DD Hello! What are you doing right now? 

C Not too much, just sitting in this haunted basement I’ve been living in for the past year, eatin’ sunflower seeds and listening to some H-Town.  I’ve been super into this shit lately.

DD How did you hook up with the Droppings Gems label? 

C Well I was in class at Evergreen with founding member John Kammerle aka Rapclass in 2008.  It was like a music technology summer class and we were both making these little hip hop jams which I think we bonded over.  One day after class we were walking together and he handed me this business card that just said Dropping Gems on it with he and Gumar’s names and contact info.  That was it… no other explanation. I was like “ok my dude, thanks” and for some reason I held on to the card because I thought it was funny.  I actually still have it, it’s hella stained and gross now but here’s a picture anyway.

I guess at that point Dropping Gems was just a website they had made to post interviews and music they liked, stuff like that.  Then about a year later my friend Jesse sent a bunch of us this really amazing and beautiful material he had been working on under the name of Bone Rock.  It ended up being the first release from dropping gems as an actual label.  You can actually still purchase a physical cd of it, apparently there’s a few copies left:

http://droppinggems.bandcamp.com/album/bone-rock-ep

But yeah, I guess that was the point when Aaron Meola came in as an organizing element and asked me if I wanted to be part of the collective, which i was extremely excited about.  I had no idea at the time that it would turn into something anybody paid attention to. I just viewed it as a fun, simple outlet for a group of friends who made music.

http://www.facebook.com/citymouth

http://www.droppinggems.com/

– Jimi Jaxon

DD I read a tweet from you a few hours ago and laughed, and now here we are! What’s going on in your area right now?

CN I’m in Oakland right now, I’m not from here. Everyone seems to think I’m from here for some reason. But nah, I’m from all over da world shawty!

DD From someone living near this protestor/police situation, what do you see?

CN Well, I don’t really live near by the protests and shit, that’s more by 12th street, I’m more into west oakland. But it was hella funny, I was coming home from my homies crib by 12th street and I thought there was just cracking block party cuz there was hella people by the 12th street bart, just fucking mobbing and rapping and dancing. If I didn’t have hella shit to do I wanted to join the party! lol

DD I’m a big fan of sassy, independent women. Your music has some sharp edge to it, and you seem to carry that edge as well. What drives this?

CN Confidence and not really giving a fuck. From time to time I get like weird when people talk shit about me, because I find that it’s very easy to say mean things about me. I mean comon’ I’m pretty fucking outrageous sometimes. But I just gotta get over that bullshit. But I moved out of my parents house when I was 16 and came to San Francisco and I had always been an independent child as well. Also as a child, I moved ALOT. I was born in the Dubai, then moved to Africa, Zambia, then my dad’s job tried to transfer him to another place in Africa, but my mom was sick of being in Africa, so he quit his job and we were trying to figure out where we wanted to go, we went to London for a bit, then back to Dubai, but then my Dad finally decided that he wanted to go settle in Canada, so we moved to Toronto. I think moving made me really confident though, because I would have to just fucking make friends in a completely new place every 3 years or less! I think that really gave me skills to communicate with a large scale of people.

DD Did you ever feel destined to become an artist/rapper?

CN I feel destined to be a performer, mainly, and live this lifestyle with no rules or boundaries. Honestly, a lot of people might not believe me at this point of my career, I still haven’t released a solo track, but I really think I have an ear for production when working with a producer and I know what I want out of the track and the end product. Sometimes it might not be released exactly how I want it, but I still know what I fucking want. A lot of artists don’t they just come there, lay their vocals and depend of the producer to do the mixing.

DD What’s the electronic community like in your town? What kinds of shows are you usually at?

CN Well, there’s nothing really in Oakland, mostly just like mainstream hip hop shows and like some ratchet smelly punk shows. I used to be into all that. You will probably find me at mostly my homies shit, I don’t really be going out like that anymore. I lived in L.A. last year and I felt like I was like one of those socialite people you see on the Cobra Snake website that snorts a lot coke in the bathroom off their boyfriends dicks, you know what I mean? But since I got back to the bay I’ve been pretty lowkey, just recording and doing school shit. I’m going to L.A. this weekend though, in a few hours! WOO! Bout to get White gurl wavy!

DD Favorite album and mix of 2011?

