I’m a huge Daniel Jordan fan. When I got word, that I was going to be bringing Hip-Hop pioneer Cage, to Billings, MT for the first time, I had to fly Daniel Jordan out to my area and put him on the bill. Before Daniel went on stage, I did a brief introduction about Daniel, to get the crowd ready for his set. The WWE D Generation X wrestling intro kicks in full blast and the sound guy’s jaw starts dropping, on some looney tunes type shit. I quickly realized why his jaw dropped, I look to my left and Daniel grabbed a twenty foot industrial sized ladder from the back and starts to climb to the very top. Daniel jumps off and the ladder comes crashing down. The security start’s flipping out.
Next thing I know, Daniel is on top of the bar, after jumping and people’s drinks are getting spilled. Boy was the bartender pissed. The tender is as red as Satan in the face and decides to call the owner of the venue. Daniel is still giving his best and the crowd is loving it, even the unfamiliar are rocking out. He starts rapping in the faces of people, who are in the bathroom pissing, and right when the personal fan favorite, “Airplane Crash” starts playing, the sound guy cuts off Daniel’s set early. The crowd wasn’t too happy, but everyone working at the venue were scared shitless of Mr. Jordan. Daniel was told by the owner, he was worse than Bam Margera and why wouldn’t anyone take that as a compliment? Daniel took it for the positive, even after being told he wouldn’t be allowed to play at the Railyard ale house, ever again.
Chad T. Carsten: First off, how was the experience as a whole visiting/playing in Billings, MT (with Cage), for the first time?
Daniel Jordan: It was great. I met a lot of awesome fans throughout Montana. I forget sometimes that my words reach and truly touch people outside of the little bubble I live in. That reassures me to continue doing what I do best because my material means so much, to so many people around the world. But essentially, I am human just like the rest of you. I hurt, I have bills to pay, I’m looking to make my mark this world just like you. The one thing that may separate me from every artist out there is that I am a human being first, an artist second. I don’t even have an alias I go by my government name. So when you listen to me, that is exactly who you are getting, me. That’s why I believe my art touches people right in the center of their soul. Because it comes from a place that is very relatable, you feel like I am making this song just for you, because ultimately I am. I’m a human being articulating the thoughts and feelings of other human beings.
Photo credit: Amber Lee Misery
Chad T. Carsten: You were signed to Esham‘s label Reel Life Productions, what was your experience like during your tenure with RLP?
Daniel Jordan: Esham is the one who discovered me. I was a 23 year old kid who knew nothing about the world and Esham opened the whole world up to me. I owe everything I have ever accomplished to him, he was my sensei. The deal he offered me never had a big signing bonus or a grandiose contract. He offered me an opportunity to show my skills on a platform that was bigger than the one I was on. Our deal was sealed with a handshake. He saw something in me that no one else saw. He heard a demo tape of mine with 4 songs: “Escape From Babylon” “Airplane Crash” “I Live For The Funk” and “Murder” and his mind was blown. Each song was a different genre with a different energy and he had never heard anything quite like it. Esham had a profound effect on me and dare I say I had an effect on him as well. We spent a lot of time together talking about books and foreign films and you could see his style become more Avant-Garde throughout the years.
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Chad T. Carsten: Mad Insanity Records is your new home. What’s it like so far being part of Mad Insanity Records? and your initial reaction when Mars reached out to sign you to the label. What is the story behind you and Mars meeting and funniest moment of all time with Mars?
Daniel Jordan: Mars and I have been close friends for many years so it was a natural transition to jump on board. There was never a split or bad blood between me and RLP. It was just becoming harder to get work done when I am based in the west coast and Esham is in the midwest. Mars is from the bay area, just like me. Mars and I go way back on some bay shit, I knew a lot of bay area artists such as Mars, Kung Fu Vampire and many others. Around 2009 Kung Fu Vampire and I were in close contact, booking shows and working together. I introduced him to Mars around then and they ended up doing great things together. I was proud of their success and we all remained close. In 2014 Mars noticed I was a free agent and took the opportunity to open his doors to me and invite me to be a part of his elite roster. I was excited to join forces with him and solidify our relationship. Hanging out with Mars long enough will provide you with many funny moments, there are so many to choose from. I would have to say the funniest moment was when we were at a Denny’s in Milwaukee around 2-3 am. It was prom night in Milwaukee and Mars began to harass a table of kids sitting next to us. One of the kids decided to stand up to Mars and Mars bitch slapped him across the room and we had to dip out before the cops came. I forgot my camera bag at our table and I literally had to bail my camera out of jail the next day. I was questioned about the night before, I told them nothing and they eventually let me go and gave me my camera back.
