The first project that we did was the Kanye West "Addiction" remix. We've done records together for years but this was the first kind of thing whare everything was together, and then we just went from there. Our chemistry was good. We DJ together and personally we're best friends so it's just natural.
What are some of your goals for this new T's Box/Dope Wax? What should we look for?
I really want to reach back to a lot of my Chicago people, like K. Alexi. I just put out a single for him called "Don't You Know" that was big anthem in the '90s and we remixed it. We also just picked up Joe Smooth's "Promised Land" and remixed it.
I'm excited to hear about the return of the House anthems, there's nothing like dancing to a song when everyone knows the words or rhythm and there is a deeper meaning.
We also just picked up Fable Jeffries' "Urban Soul". We're doing so much together; we just want to take this to a whole new level.
The new music will be released on both labels?
What will happen is there will be projects that have the T's Box imprint on the Dope Wax label and then we will also have things coming out separately. But it's like I'm part of the Dope Wax family because all of our records on T's Box are going to be distributed through Dope Wax. I'm on record saying we are going to change the game.
What uniquely makes a track a "House track" for you?
Well, it has to have that 4/4 and it shouldn't be less than 110-112 bpm or it's more hip-hop/R&B. And it has to be about dance. It has to make people want to dance. House music is dance music.
What other kinds of music do you listen to or what other sounds give you inspiration?
I'm a hip-hop head! It's about good music. I grew up listening to everything. I collected hip-hop records as much as House, but being from Chicago, House took it from there. But I'm also in production on the hip-hop scene. I'm producing work for Rhymefest - you know, who wrote "Jesus Walks" for Kanye. I have an artist on my label, Twone Gabz, who's big on the underground hip-hop scene. Also, on the R&B scene, I've done work for Selena Johnson where I sampled the Natalie Cole classic "Annie Mae," so I brought a House flavor to that. Finally the next single to come out on the R&B tip is a single by Rahim Devon called "You" on Jive Records. So I'm definitely doing hip-hop and House production and doing both well.
You don't feel divided or conflicted or have people asking you to choose House or hip-hop, dance or R&B?
Like my man Jazzy Jeff said, there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. People who say "I'm into House but hate hip-hop," or b-boys that say "I hate House" - all of them can kiss my ass. I just like good music regardless of whether it is country/western or whatever. I think we've all grown up enough to say that. I've seen House music go through all kinds of transformations. I can remember back in the day when you had DJs who wouldn't play new music. Everybody was stuck in disco but I was like, "Why are we so afraid of new music?" Robert Owens, Armando - that was new music. We accepted it then but then we got stuck with disco and the classics. I was the only one playing new music.
But how much of that was just people growing older, having less time to party and kind of wanting to be in familiar songs, and how much of it was being closeminded?
There are some who are just discoheads and love disco. Some just want to reminisce. That's what they want: to hear music they heard when they were young... And we should give them that, but there's more out there.
Any advice to people new to House music production or DJing?
Before you even get out there to make a record, know your craft. A lot of people follow what the press says is hot and don't go with how they feel. Always follow your own heart not what anyone says.
Do you have any upcoming appearances?
Yeah, I'll be doing some work with 3Degrees and a monthly residency is in the works where I'd bring in some big DJs - keep your ears and eyes open for that. Also, I'll be a part of the International House Music Conference in May.
