Somewhere on the outskirts of New York a hip-hop moment twenty years in the making is about to commence. It’s the kind of frosty, January night that inspired the uncompromising verses and beats that defined an era: “Escuchela La ciudad respirando….” In one part of town a leader of hip-hop’s new school, 9th Wonder, is holding a […]
A few weeks ago we spoke with DJ and engineer Young Guru about teaching at USC. Following in the footsteps of artists like Bun B and 9th Wonder, who have taken their talents to institutes of higher learning, Guru began his tenure as an artist in residence at the Thornton School of Music this fall. […]
There are few hip-hop culture commentators more compelling than Young Guru. The engineer, DJ and now college instructor brings passion, experience and a colorful perspective to almost any topic, and having grown in this business as Jay Z’s right hand man in the studio hasn’t hurt at all. A month after he and 9th Wonder […]
Last night Jamla Records CEO and producer 9th Wonder held a listening session for his artist Rapsody’s upcoming mixtape, “She Got Game” at Firehouse studios on NYC. Prior to the actual listening 9th and his good friend Young Guru (DJ, engineer, A&R and all around good guy) turned the studio into a barbershop, getting into […]
‘Curator’ is probably one of the most over-used pop culture buzzwords of 2012 – only this time it perfectly applies. On Friday June 29, 2012 legendary Engineer/Producer/DJ Young Guru hosted Sounds & Vision: The Art of Sampling at the 92YTribeca cultural arts space. For the first of three installments, Guru welcomed Sean C & LV […]
Engineer, Producer, DJ and A&R Young Guru took a moment to discuss the importance of Mos Def’s song “N*ggas In Poorest”, an answer to The Throne’s “N*iggas In Paris.” Young Guru is essentially Jay-Z’s right-hand man in the studio having engineered damn near every song Hov has breathed on, but he thinks Mos’ song has […]
Several weeks ago I had the privilege of interviewing Jay-Z’s engineer and DJ, Young Guru, as part of iStandard’s “Beast Of The Beats” producer showcase. On this particular night Hov and Yeezy were making their Jersey stop of the Watch The Throne tour, so I asked Guru what it was like being a fly on […]
On his single “Where I’m From” Jay-Z immortalized the debate about who is the best MC with one line: “I’m from where n*ggas pull your card, and argue all day about/ Who’s the best MC’s, Biggie, Jay-Z or Nas.” But his trusted engineer Young Guru already has his pick locked down–The Notorious B.I.G. “Biggie Smalls […]
