DCist Interview: Buff1
Off the bat, this DCist writer has to make a full disclosure statement: I've known Jamall Bufford for some years now, dating back to my time in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Back then, he was Buff1 of the Athletic Mic League. Now, he's still affiliated with the League, but he's also a bona fide solo act with two albums, Pure and There's Only One, under his belt. This new chapter in his career has led Buff1 to work with the likes of Grammy-nominated producer (and Eminem confidant) Mr. Porter, Waajeed and Three Stars alum Zo!.
Presently, Buff1 is on the road with two of his Athletic Mic League partners, Mayer Hawthorne (a.k.a. DJ Haircut) and 14KT as a part of Hawthorne's "Lonely Hearts Club Tour." Last week, he took some time out from his day off prior to a sold out show in Colorado to speak to DCist about his career and what to expect when the tour stops off in D.C. at DC9 on Sunday, October 4th.
How's the tour been and where are you at now?
The tour has been great. We've had a few sellout shows. Los Angeles sold out. San Francisco sold out. Portland sold out. We haven't done New York or Toronto yet, but they're sold out. We're in Denver right now.
Are you still living in Ann Arbor?
Yes and no. For the past year I've been splitting time between Ann Arbor and Los Angeles.
How's life in L.A. been?
I love L.A. It's sounds cliché but there are more venues, a lot more people. One of the downsides of being in Michigan is that there's not a lot of people or venues. You have to space your shows out because people saw you last week and won't come this week. There's also the other realm of opportunities with movies, commercials, and things like that. If you meet the right people, anything can happen.
What was it like being making the transition from your group work with Athletic Mic League to your solo projects?
At first it was tough because I was used to being with a team. I was OK with that. They asked me to do a full length album and I was iffy at first. I put out two mixtapes, The One and Only and Small City, Big Name, and got a good response. Once I got in the groove of it, I found that I loved it.
Since you're coming to D.C., I have to ask you what it was like working with a local artist, Zo!
When I first started working on solo material, one of the first people I started running into was Zo!. I was like, "Man, I want to work with this cat!" I could be wrong about this, but I think I might be the first person to put out a Zo!-produced hip-hop track ("The Balm of Gilead"). I might have to step out on that limb. Since then, he's been like a brother. (note: "The Balm of Gilead" wasn't the first Zo!-produced hip-hop tracks, but it was one of the firsts.)
Just to give people an idea about you as an artist, who are some of the people you derive your style from and who are you listening to now?
The biggest influence on me is Outkast. Andre 3000 is my favorite emcee. Big Boi doesn't get enough credit for how dope he is. Definitely Nas. Ice Cube, particularly Death Certificate. Death Certificate played a huge role in who I am as an emcee.
What was it about Cube in that period that you liked?
He grew from his N.W.A. perspective. Death Certificate he was talking about making mistakes and seeing what he saw in his community. He put the camera lens on his community and talked about the good and bad of it.
Who are some of the people you're listening to who presently?
Definitely Blu. Jay Electronica is one of the dopest. Pacific Division. U-N-I. I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of these people out in L.A. Back in Michigan, Fat Ray, Marv Won, Danny Brown and Elzhi are some of the best.
What is it like for you to see the success that you and your Athletic Mic League teammates, Mayer Hawthorne and 14KT, have had?
It's kind of surreal, for lack of a better term. This was what we envisioned 15 years ago when we started writing raps. We wanted to be known. We were first known as the Anonymous Click and had doorags over our faces. We realized, though, we wanted to be known. We wanted to put Ann Arbor on the map and for people to recognize our hard work and talent. It didn't happen when we wanted it to but it's happening now and it's perfect timing. I'm happy to be a part of it and proud for my (Athletic Mic League) family.
On your Facebook page a few weeks ago, there was a picture that really caught my eye. How did Deepak Chopra become a fan of Buff1?
He knows good music (laughing). It's funny how things work out. Jeff Klien, who's part of my management team, has a friend who's really cool with Deepak's publicist and put the publicist onto my music. The publicist got put onto my music and she was like, "Yo, Deepak. You need to check this out." Over a year ago, he had me on his Sirius Radio show and I spit a verse for him. He got one of the limited edition copies of Pure. He's been supportive from then on. It's a blessing to have someone that's not only that influential but also that spiritual supporting your music.
You've got a new project coming out with DJ Rhettmatic called Crown Royale. How'd you link up with him?
We've had it in the works for over a year. The hip-hop scene in L.A. is, oddly enough, kind of small like it is in Michigan. Once Now On and DJ House Shoes moved to L.A. we'd always run into him at events we attended. It turns out he knew about Athletic Mic League and liked our work. I was in the finishing stages of There's Only One and we were trying to figure out what to do next. I got some beats from Rhettmatic and I said that as long as I like them, it's a go. The beats were crazy and it was a no-brainer. We're in the final stages now and it should be out early next year.
Will you be getting back together with your Athletic Mic League colleagues for an album soon?
Yes. Absolutely.
For people who haven't seen you perform, what can you tell them to expect?
They can expect energy and every aspect of my personality. I'm pretty much the same person on-stage as I am off-stage. I like to interact with the people and I literally try to move the crowd. I want people to move and have fun. Everytime I'm on stage I have fun and I want the crowd to have fun, too, and get their money's worth.
Buff1 will be performing as a part of "Lonely Heart's Club Tour" with 14KT and headliner Mayer Hawthorne at DC9 on Sunday, October 4th. $10 in advance/$12 at the door, 8:30 p.m.