James Blake is far from an outlier in hip-hop circles, having worked with the likes of Chance The Rapper, RZA, Travis Scott, Vince Staples, and Beyonce. Recently the 28-year-old British singer/producer linked up with Kendrick Lamar for his album DAMN, where he helped produce the track "ELEMENT." In an interview with the Fader, Blake discussed his work with Kendrick and TDE's stable of talent.
"We’d been in touch various times and he’d come to the studio and listen to stuff and we got on and I sent him some music while I was on the road when I was in Mexico. I got an email and he said, “Can you turn something in tonight?” Blake continued, "I sent him a thing that I’d done and he took the chords and that became a part of “ELEMENT. I think that that was not the most organic way, sending music to someone by internet and it ends up in a tune but I just knew that I could trust them with my music because they have a flawless record of production, that unit that Kendrick works with."
Blake went on to explain that the team TDE has put together, such as producer Sounwave, have a great understanding for how music works and how things should sound. He further expressed a desire to work with the team more,” We’ll see about the future but hopefully we’ll be able to sit down and piece things together. Either way actually, it’s something great and firm about that happening that way.”