Turner Jackson is still a youngster in the game. Just shy of 22 years old, he doesn’t consider himself a “rapper.” You’d be hard pressed to find him spouting capricious odes of gratitude to the heart of hip-hop — he’s still a novice when it comes to the foundations of hip-hop learning. Regardless, Jackson can freestyle your face off, which has earned the respect of some of Colorado’s finest producers. We recently caught up with Jackson in his rarest form.
Westword (Ru Johnson): You consider yourself to be ushering in a new school era of hip-hop. What exactly does that mean?
Turner Jackson: Well the Neo New School isn’t something that just pertains to music. It is a lifestyle of youngsters such as me that come to show and prove in whatever they do. I think a lot of folks my age have this idea that the world owes them something, when, in fact, it is the exact opposite.
We owe the world a valuable contribution because we take from it. The Neo New School is the young folk who do the best they can possibly do every day, with no excuses. That’s the ideology that I put behind it.
Ww: Is it as important to know as many Big Daddy Kane songs as one might know songs by Wale?
TJ: I don’t believe what you know is as important as what you’re willing to learn. Being a person who recently started to research hip-hop history, it is very important to know who Big Daddy Kane is. That’s because a lot of current hip-hop is a direct descendant from Kane — including Wale. I don’t think you have to know as many Big Daddy Kane songs as a current [artist] as, say, a Wale, but you do have to know and respect who he is. The only way to know that is to listen to his music.
Read the full interview with Turner Jackson at Westword.com.
DJ Dozen has been on the ones and twos since the age of fifteen and has become one of the most promising young DJs to hit Denver, keeping the newest and hottest Rap, Hip-Hop, Reggae, R&B, and Old School in rotation while working with some of the most talented young artists in Denver. He was influenced greatly by Jam Master Jay(RIP) & J-Dilla (RIP); Jam Master Jay for his ability to rock crowds & J-Dilla for his creativeness flipping samples found on wax. He’s been recording and mixing music since 2004, rocked various amounts of parties, and produced the mix tape series Midnight Massacre, Summer Buggin, Get Right, and Serius Bizness while constantly bringing good music to Denver with his crew, DIA.
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