If you’ve ever sent a DM to JD On Tha Track, chances are he has read that message and appreciates your sentiments more than you know.
South American multi-platinum producer JD On Tha Track is more than what his abbreviated moniker suggest.
Although he carries a bilingual background, João Duarte (JD) chooses to embrace his admiration for the lyrically astute influences that have transcended mainstream Hip-Hop and swayed his adolescence early on – listening to artists like Eminem, 50 Cent and Kanye West.
After transitioning to the United States, JD wasted no time in applying pressure and honing the skills required that would inevitably compliment his prowess as a producer in the music industry. As time progressed, JD naturally familiarized himself with the interconnected realm of social media (Instagram and Twitter) and began to develop a strong rapport within the online community and amongst noteworthy artists.
With a catalog that features collaborations with influences such as Chief Keef, Gunna, Lil Baby, Lil TJAY, Polo G, NBA Youngboy, Quando Rondo and more, there’s no telling what the imminent future has in store for this self-taught paradigm of production savviness.
We had the opportunity to house a brief dialogue with JD On Tha Track to talk about his backstory, inspirations and forthcoming book release.
From my understanding, I see that you’re originally from Brazil, São Paulo to be exact – What was it like growing up in South America?
It was great, my childhood was great – Just an overall good experience.
Do you feel like that environment played any role in influencing your sound (production wise)?
I don’t think Brazil influenced nothing, because since I was a kid, I listened to 50 Cent, The Game, basically all the rappers out here (America).
I was never listening to Brazil songs or Brazilian music.
That’s interesting, especially since Brazilian Hip-Hop is literally its own genre and when I listen to some of the records you’ve produced, there’s virtually no indications of any resounding influence. With that in mind, how exactly do you curate your productions?
I just put all my feelings into it, all my emotions in the beat. If I’m feeling some type of way, I’m going to put that emotion into the beat.
With you evoking that type of emotion into your artistry – Has there been a project that’s left you in a vulnerable state or something that has forced you to open up?
‘Brothers’, that’s one of the main ones that has my heart, my everything into it.
You’re referring to the track with Lil TJAY?
Yeah.
How exactly did that relationship come together?
One of my friends sent me his profile on Instagram a while back, I think he had like 10K followers at that time.
I heard one song by him and I knew, I had that feeling that he would go all the way up.
Since I had that feeling, I was like “I’m a send him a pack”. I really felt like he could be the next big thing out there.
I sent him the pack, but I wasn’t expecting him to get on any of them and he ended up getting on ‘Brothers’.
After ‘Brothers’ started doing well, he called me and we just kept going after that.
What is it like being a multi-platinum producer at just 22-years-old?
I always knew I was going to get where I’m at. I believe in the law of attraction; I feel like I’m destined for all of that and I’m just getting started.
For you to experience success of this stature so early in the game, that says a lot about your work ethic.
Definitely, I’m always working.
With you constantly working, I imagine that you basically live in the studio – All things considered, what are your studio must-haves to ensure the optimal session?
I need my laptop of course, and a mouse, that’s all I need.
Just give you the tools and you’ll put in the work?
Exactly, because when I first started producing bro, all I had was my laptop and a pair of headphones.
It wasn’t anything special, I was producing for years like that.
I got my first real speaker like last year.
I’ve been producing with the basic of basics, like I don’t need much.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey thus far in music?
The recognition I’ve received from people. All the fans, the different people that have been messaging me, saying things that have touched my heart.
Telling me some deep stuff about their life, about my music and how I’ve inspired them.
That’s big to me and it motivates me at the same time.
Of course, the 3X Platinum record for ‘Pop Out’, that too.
Tangibles are essential, regarding the accolades and recognition, but I find that unique how you referenced the engagement received from complete strangers and how you’ve directly impacted their life through music
Exactly, because back in the day I used to listen to all of these different artists and they used to touch my heart the same way I’m reaching these people.
They be saying some crazy stuff, like real deep conversations in my DM and that means a lot to me.
I definitely understand the significance of how important those type of interactions are to you, especially considering the fact that you’re self-taught – That has to be a great feeling, to reign in this type of acclaim after teaching the game to yourself
Yeah bro, self-taught in the sense of how to produce and how to speak English, everything.
It’s a crazy feeling.
Do you find it fitting to ever infuse your bilingual background/influence into your artistry in the imminent future? It’s not too often that you find a bilingual multi-platinum producer
I don’t think it would help at all in truth, so probably not.
One of the major influences in Hip-Hop production, Sonny Digital, made a reference to forming a Producer’s Union a while back – Do you think something like that would be required today or have producers started to receive the proper recognition for their work?
I feel like the relationship between the producer and artist is very important.
If your chemistry is right with the artist, I feel like everything will be done the right way – you’ll get the credit, all that.
I do feel like what Sonny Digital was talking about is very important too.
A union isn’t something that I’d generally do, but I support the idea.
I’ve seen excerpts from past interviews where you’ve been referencing an upcoming book, more specifically how you’ve managed to survive on six separate instances. If you can disclose that information at this time, do you have a book title yet or what are the specifics on genre selection?
It’s going to be a story about my whole life. I have so much to talk about, so much to tell people.
I have learned a lot of things – I want to share the knowledge that I’ve learned with everybody.
I want to tell people how I came up, how I survived through times, everything that I’ve been through in my life.
How do you manage to remain authentic in an ever-changing industry that’s plagued with trends?
You just got to be yourself, I never compare myself to nobody.
I just do me.
I don’t look up to anybody or what they doing.
Any crazy studio stories?
I don’t think anything too crazy has happened. I guess the closest thing would have to be one time during Rolling Loud, I was in the studio with TJAY and everybody.
There was like 40 people in the room, hella bitches dancing and everything.
They were twerking, doing all types of crazy shit – we was just lit, turning up to the music.
