And, should you ever speak with Quincy Jones, suggest otherwise only at your own risk. The legendary producer set the record straight regarding their lack of similarities while speaking to a reporter who said, not so inaccurately, “West is similar to you in that he’s the producer everybody wants to work with in the last decade … †Jones interrupted,
“How man? No way. Did he write for a symphony orchestra? Does he write for a jazz orchestra? Come on, man. He’s just a rapper. There’s no comparison. I’m not putting him down or making a judgement or anything, but we come from two different sides of the planet. I spent 28 years learning my first skill. I don’t rap. It’s not the same thing. A producer has to have some sort of skills that enable him to be a producer. It’s totally different to know what to do with 16 woodwinds you know from piccolos down to bass clarinet. It’s a whole different mindset. No comparison. None.â€
So, the reporter continued, “What do you think of [Kanye].†Jones replied with a plug for Ludacris:
“I don’t think about him much. He’s a great rapper, but there are a lot of good rappers. I just did The View with Ludacris, who’s one of my favorites. He’s a beautiful human being and college educated. I joke with him and say, ‘How did ‘Move Bitch Get Out The Way’ come out of you?’ But I was raised around the Mafia when I was a kid in Chicago in the 30s. Chicago’s rough. I’m from the streets, I know what’s up!â€