DO YOU TEND TO LIKE BEATS YOU BUILT YOURSELF AS OPPOSED TO SAMPLED BEATS?
I like them both. The difference is when I'm done with an original beat and it's Hot, I don't feel restricted because I'm not thinking about if I should try to clear it or if I can get away with the samples I would have used.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVE PRODUCERS?
When I first started producing it was Dj Premier for his chops, Pete Rock for the soul samples and Timbaland for the way he took sounds like a baby crying and panning it in the beat. Dr Dre was another producer I like for the way he added new sounds in the middle of the verses. Kanye West, Swizz Beats and J Dilla"s beats are hot too.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR FINISHED WITH THE BEAT?
I always say it's finished when the artist adds their vocals, which is actually another instrument. Most of the time when I'm producing I will take an a capella that fits to the beat I started and add more around it.
HAVE YOU EVER MADE WHAT YOU FELT LIKE WAS A NIICE BEAT AND SOMEONE GOT ON IT AND DID IT NO JUSTICE?
One time I had to tell the person DO NOT PUT THAT OUT. The song was typical, I tried to build on the idea the person had but it just didn't work out. For a producer it's better to come up with the hook, concept or even just naming the track the right name can lead the artist in the right direction. Another time the beat had a nice 70's black exploit theme to it and I thought for sure they would some how go with that but they didn't. The song still came out hot though, it's just when you hear an idea that can go to a beat and they go totally left it throws you all off. That's why the best records to me were when the artist and producer worked together in the same studio. EPMD, GANGSTARR and DE LA SOUL are good examples of working together and having good chemistry.
DO YOU PREFER TO KEEP YOUR BEATS AS INSTRUMENTALS OR DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE BEATS FOR OTHER ARTISTS?
I like making beats for other artists. I like to hear great songs and concepts on my beats
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEWER EQUIPMENT VS THE OLDER EQUIPMENT?
Newer equipment meaning virtual instruments is a lot better as far as having more sounds less clutter. A lot of producers sold hardware they said they would never give up for the virtual software. I have an old Mpc 60II and some modules. I also use a lot of virtual software but I will never sell all my hardware. Computers flake out here and there. I don't wanna be stuck with nothing if it breaks down.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO PRODUCING/ ENGINEERING?
I learned how to DJ from my oldest brother and also was encouraged by my second oldest at the age of 7. After High school I got into Audio Engineering. One day I said who am I fooling let me take some of this money I'm making from Engineering and buy me a used Mpc 60II. Started sampling and chopping then I got a keyboard and I took piano lessons for a year and a half
WHO/WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE?
All kinds of music. I love hearing reggae and dancehall. That bass is like a drug to me. If I can't get my kick or bassline to feel that warm and heavy, I always think something is wrong with my mix lol. I like everything, world music, Latin, Indian anything new and old. I like unusual sounds.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS YOUR HAVE WORKED WITH SO FAR?
On an engineering level I worked with Krs1 who taught me to control the session. What I mean by that is he came in the room and sat with the engineer and told him what he wanted to hear out of the kick snare and bass guitar in a way where he was not trying to waste any time. I been in sessions where the artist just sitting wasting time. Krs1 was on his job and to top it off he rented 3 rooms that day and bounced back and forth.
On a producer level I worked with G Dep, Trends Of Culture and DoItAll from Lords of the Underground. I worked with alot of indie artist like Range, Jigg Littles, Zuleka Diamonds and Phed X to name a few
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T FANS OF YOU MUSIC TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I want them to know that I'm always trying to think different when I'm creating music. I like to match up artist you would never think would do a song together. In my mind there is always a beat and song that I want to make that will go multi Diamond so I won't stop til it's made.
WHO TAUGHT YOU ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSONS IN LIFE?
Off the top of my head I would say my brothers and that would be stay away from people who are negative and attract trouble. When the police come they not always looking for the obvious. They will arrest you for any little thing and you have to fight your way out the system. The Police are a business into making money and moving up in their jobs.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE 1 THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU? WHAT WOULD IT BE? AND WHY?
I would be a lot further in life if I didn't let fear get in the way. I'm working on that now. When I have an idea I research it and then just put it out without worrying if it will work or not . This is something new I'm in the middle of trying now.
WHY DO YOU LOVE MUSIC?
I like the way music puts me in the Mood to do whatever the mood is at the time. It also sparks good memories. I love creating it and getting a genuine reaction from people.
WHAT ARE YOU TOP 5 MOVIES?
Juice, Boomerang(Eddie Murphy), all 007 movies, 40 Year Old Virgin and The last Batman Movie
IF YOU COULD PICK 3 ARTISTS PAST OR PRESENT TO WORK WITH WHO WOULD YOU PICK?
Jay z Shakira and Barrington Levy or all 3 on one song
WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT?
God, My Family and money to survive
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE COOL LAID BACK, INYOUR FACE, CONSCIOUS?
I have Many Styles (Drunk Monk Voice). I'm working on finding something that when you hear my beats you know it's me even if it's a dance track . Branding!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO RELAX? (THAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT) = )
I like to chill and watch movies, it always spark an idea. Wine is fine too. Lol. Working out relieves my frustration.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU LOVED MUSIC MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON?
When I started having conversations about music with other music lovers and it would last 3 hrs or a full day.
HOW DOES THE BEAT COME TO YOU? I KNOW SOME PRODUCERS SAMPLE BUT LIKE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL BEAT HOW DOES IT COME TO YOU?
The best beats are the ones that I make in my head completely before I even touch the equipment. Being that my memory is not that sharp for me to do that and come home and lay it out. I don't have many of those. Usually I start with the drums, I fill those up then start looking for sounds and then I start hearing the melody.
WHATS NEXT FOR YOU?
I'm working on an album with Range, Hip Hop Artist. We working beat
by beat. Also working on a compilation of world, pop and Hip Hop. Just
working on matching beats up with artist now. Also working on some
soundtracks. I been mixing lately so now I'm back on engineering
other artists projects.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR STYLE HAS CHANGED?
The more ideas I get the more it changes. I try to stay with certain
current sounds but I still add my own sound and style to it.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY LIKE YOUR BEATS?
I'm the type of person that I don't get exited until I actually hear
the person use the beat. Then I say ok they weren't just talking just
to gas me, they really did feel my beats. So it just adds more
