Faygoluvers: Give us an idea of where Judge D came from and how you started rapping?
Judge D: Started writing poetry in junior high, songs in high school, turned poetry into rap and then after high school started band called Victimeyes until signing with Suburban Noize.
Faygoluvers: How did you come to hook up with Kottonmouth Kings and SuburbanNoize?
Judge D: I’ve known D-Loc and Richter since junior high. After high school is when they started the Kottonmouth Kings and I was doing Victimeyes. Daddy X came to me in 2000 to join Suburban Noize after D-Loc asked him to come check out one of my shows at the Roxy in Hollywood. The first time he seen me perform, he signed me to Suburban Noize. It’s been great so far because their label is more of a family thing.
Faygoluvers: Where did the title “No Compromize” come from?
Judge D: To answer that question, all you have to do is look around. Turn on your television and take a look at the news. “No Compromize” is just me. I will not compromise my beliefs, for anybody or anything.
Faygoluvers: What are some of the highlights of your accomplishments so far?
Judge D: Being able to tour around the United States and Japan. I’ve been able to meet and play with some of my favorite bands and my biggest accomplishment is just having people tell me that my music has changed their life.
Faygoluvers: What are your goals and aspirations?
Judge D: I’m working on a live band album right now and sometime in the middle of next year I should be dropping my new live band album, which I’m really excited about. Other than that I just want to continue making music.
Faygoluvers: Give us some insight into the songs from “No Compromize” and what they’re about?
Judge D: Has a very good eclectic mix…it’s very diverse just like me. I’m a very diverse person, so I keep my music very diverse.
Faygoluvers: You worked on the music for “Playboy: The Mansion” Video Game, How’d that come about and what was it like?
Judge D: Brought to me by a friend of mine who asked me if I would be interested in it and it was a way for me to expand into doing new things. I enjoy writing songs, so this gave me the opportunity to write songs and focus on something new and different. I had a lot of fun and look forward to doing more games in the future.
Faygoluvers: Did you get to visit the Mansion and meet Hef?
Judge D: No unfortunately, I did not get to go to the mansion. I was busy doing shows.
Faygoluvers: What are your thoughts on the whole Psychopathic movement and their artists? Who do you love/hate?
Judge D: I don’t dislike anybody on that label. Everybody’s been really respectful towards me and I think the movement they have is what true music is about. I got love for Violent J; he’s always treated me with a lot of respect and also ABK. Not only are they rappers, but they’re also artists.
Faygoluvers: Do you have any cool experiences with Juggalos that you can recount?
Judge D: All experiences I’ve had with Juggalos have been good. They’re down for their shit and that’s what I’m all about. They treat me with respect so I stay down for them. I toured with ICP & Bone Thugz on the Wicked Wonka tour and Violent J gave me this orange ICP jersey with my name on the back of it, then he invited me on stage to perform with them. When he gave me that jersey I almost shit. It just showed me how much respect he has and I’ll always remember that. I gotta a lot of respect for ICP and their whole Juggalo movement.
Faygoluvers: What can KMK and Juggalo fans expect when they pick up your record?
Judge D: They can expect a very diverse mix of all the different styles of music that I like doing and they can expect me to be brutally honest and very aggressive.
Faygoluvers (Juggalo53085 asks): How would one go about getting a collab track with Judge?
Judge D: Contact Kevin Zinger, meet me in person or send me a demo of your song. I’m always up for writing new songs and meeting new people.
Faygoluvers (Michael Galik asks): What was it like growing up in a house where your dad was a cop, while you were running around with D-Loc smoking weed? How did you keep your dad from finding out?
Judge D: Actually my mom was a sheriff, not my dad. I left when I was 18 and finally my mother just accepted me for who I was. It was difficult for me growing up but it made me strong and taught me not to compromise my beliefs.
Faygoluvers (Michael Chrissos asks): Your first cd was off the hook. I was so excited to hear you had another cd coming out, “No Compromize.” Are you going to be touring for the album, possibly headlining your own tour?
Judge D: I’ll be touring with KMK because it’s my “family” and then I’ll be headlining my own tour possibly next year.
Faygoluvers (Michael Chrissos asks): Do you have any side projects (like KMK has Kingspade) you’re working on with any artists?
Judge D: I’m working on a live band album with guitar player Greg Russell. (ex-Mower guitar player) He is the guitar player that helped me with “Survive” and “Cease Fire” on No Compromize.
Faygoluvers (Michael Chrissos asks): What was it like working with Tech N9ne? Are there any Strange Music/Psychopathic artists that you’d like to do a track/tour with?
Judge D: I’d be up to do a tour with anyone from Psychopathic or Strange Music. I’d be willing to tour with anyone and anywhere that people would be willing to come out and support.
Faygoluvers: For someone who has never heard your music before, what is the sound both musically and lyrically that it could be best compared with?
Judge D: That’s a good question…a lot of my inspirations are not just musical. I find them from everything from history to the future of the world and I think that helps me be completely different in my music and because of that I can’t say that it sounds like anything else. It’s my own unique way of approaching music and I can’t compare myself; you know? It’s weird, because I don’t listen to other bands and try to emulate them.
Faygoluvers: Is there anything you did differently to prepare yourself for this album as compared to your first release on Suburban Noize?
Judge D: Both albums were written and recorded in 2 weeks. This one was written and recorded in 11 days. I had to say whatever I felt at the time.
Faygoluvers: In your bio, you display a disgust of the music industry, which is all about units sold rather that the art behind the music. Is there any particular genre or artist that you were referring to when making that statement?
Judge D: No, I just believe that in all aspects of music right now, the reality and the soul is missing. I enjoy music better when people are singing from the soul. I listen to the radio and I don’t enjoy any of it; music in general. I just feel that we are pulling away from the reality and soul of music and worrying more about money. So it’s up to record labels to want to bring that back.
Interviewer: Faygoluvers.net
Interview Date:09/22/05
No comments yet
You must be logged in to post a comment.