Jay-Z’s longtime engineer and DJ Young Guru recently shared details of a particularly difficult and hectic night on tour. The situation was connected to an important recording session for a track on Drake’s album Scorpion.
Guru had been booked for months to work as a DJ at a major event. It was a high-profile gig that required his full attention and preparation. However, the night took an unexpected turn when Jay-Z had to record a verse at the last minute for Drake’s song, Talk Up. The verse was crucial to the track, and it needed to be recorded quickly to meet the deadline.
The recording was to take place at a venue where Jay-Z was performing because he was on tour. Guru had to move quickly to create a makeshift recording studio on the spot. This was no easy task; it required quickly putting together the necessary equipment and making sure the space was ready for recording.
Guru had to handle both this and his DJ duties simultaneously. He arrived late for his party, which added to his stress. Despite the pressure and tight deadlines, Guru focused on ensuring that the recording went off without any hindrances. His ability to handle both the DJ gig and the recording setup exemplifies his skill and dedication.
Guru recalled a particularly difficult night during the On the Run II Tour. Hov instructed him to set up a temporary studio at the venue. Guru was initially surprised by the request, but he managed to comply.
After a grueling two-hour show in which he had to memorize every verse perfectly without any backing track, Guru faced a new challenge: he was late for an afterparty he had planned months in advance. Although he didn’t remember the exact location, it was clear his commitments were long-term.
Guru discovered that Live Nation’s internet connection was down after the performance. After the option was exhausted, he reconnected to his phone and sent the session to Drake’s producer, Noah “40” Shebib. Despite these setbacks, he made it to the club just in time to begin his set.
Thinking about how much hard work must have gone into putting on a night like this, Guru was happy that he managed to strike a balance between his DJ duties and his performances at the club.
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