CN Damn, that’s fucking hard to say. I wouldn’t really be able to narrow it down, also, I don’t be listening to full albums like that I be listening to select songs. And there’s sooooo many different genres I fuck with. From Kuduro, dancehall, club, bmore, pop, house,  mainstream hip hop, up and coming hip hop artists. I was just listening to the Danny Brown XXX again with my homie James, it’s really fucking good and the production is sick, he got hella young upcoming producers to produce tracks which is fucking sick. My favorite song is I will, produced by Squadda from The Main Attrakionz, lol that sound is nasty and ratchet is fuck, just how I like it ;] . Most of 2011 is a blur, I’m trying to fucking think. I’ve been listen to tons of ASAP Rocky, obviously lately. I’ve been in a hip hop mood. A lot of club/electronic music is getting played out to me. Don’t get me wrong, I still get nuts in the club when they be playing my favorite club songs. I’m really excited for this new Label called Body High, it’s run by Samo Sound Boy and Jerome from LOL BOYS, they are going to have some amazing releases. Also I love anything released on Fade to Mind, with NguzuNguzu, Total Freedom and Kingdom, I think they are such fucking perfectionists that nothing they release is ever flawed, like really though, it sounds like perfectly created music, if that was possible. I’m trying to think what even came out this year. Lil’ B? I like him, but I can’t say anything he made is my favorite, he for sure made the most impact on hip hop in 2011, like who doesn’t rap like Lil’ B? Really though?

DD What do you have planned for yourself as an artist going into 2012?

CN Just fucking work. Put out as much stuff as possible out in 2012. 2011 was for me kinda finding what I want to do. Still kinda finding myself as an artist. It’s hard narrowing a niche when you have so many interests. But I was scared to release anything this year, but next year I’m go hard, for sure. I’m excited, it’s crazy how much support I’ve been getting from people, sometimes I get confused and don’t understand it, but then I’m like fuck it, they right, I’m da best ;] lol.

DD When’s the last time you laughed really hard?

CN LOL. Probably when I found out this old ass lady that I used to know in L.A., not going to mention her name or her public career, but I found out that she does porn, my friend, zak-MATIC had told me, to look at it. But it was hella funny because it was super boring like she was painting a wall or something for like 20 minutes, it’s like alright bitch, I get the point now lemme see you shake dat a$$!

Keep up with Chippy on Twitter, Soundcloud and Tumblr 

– Jimi Jaxon

DD Another fine Australian electronic producer, Welcome to Disco Droppings Bosstone..Whatcha doin right now? 

B Thanks man! Just coolin, working on this Flyer for my American pals Chowmont and Trigzo

DD Ooo Are they from Australia too?

B Nah, they’re in Charlotte, NC. Seems pretty cool over there… Lots of good producers. I definitely want to fly over to the USA someday.

DD Well if you ever make it to Seattle, I’ll book a show for you! What’s the electronic community like for you in Australia? Benson (Bakehaus Records) is a friend of mine, whose from there as well.

B Sounds great, I’m gonna hold you to that! The community is really good, but quite small down here. Everyone is real supportive and have a lot of love for the music. Scattermusic (who put out my first EP) have been great, helping me meet new people and expanding my horizons. They are from the same area as I am so its cool to party with them. Yeah Benson is cool, seen him play a few times. He’s a friend of a friend.

DD How’s it feel to have the Call Me Up EP out? I REALLY like the Berou remix!

B It’s Great! I’ve been holding on to that EP for a while so its good to finally have people hearing it. I love all the remixes on the EP, I feel as though I’ve been shown up a bit! All the remixers on the EP are friends, so it’s really cool to help push and promote their music too.

DD I’m enjoying the slow, underwater feel of your Drake bootleg. What artists outside of your production style get you hyped?

B Thanks man. Alot of jersey club has been doing it for me lately. People like Just Dre and DJ Sliink are making some real nice stuff for the clubs, I’m actually working on some Jersey stuff at the moment which is really fun. I listen to alot of R&B too; D’angelo, Jhene Aiko, The Weeknd.

DD GRLLL you did a remix of “Say My Name”?! That is my jam. Is this your favorite Destiny’s Child song?

B Yeah! I love early 00’s and 90’s r’n’b’, so that was something I was wanting to remix for a while. I couldn’t tell you my favorite Destiny’s Child song, but it’s definitely one of the more memorable ones.

DD Has any one event or time period made you strive towards becoming a more fine-tuned artist? 

B Not really a place or time, but people have definitely have helped push me to be better. I’ve got a lot of support from friends/producers/dj’s and that helps me in becoming the artist I want to be!

DD What do you have planned for the remainder of 2011 going into 2012? 

B There’s so much! Remixes for Meati and River Gbeh that will be coming out soon, a couple of mixes, a jersey club project that I’m working on with the homie baixo and a new EP from me coming out on paradisiaca!

DD Best of luck with all that! Please come back to Disco Droppings when you have new productions to share. Any last words?

B Cheers man! Oh I will for sure!! Just want to say thank you to everyone supporting, can’t wait to share all the new stuff I’m working on. TYBG

PLZ Support this wonderful man on Soundcloud, Facebook and Twitter 

http://bosstonemusic.bandcamp.com/ to pick up releases 

– Jimi Jaxon 

I got some words from my partner in artistic crime, Brian Sanchez. Talking about his show this saturday, for the opening of the graphic design and screen printing studio, THIS THAT. Also included is an interview with Eric Hodgins, Creative Director of This That. This is not something to miss, and if u do, shame shame shame. 

