Detroit deejay/producers Dez and Butter present the Dr. Zodiak-directed music video for "Heavy Hittaz", featuring Kurupt & Boldy James. "Heavy Hittaz" is the new single from A Piece Of The Action, Dez & Butter's new album out now featuring Kool G. Rap, Elzhi, Pacewon, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, Kokane, Fuzz Scoota, BO$$ and Big Rube. The "Heavy Hittaz" video follows the previous clip for "Legends In The Game" featuring Hell Rell and Wesley Valentine (watch). "Kurupt is one of the most humblest veterans I ever met," says Butter. "He sent the verse back, I let Boldy hear it and it was on. I've been knowing Boldy for years, so it was automatic. Kurupt told me he would be in Detroit, so we all met up in downtown Detroit to shoot the video. We got kicked out of the hotel where we were shooting the video, but finished shooting at Saint Andrew's Hall. The Homies Trick Trick and MC Lee from Detroit's Most Wanted showed up." Butter has also confirmed a full-length collaboration between him and Boldy. "Boldy James and I recorded six bangers. I laid some cold beats down for him with cuts and scratches and the works. DJ Dez produced a track with Kokane for the West Coast with Boldy as well. The project will be ready top of the year."
Interviu cu Dj Butter
What’s your experience with the European rap scene?
I havent been there yet. A lot of my fans come from there since the earlier days of my mixtape career. I got a lot of fans over there, from recording with Proof, Obie Trice and D12 and the crew.
Who was the most difficult guest appearance to land on your new album A Piece Of The Action and why?
Maybe Elzhi, considering he's on the West Coast a lot. Elzhi is like Batman of hip-hop. One of the dopest emcees ever. Dez and I had to get the right track to set Elzhi up on. Elzhi hung out with us all day, then we went to the Disc Recording Studio, which is one of the main studios in Detroit, which George Clinton help build, and we knocked out the track "O.G.z". Dez hadn’t seen him in a while, so they had to catch up with the times, since his breakup with Slum Village.
What are the crucial differences between Detroit’s new school and old school artists? And the similarities?
The content. The older artists are hardly on social media. The similarities are the radio stations in the city do not support the artists in Detroit. Blade Icewood had set the tone with his music, before he died, just like J Dilla. The older artists laid the foundation for the youngsters. J Dilla set the tone for Black Milk. Blade Icewood set the tone for Doughboyz Cashout.
What’s your advice for any artist trying to run his career independently?
Stay on social media. Always have content to promote your music and brand. Don't let your vices surpass you. Invest in yourself. Use your own money. Learn to hire people, Don't use people up! You want people to help your campaign, so learn how to employ people.
What are your plans for 2015?
Dropping this Boldy James project with me on production. My artist Wesley Valentine’s album is almost done as well. Expect a documentary on my life and hip-hop culture in Detroit. I want to start directing movies as well. That's gonna be therapy for me, from all the situations I've overcome. The upcoming project with Boldy will be out after he drops Trapper’s Alley 2, and my documentary was just completed the other day. It features times in the lab with your favorite emcees from Detroit. I talk about the ups and downs in Detroit hip-hop through the last 20 years, all the way from losing my first rhyme partner IIly-Ill at age 15.