Blake: Tell us a little bit about your background?
Jube: I was born into a Christian Family, both parents are Baptist Ministers, born in Croix Des Bouquets, raised in New York since the age of 10 years old, attended primary/ High School & University here in the States…My father and mother are both musicians, so we all ended up playing different instruments. While attending College, I became more involved in the music, my first professional gig 
was playing bass for : Billy Idol/ the Punk Rock Superstar of the 80’s from London/ and of course that led me to play bass for many other major international groups such as: Sister Carole/ YellowMan/ Maxi Priest/ Beenie Man/ Mary J Blige/ etc…after graduating college, I decided to pursue the music on a more professional level, so, I started producing music, one of my earliest mentors was “Fabrice Rouzier” Keyboard player and Musical Director for the group Mizik Mizik/
We had a group together called “DIFE” where I was playing bass and doing some vocals that was during the time where Fabrice and I both were attending University doing our Masters’ program. Upon Graduating, he went back to Haiti, and I came back to New York, my hometown where I focused on the production end of music. I produced my first solo album titled “Liberasyon” which was released on Melody Makers, that album led me to tour with many great artists such as: Peter Gabriel/ Sting/ Ziggy Marley/ Burning Spear etc…then, of course came the success of “The Fugees” which is the group associated with Wyclef Jean my child hood friend from Croix des bouquets, I was around during the time when Wyclef was doing his album, and I learned a lot and made a lot of contacts, which later landed me a Label deal for my personal company “Black Pearl Music” to Sony Music, and since then, the rest is history. I opened up a state of the art studio in Manhattan, NY, and produced great music for many artists : Beenie Man/ Tanya St. Val/ Edith Leffel/ Kaysha/ Strings/ Black Rob/ Killah Priest –Wu-Tang/ Puff Daddy/ Alicia Keys/ Busta Rymes etc…and after 911 the music industry was undergoing a major change, and Larry Gold the owner of SOBS whom I have built an 18 years relationship with, reached out to me to come join him at SOBS, and I did that. I am still here working at SOBS as the Vice-President of the Venue, and Director of Bookings for the club…
Blake: That’s an impressive a list of accomplishments. How did you get the nickname Papa Jube?
Jube: The nickname “Papa Jube” came from my friend Fabrice Rouzier and his cousin Nicholas Brun, those two guys decided to call me Papa Jube, because I had a young son while I was in my early 20’s, and of course, they claimed that I looked like Papa Doc, and also the fact that I was always preaching some consciousness, so, all of those factors together made those guys call me “Papa Jube” and with Sweet Micky & Wyclef Jean’s help, it stuck...
Blake: How did you get started in the music industry? Have you always had a passion for music?
Jube: Well, as I stated earlier, music runs in my family, my father is a violin/ accordion/ piano player and teacher, my mom plays piano and teaches voice, growing up, my older brother, my sisters played and my cousins “The Altino Brothers” are very well known Classical pianist in the world. I was always exposed to music, from listening to my mom directing choirs, to my father giving piano lessons, music has always been and integral part of my life. We always had pianos, accordions, and guitars around the house, being poor with no toys, the musical instruments were our only toys…so, that’s how we got exposed to music and it remained a passion from playing in church for my dad to playing in clubs without 
my parents knowledge of course, because they never wanted us to play non Christian music. Still my dad’s position hasn’t changed on that, but, as I became an adult, both of my parents have learned to cope with my career as a musician…!!! After all, you know how Haitian parents are, as long as you bring home the College Degree, you are free to be you…so, I am free to be me!!!!
Blake: You’re right about that, Haitian parents do care a whole lot about that degree. Who has influenced you as a producer?
Jube: Well, my first and foremost inspiration and influence as a producer was “Quincy Jones” because I used to read his name on the back of most R&B/ Soul albums of the 70’s and 80’s, and growing up, I always loved Michael Jackson’s music, and Quincy was the one producing all those great songs. I grew up always wanting to be like him…and I am still striving towards that end. But within the Haitian Music Industry, I would say it‘s “Fred Paul” I used to look at all those “Mini Records” releases and I was like wow, who is this Fred Paul guy? Of course years later, we became friends and collaborators, and that’s cool!!!
Blake: You’ve worked with a number of different artists covering a number of styles and genres of music, do you consciously seek out different types of artists to work with to keep things interesting? As a producer, how do they, the different styles of music impact your approach, if at all?
