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First off, what's good man?

I’m good man just working hard trying to stay busy doing what I love to do which is making good music.

When did you start producing?

I started producing about 7 years ago in my bedroom. It really all began when I started taking drum lessons at my elementary school in the Bronx and yes I’m from the BX…It was then that I discovered my love and passion for music, so I continued playing drums throughout both junior and high school. I'm still a drummer to this day.

What made you want to start producing?

What's funny is I actually really wanted to become a rap artist but as you can see that didn't really work out for me. I got schooled to the business side of the industry and I decided that I would have longevity and more success if I became a producer and writer.

What producers influenced you?

P. DIDDY, Dr. DRE, TRACKMASTERZ, D-DOT,D.J PREMIER, JERMAINE DUPRI, and TIMBALAND!!

What equipment did you start with?

I started on a Roland XP-50 keyboard which was the same keyboard we used at church. It was owned by the minister music at that time Derrick Godbold who let me borrow it for months at a time. I definitely appreciate him for that. Then I started using the Ensoniq keyboard. I don’t even know the model but it was CRAZY and my man Supe let me create with that for a few months.

What equipment do you use now?

MPC 2000 XL, Motif Rack, Roland Fantom Rack, EMU MoPhat, EMU Extreme Lead, Samson Resolv Studio Monitors, Digi002 Rack, Powerbook G4, Gemini PMX 250 mixer, Stanton STR8-50 Record Player, Philips CD Burner, and a Behringer mixer. As u can see things have gotten better.

How has your style evolved?

I really respect all types of music so with that I’ve learned how to create masterpieces. At the beginning of my career I’ve emulated other styles of production but now I’ve created my own sound which is edgy, gangsta, emotional and definitely hard drums. That’s why they call me Amadeus: The Man, The Madness, The Music!

What do you look for in a sample?

Melodic feel, lyrics, concepts, and drum sounds.

How do you know if you’ve brought the full potential out of a sample?

If when I’m done, I’m still breaking my neck to the track I just created.

What’s the most important part about drum programming?

First you gotta pick the rite drum sounds. To me you should never use the same drum sounds for every track that you produce but that’s just me; I dont knock any other producer that does, I just believe that every track has a different feeling. Your drum selection plays a very important part in setting the mood.

When do you know when a beat is done?

Like I said I create off of feeling, so I’m done when I’ve finished painting my picture or telling my story.

What beat that you have out are you most proud of?

New Lil Mo single “Yeah Yeah Yeah” feat. Miri Ben-Ari the Hip Hop Violinist. And If I can say one more, it would be the joint I produced for Foxy Brown, “Get Off Me” when she was dissin Eve.

What’s the difference between making Hip Hop and R&B beats?

Music is Music to me. When you put lyrics to it, is when it can be categorized.


How did you get to work with 50 Cent?

It’s a crazy story because 50 got a bunch of CD’s from his A&R dude and some CD’s were instrumentals of songs that were out already and other CD’s were producer’s tracks, somehow my track ended up on the instrumental CD’s. So 50 heard the track, rocked to it and put it on his new mixtape hosted by DJ Whoo Kid’s “2050 Before The Massacre” titled, “It Is What It Is.” The freestyle and the beat was CRAZY!

You did, “Take Em To Church”, for Cam (dissing Mase),what did you think when you first heard that?

I bugged out like, “Cam went at Mase CRAZY!” But it was cool because this was a diss record on my track and to me I made history with Cam.

Were you worried that you’d never be able to work with Mase after that track?

Nah not at all, I mean we’re all grown men. I produced the track, didn’t write the song. Mase is actually vibing with a track of mine rite now and he titled it, “7 Deadly Sins,” so as you can see it didn’t hurt me at all. Shout out to Mase.

Why did you remix the “Take Em To Church” on Cam’s Purple Haze album?

They didn’t wanna allow us to use the sample so I had to replay it over at the last minute different from the original version. I was pissed, because both Killa and I loved the original track.

What about the Eve diss you produced by Foxy, how did you feel about doing that?

Same way as I felt with the Cam joint. This time I made history with Foxy who got at Eve crazy too. But what really made it HOT was the fact that I had the sample saying, “Get Off Me,” which let Foxy get a few things off her chest. Shout out to Foxy.

How much do you worry about the politics and who you work with... because a lot of people get hung up on that...

The politics in this music business is heavy but I try not to get caught up in the negativity I just continue to work hard and create masterpieces. My steps are ordered by GOD so no one can stop me.

What’s it like being in a session with Talib Kweli?

Talib Kweli is a very gifted & talented artist. His pen skills are crazy, so our session was like magic, of course with the help of engineer Dave Dar. Kweli also has a lot of energy which makes a
producer like myself, job easier.

How is Talib in the booth?

CRAZY!! He’s the truth, not to many artists seeing Kweli lyrically. I’ll co-sign for Kweli any day.

What kind of sound do you want to bring out in Kweli?

I wanted to get him in the club and that’s what I did! The song, “A-Game,” I produced on his latest album, “The Beautiful Struggle,” was definitely a club-banger! Shout out to TALIB KWELI, COREY SMYTH, & the entire BLACKSMYTH MANAGEMENT Family!

Who are you working with now?

LILMO, MIKE JONES, CEE-LO, JAE-MILLZ, JOE BUDDEN, POSTA BOY, DENIM, SHELLS, MADD RAPPER, NOAH, RHEA, MIDWESTCITY, J.R WRITER, JIM JONES, BRASCO, LETOYA LONDON, CARDAN, PEEDI CRAKK, and many more!!


What can MC’s who have worked with you say that you do better than other producers?

I create a comfortable atmosphere. I bring out the best in them as an artist. I bring out the best of the song. I simply put it like this, I turn a beat into a masterpiece and a song into a classic!


What MC’s do you want to work with?

To name a few! Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Nas, Snoop, Usher, TI, Game, G-Unit, Mary J.Blige, Busta, Beyonce, Mario, man I can go in forever! Whoever is HOT!!! Let’s Work!!

What producers are you feeling in the game now?

Dr. Dre STILL, Scott Storch, Kanye West, LilJon, JustBlaze, Rich Harrison, Neptunes, Dre & Vidal, Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell and it's a lot of new producers out here that are CRAZY coming up strong I’m one of ‘em…AMADEUS!!!

What’s coming up for you?

EVERYTHING!! Singles, T.V Commercials, Film Scores, and whatever else GOD has in store for me!

How can MC’s get at you for beats?

Holla at my management!
New Heights Entertainment
Laurent_Besencon@newheightsent.com
1-310-463-3312
Alanmelina@newheightsent.com
1-818-445-1321


Shout Outs: To GOD for making this all possible! My wife Mynon, my son A.J, my mom&dad Ruth & Silas Thompson, my sis&bro Latoya,Jaison& Jurnee, The Taylors,The Thompsons, The Campbells,
The Damons,The Phinazee’s, The PlatinumBoyMusic family u know who you are we here, Alomar,HipHopGame.Com, 730, New Heights Ent. Laurent, Alan, Jay Brown & Def Jam Fam, CherryLane Music Publishing, my church family GFT all the artists,a&r’s,managers,labels and everyone that wishes me well and believes in my music.
R.I.P Aunt Edrena & Big L
GOD BLESS!!
AMADEUS
PLATINUMBOYMUSIC WE HERE NOW!!!!!


Interview by Brian Kaiser