Q & A With Jazze Pha
How did you get your start?
My first hit record was called “Sho Nuff” and that’s why it’s the name of my record label. It was a song by Tela, 8 Ball and MJG in the late 1993. It was my first big hit, but I started producing over 15 years ago.
Your father, James Alexander, was an original member of the legendary group The Bar-Kays. But, did you always want to be in music?
Of course! But, if you ask me, I was always in it, just not professionally.
Who are you working with right now?
I am working on a new kid right now, Vawn. He is from Atlanta, and he has a single called “Holly Hood” that everyone will be singing soon. I worked on the new Cherish album. I worked on some Duran Duran stuff and also did some stuff with The Dream.
Do you want to venture outside of music into film and television?
Oh, yes! Most definitely! I am hollering at Cartoon Network and also working on some film projects as well.
What do you think about the digital revolution and how it’s changed the music industry?
It’s unfortunate for some artists who put this together and then people just come and hack it. It’s important for us to make hot records like it was back in the day. It’s important to make 7-10 hot records that are just smoking. We need great albums. We need to get back to the essence of talent.
Why did you not work on Ciara’s sophomore album?
I did.
Well, you just produced “Get Up”, which was a single on Step Up soundtrack before the album dropped.
She wanted to try new stuff. Personally, I think Ciara is more of a fan of music than anything, even before she got here. [She wanted to work] with Lil Jon, Pharrell…she is a fan of music. I think she saw that. Now, I think its time to get back to the sound. As you probably saw, she stated, “Me and Jazze Pha are musical soul mates.” I did not take anything personally by it. I wanted her to do her thing. I work with multi-platinum artists all week long. It hurt a little bit, but it was a growing experience for her as well. You have to be focused on your sound. Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones had a sound. Jam and Lewis and Janet: a sound. The Time, people don’t know: Prince. All of these people had a sound and they stayed on the brain of everyone that was musical inclined.
Isoul H. Harris is an entertainment journalist based in Atlanta, GA. (WriteBoy08@gmail.com)