1. If you are MIXTAPE DJ and your aren't familiar with DJ Dirty Harry, pause your tape and re-evaluate your career.Now moving right along. DJ Dirty Harry's world renowned mixtapes involved the likes of many superstars from Nas to Diddy. His in-house production and head of A&R over at Alicia Keys' production team Krucial Keys has been an invaluable resource producing such hits as "No One", and now he sits down with illRoots.com to talk Hip-Hop.illRoots.com: It is definitely a pleasure.
2. If you are a BLEND DJ and you aren't familiar with DJ Dirty Harry, pause your tape and re-evaluate your career.
DH: No problem, no problem.
illRoots.com: As far as DJ Dirty Harry, what have you been up to recently?
DH: Definitely getting into alot of production. You know I have an artist Jane Nithrow, I'm producing her album right now. I'm working with various people in the industry on their tracks. I'm still doing Sirius Satellite radio and just doing the mixtapes.
illRoots.com: I'm a big fan of the Rap Phenomenon series. Can you give us some back story on that?
DH: I remember how it came about. I had did a CD and I normally did one Biggie mix on each of my mixtapes and at the time a mutual friend introduced me to DJ Vlad and I gave him the CD. He said we need to do something, you know, connect, link up and we basically said lets go with Biggie. I did the intro of the CD and in a part of the intro there is a part that says "And its a mother fuckin' RAP PHENOMENON" thats how we came up with the name. From that point we basically had all the Biggie acapellas and we split them up and from that started the series. Part 2 with Tupac as you know Green Lantern came in and did his thing, we were in the studio probably around 52 hours straight and got that CD done. Basically knocked it out and turned out another banger as well.
illRoots.com: What's your take on the mixtape game right now as far as how people are marketing their product and so forth?
DH: Well the mixtape game is totally different from when I started. The mixtape game was basically getting the talent, now its not so much that any more its about marketing the music and getting the product out. Also, at that point in time the internet wasn't so prevalent so it was basically a street hustle and people got back with word of mouth. Like "Yo, did you hear this tape", rather it be Doo Wop or Ron G or DJ Clue or Green Lantern. Its now an access you can get on the net in less than 5 minutes so its very different from when I started. Now at this point in time its kind of crazy right now. The game has closed a tad bit but I still think its good.
illRoots.com: Where do you see music going in 08'?
DH: I always look every year differently and say there is about 4 to 5 major acts that come and I think the same for this year. I like Rick Ross' project, you know you got a couple other projects that are coming out. I think as long as everyone keeps everything fresh and their creativity up I think its going to be a good year in 08'.
illRoots.com: What new projects are you looking forward to?
DH: I'm looking forward to the Nas Project, the new G-Unit Project, R&B wise this young girl Jasmine Sullivan, off course my artist Jane Nithrow.
illRoots.com: I've heard of her before. Wasn't she on a few things?
DH: She was actually on MTV Japan and she did a song with a couple Japanese artists as well as the Cornerstone mixtape.
illRoots.com: What's one good book you've read?
DH: Wow. You know I'm going to have to look in my closet, you caught me on the spot.
illRoots.com: [Laughs]
DH: I'd say "Generations: The History of America's Future" by Strauss and Howe.
illRoots.com: Why's that?
DH: It's like a cycle of how America is and just in general, how no one is trying to reinvent the wheel but if you study your past you will definitely know your future. Just like the music business, you have to learn things and once you have that creativity and that knowledge, it will take you alot of places, the same way with culture and society.
illRoots.com: As far as equipment wise?
DH: Oh man I went through alot of stages with equipment, but one that has always been with me is the MPC2000, right in front of me I've got a Juno [Roland], a Korg in front of me, and you know the MPC, Pro Tools, and a whole bunch of plug-ins. Turntable wise for the most part its all methodology now. When I was doing the mixtapes its turntable, mixer, four-track or what have you and then as I became mobile and started doing more parties it was just the methodology. How can I get this done faster? So now I'm up to Serato and I'm using other programs to get a mixtape done where it used to take me like a month or so I can actually get it done in like a week. I mean it's just methodology. Right now I have Pro Tools in front of me and Sony's Vegas and basically just in production I do like to bring alot of live instruments in. If I can get in a bass player and some live strings then thats a must.
illRoots.com: Most underrated producer?
DH: I definitely think Marley Marl. The entire Juice Crew. Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shaunte, Craig G., Masta Ace. You know he produced all those albums and started a whole movement in Queens. He produced for LL and is one of the dudes that definitely needs more credit.
illRoots.com: Other ventures?
DH: For the most part you see me doing movies and just transitioning. I want to do a small feature film. I'm not trying to open any restaurants or anything, I'm more into the creative arts.
illRoots.com: One album to summarize your entire life?
DH: One album. "It Was Written", Nas.
illRoots.com: How did you get the name Dirty Harry?
DH: Oh man, my name is Harry and the name Harry wasn't flying on the streets. So I was just walking down the street and my peeps dropped it off at the barbershop and dude in the barbershop took it to Jamaica AVE. At the time I was just Harry and he's like "Put your number and Put Your Name on the cd and he gave me like 200 compacts and thats how it all started.
illRoots.com: I noticed you did the Alicia Keys joint?
DH: Well I A&R for Krucial Keys and so I do alot of work with their artists and I just remember the call like " You know we wrapping up the album" and I was calling back and forth and I was like "Hey I got a joint" and they were like "cool". So we are in the studio and I remember I had like nine ideas and she liked like six of them and after we were working on like the second idea it turned out to be "No One" and it was crazy because we were all vibing in the studio and right then and there we knew that was it.
illRoots.com: Lastly, What would be one piece of advice?
DH: Definitely have integrity in whatever you do, what you do now will set a benchmark to your longevity and also from my point of view just stay the course, do what is real to you.
illRoots.com: Definitely a blessing. For all you DJ's stop just rubbing wax and understand the game. Shout out to DJ Dirty Harry for being a true pioneer. Check him out at djdirtyharry.com and myspace.com/djdirtyharry.
