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Why did you start producing?

I started producing at first because I wanted original tracks to rhyme over...I started off as an emcee. Then once I got really deep into doin tracks...it was just more fun to me.

What equipment did you start with?

I guess my first "real" piece of equipment was an Akai STO0. It looked like a fake-me-out MPC.


How did your first beats sound?

Looking back on things I think my early tracks didn't sound too bad for what I was using. I think they sounded pretty good. I wish i still had my STO0. I still have all the floppy disks of the beats I made off that joint.

How did you improve?

I think I improved just by studying all my favorite producers. Just using their influence as a foundation and building my own style off of that.

What equipment do you use now?

I use an Akai MPC TO000XL now.

When you sample, what type of sample do you look for?

Most of the time with samples I try to find open breaks or parts where the drums drop out... solo instruments. Sometimes you can pan the record left or right and lift different instruments from either side.

What's the first thing you do when you make a beat?

Usualy the 1st thing I do is get my drum sounds together.

How do you make sure the drums fit the beat?

I just do a simple drum pattern at first. Then I'll go back to them later once I have the other sounds in the sequence going.


How do you make sure you bring the most out of a sample?

I just try to EQ the sounds the best I can before I actually sample them in.

How do you know when a beat is finished?

Most of the time I guess I just kinda "know" when the beat is done... When I can put it in song mode and have the intro, verse and hook play...I can spend hours on one beat.

Your beats have a dope feel to them. What seperates a Kev Brown beat from other producers?

I think I throw a lot of my personality into the tracks I do. People tell me a lot my joints have a certain "mood" to them.

What was it like working with Jazzy Jeff?

Working with Jeff was cool...like...creative wise workin' at A Touch of Jazz was great.

I first heard you working with Cy Young, how did you guys meet?

I met Cy Young at an open mic down here in Maryland . He had just moved down here and came thru to this weekly spot I used to hit up.

What have you guys done?

I have a bunch of tracks recorded with Cy Young. He's rhymin' with me on to songs on my upcoming album. Cy has mad songs recorded.

Do you still work with Cy, I haven't heard anything from him in awhile?

I'm still working with him. His work schedule is kinda crazy right now. Cy has a single dropping real soon this summer. You will be hearing from him soon.

What about the Brown Album, what made you want to do that?

My crew kind of pushed me into doing the "brown album". Its cool that I did it because it made people listen that usually wouldn't...

Do you look at that project as a success?

I consider it a success. We sold a pretty good amount of those. And it was the only Jay-Z remix that came out on vinyl as well as cd. I think the vinyl is pretty hard to find now...

Can you explain what the Beat Society is?

Beat Society is pretty much a cipher. But instead of emcees its producers goin' back and forth playin' tracks for the crowd.

Who is the nicest MC coming out in your opinion right now?

The nicest emcees are in my crew. Lowbudget.

What artists would you give free beats to?

Free beats? I don't know man... It depends on what the circumstances are. What producers do you respect in the game? I pretty much respect all the producers. I might not like all of them. But there is some level of respect for all...Even if we don't make the same kind of music you know? My favorites are Pete Rock, Preemo, Large Pro, Dilla, D.J. Scratch, The RZA, The Beatminerz, The whole D.I.T.C., Eric Sermon, Q-Tip. That's just a few I can think of off the top right now.

What's in the works for you?

I have a solo album coming out this fall on Up Above records. Most of the stuff is within my crew. My man Kenn Starr is workin' on his album along with the Isaac Jones project (that's Kenn Starr and Sean Born). Cy Young is still workin' on tracks for his solo joint. D. Roddy Rod has a single dropping this summer along with his MasPyke joints. Critically Acclaimed is slowly working on their album. My man I.Q. is dropping a mixtape soon. I got some joints on that. Kaimbr is working on his solo stuff along with a Big Pun tribute/remix album. Oddisee is working on a mixtape joint. I'm doing a whole album with Freddie Foxxx. That's coming along. Doing remixes here and there. Then you got the "New System" (that's Kaimbr, Cy Young and I.Q.). Its more stuff I can't really remember at the time…

How can MC's get beats off you?

Cats lookin' to work with me can holla at me by email... imkevbrown@hotmail.com I'll put you in contact with my manager. The web site is comin soon. www.kevbrownmusic.com

Shout Outs: Just my whole crew. Lowbudget. Everybody that still got love 4 real music...

By Brian Kayser