Jube: Well, my musical spectrum is quite wide, and I guess that has to be attributed to the fact that as a Haitian- American, we grew up listening to all kind of music, I mean in Haiti, back in the 70’s and 80’s the radio stations were not marginalized, on a normal day, on any given radio station in Haiti back when I was growing up, you would hear songs from : The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Gypsy Kings, Tabou Combo/ Ibo Combo/ Caribbean Sextet/ Mireille Mathieu and the whole “Chansonettes francaises movement” to country music, so I grew up with that same mentality, music is music, there is only two types of music as far as I am concerned : a) Good Music b) Bad Music so as a producer, if the music hits me, it doesn’t matter if it’s rock n roll, R&B/ Jazz/ we just do it ….!!!!
Blake: As a producer, how much of your role is keeping an artist in check as opposed to helping an artist find or develop the sound that they are looking for on a record?
Jube: As a producer, I am very involved with the artistic direction, because often times, artists are so involved in their music, so involved in what they love they need that objectivity from an outside source, which is where I come in. As a musician, producer and promoter, I think of the entire spectrum, not just music that the artists may think is a hit, but music that reflects a wider listening audience and sonically conducive to more record sales, so in that sense, I am very involved in the development of the sound….!!!
Blake: Having worked with such an array of artists, what stands out as being among your favorite moments of working in the studio?
Jube: Well, that’s a hard question, I have to say one of my greatest moments in the studio was working with Wyclef on the Carnival album doing that song “DIASPORA” the way the song came together, the synergy of the room, and the fact that the entire song was done right there on the spot….it is absolutely memorable!!!
Blake: That’s actually one of my favorite tracks off that album. Looking at your discography, you have worked with different genres of music; what are the essential elements you need to make a great record?
Jube: Frankly, it doesn’t matter what the genres of music is, everything begins with a good song, and a song is lyrics and music, so for me, the essential elements of a good record are: good music, well arranged, great lyrics that makes sense, and then sonically speaking the sound has to be properly recorded, mixed and mastered to be considered a good record!!!
Blake: How much does your personal taste influence your choices in terms of artists or groups that you work with?
Jube: You know, being human, there is no way I can say that my personal taste does not influence the artists, but I tried to balance that with the artists’ abilities, vocal range, and marketing strategies, because as a producer, I have to make sure that at the end of the day, the record label who hires me is happy, the artist who is the commodity is happy, the management is happy, and most of all, I am happy, so it’s a true balance scenario. Not an easy task!!
Blake: How have you influenced other artists?
Jube: Yes I have influenced many artists, more lyrically than musically, I am a bookworm, I read a lot of books, and I was a straight A student in school, so I tend to be a bit on the intellectual side when it comes to lyrics. I always try to get the artists to think about their writing, have a concept, say what they mean, and mean what they say, and also at times, I tend to advise them on their musical direction as well, but I am more into lyrical contents.
Blake: A lot of artist always ask "How good does my song have to be?" and what they may really be asking is "How good does my demo have to be?" What is your answer to that?
Jube: My answer to that is: Your demo should be as good as it can be” meaning you should make sure that you consult a professional for an alternative opinion, and basically your demo is representing you, and your music, so you should do 
whatever you can do within your powers to make sure that your demo is the best that it can be. No shortcuts.
Blake: Can you describe how it feels to be associated with the number of hits that you've worked on?
Jube: Frankly, I don’t dwell on my success, as far as I am concerned, I am as good as my last production, I am always looking ahead for the next move, never dwell on the past, it’s God‘s blessings that I am in this position, there are many other musicians and producers that have more talent then I do, but yet no one knows of them, so I am blessed…and that’s where I leave it.
Blake: How did you get involved with Larry Gold and S.O.B.’s?
Jube: I know Larry Gold owner of SOBS for the past 19 years, I used to play here as a bassist for “Yellow Man, Sister Carole, Maxi Priest etc…” and later on when I became a solo artist as “Papa Jube” I used to perform here at SOBS, with Wyclef who used to be part of my group, because back then, there was no FUGEES”. I have been promoting shows at SOBS for the past 15 years + so, my relationship with SOBS go way back, we are like family. Larry Gold watched me grow from an artist, to a producer, to a record label executive to becoming the Vice President of the Entire SOBS Operation which includes SOBS Records, etc…
Blake: What is your exact role? How do you go about choosing your acts?
