Interview with Dawaun Parker (Dres keyboard player, info on future projects)

[Meho]

Dawaun Parker (born May 9th, 1983) is a platinum musician and record producer. He is a staff songwriter and producer for Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment label. After receiving his first formal credit on 50 Cent’s, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ Soundtrack, Parker is contributing to several big projects, among his former contributions are songs on The Big Bang (nr. 1,3,5,6,8,9,11 & 15).

1. How did you hook up with Dr. Dre?
Well, a day after I finished college, my manager, Sean Collins, got a call about Dre looking for a new keyboard player/producer. That call came from Che Vicious, a producer and former A&R that Sean knew, and whom I met in high school in 1999. Che was an A&R then. Anyway, turns out Che has a good memory, and when Dre let him know he needed a new dude for the team, he reached out to my manager. We both flew out the next day to audition, so to speak, for Dre. I haven’t come home since, and I now have a production deal with Aftermath.

2. It looks like you did a lot on The Big Bang, how did you, Dre & Busta work in studio?
In a few different facets. For the most part, a song gets completed in stages. There is the making of the basic beat, then getting a song to it, recording, and then Dre may have me come in and also do overdubs just before mixdown. Busta wasn’t normally around when we were making beats, which could end up going to anybody. I’m there during the creation of the beat, so whether or not it’s just Dre and myself, or both of us and Mark Batson, or Che or Mike Elizondo. The team comes together (usually with Dre on drums and me sitting at a keyboard, and we bang out ideas). So we’ll make ten slaps in a day, then those would go out to whomever. Toward the final stages of production on the record, however, I saw Bus pretty much everyday. So of course there were instances where we may be working on something and Busta would come in, and be like, “ooohhh! This is gargantuan right here. Let me black out on this right now!”, and the song gets written and recorded right there and then. That’s when it’s the best usually; that first instinct is usually the winner. The experience was great, cause Bus and I got to build some, and he got to know me a little bit. I told him the story of how I remembered taking the city bus to the record store, old CD’s to trade in hand (I needed the money), in exchange for The Coming. I rocked that CD to death, notably track #10, which is called ‘Still Shining’. I almost died the first time I heard that beat man…that’s how I came to know about The Ummah, which was basically Jay Dee. Dilla became one of my favorite producers…I pretty much have every beat he’s ever made now…and it all started with The Coming. So to be a significant part of The Big Bang was a real blessing. So many people I wanted to work with, Bus, Dilla, Nas, Missy, Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder, Rick James, and Erick Sermon were all fulfilled on this one record, so it’s a dream come true.

3. What do you think about the album, what's your favorite song off The Big Bang, and why??
I can easily say I think that this is Busta’s best record. He shows a greater depth and is more diverse lyrically. I always felt that Busta was underrated as an emcee, but on this record Busta does more to prove his value. My favorite song overall is probably “You Can’t Hold the Torch”. It’s Busta and Q-Tip spitting over Jay Dee, flipping Minnie Riperton, all mixed by Dre. Now that’s a formula! I also must mention that the “Get You Some” beat has a special place in my heart too. I’m proud of the reaction people have when my piano part comes in. It’s a real good feeling.

4. What other projects you are working on?
Of course we are working on Detox right now. We are pulling out all the stops for that one. You still got to wait some for that, but in the meantime you can hear me on Snoop’s new album, Blue Carpet Treatment, Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come, “Get Low”, the first single from Stat Quo’s Statlanta, and Raekwon’s Cuban Link 2. My group, The GodBody, is also releasing our debut, We Are The GodBody, next summer. We are working on that right now at Dre’s in between sessions for Detox. We Are The GodBody will feature all my production, but also will have some production collaborations with Dr. Dre, Hi-Tek, Just Blaze, and Mark Batson. So that’s what’s on the agenda. The Busta record was a preview…next year is gonna belong to Aftermath and High Renaissance! Get Ready.

5. I it anyone you would like to work with that you haven't worked with yet?It is one of my dreams to work with Kim Burrell. She is the greatest singer in the world. If D’Angelo ever comes out of hiding, I want to do a whole album with him. I would also like to work with Kanye, and build with Primo and Pete Rock. They are all inspirations for me. I also gotta work with Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. Chick had the most influence on my early sound. When I first started playing keys, all I got were his records. I even made a bunch of beats sampling him. I would love to work with Take 6 as well. If you need some chords, listen to their first couple of records. Lastly, if I got Canibus in his prime, I’d do his record without question. He’s a real animal.

6. Would you consider start producing your own songs?
I am. Like I mentioned before, look for The GodBody next summer. Check out our website: GodBodyMusic.com, there is also a link to our MySpace there. Also, you’ll start to see more solo production from me real soon. I have tracks with Deon and Tiffany Villarreal; both are R&B artists signed to Aftermath. Talib Kweli and Jae Millz may also have my slaps on their next albums. Additionally, I have an artist on my production company, High Renaissance, named Britten. He’s a beast…say John Mayer, and D’Angelo wrapped in one. He’s definitely going to have a career.

7. What do you have to do to be successful in 2006?
You have to have a God-given gift, but also have more drive than the next man. You have to be current and aware of what’s taking place culturally, and musically. Again, your work ethic has to be crazy. You have to know who you are, what you represent, and how you plan on bringing that to the masses. You have to know what you want your music to accomplish…more specifically, what you want to happen as a result of people hearing your music. What do you want the listener to see? Feel? What image do you want conveyed? When you know that, it gives your music purpose, and purpose equals power.

8. Any last words?
I urge everyone to support real music. Music that’s saying something, and places quality before image. If you some help finding it, start here. I aim to maintain artistic integrity for the entirety of my career. One love ya’ll.

Thanks!
It’s my pleasure. Stay up fam!

[Adriano]

tight props

[Adriano]

fuck listen to the beats on GodBodyMusic.com

[eazye]

Props, good read

[Bones01]

propz. stats album might actually come out if they got a single ready 

[Facez]

the tracks on his site sound like they should be on detox WOW!! . i didnt know Dawaun parker was that good cuz i didnt really like the ines he did on big bang no wonder Dre signed him

http://www.godbodymusic.com/main/

[--Vance--]

the tracks on his site sound like they should be on detox WOW!! . i didnt know Dawaun parker was that good cuz i didnt really like the ines he did on big bang no wonder Dre signed him

http://www.godbodymusic.com/main/

Damn there are some really good beats!!!

[Timmeeeehh]

Props, good read