In a musical era where sampling is king, it is exceedingly rare for producers to use live instrumentation in Hip Hop. Kamal Gray is a multi-talented musician and songwriter, and for nearly a decade he has been recognized by the masses as the keyboardist for The Roots. He has consistently received love from fans for his awe-inspiring Hip Hop 101 solo spots, an ever-changing artillery of classic Hip Hop songs that are magnificently and creatively strewn together on his keyboard. Regardless of the acclaim, being a part of one of the worlds most recognized and respected live bands is just a part of his repertoire.
Kamal grew up in a home filled with incredible musical influences. His father was an avid record collector, and would share time with Kamal quizzing him about various aspects of songs, albums, and artists. The sounds of Thelonius Monk, Bob Marley, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince all had a deep effect on Kamal. The immediate influence outside of his home consisted of pure Hip Hop, which became a way of life throughout his childhood and teenage years.
Even with the strong Hip Hop scene in his neighborhood, Kamal opened his mind to music on all levels. He began dabbling in songwriting, and set out on a path to make a career for himself in music. He teamed up with The Roots crew in 1994, and immediately went to work with the band on their sophomore MCA album, Illadelph Halflife. As a newly signed artist, the making of the album was very exciting for Kamal. He purchased his very first keyboard with his advance money, and brought his very first creation to a recording session. The song, Section, was placed on the album, and Kamal remembers the time as being a defining moment in his budding career. That meant that was something I could do - that I wasn't just a keyboard player, he says. It meant that I could actually make beats and get them placed, even though it was in-house.
Over the past few years, Kamal has produced several songs for The Roots, while simultaneously raising a family, opening a successful dog breeding business, and starting his own production company. He has maintained a balance in his life, successfully incorporating elements of his music, family, and business into the day to day scheme of things. One memorable instance of bringing it all together was an incident at a recording session for Sacrifice, a song featured on The Roots 2002 Phrenology album. That was my favorite song to work on, because the song developed from me and my daughter being in the studio, he explains. She was only 3 years old - her and I sitting in the studio. I had an MP running, Midid up to a Triton, and I put up a sound, and she just started playing some notes on the Triton. She played it in rhythm, and the MP was in record mode, and it just started looping. I started building on what she had done. Thats how the song Sacrifice ended up coming to be. Its something that I hold close to my heart since my little girl was a part of it. It was something that I could put her name on with mine.
Even with the recognition he has received alongside the critically acclaimed crew, Kamal has proven himself to be a top class producer in his own right. He has taken working with some new artists in the Philadelphia area, and is doing everything he can to take them to the next level. The Staff is a three-man group consisting of Kamals brother and two of his friends, while emcee Truck North is working on a solo project. I met Truck is through my brother, and he is a standout artist to me, says Kamal. He didnt really need that much work as far as development was concerned. Basically, outside of The Roots it is my focus to make him into something big. Hes a dude that in two months can record 20 songs, and thats with me being on tour. Im hoping to reach out to some of the other artists from Philly that are not considered The Roots camp - we got some real hot shit going on in Philly.
Going full speed ahead with his production company, Watch Dog Music, the artists he hand-picks are just a part of Kamals vision. Im trying to branch out and reach to other established artists who might not know that I do beats by myself, he explains. I am one-fourth of The Roots, so when you hear a beat from Kamal, its automatically tied into The Roots. Im trying to separate Kamal of The Roots from Kamal the producer, so hopefully youll be hearing things outside with other artists. I think I have something different than what everybody else out there has right now.
Kamal is determined to make the most out of his opportunities in coming months, namely by giving the up-and-coming artists signed with him an opportunity to shine. Along the same vein of his rigorous touring schedule with The Roots, he will focus on booking the Watch Dog artists for shows whenever he can. With production manager Dave Locust and business manager Richard Nichols on his team, Kamal is setting up for a strong showing in 2005. I will basically be getting myself out there and making these beats, he says. Ive been making beats for years, and its been hard for me to actually sell beats because of my schedule. I have Dave in my corner now, and over the next year youll hear more from Truck and The Staff. I just want to make the name Watch Dog Productions known across the board. Everybody has to know.
For interviews and press information, contact dove@tygereye.netDiscography
Kamal Gray
Watch Dog Music (BMG)
12" Single Releases
1997 - Jungle Brothers "Brain" (Gee Street)
1999 - The Roots "Next Movement" (MCA)
2002 - The Roots "Break You Off" f/ Musiq (MCA)
Contributions to Full Length Albums
1996 - The Roots "Section", "Push Up Ya Lighter" Illadelph Halflife (MCA)
1997 - Jungle Brothers "Brain" Raw Deluxe (Gee Street)
1999 - The Roots "Next Movement", "100% Dundee" Things Fall Apart (MCA)
2002 - The Roots "Break You Off" f/Musiq, "Sacrifice" f/Nelly Furtado, "Rollin With The Heat", "Rhymes & Ammo" Phrenology (MCA)
2002 - The Roots "The Ultimate" The Roots Come Alive (MCA)
2002 - Jaguar Wright "Stay" Denials, Delusions & Decisions (MCA)
Contributions to Compilations and Sprecial Projects
2003 - Larry Gold "Nothin" f/ Jaguar Wright, "And I Hope" f/ Floetry - Larry Gold presents Don Cello And Friends (BBE)
2004 - Truck & Mack "Bang Bang" Okay Player True Notes Vol 1. (Deconstruction/Okayplayer)
2004 - Truck & Mack "Bang Bang" ESPN NBA 2K5 Video Game (EA Sports)
Film and Television Soundtracks and Scores
2001- Co-Scored film Brooklyn Babylon (Artisan)
2002/2003/2004 - Various Songs - The Wire (HBO)
2003/2004 - Various Tracks - Chapelle's Show (Comedy Central)
2003/2004 - Various Songs - Street Time (Showtime)
