But, I want to be one of the ones that’s bringing some good music. And I do. The album that I actually have now, it’s right here in front of me, is “Blackalation 2.” There’s 16 songs right there. On “Blackalation 3,” there’s 15. These are the two albums that I wanted to do and have other artists come and do the songs with me.


Dubcnn: Since you’ve been a producing for so long, has it ever become routine to you? Did you need to come up with different ways to challenge yourself?

Yes. I grew bored with what I was doing musically years ago. It was a shift that happened with me, not just with music, but [it was also] a personal shift in consciousness. [Because] of that, my shift musically happened also. I listened to some music that I did, and I was like, “Whoa!” A lot of it was sequenced – it was so lazy, [and] there wasn’t a passion behind it. It was almost like “Music Without A Meaning.” There’s an album title for you! *Laughs* It was just that I listened to it, and you could tell it was very uninspired.

Now, it’s different. I have a passion to get into it. I think in the past, I want to say that I was too sheltered. I cut myself off and didn’t open myself up to working with people, so I gave [off] the image that I was unapproachable, which is anything but true. But that’s on me. So, I do put it out there for artists, to let them know. Check my music out, the podcast is a good place. There’s a lot of good music on that “Khayree Music Podcast.”


Dubcnn: We’ll definitely check that out. We can grab that on Youngblackbrotha.com right?

Yeah, you can go to www.youngblackbrotha.com and there’s a link there. Or you can go to Google and type in “Khayree Music Podcast.”


Dubcnn: You recently released instrumental versions of your old albums on iTunes. What inspired you to do that?

Thank you for asking that question man. There were a few things that inspired me. Number one man, this might sound ridiculous, but I think about death a lot. Me thinking about death makes me appreciate the moment more. [It’s] not in a morbid tense that I think about death. Knowing that the clock could end at any moment [made me realize] there’s a lot of music [I did,] and it means a lot to me. I feel like people should get a chance to partake in it. Of course, I appreciate the wealth that’s coming also! But, for example, the 4-track albums that I mentioned. [Those] are the genesis of my songwriting. One of the songs is called “A Song For My Mother,” that I wrote for my mother who passed when I was 3. It’s a lot of meaningful music.

The instrumentals are songs I did with Mac Dre, [Mac] Mall, Dubee, [and] Ray Luv. There’s [also] a lot of instrumentals that nobody ever heard. There’s albums called “This Guitar Of Mine,” Volume 1 and Volume 2. [There’s also] “The Analog Collection,” which is an album that’s based around the mini-moog and analog sounds.


Dubcnn: Do you still keep in touch with Dubee, Mac Mall, Ray Luv, and all those guys?

I talked to Dubee about 2 months ago, [and] Mall about 3 months ago. So periodically, yeah, but not on a continuous basis.


Dubcnn: So you’re probably not going to be collaborating in the future with them?

I’m open to it. There’s very few people that I can think of that I don’t want to work with. Now, if I don’t like [their] rapping, that’s like coming to a sport you don’t want to play [for me.] “Nah, I’m cool.” That’s the way I do it currently. [But] yeah, I’m open man!


Dubcnn: I notice Snoop Dogg is in your top friends list on Myspace. Are you two going to be collaborating?

I had an opportunity to hang out with Snoop a few months ago down in LA, thanks to my brother JT The Bigga Figga. I did a song for him and JT called “Push & Promote.” That song that I did for him and Snoop is going to be on “The Blackalation” also. So, I hope that more [collaborations] can come. He told me he definitely wants to work with me. I hope to work with Snoop again, because it was really cool working with him.

[We] actually didn’t record it [together.] JT gave me the vocals. But, I went down to LA with them and played a little guitar one night in the studio and just hung out. My eyes were red from the indo clouds! Man! I’m open. I have a lot of people that I’d like to work with. It’s just a matter of me reaching out to them.

Starting in September, I’m gonna start working with an organization called “Challenge Day”, [being a “Challenge Day Leader.”] We have programs in middle schools, high schools, recovery centers, and jails. It’s based around self-esteem, and [guiding] people into their own personal power. [Editor’s note: If you are looking for more information on becoming a Challenge Day Leader, click here: http://www.challengeday.org/get-started/how-to-be-a-leader.html] That’s where it’s at. That’s how you get your money, stay alive, raise a family, [and] have nice things. That’s what we all want! Peace, happiness, prosperity. Can I get an amen!


Dubcnn: Amen!

I’ll be travelling across the country a few days a week, doing that and working with youth. For the last six months of my life, I’ve been in training for this, and it’s really a blessing. A few months ago, we were at [a high school] in Oakland, [and] that right there was the missing link from my life! It’s one thing when you focus on yourself. For the last decade, I stayed in a comfort zone, and it shows. That’s why you haven’t heard any music from me. But I’ve been making music! I’ve been playing my instruments, which is the important thing. The difference is, I decided I wanted to express myself to the world while I can. So, that’s where the solo album comes from.


Dubcnn: What’s the latest on your Young Black Brotha company?

We have four albums [and a mixtape] that are ready to go now. Those albums are Young Mora’s “Town Statesman,” also his mixtape “Representin The Street,” Asecard’s album called “Welcome 2 Me,” Yung Ray’s “5th Flo Livin,” and finally Get Money Boys (GMB), [the duo of] Wonnibo and Alki from Oakland, their album “No Games Being Played.” [That record] is produced by DJ 61, Young Mora’s album is produced by DJ 61. Get Money Boys’s album is produced by DJ 61, and I produced 2 songs on [that] album. Asecard’s album is produced by a cat named Shnug, and Young Ray’s album is produced by a cat named Young Feezy. All of these young cats are very talented. I’ve actually got another cat named Dewayne Crawford who is going to be running my company for me while I travel, so they can take it and make it happen in that way, and I’m putting out my own records [as well.] That’s where we stand right now. We’re waiting on J-Beez to get his album to me [too.]


Dubcnn: Is there anything else you want to say to everyone out there?

I want [people] to just be courageous. When it feels like you can’t go on forever, that’s that time to hold on. Respect yourself, never sell yourself short, think for yourself, [and] don’t believe the hype. Buy and support the music, and express yourself. Do something creative and love yourself. Appreciate everybody around you, because you never know. In the blink of an eye, we could be gone. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you, and God bless everybody. Check me out! [On] iTunes [search] “KHAYREE.” [Or go to] www.youngblackbrotha.com.