Jube: My role at SOBS varies, I do all the bookings here, for Hip Hop/ Reggae/ African/ Haitian/ Jazz etc…the way I choose my acts, is the traditional way, I listen and research each group, and I treat SOBS as my living room. I only book quality acts, which has been the standard of SOBS, and that’s why SOBS is the oldest venue in Manhattan, we deal with quality music.
Blake: How did you know that a Haitian Konpa night would work at such a venue in Manhattan (SOB’s)?
Jube: The Manhattan Haitian Dance party was Larry’s concept, it started with Tabou Combo, who had the vision of introducing Haitian music to non Haitian audience, and Larry gave them a chance on a Tuesday, and they took it and ran with it, and then, I came around and took it to the next level….and this is what you now have…
Blake: Now let’ shift gear for a minute, let’s talk about the Creole Hip Hop movement; what is your involvement with the movement?
Jube: Well, as far as “Creole Hip Hop” my involvement goes way back, apart from the late “Master G” who was a good friend of mines, I believe that I am one of the earliest artist who attempted “Creole Hip Hop” in the late 80’s and early 90’s with my album “Liberayson” so, my involvement is a natural one, I mean I have progressed to producing, engineering and being an executive for artists and record label, but still Master G and myself were one of the earliest Haitian Kreyol Hip Hop artists documented!!!!!
Blake: Where would you like to see Creole Hip Hop and do you think it can be the next genre to go mainstream?
Jube: I would like to see Creole Hip Hop” become as big as “Latin Hip Hop” where the Creole Hip Hop artists can sell 300,000 and more records, I mean we have millions of Haitian Americans to support this movement and Creole speaking people at large, so it’s a matter of organization, structure and vision. We can take it there, but we have to work together!!!!
Blake: I agree and I believe that as much as Haitians claim they love Haiti, they need to support this movement. So my question is: why do you think the Haitian community in America hasn’t embraced this new genre?
Jube: Because in America, before people can embrace something, it has to be organized, structured, marketed properly and also promoted properly, and this is a new genre of music “Creole Hip Hop” so we need time to develop the artists, market them in a way where the US and other ethnic groups who love hip hop can relate to this new genre. And In due time, we are going to get there once we implement the proper work ethics, and marketing strategies. Do notice that I can’t stop mentioning marketing. That’s what this world is about these days!!!!! We will get there!!!!
Blake: I know you are working with Wyclef Jean, what is your role with Sakpase Records?
Jube: Well, Wyclef Jean and I are old time friends from Croix Des Bouquets, Haiti, where we both come from, both of our parents are ministers and our parents are good friends, and in his record label “Sak Pase Records” I am the CEO and one of the Music Producers for the label. I oversee the A&R department whose job is to discover and develop artists. I oversee all the artists and their careers, budgets, marketing etc…me and my partner Joe Mignon who is the COO of Sak Pase Records, and Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonder are the owners of the label.
Blake: What do you think of the current state of Konpa music?
Jube: Well, the state of Konpa Music is sad, because every group is copying from each other and none of them wants to take a chance. They are afraid if they sound far different than the successful ones, they won’t sell records, so what you have is a “Redundant Sound” where you hear the same sounding solos, breaks and arrangements on “Carimi/ Kreyola/ Djakout/ T-vice etc…so, the upcoming bands just emulate those parts, and you are left with pretty much the same sounds. One of the problems with Konpa Music is not the language, come on, look at Reggae, do you really think most Americans, or Haitians, or French people who love and buy Reggae music understand what these guys are saying, no they don’t; but the Reggae Grooves are so infectious, and there is always a show concept, meaning that when you go to a reggae show, you get a performance, whereas when you go to a “Konpa Show” people are dancing “Plogue” which is cool, so the bands are more focused into the music not the show aspects of it, but I hope that some new kids on the block will take a chance and go left, and maybe open up the spectrum for new Konpa sounds!!
Blake: Don’t you think Creole is the barrier preventing Haitian music from crossing over in part, to the mainstream?
