Urban vault caught up with Atlanta based Jon Doe & Brooklyn based J57 to ask them some questions about their latest release, the MAXI-SINGLE SESSIONS VOL. 02 and more…

J57 & DJ Jon Doe linked up to create a collaborative maxi-single consisting of three songs, featuring Ras Kass & El Gant of Jamo Gang as well as Eddie Meeks of Jon Doe’s group DOE*CINO, Zo! from the Foreign Exchange and Q-Unique of The Arsonists. J57 & D.R.U.G.S. Beats (produced on Dr. Dre’s ‘Compton’ LP) created some remixes, too.

This is the 2nd instalment of Jon Doe’s ‘Maxi-Single’ series. First one featured ID4Windz of Scienz of Life, 2nd one features J57, the 3rd will feature Eddie Meeks of DOE*CINO and the 4th will feature Supastition.

Jon Doe (produced for Beastie Boys, MF DOOM, 7L & Esoteric, MED, Outerspace, King Syze & more) handled a bulk of the production while Jamo Gang/Brown Bag AllStar, J57 handled the bulk of the emceeing.

Their maxi-single is out today via Southern Vangard Records/FiveSe7en Collective/Soulspazm.

What are your names?

J57: I’m J57

DJ Jon Doe: I’m DJ Jon Doe

Where are you from?

J57: I’m a New Yorker (Brooklyn by way of Long Island) but I’m currently living on Antartica.

DJ Jon Doe: Native Kentuckian, been in the Atlanta area since 2000, reside in Marietta.

How long have you been making music?

J57: This November will make it 20 years of me emceeing and I’ve been producing for 15 years.

DJ Jon Doe: DJing for 24 years, producing for 21 years

Tell us more about your latest release?

J57: This is the first project I’ve ever released where someone else handled all of the production and I’m on the mic-only.

DJ Jon Doe: This is volume 2 of my Maxi-Single Sessions series – a concept series that pays homage the Maxi-Single. Format. I handle all production & cuts and feature one artist /group across 3 cuts. Vol 2 features J57 on the rhymes and he brought a few guests along – El Gant, Ras Kass & Q-Unique. I got my good friend Zo! to play keys & bass on a joint got the homie, Eddie Meeks, as well as D.R.U.G.S. Beats to get down on the project. The first volume was released April 2018 and featured ID4Windz of Scienz of Life on the rhymes.

How did the collab come about? What prompted you guys to work together?

J57: Jon and I became good friends / he makes really, really dope beats. It was pretty inevitable. I’ll let Jon elaborate on his dope Maxi-Single Series, though – that played a part in it.

DJ Jon Doe: I told J about the idea I had about the Maxi-Single Sessions concept – he 100% knew where I was coming from, our tastes/perspectives on music generally align and most important, he was very supportive of the idea and graciously offered to be a part of it. As he mentioned, we’re good friends and that generally ends up being a plus when collaborating. He managed to find some beats he liked and got a few bucket list features on the project – I never would have imagined it would turn out the way it did.

What type of sounds and content will listeners experience by pressing play?

J57: Head nodding beats and thought-provoking rhymes. We both put a lot into this project and spent a long time creating it. DJ Jon Doe: While the project is a Maxi-Single, there’s a lot of depth in the approach. It’s only comprised of 3 songs and 3 remixes, but there’s a vibe. J really outdid himself lyrically – the energy and passion is there and It’s dense. All of the guest MCs also came with the same passion. Also, one of my original ideas for this series was to pay homage to the remix, specifically in regard to Common’s ‘Resurrection’ 12” and the Large Professor/Extra P remixes. D.R.UG.S. Beats was up to the challenge and delivered in a big way on Vol. 02.

DJ JonnDoe & J57 x Maxi Singles Sessions Vol.2

Who else have you collaborated with so far in your career?

J57: I’ve worked with DJ Premier, Method Man featuring Raekwon & Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan, Homeboy Sandman, Action Bronson, Token, Westside Gunn, Joey Bada$$, my group Brown Bag AllStars, my group Jamo Gang. More on the way!

DJ Jon Doe: The first and only group I was a DJ/ producer for was Prophetix, comprised of myself, MC Eddie Meeks and MC Mello Melanin. I’ve done production for MF Doom, the Beastie Boys, Outerspace, KingSyze, Supastition, J Scienide to name a few.

What inspires you when you make your music?

J57: It could be listening to a Jon Doe beat or looking at a D.Catalano photo; different things inspire me to create, that aren’t even music related sometimes.

DJ Jon Doe: Digging is still a large part of the inspiration for me, as well as a lot of current Hip Hop that I play on my podcast mix & interview show, Southern Vangard Radio, that I co-host with my good friend Eddie Meeks. I have a lot of friends that do really dope things creatively – from music to art to businesses, and they inspire me.

How have you ended up in the music industry?

J57: By choice/not by choice haha. By choice, because I decided to be a musician but ‘not by choice’ because I ALSO didn’t choose to be a musician – it just happened.

What is your opinion on music streaming and social media?

J57: Music streaming = awesome. I know people have their pro’s and con’s about it, but I think it’s a great thing. Social media, however, is poisoning the human race.

Facebook or Twitter?

J57: Instagram.

What’s your favourite track at the moment?

J57: Jon Doe & J57 feat. El Gant (Jamo Gang) & Zo! (Foreign Exchange) ‘Il Padrone’

What do you do when you are not making music?

J57: Watch American Pickers or hang with the family.

What have you got planned for 2019?

J57: A lot. 2019 is shaping up to be the best year of my life.

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

J57: First of all, we thank you for interviewing us. Been following your site for a while now – it’s great for the culture and the exposure you give indie artists like us, really helps a lot.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music….

Jon Doe x J57 – Maxi-Single Sessions Vol. 02 via iTunes/Spotify

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