Los Angeles via Brooklyn via Trinidad and Tobago MC Juakali has been lacing flows over bass-influenced tracks since his debut on Pinch’s Underwater Dancehall record in 2007. In that time the globetrotting lyricist has remained innovative across dub, reggae, dubstep, dancehall, bhangra, grime, electronic and experimental genres, always keeping the anchor of bass as the constant basis to his tracks. Today Juakali drops his latest EP, Freak You Back (Foreign Familiar Records), which features productions by Plastician — he of the heavyweight Plastician Mixtape from 2009. Stagga and Monkey, Tes La Rok and Los Angeles’ DLX also provide production. The Freak You Back EP drops today — pick it up digitally HERE, on limited edition 12” vinyl, or even tape… Tape? Really…? Tape?
Allow me to introduce myself, I’m…
John, my good friends call me Johny, my family call me Junior, you know me as Juakali, you can call me Jua
You can find me…
Los Angeles, California USA
I’m usually posted up at…
Cana Rum Bar
I pay my bills by…
Music and Freelancing in Architecture.
You might’ve heard of me because…
As the host of Dub War NYC, featured on Pinch’s debut album Underwater Dancehall
My next order of business is…
A mega single called “Crossin”, a video for “Tha Chillski” and an upcoming tour of Europe.
If it wasn’t for a conversation at my grandfather’s 90 bday with my family and a follow up convo with my friend Lacy I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Hit the Jump to continue reading our Q&A with dubstep mic wrecker Juakali…
FREAK YOU BACK – OUT Feb 4, 2011 by juakali
The best part about my job is…
Travelingaround the world
The worst part about my job is…
Delays
If I was taking a train from Paris to Madrid, and I could choose one person to share the cabin with, I’d choose….
My lady Alyssa
The first piece of music I heard that I remember waking up my ears was…
Frighty & Colonel Mite – Raggamuffin Love (life is what you make it)
The last piece of music I heard that woke up my ears is…
Gorillaz – Broken
If you want to put a smile on my face, you probably want to…
Anticipate my next moves
If you want to wipe that smile away, then you should…
Not give credit where credit is due
The last time I saw the sun come up I was…
Right after the Sub-stance night, Outlook Festival Croatia
The person I admire most is…
My parents
The last time I lied was because…
I thought I would hurt the person’s feelings
If you hit shuffle on my iPod you might be shocked to find…
I rock a Nano that only has tunes I’m considering to write to
When I get my next really big check, I’m gonna go score a…
Mac Book Pro
But it’ll never replace…
Don’t have an answer for this one
My one magic power is…
Intuition
I’d like to give a quick shout-out to…
Plastician, Stagga, Monky, Tes La Rok and DLX for hooking me with beats for “Freak You Back”. Big Up to all the producers I have ever worked with. Large up Dub War, Sub Swara, Tectonic, MAH, Dereck Janniere, Cory Shaw, Tas Limur. Stamina Crew! I see you.
And lastly, If I was Lost In a Supermarket, you’d find me in the…
The spice aisle
