JIM JONSIN: UNUSUAL SUSPECT TO SOUTHBEAT

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305djs: How did you first get started in music?

Jim Jonsin: Djing. Just playing around on how to scratching and cutting, breaking with records all of that.

305djs: What was the first song you produced?

Jim Jonsin: The first actual song was in 1988. Before that it was just mixtapes. The song was called "Cut It Up." It was a DJ song. Scratching and shit over it. Bass music.

305djs: Have you worked with any other DJ's out there?

Jim Jonsin: Craze. I've know Craze for a long time. He actually put me in his bio as one of his mentors, which was really cool. My man Cooly C is a DJ. DJ Laz, I used to f**k with him. Eddie Mix from Power. Down here in Miami, a whole lot of us were DJ's, and we made music. If you were making beats, you were a DJ back then. I used to f**k with Uncle Al too.

305djs: You were part of "Unusual Suspects" with Big D, how did you too link up?

Jim Jonsin: The first time we met was through this group, Suns of Sacrifice, I was f**king with and they were friends with mutual friends who introduced me to him. Then a little while later he had brought some groups he was working with and it just kind of linked like that. Met each other. Dug what he was doing on the guitar and just started vibing.

305djs: Both of you went your separate ways, is there any bad blood? What is the reason you split up?

Jim Jonsin: No. Absolutely not. There was just different visions and stuff like that. He wanted to do certain things I didn't want to do and I want do certain things he didn't want to do. It was better that way. If it presents itself, I'm pretty sure we will be working together again.

305djs: Now that you are with SouthBeat Records, what is your position with the company?

Jim Jonsin: I'm A&R plus I'm the in-house producer. I oversee all the projects that come through. Signing new acts. Developing new talent and producers and songwriters. Kind of building a musical team from whatever we can add as a team. Trying to make hit records.

305djs: Whose projects are you working on right now?

Jim Jonsin: We just finished up J-Shin. They're getting ready to mix his album. We're doing work with Wreckonize and Mayday. Trying to get them situated. They have their own thing that they're doing. The type of producer that I am to work with them is a different feel so we're getting in the zone now.

305djs: Do you think you're going to have a strong team in 2006?

Jim Jonsin: Yea. I got a hell of a team. I got some heavy hitters. We got some good people, songwriters, and producers. We're also working on the Pretty Ricky album. Their second album. But that's not on SouthBeat.

305djs: How do you feel about the Miami music scene? Do you feel like it's the next to blow?

Jim Jonsin: You know it is. You got Rick Ross just got signed. Pretty Ricky is blowing up. Pitbull, Trick [Daddy], Trina. It's a whole bunch of things happening. With us, musically, Cool N Dre, there's a lot of noise down here. All the talent needs to press on now. J-Shin's record is starting to pop off. It's getting a lot of spins on the radio right now.

305djs: What Miami artist that you haven't worked with, would you like to work with?

Jim Jonsin: There aren't many that I haven't worked with. A lot of [celebrities] are moving to Miami, I say Pharell, he's in Miami right now, I wouldn't mind working with him. In Miami, I pretty much know everyone that is down here. I'm trying to help out whenever I can with the artist. We're trying to build a label over here at SouthBeat Records. We also have a company with Atlantic. We have another company called RebelRock Entertainment. We're seeking out new talent.

305djs: Is there anything you want to promote?

Jim Jonsin: Definitely want to promote SouthBeat Records. Lookout for the J-Shin album coming soon. RebelRock Entertainment with Atlantic Records. Look for the new Trillville single we just did with T-Pain. Lookout for the T-Pain album, he's on the team as well. We got T.I.'s record that is coming out. So there's a lot of stuff that's about to happen. Trick [Daddy] stuff we're working on. We did the new Trick [Daddy] song "Get Low." I would also like to mention that I got my man Cooly C. I pulled him out of the depths of the underground old school. He's the Mac Davis of today. We're working together. He's one of my partners coming on board. So he's doing production with me as well. He has some serious sh*t. That's it. Whoever is reading this, just f**king keep doing good music in Miami man. Keep it coming. Work hard.

LISTEN TO THE JIM JONSIN LIVE INTERVIEW