Well my grandfather was a concert pianist, So I have always been around music in some sort. Somehow along the way that just transferred into me doin beats and I got hooked.

What equipment did you start with?

I started with nothing, haha. Nah I actually started on this raggedy laptop we had laying around the house, and I was using computer programs. Anything I could get my hands on. Acid, Fruity Loops, Cool Edit, Reason. I was using it all.

What did your first beats sound like?

Garrrbage. I found an old cd recently of my old joints and they were wack. I used to swear they were the hardest though and try to make everybody listen to them. I used to get “politely dismissed” by a lotta rappers, haha.

How has your sound changed?

Now I’m just a lot more professional with it. I also have a better ear for what sounds good and what I want to do, and how to put that into a beat. I still do a lot of off the wall tracks too tho, but right now my style is VERY versatile.

What equipment do you use now?

I gotta MPC 4000, Stanton Turntables, these Roland XV synth jumpoffs, M Audio Board, and a pro soundcard because I still use the computer in some aspects of my beats.

How long does it take you to make a beat?

Wow. That really depends. I have made sum hot beats in less than 20 minutes before, and recently this R & B song I was doing took me almost two days. That part of my production is crazy unstable.

How do you know when you're done with a beat?

Most of the time its just that feeling that hits me like “That’s it.” I’m in school now so if I’m makin a beat in my dorm, I know its hot when everybody is outside my door dancing haha.

How and what sounds do you look for in a sample?

I try to let the mood I’m in reflect what I sample. Sometimes I’m lookin for that angry, furious jumpoff, and sometimes I just need that soul. That depends on my mood a lot. My favorite sounds are mostly strings and stuff like that but that depends. I’ve sampled everything. Recently, I found something I liked off of a DVD, like a real quick part in a movie, and I sampled it. Made a hot beat, too.

What's the best sample you've ever found?

I’m not really at liberty to speak about that right now because the song isn’t finished, and the artists haven’t recorded the song yet and I don’t want any producers digging up my samples haha. You’ll be hearing it soon though, don’t worry.

You've worked with Nickel Us F, what's that like?

Man, Nick is a MONSTER. He brings energy and hot lyrics to every track. Right now, I would say Nick is probably my favorite rapper out right now, seriously. He’s hot!

How do your beats complement his style?

I try to just give him something that he doesn’t have, yakno? He has a team of strong producers in his camp, so I just try and hit him wit sum fiyah, yakno?

Who would you like to work with next?

I’m working with a lot of local artists from Detroit, as well as a few national acts, but as a producer I would love to work for Jay-z of course. Ummm Jada, Kanye, Just Blaze, Nas,…there is so many out there I’m not even sure. So much talent.

What's the last beat you've heard by another producer that amazed ?

Just Blaze is probably my favorite producer, and the last crack I heard from him was “Never Been in Love” from the Kweli Album. Pure Heat.

What's coming up for you?

I’m going to continue to try and produce heat, and work with any artists who are serious about what they are doing. And Hopefully continue to get a bigger name and get famous, and lean back somewhere on an island…oh yea and buy my mom whatever she wants. Watch me.

How can Heads reach out to you?

You can get at me via email babamike@umich.edu or im on AIM all the time at Bei Maejor. Check my site out at www.beimaejor.com

Shout Outs

I’d like to give a quick holla of course to God, out to my family, and my lil sister Colby, to Hugh “H Dollar: Mulzac, My guys Yung shan, T Boog, Music Mystro, Ramses, J Brim, Stevie J, Ant B, Chas, Juan da Wonder, B. Lee, Flakes, JD, Gervy, my lil dude Cory Bold, knox, Panero, Kmad, Robby M, B. Giles, Trae Duece, J and D wine, Syddy, eS, Jr Bei Maejor (haha), Chingy, All my female fans (haha) and everybody else I forgot cause it’s mad late. I luv urrrrbody!

Interview by Brian Kayser