Just Blaze joins Mic Fox at MNN Studios in New York City for an unfiltered rapfabulous CONVOS — a deep dive into his journey from childhood DJ experiments to building the sound of a generation.
In this episode, the super-producer behind classics for Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Eminem, and Kanye West opens up about:
• His early obsession with music and computers — and how his father’s IT background shaped his sound
• The internship at The Cutting Room that changed his life
• Landing his first hit for Mase, joining Roc-A-Fella, and the moment Jay-Z made him “lock in” at Baseline Studios
• Producing timeless tracks like “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Song Cry,” and Beanie Sigel’s “Get Down”
• Creating the Wu-Tang video game with his company Brass Lion Entertainment
• And what it means to stay present and creative after two decades at the top
Recorded at MNN Studios, NYC
Hosted by Mic Fox
00:35 – When hip-hop hit Just Blaze’s DNA (Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” moment)
02:30 – Discovering DJing and pause-mix tapes as a kid
04:00 – Getting his first Radio Shack mixer for Christmas
06:00 – His father’s dual life as a computer programmer and jazz musician
09:00 – Studying computer science and jazz at Rutgers University
12:00 – Early crews, Newark scene, and meeting future collaborators
15:00 – How an internship at The Cutting Room changed everything
16:00 – First night at the studio with George Clinton, Q-Tip & ODB
18:00 – Dropping out of Rutgers with his mom’s blessing to chase music
20:00 – Supportive family stories — how his aunt bought his first ASR-10 sampler
22:00 – Early DJ gigs and learning on the fly
23:30 – Building skills and contacts at The Cutting Room
24:50 – Rawkus & Loud Records, meeting Mobb Deep and Prodigy
27:00 – Producing Mase’s single “Cheat on You” — the moment that changed his life
29:00 – Breaking into Roc-A-Fella and meeting Jay-Z’s team
33:30 – The first call from Roc-A-Fella & joining the Baseline family
36:00 – Producing Amil’s album and landing “That’s Right” with Jay-Z
39:00 – Making “Streets Is Talking” and “Parking Lot Pimpin’”
41:30 – The “soap opera beat” that became “Girls, Girls, Girls”
43:00 – Beanie Sigel’s “Get Down” and the road to The Blueprint
46:00 – The Tom Brock sample story & making “Girls, Girls, Girls” for Ghostface originally
49:00 – “Song Cry” and learning to produce, not just make beats
52:00 – Jay Electronica’s “Exhibit A” story — how it started as a radio promo
56:30 – How the record went from Shade 45 to national rotation organically
58:00 – The nerdiest studio setup ever built (32-channel Neve console)
1:05:00 – Gaming meets hip-hop: the Wu-Tang RPG at Brass Lion Entertainment
1:07:00 – Legacy, staying present, and why longevity matters
