No I.D. sits down with XXL

“I’m VP but I’m also a producer, so I’m always working on music. I’m in the office when necessary for A&R meetings and trying to bring my spirit, which is super hip-hop purist at heart, who understands how to make it in business cause I’ve seen all sides of it.” – NO I.D.

One of rap’s greatest producers and current Def Jam Records Vice President No I.D. sat down with venerable rap magazine XXL to reminisce on his beginnings, evaulate the present, and provide a glimpse into the future of Hip Hop as he sees it. It’s a short, but sweet interview- but Dion (NoID backwards) tells us about everything from cutting his teeth as a teenager on mixers to provide his fledgling rap group CDR with childhood friend Lonnie Rashid “Common” Lynn to later on passing up offers from rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., Ghostface Killah, and Big Pun to focus on strengthening Common & No I.D. as a “like Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth” as he puts it.

Absolutely worth a read not only for the early-90s retrospective, but really sheds some light on where No I.D. was for that quiet stretch in the early-2000s and gives you an idea of what’s really motivating him in the new millenium. Follow the link over to XXL and give it a read. – Skylar Woodman

http://www.xxlmag.com/features/2012/01/no-i-d-rise-and-shine/1/

Tags: No I.D. Interview