Mr. Hudson Exclusive Interview W/ CHAMPMAG.COM
Nathan “Hollywood” Adom
CHAMP Magazine
CHAMP: Mr. Hudson how are you feeling right now man?
Mr. Hudson: I’m good man, a few hours ahead of you but we’ll work it out
CHAMP: Definitely. So of course you’re album “Straight No Chaser” will be dropping later on in the year and you had dropped it in the UK. Will there be any changes from the UK album to the US album or are they gonna be the same tracks on the UK one?
Mr. Hudson: All the original tracks are gonna be there. I’ve been in the lab. I’m always working so there’s probably gonna be a couple of new things just to make that North America and Canadian edition have a special twist to it.
CHAMP: Of course, for those sleeping under a rock, you hail from the UK and you originally started off with the group The Libraries and it was MR. Hudson and the Libraries. Why did you decide to make that transition?
Mr. Hudson: Well I think I’m one of those artists that’s going to be doing different projects and different manifestations. The central idea of what I do is the same but the next album might be something completely different as well. I’ve always looked up to people like Bowie, Prince, and Damon Albarn behind the Gorillaz project. People that are just prepared to take that risk of not just putting the same album out over and over again. I gotta include Kanye in that list because to do something like 808’s and Heartbreaks, I think was very brave.
CHAMP: Exactly. Now going back to the album of course, from what I’ve read it seemed like the main focus for this album was Pop, however you didn’t want it to just be your average pop. It was like Pop with substance and a lot of artists try to stay away from being in a “pop” bubble, but why did you gravitate towards not only that type of limelight but that type of sound for your album?
Mr. Hudson: I think meeting up with Kanye and signing to his label; we had a conversation and he basically said “Look let’s give it a shot and let’s see how far and how high we can take this” and I thought why not? One of my ambitions is to dunk. I’m only 6ft tall but I intend to dunk a basketball one day and another one of my ambitions is to have a number one record and why not? See if you can get that top spot.
CHAMP: Agree with you on that. Now you produced about 90% of the music on this album. How long have you been producing for and how’s the chemistry like with Kanye?
Mr. Hudson: He was the executive producer and the thing is, I never really saw myself as a producer. When I got into this four or five years back, I didn’t hear the kind of production I wanted to sing over. If it existed, I didn’t know where to find it, so I just started making beats myself and trying to get that sound out of my head and coming out the speakers. I became a producer by accident. It was never an ambition to be that guy on the button but I ended up co-producing a track on 808s and Heartbreaks, I’ve been producing for Estelle, and it’s all turning out nicely.
CHAMP: It was a hidden talent you didn’t even know you had huh?
Mr. Hudson: And you know what I didn’t even read the manual, I never studied it. Just press all the buttons and turn all the knobs to the right and see what happens.
CHAMP: Kanye West mentioned you have the potential to be bigger than him and one of the most important artists of the generation. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill. Did the pressure rise a bit after that was said?
Mr. Hudson: I think it did but he expected a lot from me before he said that and I’ve always expected a lot from myself. What he did for me coming into my life as an artist was like “let’s hurry up”. Let’s not just be manyana manyana about this let’s just make this shit happen.
CHAMP: A lot of people on the mainstream urban side of music were introduced to you on Jay-z’s Young Forever joint. If you could walk us through the moment when you were told Jay wanted you on his album.
Mr. Hudson: Well I guess I’ve always been who believes something when they see it. I remember being in the back of the car with Kanye saying we should do this track with for Jay and Jay should spit on it and I was kinda like….It’s kind of hard to process (laughs). Arguably the two biggest guys in hip hop, and I’m gonna be on the record. It’s nuts. Hopefully it’s gonna kick in the door for me a bit in North America and maybe even around the world. It was a real buzz for me. Last week I was in New York and I open my hotel window, and I heard the track and someone was blasting it out there in a Lincoln Continental or whatever or an Escalade…I think it was an Escalade. I walked to the studio; I’ve been working with a guy called Emile over there. He’s worked with Kid Cudi and many others. I was walking to the studio and these kids started singing Young Forever at me.
CHAMP: Wow.
Mr. Hudson: These school kids, and I was like shit. That’s when I realized that this was gonna connect.
CHAMP: When you’re hearing people sing your songs and your songs are playing on the radio and things like that. Does that set in that the fame has finally hit and that you’ve made it? Or do you feel that there’s still tons of more accomplishments to be made?
Mr.Hudson: It always feels like the beginning. Most artists that achieve anything is a blessing and a curse really if they get there by never being satisfied with what’s produced or achieved, it’s a real shame. You have to allow yourself those moments to enjoy it and pat yourself on the back. People who get there, get there through just never being enough. You’re always chasing and chasing your dream and on your grind. So yeah it’s amazing to hear your stuff on the radio and to get that recognition but I’m thinking about what’s the next banger going to sound like. I don’t want to be a guy that’s always featured on people’s tracks.
CHAMP: The single Supernova exploded on the scene and really gave this album another push on a mainstream aspect. Now the next video is actually gonna be “Anyone But Him” is that still the next joint we’re coming out with?
Mr. Hudson: Yeah, that’s me featuring Kanye and it’s gonna be out really soon. The video’s almost finished and I’m excited about it. If features cars, girls, and architecture (laughs).
CHAMP: Okay!
Mr.Hudson: So I’m happy with it, ‘Ye’s happy with it.
CHAMP: For the actual album Straight No Chaser. It hasn’t been released in the US or Canada yet, but do we have a guestimate of when that’s gonna be available for the people to go out and get?
Mr. Hudson: I don’t have the exact date. I’m gonna find that out for you. I’m just in a rush to get it out there. I wanna come and tour. I’ve been to Vancouver, I’ve never been to Toronto,, Montreal, and it just feels like there’s so much left to explore. I’m a fan of Canadian music. I’m in to Estelle’s stuff and I’ve been working with her. I’m just getting into Drake and I’d love to do something with him so I definitely need to come and soak it all up.
CHAMP: Definitely Mr. Hudson. So were in the first quarter of 2010. Other than the album what album can we expect from Mr. Hudson man?
Mr. Hudson: Just witness me on my grind. I’m gonna be touring around the world hopefully and just working with as many people as possible. I just like to be busy. I like being in the studio, I like being on stage, and if I’m not doing that I kinda get cold symptoms so you’re just gonna see me working hard and hopefully having some fun.
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