Collaborative projects
Hip-hop producer, DJ, and broadcaster — one of the most important creative relationships in Buck 65's life and career. Buck 65 first heard Jorun on CKDU Halifax campus radio in the late 1980s, on a show called The Groove (and its successor The Def Beat). Jorun was handling production and DJ duties for a Halifax crew called Down By Law (DBL). In 1989, Buck 65 saw Down By Law open for Public Enemy — they 'damn near stole the show.' That same year, Buck 65 became host of The Def Beat on CKDU and interviewed Jo when his new group Mod'rn World Thang opened for either Michie Mee or Run DMC. After that interview, 'Jo and I hung out all the time. He co-hosted the radio show with me and we started making music together. During sessions at Jo's place, he taught me how to DJ and make beats.' Jorun also co-founded Haltown Projex with Buck 65 (as Witchdoc Jorun), Bonshah, and Tallis Newkirk — Buck 65's first recorded group. Skill level: Buck 65 describes him as able to identify samples and detect pitch alterations in any hip-hop song by ear — 'That's next level.' Through the 90s and 2000s, Jorun honed his craft largely unheard outside Halifax. Around 2010, he began reconstructing classic hip-hop instrumentals on YouTube from scratch — matching EQ, compression, and effects perfectly, to the point where listeners assumed he had the master tapes. Questlove discovered these and tweeted his astonishment, opening major doors. Since then: LL Cool J (HOF induction instrumentals), Rakim (tour instrumentals), De La Soul (ongoing), Biz Markie. Buck 65: 'Jo has become the guy the legends turn to when they need help.' The Laundromat Boogie album (2014) was Jorun's idea: 'he had an epiphany and wanted to record an entire album about doing laundry and that I was the only MC who could help him pull it off.' Buck 65's full assessment: 'Three of the beats on the album were made by the legendary Jorun Bombay, who — for my money — is one of the greatest producers in hip hop history.'