JTH: What producers did you work on with this album? How was it like working with them?

Stephen: I worked with a lot of producers for this project. I started off working with Wes Pendleton. He did a lot of the foundational tracks for the project. Originally, he was kind of like the executive producer, but things got crazy for him, and he couldn’t do it. I ended up working with my man Rob Legato. He’s a local Philly musician who knows who I am as an artist and believes in my art. He has a lot of connections to local artists here, so he was able to throw a few extra things into the pot and help me pick out beats for the project. I also worked with Swoope. I got two beats from him that ended up being one song. I got a beat from Direkt and a brother that I knew back in elementary school named Slums. He’s in North Carolina, I think, and he contributed two tracks to the project. Also, obviously, DJ Official. I have yet to do a solo project that doesn’t have a DJ Official beat on it. He’s a guy that I can always rely on for a good track or two, if not more. I worked with all of them; we sort of sat with the beats and listened to them. Rob and I would figure out, “Do we need to add something else here? What can we do to keep it soulful? What if we added this kind of instrument there?” and stuff like that.

JTH: How is DJ Official’s health? About a year ago, there was news of health issues that he had.

Stephen: If you think about it, pray for him. I’m not totally informed. He’s a good friend and I was trying to go see him a couple weeks ago during the Anomaly tour. Lecrae was in town with his people. They were all trying to see him, but it was too much for me to come as well. I wasn’t able to make it, but I’m concerned for him as well. I’m hoping to get to see him soon to check in on him and see how he’s doing. If anybody is thinking about DJ Official or hearing a track that he has done, just pray for him and his health, his family. You know, lift the brother up.

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