Chad T. Carsten: The difference between a Daniel Jordan show and the average hip-hop show. What can the unexpected expect, if that is even possible??
Daniel Jordan: First of all I wouldn’t even consider my show a “hip hop show”. You’re coming to see a breakdown on stage when you see me. You are entering a war the second I step onstage. A war inside my head, a war against the audience and the venue itself. All bets are off. I can’t quite explain what is going to happen at one of my shows because I am not thinking when I am onstage. Not one single thought passes through my mind and that’s when things become exciting, and scary for some. Many broken bones and damaged property can attest to that.
Chad T. Carsten: How many different venues have you been banned from and why such a harsh shocking reaction from the owners? What is one story that stands out as one of your most extreme performances?
Daniel Jordan: Let’s just say when I play a venue, I am not usually asked to return. Promoters and club owners are afraid of my shows. Some groups attract fans that venues are afraid of, I am an artist that the venue is afraid of. Usually the audience is in shock witnessing what I am doing. It’s like watching a one man riot. There is one story that got me blacklisted for many years in Phoenix. In 2007 a man stepped onstage causing trouble and I stabbed him in the gut in front of everyone. I am not proud of it and it is one of the darkest moments of my life but it happened.
Chad T. Carsten: Speaking of being banned, your video for “Itwontstop”, almost reached a hundred thousand views on youtube overnight and was banned shortly after, due to it’s graphic content. Artists such as, Mac Mall, Ray Luv, DJ King Assassin, and Kung Fu Vampire showed loved and shared it all over. Can you give the full background behind, both the positive and the negative reception, after the video dropped online?
Daniel Jordan: When I released the video people were not expecting to see something so graphic and shocking. But when I wrote and directed it (with my boy Dope Scorsese), we were set out to make an actual movie, something believable that draws you in as the viewer. I’ve never acted or wrote my own movie before, this was a first time for me and by all of the attention (good and bad) it tells me that I did a good job, I caught people’s attention and made something truly unique. I caught all kinds of hell after releasing it. Women’s groups wanted my head on a platter. My own kid’s mother ratted me out to the police and I had to stand before a judge and explain why the video was art and not a representation of me as a person, or a father. The video has been banned from YouTube 5 times. They refuse to show it. It is a depiction of a real life situation that has been dealt with many times throughout history. But the main problem everyone had with it was: it was too believable, it looked too real. The girl I used in it had never acted before either and I am so pleased with the job she did. Whenever I work with someone, especially a woman, I like to utilize her full potential. I can’t offer a model or actress big bucks but what I do provide is motivation, to push out everything she has and give her all for the sake of art. There is an unwritten law in music videos that a girl is supposed to just stand there and look sexy and perform her part without any substance in it. I try to bring the most out of someone and show the world exactly what they are capable of. I like to make women look strong, they may have to go through hell to get there, but in the end they stand tall. So I just look at the positives, many of my peers in the industry had my back and truly believed in the product and I am very grateful for that.
Chad T. Carsten: Will the next video top “ITWONTSTOP”??
Daniel Jordan: I am always looking to top what I have already done. My best friend in the world, Dope Scorsese is the premier video director in the bay area. I grew up with him and we have known each other since we were kids. It’s great to have friends who are creative and masters of their craft. Dope and I have another movie in the works. I won’t give you too much of the details involving our next project but let’s just say that itwontstop, literally. I did that movie to prove to myself and the world that I could write, direct and star in my own movie and make it believable, and I knocked it out of the park. It gave me the confidence I needed in order to continue making films. I am excited to work on new projects that provide the world with engaging content.
