D-star is one of the US’s legendary Drum and Bass producers and has recently cut a multiple album deal with Foul Play Records. “Dumb It Down”, which is set to release in 2010, features his production along with collabs and remixes from the likes of 6blocc, Hulk (Claw and Richie August), Command Strange, Armanni Reign, Prolific, Cojaxx, NonStopKrooks, Zardonic, a6/Prodigal Son, Apollo, End Boss, Kice of Course and Mad Cobra.

The album is a mixture of dubstep, glitch hop, hip hop and R&B, but dubstep and east coast underground hiphop are the most prevalent sounds.The first 12” single for this album will be dropping February 2010 so keep your eyes out while shopping for tunes.

How long have you been producing and djing, and what made you get into each?

Music lovin! Been into making music as a drummer with various bands since I was 11, heard some Aphex Twin and Orb back in the day started getting into electronic music, so I became part of a radio station and ran the rpm & hip hop departments,  developing Dj skills on air, meanwhile tinkering with what programs were available to me to create dance music. So I’ve been Djing and producing about the same length- 13 years or so. My first release was in 2000.

As an artist that produces drum and bass and dubstep, what are you feelings regarding accusations that DNB artists are “crossing over” into other genres just for the money or fame? Why are some people afraid of producers making more than one kind of music?

I think it’s halarious. In ten years Rusko may dominate Classical and Grooverider Waltz… Who knows who cares. An artist is an artist. Anyone producing quality shit can do whatever they want, it’s all love. Do painters get shit for sculpting when new pottery tecnniques are being explored? Do film makers get flack for changing styles? The answer is yes, but they still make history because…fuck the haters. They just mad cause shits dope. Plus I’m on a plane on no sleep so I can babble about whatever I want.

What is your favorite break to work with when producing?

Awww man….Think, Apache, Samuari….dare I say Boymerang?

People claim that drum and bass is dead, and yet, arguably, the sound is more diverse than ever. Where do you, as a producer, DJ and music lover see the genre going in the coming years?

Full cirlce. It’s awesome to already hear the resurgence of old school sound and this siiiick new minimal sound going off… I see the subgenres continuing to grow and hopefully a whole new wave of sound.

Any artists, alive or dead, that you’d love to work with on a tune?

I’m shooting for Sade….and wish Bob Marley could get on a tune…whuuuut!!

Any releases we should be looking out for?

Fuck yea! First, dubstep:

-The Foulplay 12″ from the Down Jones album – “Foul Played feat. Mad Cobra b/w Do It To It (6blocc rmx).
-L the Angel “Kush”(Down Jones rmx), huge Dubstep tune avail from www.supacrucial.com
-Another 12″ from forthcoming album – Down Jones – “The Chase” feat. Armanni Reign, “Dumb it Down” b/w Didn’t Need Nobody (Hulk rmx).
-Down Jones full length album called “Dumb It Down”. Proud of this project!

Also be on the lookout for forthcoming smashers from our own label P5 Records. Coming soon with Down Jones biz, End Boss, and so much more.

In the DnB world currently watch for Dstar & Mason’s remix of Angel’s “Ultra Light” available on www.supacrucial.com. Also huge upcoming releases 12″ and digital from Gasm Recordings – anthems like Dstar’s “40k”, Mason’s “Ruf Rugged n Raw rmx”,  Noah D’s  “Control Freak”, “Perpetuum”, “Fate of a Legend” and the list goes on. Also the Adversary series available April 2010 via gasmrecordings.com!

Watch knowledge magazines interview with Dstar & Mason feat an exclusive mix.

Where can we catch you during this years Winter Music Conference?

I honestly don’t recall all the dates but we touchdown Wednesday to Witness The Sickness as Dstar & Mason, also playing at Stank Love, the official Big Up Magazine WMC party, then transform into Down Jones & Beastmode. Also the Metalheadz vs Bassdrive party, and World of DrumNBass

Word! Holla at your boy for dub n bass sushi 2010!