RESPECT. Interview DJ BJ Talks About His Relationship With Young Nudy, ROTD Experiences and More

DJ BJ has been buzzing with his longtime friend Young Nudy. BJ and Nudy, as a combination, is something serious and has started to become big in the industry. It shows that they are set to be the next Batman and Robin in the young hip-hop world. In late 2018, Slimeball 3 project had came out, and BJ was right by his side during the making of it. We caught up with the engineer and discussed how him and Nudy became close, what was it like during the ROTD experience and more below.

What was the start of your career? Who inspired you? Why?

When learning how to play piano and drums in church, it sparked me to do this. I learned music theory in school and played in a band. When attending college, I knew how to work the turntables and took a shot at it from the help of my dad. My inspirations were from DJ Jazzy Jeff to DJ Marc B in the DJ world, Spanky McCurdy in the drumming world, and Alex Tumay and Ali in the engineering world. I study their process by understanding the field and learning lessons from them.

Do you produce,make beats and/or DJ ?

I started out producing first. I was a professional drummer for 13 years and studied music theory. It came to a point where I had to make a decision to either keep pursuing doing music or go Dj full time. I still make beats in my free time when I can.

What got you to start making beats or DJ for a concert?

My dad and uncle used to DJ before I was born. I learned that nothing is planned, so I don’t even question things now when they happen.

Tell us about your relationship with Nudy?

It’s actually very simple.  I started as a fill-in for his previous DJ near the end of 2017, and he didn’t know me at the time. I messed up my first set. Within three months, we ran into each other on certain occasions until our first studio session during Slimeball 3 era.

At that point, he didn’t know I engineered. I wasn’t his DJ until later in the year. We were getting closer and respected each other more. As an engineer and artist working together, we spent a lot of time recording. We talk during the process and after to help us understand each other. On the next tour, he made me his tour DJ and he treated me like family.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlWUltKHdkh/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1nrl7s3rrovxl

Tell us your experience about recording your first session with Nudy?

It honestly happened on a whim. I had finished a six-hour session with No Plug and got that call from TP, Nudy’s manager, asking if I could engineer.  He was recording for Slimeball 3 at the time. He has a non-traditional way of recording but it works for him. He is very particular about the way he wants his voice to sound, and these are the things you have to learn in the first 20 minutes. It was a successful first session. We had stayed until 9 a.m. and recorded “Do That” and “ABM.” We recorded his verse for Playboi Carti album. After that, he only wanted me or Verne to record him.

What can you say is your most memorable experience while touring with Nudy? Explain.

It was our second show in Los Angeles for Rolling Loud. It was both of our birthdays that weekend, and the drive was 36 hours there and back. Rolling Loud was a good show for us, and it made me more excited for the Miami festival this year. Our chemistry and set has gotten so much tighter then; it felt like a party rather than a performance now.

What were the vibes like at the 10-day retreat of the making of ROTD?

We were only there the second and third day, but it was dope. I got the chance to meet a lot of people I’ve heard and been watching for some time. Everybody was making good music all day and wasn’t stopping until seven the next morning. We had the full 24-hour experience.

I want to thank IB, Maine, Stephen, and Matt over at Dreamville for taking care of me and the team by inviting us. My conversation with Cole was probably one of the dopest things that happened to me during that period. When he was recording at five in the morning the second night, he turned and asked for my advice on what direction he should take the song. I’m thinking in my head “Why is he asking me?” He talked to me for a bit about life during the session. That’s all the motivation I needed right there.

Define RESPECT.

It is an understanding that you may not get people’s reasons, motives, or thought process; but you still admire what they’re able to do because of how they handle it themselves.

I have seen that you and ChaseTheMoney are really close, and have to ask will there be a collab of you and him production wise on a song soon?

Definitely! Chase and Pyrex did the song with Nudy and Cole. He’s one of my favorite producers to work with. I don’t know about collaborating on production but as a producer and engineer combination, yes.  Chase is a dope individual and is as solid as they come.

I saw your tweet that states Nudy is out! I know you are excited, what is next for you and Nudy?

Hella excited. Now we can get back to work by going to the studio to wrap up the album, and killing these shows. We are dropping some singles before the album just for the fans, so they know what we are working on.

Will there be new music or project coming soon?

Yes! Nudy and Pierre’s “Sli’merre” are close. We’re currently in the post-production stage getting everything mixed and ready for the fans. This sh*t is so hard that I can’t wait for it to drop. I want to see everyone’s reactions.

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