Even if you’ve never heard of Jim Jonsin’s name you’ve more than likely heard his work. With hits like Danity Kane’s “Show Stoppers”, T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” and Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop,” which he earned a Grammy Award, already under his belt the Miami producer/songwriter talks to GIANT about how “Lollipop” helped other rappers get pop hits and how his highly-touted signee B.o.B., who now goes by Bobby Ray, is going through some growing pains to find himself as a musician.
GIANT: Your label Rebel Rock has a deal with Grand Hustle/ Atlantic for B.o.B. He has a very soulful sound. It kinda reminds me of some old Dungeon Family. What can we expect when he drops?
Jim Jonsin: It’s funny you’re saying that because we are actually going through an adjustment phase with him by way of his sound. We actually transfered him into the rock department in Atlantic. He’s really branching out. He’s playing the guitar and he’s rocking it out a little bit. So I would say it’s kind of a mic between hip-hop and rock. It’s his own little thing that he’s coming up with. We’re just supporting that and letting him be an artist.
So looking at your production credits, you’ve produced “Lollipop”, as well as other singles like”Whatever You Like” and Soulja Boy’s “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”. These are very melodic songs for rappers that typically stick to hard drums. What made you go in this specific direction for those guys?
[The late songwriter] Static Major set that off when he wrote “Lollipop”. If it wasn’t for “Lollipop” maybe I would’ve never made “Whatever You Like” because I found these unique noises and sounds- that I used in the same tracks. I kind of followed the mold. Because he showed me that a beat like that could turn into such a great song that it just opened my eyes. And it’s because of him that those guys came out with those hits.
Lollipop – Lil Wayne Feat Static/Major
You just worked with T.I. Is there anything that you guys talked about as far as what he was trying to do before he goes to prison? What’s his whole mind state right now since the last time you talked to him?
I sent him a few tracks about a couple of weeks ago. The last message I got is that he was trying to record and he was being picky about his songs. He’s really trying to record something great before he goes in. I’m not sure where he’s at with it but he just text me this afternoon that he’s recorded this one song and Timberland called him and said that it’s great. I think that he’s got to beat that album that he just put out. And he can definitely do that because he has a lot of things going on in his life right now so I’m sure that he’s inspired. So, he’s just trying to make a good album. Do you know how much pressure that is? being on the road and recording before he gets locked up- that’s crazy.
Jim Jonsin’s Grammy Party
- Pharoh Martin
