Award-winning music biographer, Jake Brown (Prince, 2Pac, Big Smo, Rick Rubin) and Multi-Platinum, Grammy and Emmy-nominated producer, N.O. Joe have teamed for the latter’s memoir, “World of Mine,” which will have a companion documentary. This news comes as Scarface, with whom Joe had a tremendous amount of success, excitedly took to Instagram to share some of their latest collaborations, said to be for his new album.
Joseph Johnson aka N.O. Joe has a career that spans both decades and genres. In addition to being Grammy and Emmy-nominated, as well as multi-platinum, Joe is credited with being an architect of early southern rap music for his collaborations with legends like Scarface (The Diary, Last of a Dying Breed, The Untouchable), Geto Boys (The Resurrection, Til Death Do Us Part) and UGK (Dirty Money, Ridin Dirty.) Not to be pigeonholed, Joe’s collaborators also include the likes of Brian McKnight, Jodeci, D’Angelo, LL Cool J, AZ and Ice Cube in addition to several Multi-Platinum soundtracks and movie scores. The name of his production company, Gumbo Funk, is a testament to his range and diversity.
Today Joe continues to spread his Gumbo Funk magic in addition to keeping his finger on the pulse with his new company, M-Pulse Global, a multi-media label group who signed Spuf Don as its flagship artist. Another New Orleans native, and himself a producer, Spuf Don first came on the scene as a member of The Classmates with Travis Scott. The duo released many projects with Joe in the development seat. Spuf has since gone on to make an impression as a solo artist having released his 2016 debut “Element of Surprise” which featured his old group mate. Keeping things in the family, Spuf also contributed three tracks to Scarface’s “Deeply Rooted” album.
“World of Mine” will feature exclusive interviews including Scarface, Mannie Fresh, Big Mike, members of the Geto Boys, Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince, Devin the Dude and more as Joe takes readers on a walk down his musical memory lane. The book is scheduled for a 2018 release. Joe will also appear in another upcoming book by Brown, “HIP HOP HITS: The Producers Speak,” due in stores this fall.
