Meet My Friends Interview Series with Music Producer Dante Ross
A Note from FFNY: Interview with Dante Ross
Welcome back to our Meet My Friends series, where we spotlight some of NYC’s most influential figures in the cultural scene. Today, we feature Dante Ross, a trailblazer from the beginning days of hip-hop. Early in his career, Dante worked with De La Soul, Queen Latifah, 3rd Bass and Digital Underground. At Elektra Records, Dante became the first major label hire specifically for hip-hop A&R, signing iconic acts like Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, Del the Funky Homosapien, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, KMD, Leaders of the New School, Busta Rhymes, and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
In our interview, we delve into his experiences growing up in NYC, his wild nights out in the scene, and his hopes for the future of our city. Enjoy this dive into 1980s hip hop, nightlife, and the high-energy, anything-can-happen vibe that defined the era—reflecting on how it was done then and how it's shaping up now.
With all that hip hop insight being dropped let it be known we have our Halloween Party on Thursday Oct 31st at Deluxx Fluxx featuring the one and only Funk Master Flex! We also have the lovely Ayanna Heaven & DJ Soul on the bill for a night to remember. You heard it hear first-ticket link dropping soon!
And for an even deeper dive, be sure to pick up Dante's book Son Of The City
Lets take it back. As a youngin’ what were your favorite things to do in NYC?
Roaming the street with my friends. We hung out on the LES a lot. Seems like there was an adventure waiting to happen on every corner. The 80’s in NYC was pretty bananas.
Going to clubs like Danceteria was also high on the list of fun things to do. Music was always at the center of the adventure as kids. We also played a lot of basketball and skated all over the city. Graffiti was also at the center of a lot of our adolescent mischief.
Where were your peoples, hanging out?
Places in the L.E.S like The Park Inn Tavern, The Holiday Cocktail Lounge, Blanchards, The Fun Gallery and punk rock venues like A7 and CB’s were go to’s. Area, Danceteria, The Roxy, Madame Rosas, Nells and of course Washington Square Park where we all skated were also consistent spots you could find me at. Later down the road I logged in time at The Latin Quarters, 1018, The Tunnel and The World.
I actually lived in The World when it was being built.
What kind of hustle did you get into, and how did you want to affect NYC personally?
I got in the music business pretty young. Watching the Beasties inspired me to get in the game. They achieved so much so young it was pretty inspiring, I just wanted to contribute somehow. I couldn't rap, but I knew I had really good taste and had a relentless drive. I loved music and I was pretty fearless,
I went to spots like The Rooftop and Latin Quarters places very few white boys would go, chasing my dream and having a blast. It paid off pretty early for me and I got an A&R gig at age 22-23. I got lucky kind of off the bat and I never looked back.
I always wanted to be that guy who's name was on the back of the record like Steve Cropper or Jerry Wexler and I guess in my own way I did. Rick Rubin who was never particularly nice to me was a big inspiration as was Sam Sever. Though younger than me, he was a mentor of sorts.
Pre internet how did one find out where to go & what to do?
Flyers and word of mouth. You might go to the Holiday and hear about a party, you might get a phone call or grab a flyer at Unique on Broadway.
Rammallzee told me about Negril the first Hip Hop party downtown when I bumped into him at Fun Gallery.
There were also certain nights at spots that were popping like Hip Hop Wednesdays at The World or Fridays at The Latin Quarter or later Fridays at Muse for Eli Gesner and Beasley’s party Trip. Also promoters.
If Jessica Rosenblum was doing something at Red Zone or The Building in my early 20’s I was there. She had the best parties back then. Her shit was Hip Hop and sexy.
I love hearing about the nightlife back then and the wild late nights, as FFNY started as a dance party!
The city was wild like I said. I mean I had so many nights that blurred into days even up to my early 40’s. I often carried shades with me knowing it could end up being an all nighter.
A typical Friday in my late teens might be going out to Danceteria or The Roxy then end up at Berlin then taking a long train ride back to BK where I was living.
A few years later the agenda might include Area with Lysa Cooper and/or Jules Gayton, then going to Paradise Garage till daylight then going out to eat at Moondance Diner off Canal St and passing out around 1 pm Saturday afternoon, sleeping all day then doing it again.
Shit we might just pull an all nighter, go home grab some trunks and a towel and head out to Rockaway and sleep on the beach. Jules was good for that kind of thing, he was always a sporty kind of cat. Dude had a lot of stamina lol.
Fast forward a few years in my 20s it might be the Latin Quarters to The World or 1018 then a sketchy after hours club like Save the Robots or possibly SNS in Harlem if it was that kind of evening.
I mean we even lived this life in the early 2000s at places like Bungalow 8 which sad to say, I left when the sun was out way more times than I care to admit.
Mind you this was all done in large part sans Cocaine… though possibly aided by Psychedelics on occasion. I could never do cocaine and haven’t since 1987. It was not a good look on me.
As for specific parties anything Jessica Rosenblum was doing was gonna be the shit. I was tight with her so I was always golden at her parties from The Red Zone on Wednesdays to the epic parties she threw Thursday at The Building.
This is when Hip Hop came downtown for the second time (maybe third) and was fly not grimy. I also went to the Milky Way and Payday to revolving parties that Patrick Moxey and my friend Chuck Crook did. A lot of acts I worked with would perform at Jessicas and Patricks parties.
Honestly that moment in time in my early and mid 20’s was the best to me. I had my first taste of money and some formidable juice.
The ladies loved me and I in return loved them. The city was my oyster and I enjoyed every second of it. I had a lot of fun.
What NYC nightlife do you wish you could have seen or experienced?
