DJ ENVY & RED CAFE: THE CO-OP
Author:
Jay Carter
Read 879 Times Since
Posted on 2007-10-08
24: How did the new album The Co-op come about because I heard that it was actually supposed to be a mixtape?
DJ Envy: It came about from just seeing Cafe' consistency in the industry. I would go to clubs, radio station, strip clubs and I would always see him. From that we just started to do songs with each other not for no particular reason and the songs were coming out so crazy that we could not just let it come out on a mixtape. Cafe came up with the idea to do a album like a Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff or GangStar so we took it over to Koch Records because we wanted that independent money and that independent feel.
24: What was it about Red Cafe that made you want to do an album with him because I am sure as a DJ you have Independent and Major artist wanting to do anything with you and Cafe what was it about DJ Envy that made you want to collaborate with him?
DJ Envy: What it was about Red was that his records was sounding just so damn great and his constituency and I could not believe that nobody had not picked him up as yet and that he was not selling 10 million records, he was like a diamond in a rough.
Red Cafe: He's 24hour hustler, he's like me and he don't stop or sleep and just keep going. The has like seven different jobs if I'm shooting out the right numbers and that's how I play that's how I maintain the life style I created for myself and going what I do with my music. Which is getting on that mic and leaving casualties!
24: As far as the production on the album I feel like you guys did a hell of a job in finding the best production compared to the big name producers so talk about that for a minute?
DJ Envy: I mean Red, had a lot of producers that he was working with from the past and different ideas and when we decided to do the album he wanted it to be like a movie. When you hear songs these days their just songs on an album but when you listen to "Life After Death" or "Reasonable Doubt," those are movies and that's what we wanted to do with this album. For example, the first single "Dolla Bill" which was produced by Rockwilder that right there is something we do and feel its what we're about. I gave Red the track and at first he was not feeling it and he came back to it like 3 months later and made it a hit.
24: What do you think this album is going to bring to the music world?
Red Cafe: Your going to get straight uncompromised Hip Hop, which is rare in Hip Hop right now especially coming out of New York. If you look at it New York has not broke any artist in the last 4 years since 50 Cent and the whole G-Unit, so I think its going to show the nation that we can make good music over here still. To me there are no A&R's and I really mean that when I say that but this right here is going to show that we can still make that music that people wants to hear and make an album compared to just a ringtone and I think its going to raise the bar in the city!
24: DJ Envy, mentioned you being a diamond in a rough and I feel the same way because I live in Brooklyn, NY and of course I know about you but I go back and fourth to Miami and I know a lot of people in Carol City or Opa Locka may not know about you but if they hear you or see you they would understand that you were the next best thing as show on the album where you seem to be in a groove on every track no matter if it was the first single "Dolla Bill" to the current single "Things You Do"?
Red Cafe: I think everything takes time and before it wasn't the right time, and I never compromised myself with my music from my first record I put out to any of my new records. I think that's what is going to kick the door down and make me last. Once I walk through any city or any projects their going to get me, they ain't going to get a nigga that got on a mask, they are going to get a nigga from the streets of Brooklyn and that's the reason why I'm good money in any city I go too.
24: If you had to choose one song off the album as your favorite which would it be?
DJ Envy: It would have to be "Buck, Buck" featuring Sheek Louch, Red Cafe and Kool G Rap.
Red Cafe: The "Invincible" because I feel like the title speaks for itself they cant stop me, they have not stop me yet! I'm still able to walk anywhere and do records with the best of the best and I'm still putting calories in my bank account.
24: What are some of the things the fans should look forward to from DJ Envy & Blok?
DJ Envy: Working, grinding, from the TV to the radio and me and Red Cafe formed a company it is called the "Co-Op" and we have artist that we will be releasing and one of them is a rap group called Section 8 from Brooklyn along with an R&B group called Butterfly. What we are trying to do is bring back good music and the fun.
24: What are some things the fans should expect from the near future from Red Cafe & ShakeDown Records?
Red Cafe: At ShakeDown Records we still doing the same thing putting out uncompromised music we are looking for more acts and your going to get powerful music. It's like your watching a good movie and you don't want to get out of your seat and you end up just never moving and watching the whole movie, were going to be giving out popcorn soon so make sure that you got a bag!
24: Regardless of what this album sells I feel like it's a must have and was well put together, so I wanted to know can I expect to see a possible second album from DJ Envy & Red Cafe?
DJ Envy: Yeah, of course and were not going to change anything on the next album so we can bring back this same feel we got with the first one.
24: DJ Envy, what do you think Jermaine Dupri saw in you that other labels didn't when you were trying to get into A&R consulting?
DJ Envy: I don't ask anyone for anything and like Red said my swipe is official, he seen the grind and my aspirations and I think he wanted some ears on the east coast and I think he was happy with what I could bring to the table.
24: Cafe, I know that you are signed to Akon's Konvict Music but tell me how the deal came about?
Red Cafe: Akon's a guy from the streets even though he is a pop singer, he makes pop songs but his songs is about his life and just being from the streets he still have a lot of ties to the streets and those guys told him about me and from that we met each other. From there he got to really see the type of person I was and being a real dude and not this fake made up person and when ever he's in town and we go out my car is official and my swipe is just like his and the music was the icing on the cake along with my history of being a real convict it just makes perfect sense!
24: Envy, what advice would you give to an up and coming DJ as well as A&R?
DJ Envy: Don't stop; just don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. When I first started everyone said I was a fake DJ Clue and that Clue should be the only DJ that comes out of Queens, NY and I'm here and I beat the odds.
24: Cafe, what advice would you give to an up and coming artist trying to get signed?
Red Cafe: Never compromise yourself man, stay consistent and whenever that wall is up just knock it down later is always greater, trust me!
24: Any last words you guys want to get out to our readers?
Red Cafe: The Co-op Oct.9, be apart of history because it's moving!
DJ Envy: Yeah, The Co-op Oct.9 It's moving (laughing).
