Interview
JD aka Dready
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Chilling in London for a few months after spending Christmas
with his son, Flavour Magazine caught up with versatile
producer and former So Solid affiliate JD aka Dready. Why is
he racking up so many air miles in Richard Branson’s favour?
What has he been up to for the past couple of years? Who is
he working with now? The answers to all three questions lay
somewhere between Busta Rhymes and Dr. Dre.
‘It’s not a matter of just going out there one time and album; me and her are good friends and I’ve got a fair
having great meetings and getting album cuts – it amount of tracks on there and I’m helping her pick
doesn’t work like that,’ says the radiant producer. ‘So beats and everything. I’ve [produced for] Cassidy…
I’ve been going to America now for the past six years, Raekwon – I’ve done eight songs with Bishop
on and off. But in the past two years…the flights have Lamont, when you’r, when you’re in competition with Dre in competition with Dre I’ll be e I’ll be
been really hectic. Last year alone I went to Miami lucky if I get an interlude, because Dre’s the man.
eight times.’ The sun-kissed imagery Miami conjures Especially when he’s executive producing the album.’
up doesn’t align with the idea of hard work, but his
dedicated work ethic is something Dready has drawn Working at the top level
attention to for years. ‘But now that I’m in America Competing for work with the likes of Dr.Dre, Pharrell
my work ethic has probably tripled that because and Swizz Beats, must have changed his outlook out
there were so many producers, so many artists to the quality of urban music in the UK. Admitting that
give beats to, so many people, just so many different he finds musically progressing in the UK less of a
opportunities… Someone approached me about challenge, Dready’s criticism isn’t of the artists here
scoring a film; that never happens here - well it could, but of the flawed moulds the industry pushes them
but you’d have to chase it to make it happen. But in into. He explains: ‘There’s so much quality in the UK
America, it’s just like everything’s there.’ but what happens with our artists is… because the
industry is so messed up, you kinda feel like you have
The art of success to do what they’re telling you to do. So then you’re
There’s certainly an art to making the most of all that’s watering down your sound and they’re telling you
there for the taking. The canvas is daubed with three all kinda things, so by the time a consumer like me
strokes of success – banishing complacency, being would hear it, I’m thinking ‘this is wack – there’s no
time efficient, and working as though your livelihood competition’ – but you’ll probably go and see these
depends on it. In Dready’s words: ‘You get out what producers and hear some of their stuff and wonder
you put in, end of. When you work with people like ‘so why didn’t you release this one?’
Busta Rhymes, you’d think he’s never had a deal in The music industry over here just waters you
his life, you’d think he’s got ten pounds in his bank down, and then they tell you exactly what to do and
account – he’s a workaholic. He walks around with then they drop you. Where’s the sense in that? It’s
a studio – he has a microphone, laptop, everything.’ really mad. They give you their magic formulas for
Such is Busta’s urgency, that he has been known to success and then – when they don’t work – instead
record track vocals in hotel toilets, to send them off of them getting fired, you get fired.’
within hours. What will these two musical workaholics Having overcome hurdles in his personal life that
come up with on Busta’s forthcoming album, Back include depression, losing laptops full of beats, studio
On My Bullshit? A broad smile informs me: ‘I’ve got robberies, and taking the huge risk of selling his
two or three tracks on there. I’ll be happy with one! house in order to make waves on the other side of the
But we just finished a track the other day for a film.’ Atlantic, it seems essential to note a crucial mantra
A visit to Dready’s MySpace (myspace.com/ that Dready lives by: ‘Success is guaranteed on the
jdt10) showcases concoctions with Busta, Akon number of times you get up after you fall. You’ve just
and Shabba Ranks (Clear The Air), Rah Digga (New gotta have that drive. I’m one of those people that
ds by Marsha Gosho Oakes
Shit), Raekwon and Busta (Ice Water) and Dr. Dre’s just won’t stop until I get what I’m aiming for.’
or
Aftermath rapper Bishop Lamont (They Say). He
W confirms, ‘I’m heavily involved in Rah Digga’s next Keep your eyes and ears on myspace.com/jdt10
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