Three laps around the sun-that is how long it has taken Donny Goines to amass his words and music for his debut album, Minute After Midnight. Unlike other debuts, this album does not serve as an introduction but rather it cements the fact that this Harlemite can create a worthy album that embodies hip hop in its truest form. That said this album is not a classic by any means, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
The genius for lack of better words of this thirteen-track LP lies in the fact that, all you hearing is [him] not a rapper who lies; while a strong majority of rappers play their parts in fantasia, Goines instead spits reality raps. Even when he spits imaginary tales a la Ricky’s Story, he still reinforces that same very reality. The whole attitude of the album is summed up in its title which Goines parallels to that of the fairy tale, Cinderella, “...the story has a parallel to rap…they had [a] ball which parallels the clubs, the gowns is like the jewelry, the clothing; but what happens after midnight? All that fantasy just disappears, and that's what I'm trying to represent in this album, no fantasy-none!” Goines intent, clearly laid in the groundwork and evidently coming into fruition with Minute After Midnight, was not to involve the usual ish. To this degree one must applaud Goines’s effort for not conforming to any system or style on the road to riches and diamond rings; clearly real n***as [still] do real things.
Executively produced by Dame Grease, it also includes production from Statik Selektah, DJ Static and K Salaam. The fact that Midnight After Midnight utilizes the same producer on more than one track allows the album to be more cohesive. Similarly, because this album does not feature any other rappers, it allows Goines to shine to the best of his ability. The majority of this album contains discerning storytelling embedded within inspirational and reflective lyrics more than anything. Ghetto USA as the title would imply is an insightful track in which Goines vividly describes the ghettos that plague Amerikkka. Dame Grease’s, I am Moving, finds Goines applying celestial metaphors to recreate cruise music. MLK describes his plight to his imminent success, while emulating Martin Luther King’s notion of a dream. Can U Hear Me finds Goines calling unto God over what sounds like music suitable for the Scarface soundtrack with its sturdy use of synthesizers. The aforementioned Ricky’s Story is one of the stellar tracks among many on this album. This track is the art of storytelling at its finest, with a very powerful moral that becomes practical in this rap climate presently crammed with delusions. As The World Turns is what I would describe as his Nas hiccup; the album could have fared better without its inclusion. A tribute to the early loss of his son comes with Heaven Is With You, a very personal track that also reinforces Goines uncanny knack for storytelling, as it questions “what if”?
Even if Minute After Midnight offers nothing novel as Goines sticks to an unwritten script, it is still a solid release. Excluding the Nas miscue, the content of this album reinforces Goines’s status as an E-M-C-E-E who spits with an unequivocal, passionate conviction.
The homie, Nino Bless sent me this introspective track Murdera and I thought I would share. It's always refreshing when an emcees uses his or her music or lyrics rather as an instrument to voice truths instead of spitting about what they got...BK STAND UP
Common recently pronounced, “Today is the birthday of a new child of mine” when referencing the release of his latest studio release, Universal Mind Control. If that is the case, then it is the bastard child resulting from his relationship with Serena. It appears as though when Common becomes seriously involved (…for the public to see) with a woman he loses all his sense and sensibilities with regards to hip hop. His relationship with Erykah Badu generated Electric Circus, a subpar, far cry from hip hop standards even if it was experimental. Keeping the notion of family in mind, one would expect that Universal Mind Control would fare better than his first child, Electric Circus; unfortunately this is not the case. Perhaps his newfound money,“A brother isn't just relying on hip-hop to pay my bills anymore", has this brother perplexed. Maybe it is something in Chi-City’s water that has got its prominent artists seeing things differently. You cannot slap mediocre, uninspiring lyrics to sometimes insipid production and call it the “the future of progressive hip hop”; that’s like slapping lipstick on a pig. It’s sad that an artist of such stature and longevity, who effortlessly delivered Be and Finding Forever, could revert to such second-rate standards....alas we see the b***h in yoo.
I once referred to Detroit native, Black Milk as the Samuel L. Jackson of this rap ish, and clearly I was not exaggerating when I made this assessment. Since committing his production talents and budding wordplay to The Set Up, a collaborative project with Fat Ray, Black Milk has since been involved with the likes of Elzhi and Heltah Skeltah to name a few.
With his latest release, Tronic, Black Milk showcases why Detroit is soon to be at the forefront of production. It is always invigorating to see someone not only hone their craft but also deviate from what is traditionally expected from them especially in this present hip hop climate; that not only rewards unoriginality and monotony, but sadly also awards style over substance. With Tronic, Black spills his jargon over chiefly electronic based sounds with a glitter of soul and assorted drum patterns that we have grown to attribute with his music.
