What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My stage name is Haji Outlaw and I’m from Chicago.

What’s the story behind your stage name?
No story behind my name, besides my mom saw the name Haji in a book and liked it.

Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I have been an avid fan of music since I can remember and first started producing music on an MPC in college. I stopped producing music for a number of years as I pursued other artistic interests, but returned to producing on an iPad in 2019 after reading that Madlib produced Freddie Gibbs’ Bandana on an iPad. Since then, I have produced instrumental and comedy projects of my own, along with producing for Kool Keith, Blu, Chris Crack, Mike Shabb, J.Arrr, and coming this Halloween (10/31), an EP with RJ Payne.

Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I disliked my latest track so much that I did three more back-to-back-to-back before falling asleep.

What message do you want to convey through your music?
Quality.

Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
I was challenged to make radio-friendly beats and overcame it by remembering that I don’t give a f*** about radio-friendly s***.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Ransom. He’s super dope, and I have dozens of beats that I can’t help but picture him rhyming on.

Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
To Brazil.

What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
More placements with dope artists.

We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Sure.

Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
Possibly.

Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
My EP with RJ Payne, Payne’s Law, will be available on all streaming platforms on October 31st.

What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Instagram (@OutlawHaji).