Originally inked to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, veteran Brooklyn, New York emcee Joell Ortiz has returned with his 9th solo studio collection, “W.A.R. (With All Respect).”
Yo! Raps recently caught up with 1/4 of the now defunct Shady Records’ quartet, Slaughterhouse, to talk all things Joell Ortiz.
First things first, let’s hop into this single “Fortune 500,” featuring Phil Collen. Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?
“Fortune 500” happened organically. Rsonist was working on that beat when I walked into the studio, and I immediately began writing. I recorded the record, and R said we need a crazy baseline for this for sure. He and Phil Collen share the same publishing company at Sony, so he reached out to Brian Monaco who made the connection happen. Phil came to the studio, we played the record, and he began jamming as he does…the rest is history!
“Fortune 500” comes courtesy of your new collaborative LP, “W.A.R. (With All Respect).” Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?
“W.A.R. (With All Respect)” is the title of the album, but it’s also the title of my life right now. It speaks to doing things your way on your time, regardless of how anyone feels about it. Funny thing is, the acronym spells war, but it actually creates a sense of peace to live this way. In turn, that same peace took many wars to get here. War both internally and externally. The music is curated the way we wanted it to sound and feel. Honest, pure and personal.
Aside from the obvious, how then does “W.A.R. (With All Respect)” either differ and/or compare to previous Joell Ortiz efforts?
“W.A.R.” is different because life is different. Same way Joell of today is different from Joell of yesterday. The music I write aligns with my life. As life grows and changes so does my subject matter. With that said, this is probably some of my more mature work. Lotta “grown up” rap. I’m no longer the young, project kid trying to get into the music business. I’m the O.G. talking to that kid now. Telling him how things are. Hopefully making him proud.
Now last year (August 11th, 2023 to be exact) also marked the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. What exactly does that mean to and for you?
And, to quote the late, great The Notorious B.I.G., “You never thought that Hip-Hop would take it this far!”
Was this something that you ever could’ve imagined?
Hip-Hop turning 50 last year was amazing. This started out as park jams with turntables, break-beats, DJs and an MC. Extension cords and fans to keep equipment cool. Many folks, celebrities and even other musicians/artists, thought this genre was a fad that would die out. We now lead the way in Pop culture. We come in many shapes, sizes, sounds and looks. We thrived and survived. We’re a young genre full of old souls. I love it!
What are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments/memories during your lengthy tenure in this thing called Hip-Hop?
I have so many memories over the years. It’s hard to single out one. From my first record deal with Dr. Dre, to SlaughterHouse, Shady Records, etc… it’s been one hell of a ride! So many moments. Huge shows in Soccer stadiums, to intimate shows at 100 person venues. Performing on Jimmy Fallon for “The Hamilton Mixtape.” Nissan, Honda Chevy freestyle becoming a regional hit. God is Great.
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
Don’t know where I’ll be in 5 or 10 years, but I know wherever I’m at I’ll be doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Surrounded by good folks and great energy. Probably still close to music if I had to guess. Maybe on the business side. Stay tuned [laughs].
Any parting words for our readers?
Stay true to yourself. You’re not perfect and that’s okay. In fact, that’s what makes you, you. Embrace it. Thanks!