Event of Facebook

DD I’m staring at your massive 17 x 35 mural over at THIS THAT. This is the biggest thing you’ve done yet! How much time has gone into this and what has the process been like to bring it all together?

BS The mural we are currently painting will be, by far, the most detailed work I’ve done on this scale. So far I have been working for five 16-hour days which consists of painting from the a.m. to the a.m. of the next day then sleeping for a few hours then waking up and painting as long as I can. It sounds gnarlier then it really is , but I am very impatient and need the gratification of watching it get closer to completion each session. I think that’s how most muralists work. Their are so many things that could happen in between my daily routine and the times I get to paint , that I would hate for some freak accident to occur and not allow me to finish. My solution is binge painting…… and I love it !!!! 

DD Kyle Schuman will also be featuring a mural of Bill Gates. Together with me DJ’ing, we’ve got this little crew going. Last time we all worked together was the True Love Art Gallery opening on Capitol Hill. Talk a bit about Kyle’s skills..

BS Kyle is a 17 year old Manchild reigning from the yawn capital of Washington, the ever so boring suburbs of Everett . He has more talent then I have ever seen in a person his age , including a hunger for originality and a style of his own . We have been working together on a regular basis for the last 4 or 5 months and continually have a good time. That’s it really , we have fun when we paint and when we hangout , so I plan on collaborating with him as long as I can. As far as what we ( Kyle, Jimi , and I ) got going on , that is something I also cherish. It’s been natural , it’s been successful , and it’s been a good time !!!! Let’s do this forever!!!!!!!!

http://nuggetbreath.blogspot.com/

DD The opening for THIS THAT will feature a huge art showcase/party with music, murals, clothing design etc.  What do you hope people take from the night?

EH  ThisThat is not only a showcase of what we can do, but who we surround ourselves with.  From local clothing lines to coffee shops to youth non profit organizations we interact with a wide range of clients.  We enjoy screen printing and along the same lines we enjoy art music, culture and community and our shop launch is a celebration of all of that.

DD How did you hook up with Brian and Kyle? How does it feel to have their art become a permanent fixture of the THSTHT building?

EH  We met Brian and Kyle through a mutual friend.  We knew we wanted big murals in our shop but weren’t sure of exactly what we wanted on the walls.  We wanted to work with artist that had their own style, vision and wanted to treat our walls as their blank canvases.  After one meeting we realized these two were exactly what we were looking for.  Having their art be a permanent fixture on the shop walls of ThisThat isn’t about us having cool murals.  Its about giving creative freedom to local talent and a daily reminder that we love what we do.  

– Jimi Jaxon 

DD Hi there, how’s the day going? 

A I’m doing alright, it’s been a busy day and I think I’ve caught a cold so I’m feeling a little rough. Right now I’m in Krakow attending the fantastic Unsound festival for an entire week – it’s been pretty amazing and intense so far!

DD OooO who do you HAVE to see? 

A So far there’s been some really amazing concerts so far, but I’m really looking forward to the weekend with artists like Morphosis, Model 500, Andy Stott, Addison Groove, and Machinedrum!

DD Those are some awesome peeps. I just worked the Decibel Festival show for Machinedrum a little while back, you are in for a treat.

A I saw him play a few months ago already actually, at an outdoor festival, so I’m really curious to experience it in a relatively small venue.

DD “Make My Blood Red” is a favorite of mine on Soundcloud, what first got you interested in producing and what’s your creative process been like, getting to this point? 

A I started producing a little when I was in university, I had a few courses on electronic music, and while I probably had a better grasp on technical stuff back then, I had no clue how to actually structure a song well, and most of my stuff was just experiments. I got more seriously back into producing over the last couple of years when I started DJing more and more, plus I helped start this Polish bass music label called Concrete Cut, which got me even more involved and excited in producing my own tracks. I think my evolution as a producer has been really slow actually because I don’t actually spend a lot of time making tracks, I usually just get a specific idea and sit down and do it. I’m never going to be one of those people with hundreds and thousands of unreleased tracks on my computer! But I’m comfortable with my way of working.

DD What kind of productions are you working on now?

A Right now I’m working on a couple remixes for some different labels, and I have some plans for new material that will probably stay in the more jukey rhythms of “Make My Blood Red”. But admittedly I also want to really work on material for Shoju, another project of mine where we do more ambient/post-dubstep/electronica/techno sounding stuff. We hope to release some new stuff by the end of the year. I hope it will blow everyone’s minds, haha.

DD I sure hope it does! Any last words? 

A Thanks for listening and I invite everyone to check out my blog as well – HerBeats.com – all about women in electronic music! Byeeeeee :]

Support Artfruit on Twitter and Soundcloud 

Take Care –

Jimi Jaxon