Last Summer on June 12th at Hyde Park Summer Fest, the day before my birthday. I got a chance to briefly interview legendary and storied GRAMMY Award-winning DJ and producer, DJ Jazzy Jeff. Before his very amazing DJ set. Which I never published, but may revisit and publish at a later date. It is crazy how things come full circle though. As I recently talked with Jeff again about his soon to be newly launched music production program for inspiring new producers. Who he hopes to help a landing hand and as a launching point with his new program.
Nello: Jeff, nice to catch up with you again. I briefly talked with you at Hyde Park Summer Fest last Summer. So I see you are starting a new music production program. To help inspiring young producers. So how did this come about?
DJ Jazzy Jeff: Great to talk to you again! I created this music production program because I want to give people access to resources I never had growing up. I want the bedroom producers, the aspiring DJs, and anyone interested in playing around with sounds and producing beats to understand the process. The younger generation has unprecedented access to the world now, I want to be a part of that. I paired up with CafeMedia because they already had the foundation of how to build a program. They helped bring my vision to life.
Nello: Kind of piggybacking off the last question. I noticed it’s an online course that is actually not only really for inspiring young producers, but really inspiring new producers of all ages. So is that something you really wanted to do? Make it open for really anybody of any age and why?
DJ Jazzy Jeff: Yes this program is open to people of all ages. Today I feel like it’s more heavily a younger crowd that are dabbling into the producing scene, but I wanted to do something people of any age can learn. I want to help people find their passion or help them achieve their goals no matter what point they are at in their musical career.
Nello: Why did you decide to make it an online course as opposed to doing it in-person?
DJ Jazzy Jeff: Doing the program online allows these resources to be accessible to everyone around the world. It’s much more convenient and easier to communicate with people online. We account for some of the valuable face-to-face experiences through the Live Sessions part of the program. Remote availability of this program benefits more people of all ages and cultures from every corner of the world.
Nello: I ask this too because I have noticed that you have been somebody that always likes to pass your wealth of knowledge and expertise. On your craft to the next generation. That and the fact it seems actually more and more artists in Hip-Hop. Have courses in not only after school programs, but schools that they are teaching actual college courses. On either forms of emceeing or Hip-Hop music. Whether it be Lupe Fiasco, who just started this past February a course, entitled, Rap Theory & Practice, at MIT to T.I. in 2020 teaming with Dr. Melva K. Williams to teach the, Business of Trap Music, course at Clark Atlanta University. Why do you think there has been such an increase in Hip-Hop related courses being taught in actual classrooms?
DJ Jazzy Jeff: I think people have finally realized the impact and influence that hip hop has on mainstream culture. It’s overdue, but society as a collective I think is understanding the depth and layers that the genre has to offer because hip hop is at the forefront of music itself today. And that’s a result of the work we’ve put in all these years disrupting the status quo of what music typically sounds like, the lyrics we’re used to hearing. Hip hop is finally getting credit where it’s due which is something to be celebrated, and I think these courses are a way of doing that.
Nello: Finally, how do you think your new program will help inspiring producers and what do you think they can learn from taking the course?
DJ Jazzy Jeff: The whole purpose of this program was to give people the opportunity who were interested in producing an online course that would honor that. I want people to come away from this program, yes to learn skills but to really find their passion and figure out for themselves if this is something they really want to do. Even in school or working a job you don’t really know if you want to pursue something or if you like it until you experience it. I want this program to inspire people to find their goals and I hope that this program is something they will remember for a while. Register for DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Command Central here: https://commandcentral.djjazzyjeff.com/
