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Next month Robert O’Bryant aka Jeedo aka Waajeed meaning ‘finder’ or ‘seeker’ in Arabic will be touring Australia. Presented by Grindin’ there will be two shows in Melbourne and one in Sydney, Byron Bay and Adelaide. Jeedo is a man with his fingers in may pies, notably he is one half of Platinum Pied Pipers; Dirt Tech Reck is his record label; he was mentored by the late and great J Dilla; designed the cover for Slum Village’s Fantastic, Vol.2 album – he is also a visual artist (reader take a breather).
As a seeker, like his name suggests, he believes in musical progress. Kiwis Ladi 6 and Parks went and recorded their upcoming album with him in Detroit and he’s looking forward to do more work down under. After living in New York he’s now back home in Detroit he says, it’s so he can ‘defend and contribute to my community’. A more recent project of his has been with the duo, Tiny Hearts from Brooklyn. The three of them now have an upcoming EP titled Tiny Hearts Stay that’s steadily generating a demand on their Facebook page. What’s notable about interviewing Waajeed is that he lives and breathes his work. What’s refreshing about him is he’s not keen for people and their bullshit. He needs you to be open minded. He needs you to recognize that Detroit had Motown, but they also made Techno. He needs you not to be a snob and love music for the music and if you won’t, well then he expresses, you can fuck off. In the interview with Grindin’ we get an insight into what he observed of J Dilla and how his art and life, to him, are one and the same.
What can your fans expect from the “Tiny Hearts Stay” EP when it drops?
Nothing like they’ve heard from me previously. Progressive electronic genreless music.
How did THS come together?
We met in Brooklyn through mutual friends. I did a remix for them for a track called “Phantom” that sparked a connection. We’ve been working together for the last 2 years.
What’s your favorite instrument to sample?
I no longer sample. I play 90% of my current music.
What’s something about Dilla as a person, his closest people might know, that can’t be found about him not the internet?
That he was totally about musical progress. If you tell some people that they get upset. If you listen to his full catalog you can see that every year his sound changed. For us it’s always been about pushing the envelope and making new benchmarks. I wish more people got that instead of dwelling on the past. Keep it movin.
What is it about listening to physical vinyl records that you love the most?
I don’t have a preference. Music mediums change, Cassettes to 8 tracks, 8 tracks to vinyl, so on and so on. The source has never mattered. It’s more important about what you listen to.
Do you still travel back to Detroit to buy your records, for cheap?
I currently live in Detroit. Have been for the last 3 years. I moved back here to defend and contribute to my community.
You recorded with New Zealander, Ladi6 whilst in Detroit for her next album, what was it like working with Ladi and Parks?
It was a great experience. I respect them for coming directly to the source instead doing what most people do. Ladi and Parks are extremely talented. It was an honor to work with them and I look forward to building with the New Zealand community.
Who can we look out for coming out of Dirt Tech Reck in the months to come?
Look for more Electric Street Orchestra, Tiny Hearts and much more forward thinking music.
What inspired you to make the Bling4 Dilla Edition series?
I decided to do Bling47 Breaks to develop my filmmaking skills. It was also a chance to educate folks about Dilla. With him gone, It’s part of my duty to share with the world about who he was as a person.
What elements of a song or beat equal a good production to you?
That’s hard to say. Different things move me at different times. Sometimes the bass can move me, sometimes the drums.
Can you describe what a ‘record elitist’ is and why it’s shit to be one anyway?
Record elitist are people who use their knowledge about records as a tool against others. It’s the guy in the record shop who looks at you with judgement when you ask for a pop song. It’s the dick who comes to the party and leaves if you don’t play hip hop all night. I’m not into that bullshit! FUCK EM!
What is it about Detroit that produces such a specific kind of producer, in regards to the mixed and mastered quality, as well as soul on track?
Nothing. Detroit is no different than Sydney or Christchurch. Never separate greatness from yourself. We all have that potential. I can say that Detroit is very diverse. Soul is not the only thing we specialize in. We are the founders of Techno as much as underground beats.
What part of yourself or who you are do you incorporate in your music and hope people notice in it?
I have a the same approach to life and art. The two are not separate. I live simple and talk straight. No fluff. My music is the same. I laugh, hate and love all in the same sentence. The public can take away what they want.
What’s your favorite or preferred environment to make music?
I prefer to make music in Detroit. It’s my refuge. It’s Mecca.
What’s your definition of Grindin’?
Grindin’ is putting in work for what matters to you.
Interview by Aleyna Martinez