Q: How long have you been working in the music industry?
JAH BORN: I have been working as a professional in the music industry since 1997, so 24 years to date.
Q: What was it like working with neo-soul legend Erykah Badu on one of her most popular songs “On & On”?
JAH BORN: Erykah is a mega creative being. It was so great to experience her warm vibe and amazing ear; she is so witty with her words when writing. Her down-to-earth personality made it easy to blend with her in the studio.
Q: Aside from music, you are also known as a thought leader. How does your philosophical views impact your music and creativity?
JAH BORN: My philosophical views are somewhat influenced by original hip hop and soul culture, and the foundations of the culture are present in the work I do. Another way my views impact my work is [that] I get to reach and connect with artists, producers, DJ’s and build [relationships] on an intellectual/spiritual level. It’s great for learning and developing chemistry with people.
Q: When it comes to your production skills, you have been nicknamed “The Sample Samurai”. What samples have you used in your music?
JAH BORN: I have sampled from various genres. Here are a few:
- “You, Me, And He” – Mtume
- “Say it with Silence” – Hubert Laws
- “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” – The Korgis
- “At Last I am Free” Robert Wyatt
- “Tappan Zee” Bob James
- “Felicia my love” 101 Strings Orchestra
- “Introduction” Magic in Threes
- “Chan Chan” Buena Vista Social Club
Q: In 2017, you started Galaxy 9 Productions with the objective of bringing famous hip-hop artists to Dallas, TX. In your opinion, does Dallas have the potential to be a hip-hop epicenter, like Atlanta or New York?
JAH BORN: Yes! We are stocked with many heavy hitting celebrity producers and artists like S1 (Beyonce, Kanye West) , J White (Cardi B, Megan the Stallion), Shawn Martin (Kirk Franklin), J Rhodes, Picnictyme, J-Roc (Justin Timberlake) , RC Williams Post Malone, Norah Jones, Asian Doll, Yella Beezy, Erica Banks, Snarky Puppy, Leon Bridges, and Bobby Sessions. This is the home of legendary Gangsta rapper The DOC. We are currently sitting on a gold mine of talent here in Dallas, Texas.
Q: You are apart of the Dallas eclectic hip-hop scene. What is the eclectic hip-hop?
KAVIANI: Eclectic hip hop is hip hop created live, we like to call it a “Beat Cookup” – where you blend [a] drum machine, DJ, Keyboard, a drummer, and other sound elements and maybe even a vocalist or bass player. The key element is that the music has a live hip hop feel [to it] when the sounds come together.
Interviewed by Voncia Molock
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