DJ RampageI think think interview with DJ Rampage has already been posted somewhere on this site, but I'll post it again:
True Tour Stories: DJ Rampage Talks Lauryn Hill's Remixed Show, Her Nicki Minaj Cosign & Comeback VIBE: How did you first meet Lauryn?DJ Rampage: I met Ms. Hill last December at a party I was spinning at for Chris Blackwell of the reggae label, Island Records. It was down in Soho for a vintage clothing boutique. I was just doing my usual thing, really going in on some reggae records from Chris’ label. And Ms. Hill walked in with her manager, Chris Shwartz.. When the lady who organized the party told me, I didn’t really react. Only because I’m the kind of person who's focused just on my job. Next thing I know, her manager walked up to me and started asking about some of the records that I was playing. If I can remember correctly, I was playing that John Legend and Buju Banton record “Can‘t Be My Lover.” After a little while, he came back again asked about another record.
Did you think at any point she was really the one inquiring about your choice of records?Not really, but toward the end of the event, she came up to me and introduced herself. I passed her one of our mixtapes, and she told me that she was feeling my style. But just based on the level of events and artists that I’ve dealt with, I didnt allow myself to get starstruck. I just felt like I met a genuine person who was really feeling my music. I went to another event, forgot about it and got an email the next morning from Chris Shwartz expressing Ms. Hill’s thoughts about me. That’s when I started thinking “okay is this real”? [laughs]
What did that email say?He said that Ms. Hill was open to work with me and was really feeling my style of DJing. She probably heard me for about 45 minutes the night before. Ultimately, the email ended up saying that they would call me at a certain time.
Did she call you direct?Yeah, I’d say we spoke for like half an hour. At that time she was gearing up to head out on the Raggamuffin tour across Australia and a few other dates. So from that event, it led to me joining her on the road. She explained everything that she wanted to get done, musically. The whole band went back and fourth with her working on the show.
Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime.To be able to have this experience is like a dream. Every DJ doesn’t get to really be a part of a show and be involved in everything that it takes to make it happen. There’s tension at times and a lot of hard work from an entire group of people that goes in before the artist even gets on stage.
Can you describe your relationship with her?I would say from the jump, we had a good relationship. From there, everything went through her people. Basically, it was a brand-new band, maybe one or two members were from her former band. But the majority were new to the team. She was still looking for new keyboard players, guitarists, etc. It really was nonstop work since that meeting. We started practicing at her spot like every other day.
So you were actually going to her house?It’s called the music house or rehearsal house. That’s where we practice, brainstorm ideas and everything. Mentally, I prepared myself for it. She welcomed us in and was very direct from the beginning.
Did she request that you call her Ms. Hill?Well I'll tell you this, where I was born and raised [Belize], I had no choice on whether or not to call a woman older than me by "Ms."So I have no problem with it. But she never asked me to address her a certain way.
During rehearsals, were you asked for your input?For the most part she knew what she wanted to do. And at the end of the day, it’s her show and we’re there to do what she wants. We’re working for her. That’s the way it was. You got to understand the rehearsals were going down a week or two before we were supposed to hit the road, so it was really intense. We were grinding out everyday, trying to get everything perfect.
What did you first notice about her?I’d say she’s really determined to have her music sound exactly how she wants. There really was no room to tell her, 'No we can‘t do this' or 'play the drums this way'. And we all respected that from that bat. I boil it down to her just being determined.
Honestly, did all the rumors circulating about her give you any kind of preconceived notions? You hear all kinds of rumors but I never had any kind of bad experiences with her. I definitely don’t think she’s crazy or whatever people say. She’s definitely been through some things but she’s human. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the media blows things up, right? [laughs] Especially, when people reach a certain level of success! I’ve been working with her for about a year now and I can’t say anything like that.
Did you get a sense of her wanting to come back to create new music?The vibe that I get from her is that she still has music that she wants to record. I’m certainly waiting for it myself. I think it will come with progression, whether it’s more shows, building up confidence, trusting the people around you or whatever it is. I’ve heard of some things possibly happening. You see, veryone in the band has their own relationship with her individually, so I can only speak on my relationship. I’ve heard her mention that she was going to come back and put some records out.
Have you heard any new songs?I’ve heard like a rough draft or a track, but nothing further. As a fan, I’m waiting for new music, too.
At any time, Did Ms. Hill express interest in any artists or wanting to collaborate with anyone?There are moments when we’re taking a break from practicing and just talking about things, and I remember this one time she mentioned hearing Nicki on the radio. I believe the track was “Roger That,” and she started reciting some of Nicki’s lyrics and her adlibs. It was obivous to me she was feeling her stuff.
Did she ever ask to perform new material?Not really, the majority of the stuff is from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and some Bob Marley covers. But all the instrumentation is different when we perform the songs on tour. I know there’s people that are against and some are for it.
Right, but I think people just wanted to enjoy the songs the way they remember them.I know people are asking why she’s changing the songs. The album’s been out for a long time, and I just feel like she’s an artist who is about evolving. Of course in the beginning, I was also fiending for her to play the songs the original way.
Do you think she’s concious of the negative reviews that she’s received?I can’t speak on that because she had never expressed it to us. I think she picked up little flaws we had early on. From the day I started working with her until now, there’s definitely been a lot of progression musically vocally and everything. You have to understand, it was a group of new people forming a bond.
I think a lot of folks weren’t aware of that. Which show do you think will stay with you forever?Chile was pretty amazing. Everyone was fully into the performance. Despite any reviews you’ve read, I’m on stage and everything is always popping. Our New York Rock The Bells stop when Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Switch Beatz, Alicia, Mary J. Blige, Jerry Wonder and everybody else came onstage with us is a moment I'll never forget. I wasn’t in awe, but I knew it was a big moment.
www.vibe.com/content/true-tour-stories-dj-rampage-talks-lauryn-hills-remixed-show-her-nicki-minaj-cosign-comeback