I recently caught up with Black, fresh off a performance in Toronto, tired yes- but ultimately proving that he will sleep when he is dead.
Eldorado Red: What it is Black, how are you doing?
Black Milk: What’s good? I’m good, what’s going on with you?
Eldorado Red: Ain’t nuthin’, trying to live I can’t complain, how was your trip to Toronto?
Black Milk: Dope man, the show turned out good man, I’ve always loved Toronto.
Eldorado Red: Iight, What has the response being like for Tronic?
Black Milk:Good man, just getting a lot dope reviews youknowhatiamsayin.
Eldorado Red: How did you approach this album when compared to Popular Demand?
Black Milk:I knew had to make a better album than Popular Demand youknowhatiamsayin of course there’s… I wanted to have a different sound than Popular Demand and a just sound that people wouldn’t probably… that’s why I titled it Tronic it’s kind of like electronic based but it still has a little bit soul to it. It’s a lil’ futuristic; it’s something different, fresh and a different approach with just hip hop beats period.
Eldorado Red: Long Story Short, pretty much tells your story, are you content with where your career is at this time?
Black Milk: Yea man youknowhatiamsayin I always got goals but I’m pretty content. I know it’s a growing process and it’s a certain process you got as an artist youknow nothing happens overnight so I’m still working hard and grinding to get to where I wanna be youknow in the music industry and just the game period. So yea but right now I’m good man, youknowhatiamsayin. I am just trying to build the fan base, make the fan base grow.
Eldorado Red: Losing Out is one of the many stellar tracks on this album. When do you feel that Detroit will finally get its just deserts, proper recognition?
Black Milk: I really couldn’t say an exact time like I couldn’t say if it would be next year or 2010 youknowhatiamsayin whenever it happens it happens but it is gonna happen youknowhatiamsayin. So I feel like it’s going to come back full circle back to D we gonna have our shine and when we do its going to be hard for any other place to take the spotlight off of Detroit youknowhatiamsayin.
Eldorado Red: Iight so Give the Drummer some, was that inspired by the UTFO single by the same name at all?
Black Milk: Nah it wasn’t. I was actually approached in another interview or somebody told me something about that before. I never heard of that song or anything like that youknowhatiamsayin but yea that song was inspired by James Brown and Fela Kuti… so just some real funky youknow grimy musical kind of like hard afro rock type of shit.
Eldorado Red: Where those horns sampled from Fela or did you have someone come in and play….
Black Milk: Nah none of it was a sample, that’s like original music even the horns that was a part… my man Sam played horns on the track. There’s actually YouTube footage of me and him in the studio with him recording the horn part for the hook. So yea that was all original music; like I was saying, it was just inspired by James Brown and Fela.
Eldorado Red: What inspired you to recreate ribbon in the sky?
Black Milk: Oh yea…I don’t know matter fact I do know. One day I was in the lab and my brother’s friend well my brother and his friend were in the studio with me. My brother’s friend was over there playing like Ribbon in the Sky. I was like, “Yo that’s dope.” But he was playing it on like this real cheap keyboard I thought it’d be dope if I like flipped it on like a synthetic version of it so with a synth keyboard.I hoped unto the lab drum kit and just played a real simple beat, real slow and had him play Ribbon In The Sky on the synth board when were on the road. And then I played on top of it with just different synth keys and another sound and you know that’s how it came together.I was like youknow I’ll use it as an interlude youknowhatiamsayin the track is about 30, 40 seconds.
Eldorado Red: What projects other than Random Axe are in the works?
Black Milk: Right now I really…there’s a lot of different things I want to do, I just can’t really put my finger on which one I am gonna to do after….which one I am going to make official. I just got a lot of different things in mind; I don’t know if I want to do an instrumental project, I just got to figure out the concept. I want to work with a couple of different singers from the D. I want to do some stuff that’s kind of outside of hip hop. Yeah, I got a couple of different ideas; I am just kind of focused on Tronic right now. But definitely be on the lookout for Random Axe.
Eldorado Red: Are you still not listening to the radio?
Black Milk: I mean every now and again but not really youknowhatiamsayin (laughs). Every time I am in the ride I am playing a CD, I am playing some beats; I don’t really ride around and listen to the radio.
Eldorado Red: Any last words for the readers?
Black Milk: Tronic in stores youknowhatiamsayin, that’s all I am focused on right now. Just making sure everyone is aware that Tronic is out and go support it, it’s real hip hop music.