Jube: NO, as I just mentioned earlier it’s not a linguistic problem, look at that African song “Makosa” which was released here in the 80’s and sold millions to the point where Michael Jackson did a remake of it, that wasn’t in English. Les Nubians a pure French R&B group sold a million CDs here in USA with a 100% French song, and I can go on and on, with successful hits that were not in English, so we can’t blame the language, it’s more than that….what about “Tabou Combo” they had hits on the radio, that song “New York City” when I came here in the 70’s I used to listen to Tabou Combo on main stream radio, so, it’s absolutely not the language!!
Blake: Since becoming a popular artist/producer have you had any big event/performance in Haiti?
Jube: Well, as an artist I had the opportunity to perform for “Bouyon Racine” in 1991 I believe, that was a major concert done at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Haiti, with Celia Cruz/ me, Boukman Eksperyans/ Ram etc…and as a producer, I haven’t done anything big in Haiti yet, that terrain is very slippery, and given that I have been living in America for the past 33 years, I am taking my time!
Blake: You just finished up with the Jazz Festival in Miami, how did you get involved in that project? And what other jazz related projects are you working on at this moment?
Jube: Well, the concept of Haitian Jazz was conceived by me and my partner Gashford Guillaume drummer of Mozayik which is one of the hottest Haitian jazz groups in New York. I came up with the idea because I was tired of seeing so many Haitian festivals booking the same 8 or 9 hot Kompa groups all the times, and given that I always love jazz, and I know most of the Haitian jazz musicians for a long time, from Reginald Policard/ Boulot Valcourt/ Beethova Obas/ etc…are all my good friends, I used to work with those guys when I was married to Emeline Michel who also has a jazz flavored sound, we decided that it’s time to create a special platform for “Haitian Jazz “ just like we have “Latin Jazz” Cuban Jazz” Japanese Jazz” etc… We made sure that “Haitian Jazz Festival” exists now forever!!! Not that we invented anything new, but prior to us creating this platform, not only there were never a Haitian jazz festival, but those artists were not popular at all to the non jazz audience, and now, going on 3 years, we have created a superb platform for all Haitian jazz musicians, I started it here 3 years ago at SOBS, then took it to Miami and this year we are back in New York at the famous “Lincoln Center For Jazz”
on November 2nd 2007/ and since then, Wyclef Jean and I created a new division within “Sak Pase Records” titled “SAK PASE JAZZ” division, where we will oversee the careers of all the Haitian jazz musicians, their distribution network etc…
Blake: Wow, big ups on the Jazz division at Sakpase. We featured Mozayik a couple of months ago and I love their sound. Is there anything left for you that you haven't accomplished that you want to accomplish?
Jube: Well, at this point I am very satisfied with my career, I mean I am just a Preacher’s son from Croix des Bouquets, and to come to America, with nothing as a kid, my mom was a maid, and now, in one generation, we have broken the poverty line in our family, I mean, I come from a family of 5 of us, all of us are professionals, with Masters’ degrees and up, so, I have been blessed man. I am writing a book currently about the music business, and once that is done, perhaps I may go to Law School and finish up where I left off….and I think I am good man….at the end of the day, “Health is Wealth” for me, so my dream is not to have a million dollars, although I would love it, but to be healthy, good to people, and leave a legacy behind. The money will come as it has been coming!!!!! I seek the kingdom of God first and everything else shall follow!!!
Blake: How do you think being in New York has affected your career?
Jube: For what I do, given the fact that Music is my field, I couldn't think of a better place than New York. All I know is New York. I have been living in NY for 33 years, so I am at peace with living in NY as a musician. I love it!!!!! Manhattan is the capital of the world for music, I don’t know about other fields, but for what I do, New York, New York baby all the way!!!!!!
Blake: in closing, do you have any advice for musicians and producers who want to make a career out of music? What is the secret to your success?
Jube: The only advice that I have for upcoming musicians and producers is: to stay humble in the game, persevere in your craft, always remember practice makes perfect, make sure you love what you are doing, research on your craft, stay on top of the technology, myspace, etc…and most of all, don’t forget how you got where you are!!! Meaning, don’t burn bridges, it’s a small industry as big as it is, you never know when you have to cross a bridge…so, stay humble, and remember “Each One Teach one” and “You are as strong as your weakest link”
Blake: Papa Jube, I thank you for giving Prodg Promotions this interview. I’ve always admired your work and I look forward to working with you and the Creole Hip Hop movement in the near future.