I wish I could have been dead center during the CBGBS Punk Rock moment in 76-77. Looked fun and nihilistic. Studio 54 looked pretty interesting as well, though I think I would have gravitated to CB’S more. I also wish I had gone to Paradise Garage more. The sound and the music was insane.
Unfortunately I didn’t go there nearly as much as I should have looking back and seeing how important it was and is to NYC culture, dance music and beyond. Larry Levan's selection and the music he played really stands the test of time.
What were some of your Favorite Ma & Pop shops you wish were still around for people?
Jewman in the Bronx where we copped Air Forces at in 86’. Chois on 103rd and Broadway for similar reasons. All the sneaker spots on Fulton Street. Unique on Broadway, Canal Jeans, Antique Boutique, Soho Skates, Flip, Andy’s Cheepees, Trash and Vaudeville, Manic Panic. Canal Jeans would do well today I think. They were ahead of the curve.
What artists were the talk of the town when you were coming up?
Keith Haring, Rammellzee, Lee Quinones, Futura 2000, Jean Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, Dondi White, Martin Wong. All the Fun Gallery people. I was friends to some degree with all of them. They were slightly older, welcoming people that I was inspired by. Shit they were just cool!
Who inspired you to do what you do? Any one person really get you going towards your path?
The Beastie Boys and The Bad Brains. Not singular entities but both equally inspiring. Throw Rick Rubin, Futura 2000 and Sam Sever on the list.
What did creating mean to you in your 20’s vs today?
As a young man I just went for it like a bull in a china shop. That youthful energy if you will
In my 20’s it wasn’t as conscious a decision to be creative I had an idea and I threw it against the wall. Today, 30 years later it’s how I still earn my living to a degree, though I have to think it through more.
It’s not as spontaneous a thing. I am also playing for much bigger stakes these days, so I have to take the proper course of action to insure connectivity.
Where do you find inspiration in NYC these days?
I just spent a month in NYC, stayed in Crown Heights, and my sister lives in Bed Stuy. Walking around in Brooklyn this summer was inspiring. It let me know NYC is still alive and well. The energy is so different from downtown Manhattan and the LES. Music is everywhere, and people were just talking that shit. It just feels vibrant.
Any up and comer cats in NYC we should know about?
There’s a bunch of great new kids making music in NYC these days. I love this kid, Lord Sko; he’s a great rapper from Washington Heights. The kid is a total NYC character. I also love this kid, Yoshi T, and his boy Cisco Swank, again both NYC Kids; they went to Laguardia and are part of a collective called Whatmore. A few others: Wiseboy Jeremy, who is just a fantastic rapper; he reminds me of the Native Tongues and there's Nappy Nina; she makes groovy, jazzy music.
As far as people pushing the culture, my friend Annabelle Klien who has this company That Good Shit, provides a great platform for new and seasoned artists; she’s super on it. She’s a DJ, a hostess, and has great energy and taste. There is also a space in Bed Stuy called Loudmouth BK; They do a ton of great stuff there with all the young, cool, new kids.
What’s a new discovery that’s been making life sweet these days?
I have been working on writing a bunch, optioned a screenplay, and am about to sell another. I read screenplays constantly. I use this site Awesome Film, and another site, Screenplays For You: you can download virtually any screenplay you want to read. I like to think reading great screenplays makes me a better writer.
If you could only eat from one NYC restaurant for the rest of the time, which spot would you choose?
Chez Brigette, which was on Greenwich Ave of 7th. It only sat 12 people at a time, max. The food was French Bistro style. I ate there several times a week for a decade straight; I knew the staff and thanked them on a record or two.
My other go-to, which is still open, thank god, is B and H on 2nd Ave. The tuna melt on Challah bread is to die for. I love the staff, love the food. It’s probably the last great cheap meal in NYC. It’s also Kosher. Sit at the counter. The whole place is about 20 feet wide.
What’s it about being a New Yorker that just translates to all people?
We’re smarter, more direct. We don't function on passive aggression, we just have aggression if you will. Our fortitude is serious. We have a determination and strength that a lot of people and cities don’t have. Detroit and Oakland, though very different from NY have a similar inner strength to they're natives.
Shit is not easy in NY. We got rough winters, and there’s a lot of negative Juju in the air. People are not soft. It made me who I am. I like to think everywhere I go it’s obvious I am a NYer. NYC to me is or was at least the capital of the blue collar intellectual.
We come from a place where being eclectic, informed and sarcastic is part of our DNA. I can walk through a lot of cultural doors. If I wasn’t from NYC I wouldn’t speak so many cultural languages. Growing up when I did and how I did was a real blessing.
If you could choose one person to show you their NYC from any period of time who would it be?
I’m gonna go with Legs McNeil. In 76-77’ He looked like he had a lot of fun!
What song or soundtrack forever plays in your NYC?
Eric B is President. First time I heard Rakim my jaw dropped. I went looking for the 12-inch the next day. He is still my favorite MC to this day. The other is The Bad Brains ROIR cassette. It really gets no better.
We are called ‘FRIENDS FROM NEW YORK,’ so who’s someone you’d like to shout out who’s been an incredible friend to you lately or someone who’s always been there for you, you’d just like to thank them here for being in your life and being rad.
Stretch and Bobbito have been my people for 35 years; they crack me up; a hang with brother Stretch is a must every time I’m in NY. The other two are my lifelong friends Paul and Peter Moore, aka The Moore Brothers. Every time I visit NYC, my first call of order is dinner with the Brothers. Last but not least is my lifelong friend and mentor, Jane Raab. She’s a really successful TV producer; she worked on Sex in the City, Only Murders In The Building, and a bunch of cool stuff. Her sage advice and friendship are a real blessing.
