STUDENT OF PRODUCING APPLIES LESSONS: Onaje Jordan
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS | ONAJE JORDAN
INTERVIEW Charles Brown
Onaje Jordan is an established producer hailing from the South Side of the windy city Chicago, Illinois. With his ear tapped into the old school record crackling styles of Hip Hop, Onaje was ready to push that sound himself by becoming a producer. From being a crate digger to being mentored by No ID, the Chicago native created quite the resume' for himself while still being a part of the movement to keep Hip Hop alive. The HomeTeam Records representative has had quite the musical journey with influences coming from left and right. Here is Onaje's story and vision for the future.
VALIDATED: What attracted you to the boom bap style of production?
ONAJE JORDAN: That’s the style I grew up on. Pete Rock, Primo, Extra P, Beatnuts and Q-Tip were some of the producers that influenced me.
VALIDATED: Being mentored by No ID, what was one important lesson that has helped you to be the producer that you are today?
ONAJE JORDAN: Digging. I use to meet No ID at this lounge on the south side of Chicago called “The Cotton Club”. I used to pick his brain. Him and Boogz used to tell me I had a nice ear for digging. I sample from anything, any record. I just like to rearrange the sample to make it my own.
VALIDATED: Common is one of hip hop's revered emcees that you had a chance to grow up around. What were the earlier days like around him and how did that impact you?
ONAJE JORDAN: Common was older then me. Him and my next door neighbor went to the same high school. So they would come over, rap, and hang out on the block. It was dope when he finally made it when he dropped “ Can I borrow a Dollar “. I witnessed the grind. That album was really the foundation. You didn’t have to be from New York to make it.
VALIDATED: Your resume is impressive with the likes of working with people such as Benny The Butcher, Kool Keith, Dave East, etc. Who is one act that at the end of the day that you have to work with?
ONAJE JORDAN: I think Ghostface and Rae would be ill over my production. Their albums definitely helped shape my sound.
VALIDATED: You're a member of the label HomeTeam Records. What is the overall mission of HomeTeam?
ONAJE JORDAN: Yeah HomeTeam is the crew. Me, Killy Shoot, Deuce Hennessey, Chuck Chan, General BackPain, Lupus Dei, and Propha. We just want to bring that Hip Hop shit back. You know the first time you cracked open that Beatnuts EP tape or the first time you heard Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop, we aim to bring that feeling back.
VALIDATED: In the next five years, where do you see your production taking you?
ONAJE JORDAN: Continue going global. Hip Hop as an artform is so beautiful. I just want to continue making dope Hip Hop.