To say that the late, great, James Yancey, better known as J-Dilla was part of music royalty (if there ever existed one) is probably not the most appropriate analogy for a man of such unearthly talents. That said, since his untimely passing, and given the nature, or rather structure, of the abovementioned royalty; it’s without saying that Illa-J, his younger brother would ultimately take his place as his likely successor.
Twenty-one year old Illa J understands the scrutiny that comes with his brother opening the doors for him- naysayers are quick to suggest that he entered the game with a silver spoon in his mouth. Still it is no fault of his that he happens to be a Yancey.A songwriter, rapper, singer and producer all in one, Illa-J has come full circle- never could he imagine adding his own touches to tracks that were made around the same time he knew his brother had made the big time (Labcabincalifornia anyone?). I recently caught up with Illa-J, who now calls Los Angles home; although, Detroit is where the heart is.
Eldorado Red: First things first how are you enjoying that Cali weather? I’m out in New York and it’s raining out here.
Illa-J: I definitely love it out here… like as far as the weather youknow coming from the D where the weather is always unpredictable it could be snowing today and raining tomorrow… so I am definitely loving it (Laughs).
Eldorado Red: Now since we are on the topic of Cali, it’s kind of interesting that you reside out there, why did you opt to relocate?
Illa-J: I feel I’m closer to my brother out here because this was where he was last and and when I seen him out here he was happy so I definitely wanted to come this way.
Eldorado Red: Iight, now yesterday was a big day what are your feelings about Barack winning yesterday’s election.
Illa-J: That was definitely… that was probably one of those most amazing things ever I’ve ever experienced. Like just to be here and see it with your own eyes it’s crazy cause’ there was a time… like there are people that didn’tmake it to see this day and they were there when Dr. King was speaking and I’m sure they’re smiling down now. I don’t know it’s just good to be a part of history, I voted early and it was a good feeling. It’s definitely a big event in history but now is the time to move forward with progress.
Eldorado Red: I am an avid basketball fan, I don’t know what your feelings are about the sport but what do you think about the addition of Iverson to the Pistons, is it an upgrade or downgrade? If you don’t follow basketball you can skip that question.
Illa-J: Well basketball is my favorite sport, but music has always been in me … but as far as my first love it’s basketball. Some people are skeptical about it but I definitely think he’ll be able to work with the system. And coming into the Detroit locker room you have no choice but to be a part of that whole team atmosphere. I know it’ll work well and I’m quite interested in seeing what happens.
Eldorado Red: Is your adopted moniker a sort of tribute if you will, to your brother? I mean there is a lot of semblance with J-Dilla.
Illa-J: I mean yeah pretty much when I was coming up with a name…at the time I was trying to get into music academy.At the time I didn’t have a name I was just making music and they had a long application to fill out to get into it youknow it’s like a music workshop or whatever. When it got to the artist part like artist name I didn’t have a name at the time so I called up my friends sister and we made up a bunch of names for like 20 minutes then [we] hung up. She later called back with, “Illa J.” I thought it sounded nice. I wanted to pay tribute to my brother I mean that’s my brother youknowhatimean I can pay tribute whenever youknowhatimean I rep Dilla for life so I don’t care If I change my name to J-Dilla 2 youknowhatimean that’s my brother.
Eldorado Red: (Laughs)
Illa-J: And I’ll rep that forever cause’ he opened the doors for me. I know a lot of people are like “oh his name is too much like his brother’s.” I don’t care that’s my brother youknow that’s my hero so it’s whatever youknowhatimean. I’ll rep my brother for life so anybody with anything to say about that, “It’s Dilla for life YanceyBoys let’s go.”
Eldorado Red: Now what comes easier to you singing, spitting, or making beats?
Illa-J: Well as an artist I see myself as… I’m a singer, song writer first that’s what I was going to do first. I was just going to sing and have my brother produce for me and as far as writing I’ve been writing all my life I’ve been writing poetry like since I was 8 and then eventually I started just youknow… at some point you make a transition and then you start writing songs. And once I got a sense of the song structure that’s when I really started to hone my craft and as far as the spitting part that pretty much came from like… I’ve always been writing stuff I just didn’t necessarily know how to deliver it and once I found my voice in it that’s when that came into play. But I definitely see myself as a singer, songwriter first.
Eldorado Red: Okay. Now you mentioned people smiling down when we were talking about elections. I am sure somewhere in the heavens your brother is smiling at you. Did you feel any added pressure recording over his unheard beats for this albums’ entirety?
