Rap Radar

Shady Records’ four horsemen have been spending the past month working on their third album. And today, the group announced that Just Blaze will serve as the project’s executive producer.

“I’m really excited about doing things a different way this time around”, says Joe Budden. This isn’t a send-tracks-around, and everyone-records-in-their-own-studio type of album. Joell Ortiz said that he is happily looking forward to the process as well: “The creative being creative! Fun, fun fun!”

Royce Da 5’9” added that “everyone is in the perfect space, mentally. It feels great to be back in the studio with the guys and I think that I can speak for everyone when I say that we just wanna make an album that will stand the test of time and mean sum’n to Hip-Hop.”

If Crooked I’s attitude towards this project is any indication of where it’s headed, prepare for an onslaught. “God of the Westcoast, I birthed these n!3@@& now I’m about to burry ‘em. Bloody Axe PigFace Slaughterhouse Mafia!”

In other things Shady related, browse their new Trust Shady Tumblr page. Cop a t-shirt while you’re at it.

The folks over at HardKnockTV got Just Blaze and Young Guru to interview each other. Just speaks on his “Higher“, EDM and reflects on Dame Dash and those jerseys. Los Jets? Young Guru speaks on visualizing records before sampling, recalls the recording process of Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” and more.

UPDATE: Pt. 2 below with Just Blaze and Young Guru reflecting on the early Roc-A-Fella days and their previous work.

Just Blaze and Young Guru had The Roseland Ballroom rocking last night during Red Bull’s Culture Clash competition. Guests included Freeway, Raekwon, Memphis Bleek, Wale, 2 Chainz, Styles P, Jadakiss and Pharaohe Monch. Check out footage above and below.

(more…)

You can find Just Blaze on Combat Jack’s weekly podcast show. Speaking with Sama’an Ashrawi, the producer/DJ spoke on how joining the crew came about and on-air experiences.

Nice tux, homie. Just Blaze recently chopped it up with suits over at The Wall Street Journal. During their interview, he recreated “Higher” and discussed breaking into production.

Justin Smith, known as music producer Just Blaze, who produces for artists such as Jay-Z and Eminem, talks with Lee Hawkins about his role in VH1’s DJ show, “Master of the Mix” and the lucrative business of beat-making and production. Plus he shows step-by-step how he built the beat for hit song “Higher.”

Damn, Just and Free made some beautiful music. And during Just’s set last night at the Fader Fort, he brought Freezer out for “Roc The Mic”, “Flipside” and “What We Do”. Yea Austin, it’s the Roc in the area.

This year’s South by Southwest is already underway down in Austin, Texas. On Friday, the big Southern rap impresario rolled things out with Just Blaze on the 1s and 2s for “Big Pimpin”.

sama’an

Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” shook a few feathers, but Diddy isn’t the only one who supports it. In his chat with MTV, Just Blaze says its intention was never to disrespect the culture. Tell it to them.

Last night, the celebrity B.L.A.P. (Beats, Love & Alcohol Party) Producer Showcase at S.O.B.s went down featuring beatsmiths !llmind, Just Blaze, Statik Selektah, Buckwild, Needlz, Chuck Strangers, Jahlil Beats and more showcasing their music. For those who couldn’t attend, EMETakeover has y’all covered.

hhnm

Just days after releasing their dance tune, “HIGHER“, Just Blaze and Baauer recreate the sound and explain the origins of the track at Stadium Red. EDM FTW.

doandroidsdance