Reel Urban News Exclusive
By Michael Reel
Prior to the release of the new album on his Sounds of Crenshaw label, music executive Marlon M. Williams discussed his company, its latest project and some of the artists that appear on the forthcoming CD.
Although Sounds Of Crenshaw is not a new music label, its brand and the direction for the Grammy-nominated label may seem new in the tight confines of the music business. According to Williams, a veteran music producer, breathing new life into jazz is the goal at hand.
“We’re getting ready to do a lot of jazz records but we’re going to take it to the next level. We’re going to bring change to this jazz thing. It’s old now and no one is listening. It’s an old genre and we kinda have to make it new again.”
According to Williams, the new project will take the listener back in time while remaining true to the origins of jazz and hip-hop. “It’s got a little 80s new wave, a touch of jazz, because I have Robert Glasper on it and Kamasi Washington. There’s going to be some funk and rap. It’s going to be what I’ve done over the past 30 to 40 years.”
Armed with his guitar, the former music director for Snoop Dogg has toured the world and played to sold-out crowds that didn’t speak English but clearly understood the language of hip-hop and the rhythm of R&B and soul. “My guitar has taken me around the globe a million times.”
A sought-after producer, Williams and his label partner, Grammy-nominated recording artist Terrace Martin met rapper Snoop Dogg and from that moment, both Martin and Williams exploded onto the music scene. “We met Snoop and we started to take off.”
Discussing how the music industry has changed through the years, Williams chose his words carefully while remaining candid. “It’s become more of a white-collar, blue-collar kind of thing. It’s not so much about the music anymore. It used to be that music was 1 percent and it was 99 percent business. Now it’s point-one percent and the rest is business.”
Williams blames avarice for the changing landscape in the music business. “I’m sure greed has a lot to do with it. There is no other way to put it; it’s because of greed.”
With music credits that span just about every genre of music, Williams has worked closely with several household names from the world of rap, hip-hop and jazz. His long-time friendship with Warren G has yielded some great music. “With Warren G we did a Jimmy Kimmel, Warren G-Kenny G Smash Up. It was phenomenal. I thought that was really cool.”
Williams has also worked with artists that include Rahsaan Patterson, Lalah Hathaway, ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar and YG.
Although raised in the heart of South Central Los Angeles, the Crenshaw District, at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic and raging gang violence, Williams was still surprised by Compton rapper YG’s behavior in the recording studio.
“YG’s a different cat,” says Williams. “I’d be playing guitar next to him and YG’s clicking a gun. I’m like, wait a minute dude. I’m like, slow down a second. I’m working here, you can’t be clicking guns.”
With a music career that spans more than four decades, Williams has worked alongside the likes of Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Pharrell Williams, Nate Dogg, The Pollyseeds and Fishbone.
Williams takes great pride in his early work with Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington. “It’s great working with them and to see them blossom into these superstars. I’m like a big brother. I’m proud of them.”
In the closing moments of our time with Marlon Williams, the award-winning producer shares his hope and vision for the music industry with Michael Reel of Reel Urban News.
“Hopefully the Sounds Of Crenshaw will brighten everybody’s horizon on this music thing and bring some love back into it.”