Chad T. Carsten: Your first release on Mad Insanity Records is 10 Years In Hell. For the new readers, the meaning behind it’s title and how did you go about picking the best tracks out of your entire back catalogue?!
Daniel Jordan: 2004 was the year I started making music under my real name. Before that I used to go by the name Parody or Paranoid P. My music was more comedic back then and it wasn’t as personal. In 2004 my music started becoming darker and much more brutally honest. “10 years in hell” is my documentation of the depression I live with, my own personal hell. It’s all there, and it’s all honest. You can find your own personal problems in my music. It’s all relative. I set out to create the ultimate collection to give my audience a “best of” album, and give new listeners a great starting point if they are just now hearing of me. And owning the rights to my whole catalog gives me the freedom to do what I choose with my music and that is the best thing about being independent. I can go wherever I want and still own my music.
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Chad T. Carsten: You paid homage to Detroit Hip-Hop legends NATAS, for the album cover of 10 years. The main reason you chose to do that and how influential NATAS are to you, and the entire horrorcore scene
Daniel Jordan: Esham and NATAS birthed my style and I am not afraid to admit it. I think that is the problem today with many artists in the “horrorcore scene” and the hardcore music scene in general. They took so much from the tree of knowledge that Esham planted, but they refuse to pay homage, or they don’t even realize where their style came from. A lot of cats run with the style without knowing who birthed it. Studying the style Esham created is like taking a 101 class in underground music. He was a pioneer with the independent enterprise. I learned everything from him like merchandising, branding, and self-distribution. With his product his hands touched everything from beginning to end, writing and recording a song, pressing it on disc and shipping it to the consumer. When you are self-made, you don’t have to rely on anyone else and you get to take all of the profits. Esham was like a father to my style. He raised me and taught me how to survive in the real world, to never rely on anyone else. If Esham was ever given a lifetime achievement award I would be the first one in line willing to induct him.
Chad T. Carsten: You had a near death experience on the road a few months back, details behind that and it changed your outlook on life??
Daniel Jordan: My tire blew out on the freeway and my car did a tailspin in the middle of traffic and cleared all 3 lanes. I left without a scratch and I truly believe god was with me. It made me appreciate everything about life and to not take anything for granted.
Chad T. Carsten: When can fans expect another dirty rap between you and Rap legend Blowfly?
Daniel Jordan: Blowfly is one of my great friends in this business and he has mentored me throughout the years and we have done amazing work together before. Right now I’m just not focusing on collaborations with anyone really. If Blowfly wanted me on one of his records I would be honored and rise to the occasion but with this next album I am working on I don’t see myself having any collaborations on it. But you never know…
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Chad T. Carsten: What does Halloween mean to you and most memorable moment from the holiday?
Daniel Jordan: Halloween was the first time I took acid, back in the 9th grade. It was an incredible experience. Minutes felt like hours and everyone’s costumes were really tripping me out. Now that I’m a father Halloween means I get to rummage through my sons bag and jack some of his candy.
Chad T. Carsten: The Future Of Daniel Jordan?
Daniel Jordan: Staying alive and enjoying the time I have with my son and finishing school, get my degree and become a doctor. Then giving the world a big “Fuck You!” once I do. Because many people in my life don’t believe I can do it. There is nothing more that I love in this world than a challenge, keeping a chip on my shoulder and a fire in my gut. Greatness is accomplished by those who have something to prove to the nonbelievers.
Pick up Daniel’s newest releases, Notes From The Underground: 10 Years In Hell & Essential Rarites 4, at killdanieljordan.com Also, keep a look out for the new Myzery (former Psychopathic Artist) album Demon Angel, that will feature Daniel Jordan! And Daniel Jordan’s upcoming release as Baby Raymond!
Daniel Jordan: Itwontstop
[vimeo width=”500″ height=”400″]http://vimeo.com/97499789[/vimeo]
Interviewer: Chad Thomas Carsten
Interview Date:10/19/14
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