XXcLusive: Don Cannon Speaks on Trap or Die 2, Reveals Young Jeezy/Clipse Collabo

With Young Jeezy getting ready to release the sequel to his seminal Trap or Die mixtape this week, XXLMag.com chopped it up with the host of the project, DJ/producer Don Cannon, to get all the pertinent details.

Cannon’s former Aphilliates partner DJ Drama, who helmed the original mixtape, was initially supposed to host Trap or Die 2. But according to Cannon—who left the Aphilliates in 2008—a scheduling conflict prevented Drama from handling the project. “I think there was time constraints,” he said. “And Jeezy wanted to have it put out pretty quickly because it's [part] of the promo of the album.”

As to how he was brought on board, Cannon said he happened to be working on the Snowman’s upcoming album, Thug Motivation 103. “I think he needed a lil’ help picking some songs and doing a couple of things," he shared. "So in the midst of me doing his album… he was like, 'You know what, you might as well host this joint.' So from there, once he said that, you know, I was down… I picked the music [and] I put the whole marketing/viral thing together for it.”

Cannon revealed a star-studded guest list for TOD2, which includes Bun B, Scarface, Trick Daddy and Birdman. But the track that he predicts will be the “sleeper of the year” is Jeezy’s song with Clipse. “Everybody’s gonna talk about [it]…that’s a big record,” he explained. “’Cause I don’t know anybody that can talk that street mentality talk other than him and them. So for them to collab on a track that’s really important.”

On the production tip, Cannon recruited longtime Jeezy associate Shawty Redd, Drumma Boy and of course he provided one of his own beats for the song “D Boys.”

He said, while there are mostly original songs on the disc, YJ dropped verses over Snoop’s "I Wanna Rock," Trey Songz’s "Say Ahh" and Birdman’s "Play Ball."

Trap or Die 2 will be available this Friday (April 30). —Jesse Gissen