Justin Smith, the producer best known as Just Blaze, cut his teeth crafting beats for classic records by Jay-Z (_The Blueprint_) and Kanye West (_Late Registration_) at the turn of the century, and he's been pushing the limits of hip-hop production ever since. As a member of the Studio Team at the 20th anniversary Red Bull Music Academy in Berlin, Smith spent most of his time guiding and mentoring Academy participants, and still found time to catch up with host Lawrence Burney. On this episode of True Laurels, they discuss why the center of attention in hip-hop has shifted from the DJ to the MC and back again, how to get lost in the algorithm, that still-unreleased slaughterhouse album and finding the elusive work/life balance.
