Detroit Lions’ Justin Durant Talks MTV, Music & More

 

Detroit Lions linebacker, Justin Durant is not your average athlete. In fact, the 27-year-old Hampton University graduate, became the first player in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to earn MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. So it may be a bit surprising that the South Carolina native is a genuine music connoisseur, who is planning to attend Clive Davis’ “Business of Music Boot Camp” at NYU. He has an equal appreciation of mainstream artists to the most underrated indie artists. His passion for music has landed him in the offices of the #1 music network on television for an internship opportunity he couldn’t turn down. MTV was shown some of Justin’s work as a guest music columnist in a Detroit paper and was so impressed by his passion and knowledge that he not only scored a major gig as a correspondent for MTV during Super Bowl 2013, but he also landed an opportunity to shadow at MTV’s New York office, during a taping of their newly launched show Week in Jams (formerly Sucker Free Countdown)! During the Super Bowl, Justin was able to flex his reporter muscles, interviewing players from the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. Now following a successful and enlightening week at MTV, Justin Durant chatted with Heed Magazine talking everything from MTV to Solange Knowles! Check out the exclusive interview!

 

Tell me about your your shadowing experience with MTV?

Man, it was great. I basically shadowed this week as they produced and edited the Week in Jams show. They were shown some of my writing work and  reached out to me!  They wanted me to be a correspondent at the Super Bowl, so I did that and it was great. I interviewed some of the players and just had a good time.  This week, I got a chance to go up to the office and shadow the team. I got to see how they produced a show from creating it to the actual taping and editing process. I really just had the chance to see how everything is done.

 

Has it been easy merging your career as an athlete with you passions for music & fashion?

It kind of goes hand in hand. I’m really starting to get into it. I’m really just starting to show people that I can do something other than play. In terms of fashion, we’re shown all the time and we’re always in the spotlight, and people want to be fresh. And with music, I’ve been in music since I was young and I wanted to learn everything that goes on behind production. I’m not really creative in that way, so I wanted to see who the people were who were behind those types of things.

 

I know you will be also attending Clive Davis’ Business of Music Boot Camp at New York University, tell me a little bit about that.

They’ve been doing it for 2 years and I’ve been trying to get in since they started. You have to write an essay and explain what you’re trying to do. I think I have a very good ear for music and I want to learn about A&R and artist development. The boot camp covers everything from music production to artist management and they’ll have panels with high level execs explaining how things work in the music industry. I think it’s beneficial for me to know just as much as I can. The more you know the better off you are.

How do you see yourself evolving in your love of music?

I think my next move in showing how I love music is to be behind artists and helping them build their brands.

Do you see yourself, transitioning into the music business full-time at some point?

I think so. I have to see exactly what I’m comfortable with and see if that is really what I want to do. You know, it’s easy to say that want to do something until you actually see what’s involved with it. I want to get a chance to look at it and learn everything that I can to see if that’s actually what I want to do.

 

Who is your favorite artist out right now?

Right now, Kendrick Lamar of course. I think he’s at the top of his game right now with what he’s doing. I like their whole camp. It’s called Top Dawg Entertainment. I think they’re putting out some quality music with actual concepts. Their albums are flowing and it’s not just a whole bunch of singles. I also like what Solange Knowles is doing. She’s being herself and you can tell it’s organic. I also love Jhene Aiko who’s on the R&B side.

What is your all time favorite album and why?

It changes everyday, but I’ll go with ATLiens by Outkast. It was like one of the first Cd’s that I brought when Cd’s were just getting popular. I think I was 10 about to be 11. It was mesmerizing man. I think Outkast was probably the best group to ever do it, just because they’re able to reinvent themselves musically. I like them and everything that they do. It’s probably one of my favorite albums and I always go back and listen to it at least once a month.

 

I read that you’re a big fan of Indie music. Who are some of your favorite indie artists?

I’m listening to some Yeasayer right now. They’re a band out of New York. Like, I’ll kind of give anything a listen and I ask twitter for recommendations sometimes and they’ll shoot me over some artists.

What are your plans as far as fashion? Do you have plans to start a fashion line?

As far as fashion, I’m not really super into it like that. I just like what I like. I don’t think I’m going to start a line or something like that. I’m not big into names and stuff like that. I just like to be cool and feel like I’m comfortable in what I’m wearing. Yeah, I don’t have plans to start a line or anything.

 

What’s next for Justin Durant?

Well, right now I’m about to start this free agency process and see and where I end up! [Laughs]

 

To stay up on Justin Durant be sure to follow him on Twitter @JDurant52!

Check your local MTV listings to catch Justin on MTV’s Week in Jams!

All Photography © 2013 Brian Luman for Heed Magazine Inc.