DJ 2-Tone Jones

Shaolin Jazz co-founder DJ 2-Tone Jones—one half of the duo behind the genre-bending brand—returns to reflect on growth, alignment, and his continued love for blending film and music through Can I Kick It?Finding purpose through Shaolin Jazz: how re-scoring films with hip-hop and jazz gave his DJ career renewed meaningCan I Kick It?: building a national, live-scoring experience that fuses cult classic cinema with original DJ setsMastering live scoring: learning to let films “breathe” and why restraint can elevate storytellingCreative partnerships that last: why the right venue, audience, and mission fit matter more than numbersLessons from 160+ screenings: evolving from DIY setups to long-term residencies and curatorial refinementNiche as power: how a focused creative identity built deeper impact, loyalty, and community across citiesCheck out Shaolin Jazz's and DJ 2-Tone Jones’ first appearance on the podcast — recorded in 2020 — here. Join DJ 2-Tone Jones this Saturday at Creative Alliance for Can I Kick It?, featuring Monkey Man—an adrenaline-fueled Indian revenge thriller re-scored live with hip-hop, soul, and cinematic beats. 🎧🎥 Doors at 7PM, film starts at 7:30. Grab your tickets now: creativealliance.org/event/can-i-kick-it-monkey-manThis episode was recorded during a season dedicated to creative growth, transformation, and honoring the foundations that helped build Baltimore’s culture.

Welcome to the Truth in This Art. I'm your host, Rob Lee, and I’m thrilled to be in conversation with my next guests: Gerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones from Shaolin Jazz. Shaolin Jazz, co-founded by Gerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones, produces content and events that highlight the parallels between Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Martial Arts. Learn how the two turned a mutual admiration of Wu-Tang Clan and Jazz into a mixtape, event series and so much more.Join us as we discuss:An exciting exploration of the interconnected worlds of hip-hop, jazz, and martial arts as Shaolin Jazz curates mesmerizing events and content that draw attention to their fascinating parallels.One-of-a-kind event series titled "Can I Kick It?" where classic martial arts movies blend seamlessly with the captivating beats of DJ 2-Tone Jones' live music. Expect a truly immersive and unforgettable experience!How Shaolin Jazz has gracefully adapted to the challenges posed by COVID-19, pivoting to digital events while continuing to deliver their mission of offering unique and engaging experiences to audiences worldwide. Embrace the innovative ways they've found to keep the magic alive in the virtual realm.Gerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones discuss their creative platform, Shaolin Jazz, which explores the connections between hip-hop, jazz, and martial arts. They create events and content that highlight these parallels, including live music performances and the event series "Can I Kick It?". They talk about how COVID-19 has forced them to pivot to digital events and the importance of finding outlets for creativity during these challenging times. They also share their favorite martial arts movies and hip-hop/jazz albums.Mentioned in this episodeGerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones.  from Shaolin Jazz.🎧🌟 Don't forget to rate and review this episode to support the best in podcasting! 🌟🎧