Gangstarr legend still touring and telling it like it is
Who: Jeru The Damaja
Where: Garfinkels
When: Sunday, Nov. 23
Tickets: $25
They call him The Damaja because Jeru Davis has always been able to do serious damage to the mic. Its been that way since the early days in the burgeoning Brooklyn hip-hop scene, through his years with iconic rap trio Gangstarr in the late 80s and early 90s and continuing with his solo projects, the latest of which, Divine Design, was released this past September.
A hip-hop legend, he continues to record and tour, making his debut performance in Whistler this Sunday night at Garfinkels. Lining up to rhyme/spin with The Damaja are straight outta Enfield, Nova Scotias Classified, indie producer D.L. Incognito, Vancouvers Langdon Auger, and locals Mat the Alien & DJ Rosco.
Any New York rap figure has an undeniable mystique. But when Pique caught up with The Damaja before he set out on tour, the untouchable rhyme-god crumbled away. In its place was a citizen of earth who strives to keep learning and writing, to speak the truth through conscious hip-hop grooves, to watch lots of kung fu movies, and to fix his own car.
Pique:
What keeps you touring instead of just hiding out in the studio?JERU THE DAMAJA:
I love to do shows. To me, thats the most important part of being an MC interacting with the crowd. Thats what keeps me inspired to create the types of records I create. It makes it fun. It makes it worthwhile.Pique:
Youve watched hip-hop change and youve been a part of the changes. Where do you think hip-hop is going?JTD:
I think hip-hop is going wherever people take it. Hip-Hop doesnt really have a shape. It can be or do or go wherever people take it; the audience, the performers. The possibilities are endless.Pique:
Do you think the mainstream success of hip-hop has tried to give it a shape?JTD:
No, not really. Mainstream success contributes to its formlessness. You have people in Poland that are into hip-hop. Slovenia, Slovakia, places youve never even heard of. That just adds to its formlessness because you dont know what theyre gonna do with it. You dont know how theyre going to interpret hip-hop.Pique:
Youve worked with people all over the world: Groove Armada in the U.K., Doudou Masta in France, DJ Honda in Japan , skateboard icon Chad Muska in Cali. Is this global versatility something youve developed or something youve had all along?JTD:
I think its just part of my character, to interact with people from different cultures and not make it such a big thing. When some people go to Japan, they really feel American, or Canadian, or whatever. When I go to Japan, Im Japanese, know what I mean? Im gonna get into the culture. Im gonna do what the people do. I think thats what people like about me, that Im such a normal person. And when youre just a human being, its like the boundaries between cultures are erased.Pique:
Your album Heroz 4 Hire (KnowSavage, 2000) was completely autonomous. Why did you turn over production on your latest album Divine Design (Ashenafi, 2003)?JTD:
Im still completely in control but the mechanical parts of it I turned over. Trying to run the label, and Im also writing a couple of scripts and trying to direct my videos, you got to know when to delegate.Pique:
Youre writing scripts? Kung Fu movies?JTD:
Just regular movies: action, drama, comedy, romance.Pique:
What directors would you like to work with?JTD:
Id like to direct myself. Dont get me wrong, I would work with loads of directors. I love movies. If the whole rap thing wont work out Ill just be a film critic.Pique:
Those are uncharted waters. There are lots of hip-hop artists that star in movies, but not many that direct.JTD:
Right, so thats where Im trying to take it.Pique:
On your Web site (www.thedamaja.com) it says youre into reading. What are you reading right now?JTD:
Im more of an information-type person. Right now, Im reading a bunch of manuals . I was reading a manual about cars because I was trying to work on my car, but it didnt work out. Im not that good of a mechanic.Pique:
What kind of car do you drive?JTD:
Just a regular Blazer. I get inspired to do weird things. I thought I was going to change my gas filter. My friend said, "its easy, you can do it." I went and got the part but I took it to a mechanic anyway.Pique:
Whats your favourite book?JTD:
The Chronicles of Tao. Its about a guy who grows up in China a long time ago. His parents left him at a Taoist monastery. He was from an aristocratic family and thats what they did so you could become cultured, so that you would grow up and get your formal education from the monks. And it just tells about his whole life.Pique:
Is that something youve thought of doing? Spending time in a monastery?JTD:
Ive thought of it, but not as a monk, just for training.Pique:
Anything else you want to say?JTD:
The most important thing in life is be yourself, know who you are, try to do the things that make you feel most alive.Catch Jeru The Damaja with Classified, D.L. Incognito, Langdon Auger, and local DJs Mat the Alien and Rosco this Sunday night at Garfinkels. Tickets $25, available in advance from Garfinkels and the Electric Daisy Internet Café.