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DO YOU TEND TO LIKE BEATS YOU BUILD YOURSELF AS OPPOSED TO SAMPLED BEATS?
Yea I think lately I’m more into building my own beats from scratch. I still sample, but never a loop or a large piece of music. I think sampling can be great because it gives you textures that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to work with, but with the recent influx of new producers, it’s more important than ever to really do everything you can to separate yourself from others. By using samples, you run the risk of using the same sounds as someone else, whereas with building your own, while it’s still possible, it isn’t as likely.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVE PRODUCERS?
Right now I’m listening to a lot of Hazel, Freddie Joachim, Damu the Fudgemunk, Wellaware, Man Mantis, J Dilla, & Clutchy Hopkins.
HAVE YOU EVER MADE WHAT YOU FELT LIKE WAS A NIICE BEAT AND SOMEONE GOT ON IT AND DID IT NO JUSTICE?
Ah yea about once a month I get an email from someone who rapped over one of my beats online. 10 times out of 10 they are pretty bad. There’s only been one so far that was dope – she’s a singer & we’re going to work on some stuff together in the future.
If it’s an emcee that I’m legitimately working with on something I don’t have a problem telling them I don’t like what they did & why. I used to have a hard time with that, but honesty is important if you want to make good music.
DO YOU PREFER TO KEEP YOUR BEATS AS INSTRUMENTALS OR DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE BEATS FOR OTHER ARTISTS?
Well I’m actually more into instrumentals than vocal tracks. I like to produce instrumental albums & that’s mostly what I listen to as well. Lately I’ve branched out more tho & started working with some really great artists. I’m going to produce about a half-dozen vocal projects next year.
I’m a gear head & I love MPCs, keyboards, guitars, drums, & turntables. I always say that if you can watch porn on it then it’s not an instrument & I think there is something to be said for the limitations of certain machines. It forces you to be more creative & think outside the box. Also, having too many options at your fingertips can cause your beats to become stale & lifeless. Good music isn’t based on science; it’s based on feeling.
You can cover up a lack of skill with some of the newer software programs if you know how to use them, but when you’re working with just the basics, you’ve got to manually do the work every step of the way & while listeners can’t hear the difference, they can feel it. It’s like a home cooked meal simmering on the stove all day vs. fast food. For me it’s not about knowing how to use a program, but knowing how to make good music.
WHO/WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE?
I know it sounds cliché, but my music is inspired by everyday occurrences. A good day will bring an energetic groove while a bad one will draw out a melancholy beat. I’m also influenced by other artists - both new & old. I still revisit the classics on a regular basis & as a crate digger; it’s my job to unearth dope records that haven’t been heard before, so there’s that too.
A lot of the new producers are doing really great stuff as well so it’s hard not to draw inspiration from them & their work. Just like digging in the crates to find dope records, I “dig” thru the internet to find the best unknown producers so I can vibe to their music & understand what my peers are doing. I think the accessibility that the internet provides allows us to influence each other while still maintaining & evolving our own sound. It’s an exciting time for music.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS YOUR HAVE WORKED WITH SO FAR?
Jondis, junclassic, Praverb the Wyse, Idris Goodwin, Olu Bliss, & Atari Blitzkrieg are some of the people I’ve worked with thus far. I plan on doing more music with all of them & also working with new artists in the future. I’m really just getting started.
I don’t smoke weed. People are always surprised to know that for some reason. I think it’s because a lot of my beats are extra smooth so they assume I like to blaze or something, but yeah, just for the record I don’t smoke haha.
WHO TAUGHT YOU ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSONS IN LIFE?
My pops taught me that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. It’s very true & I’m glad he taught me that at an early age. If he didn’t show me the importance of setting goals & making sacrifices then I wouldn’t have ever started Polymath Records.
My mother also taught me about the power of positive thinking. Your thoughts control everything & it’s important to understand that. With a negative outlook, you will never be happy, but with a positive one, you can accomplish almost anything.
IF YOU COULD PICK 3 ARTISTS PAST OR PRESENT TO WORK WITH WHO WOULD YOU PICK?
I’d love to produce an album with Mos Def, Talib Kweli, & Erykah Badu. That would be my choice.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE COOL LAID BACK OR INYOUR FACE?
Musically I’m laid back so far that you might fall out of your chair. Smooth grooves with funky bass lines & hard drums that cut thru the mix. As a person, I’m laid back too, but once you get to know me I can be pretty intense. If you’re talking about sports or the weather then I just don’t care, but if we get on the subject of music, psychology, books, or solving the world’s problems, I will rap with you all day.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO RELAX?
Haha well I meditate a lot & do yoga. I like to cook – vegan food that’s so good you wouldn’t even miss the stuff you normally eat. I read mad books too & I like to write. I’m actually working on an outline for a book at the moment. I also get down on Xbox Live, but I only play NBA 2K. If anyone reading this wants to play, hit me up @ PolymathRecords.
HOW DOES THE BEAT COME TO YOU? I KNOW SOME PRODUCERS SAMPLE BUT LIKE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL BEAT HOW DOES IT COME TO YOU?
Well I’ve been playing piano since I was 4 years old so it really just comes naturally. The beat literally comes to me without thinking about it & then I just build from there. My best work comes when I’m just jamming on the keys over drums. Once I find a groove that I really like, I’ll record it & then start adding other layers to it. I try to think of myself as a one-man band as opposed to a hip hop producer. I’ve also got countless songs I’ve started over the years on piano that kinda come back into the mix when I’m making a beat. Some of my beats are variations of piano jams I did 10 years ago.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE 1 THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU? WHAT WOULD IT BE? AND WHY?
I think everything is where it’s supposed to be. Of course there are things that I struggle with, but it’s for a reason & those things will change once I learn whatever lessons I’m supposed to learn from them.