Illa-J: No not really cause’ honestly even if my brother was here he would be like, “What’s pressure? Just do your thing.” I definitely didn’t feel any pressure or anything. When I’m in the studio I’m in my own world. I honestly don’t even like anybody really to be in the studio with me; it’s just me and the engineer.
Eldorado Red: From the Alien Family skit I assume you play instruments; which do you play?
Illa-J: I play bass guitar and the piano. Technically my first instrument was the piano but that’s when I was younger and at that time I didn’t finish through with it maybe I felt like I was forcing it youknowhatimean. And it’s like even books and stuff… I’m reading stuff now that I would not have been interested when I was in school cause’ I felt more forced and now I’m just reading through it and I feel more youknowhatimean I’m in control of what I’m doing The bass is the first instrument I picked up. I always wanted to play bass but I never got a chance to play it and after my brother passed I hit up my mom like, “Yo! I need a bass.” The piano came back on September 13th 07, I remember that date cause’ that was the first time I saw Stevie Wonder perform and when I came back from thatI started teaching myself piano; that’s how much it inspired me
Eldorado Red: That’s whats up, now what was the first song you heard on the radio or saw on TV that Dilla was involved with?
Illa-J: The Drop video back in 1995…All the tracks on this album [Yancey Boys] were made around 95, 98 so it’s crazy I’m sitting on the couch watching the Drop video not realizing thatsome of the tracks he’s [Dilla] is making during this time I would be recording for my album 13 years later. It’s kind of overwhelming when I think about how everything came full circle but definitely the Drop video the Running video… I remember when Woo Hah!!came out, I know he did a couple of remixes. And then of course The Light and the Janet Jackson track that’s when I realized he was really doing it for real
Eldorado Red:What prompted you and when did you start taking music seriously? I guess I can’t really say what prompted you since you’ve always been surrounded by music but when did you start taking it seriously?
Illa-J: Well like you were saying I pretty much always knew I would do music at a young age. I knew at some point whether it was the business side or I’d be an artist myself I knew music would take over. While at college studying athletic training I started seeing music start to take over. I was in class and stuff and I’d be writing songs in the back of class and then like the music would just start to take over day by day and at a point I would skip class and go to the music building to write songs and stuff.
Eldorado Red: When you were in class did your mates know who you were?
Illa-J: I’ve always been a real quiet kid so I never really talk, honestly I didn’t want to be the dude like, “Hey my brother did that track” youknowhatimean.
Eldorado Red: (Laughs)
Illa-J: I would hear kids talk about tracks like when Vivrant Thing came out, my and I would hear people talking about the song and they’d be like, “His lyrics is cool ,but the beat is crazy.”
Eldorado Red: (Laughs)
Illa-J: …and they would be beating the beat on the desk but I wouldn’t say nothing. I would kind of shy away from that stuff.
Eldorado Red: Apart from the obvious (Dilla) who else has helped influence your sound?
Illa-J: I got to say Al Green, Marvin Gaye, like those are two of my favorite song writers of all time. Later on, I got into Prince. I liked Prince early, but I didn’t understand his music at that time. Prince is on another level the more I got an understanding of music the more respect I gained for prince. You can probably say that’s my favorite artist right now. I listen to a lot of song writers and producer and bands cause’ I like to listen to how the music is orchestrated and how song writers mess with the different sound chords and put it together. Right now I’m just reading books on songwriting and just bettering my craft. As a producer and songwriter, Pharrell from the Neptunes is actually… he’s probably one of my favorite producers.
Eldorado Red: When it’s all said and done how do you want to remembered musically? I’m sure you don’t want to be remembered as J Dilla’s little brother, younger brother?
Illa-J: Well no in all honesty at the end of my career I want to be known Illa-J. As far as a connection with J Dilla youknowhatimean like I mean of course he opened the doors for me. Honestly it started back with my pops opening the door for us to do our thing. But he [Dilla] opened a lot for me … that’s my brother we represent each other youknow that’s my brother at the end of the day when I sing I reps for him when he do something it represents me cause’ that’s my blood. As long as I continue to stay with my craft and keep the right mind set and stay focused then eventually people will respect me for that. At the end of my career if anything I just want people to know that that when I do my music I do it from the heart and it all comes from my heart and I put my all into it.
Eldorado Red: Spoken like a true musician now you got any shows lined up for the east coast like in New York.
Illa-J: I am gonna start touring next year; I’m not sure exactly when but definitely …of course I got to hit up New York go to Brooklyn get some Junior’s cheesecake youknow(laughs)
