I started producing at the end of 99’. I used to DJ before that for about 6 years. Started on Michigan State’s 88.9 and ended up DJ’ing on Florida A&M and Florida State’s campuses. I picked it up as a hobby because I got tired of spending my weekends in a club for a few hundred dollars.

What equipment did you start out using?

Sold my 1200’s and bought a MPC 2000, had that for a year or so then bought an Alesis QS6.

How did your first beats sound compared to now?

I was a big fan of Primo and Havoc when I got started so a lot of my beats were more samples looped with some hard drums. But now I do things a little differently. When I sample I usually play short samples out on my keyboard. My sound changes all of the time though. I used to have a lot of synthetic beats but everybody does it now so I’m switching to more of an earthy sound.

What equipment do you use now?

I try to buy equipment that most people don’t use. I’ll never use a Triton or Motiff because everyone else is using them. I also really got into vintage analog synths over the years. I figured instead of sampling all the time, I’d buy the equipment that they used back then. So I have a Roland MKS-80(Super Jupiter),Novation Super Bass Station, and an Omega 8 for my synths. I use a Kurzweil K2661 for sampling and the MPC 2000XL just for drums and sequencing. I record into a Digi 002(ProTools)

How would you describe your style?

Dirty but clean…Old but new……The drums are always hard though. I can make sample beats and keyboard beats so my style can change a lot. I get bored easily so whenever I sit down to make a beat I’m always trying to do something I haven’t already done.

How do you know when a beat is finished?

When I take like an hour break from it and come back and the shit is still hot.

You've worked a lot with G-Unit, what's that like?

Honestly, I’ve never met any of them. I mixed “Let Me In” with Sha but other than that I ain’t met them yet. They recorded most of my records when they were on the road.

How was it working with Young Buck?

Same thing. Ain’t met him yet…I originally had like three or four joints on his album but the samples ain’t clear. I’ll never touch a Queen record again.

What about Fabolous?

Fab is cool. Chilled in the studio with him a few times but this was after he did that “Think Ya’ll Know” mixtape joint. That’s kinda been the nature of the business lately. Most cats record the songs in ProTools decide if they like the song then contact the producer. To me there should be more of a collaborative effort cause a lot of times the producer already has a vision for the track and could help the artist with ideas and direction.

I hear you've got some big tracks coming up, who are you working with next?

Luda, Scarface, Chingy, JD & Anthony Hamilton, Trina, Fiasco, and Rich Boy. I did a joint with The Game that is close to making his album as well. I’m really excited about the new artists Fiasco and RichBoy. I think when it’s all said and done Fiasco( First and Fifteenth/ Atlantic) is gonna be known as one of the best lyricists. And Rich Boy (Zone 4/Interscope) is a southern cat that has an ill voice and a hot album. Polow, Timbaland, Mannie Fresh and I think Dre is gonna do one on his album. I did 3 with Rich and 2 with Fiasco….

How do you go about getting big artists to hear your beats?

I have a dope ass manager, Folayan Knight, that pretty much knows most of the cats in the industry. I try to turn in at least five beats a week and she does her thing…

Who do you want to work with next?

I really like working with new artists because they’re more willing to try different things. Other than that, I’d love to work with Shawn Carter, 50 Cent, Busta, and Nas. There are some people who I think my style would really sound good with , too, like Missy… so hopefully we’ll see.

Going to NYU as well, how do you find the time to balance everything?

Well, I graduated from NYU in 2002. Honestly though, I went to school to become an A&R. Producing was just a hobby until my internship with Badboy in 2001. My guy Damon Eden (A&R at Atlantic) heard my stuff and got it around. Once I sold my first few beats it was on ever since. I’d usually make beats all day, go to class, come home and make more beats. I missed a lot of class work but my professors understood because I hade albums in stores and stuff playing on BET.

What's your next move?

Getting my production company Dry Rain Entertainment up and running with a few artists and a home. I really want to concentrate on the beats for the next year or so because it’s a good foundation to get other things poppin off.

How can Heads get beats off of you?

Folayan Knight is my manager 212.961.6622

Shout Outs: Dry Rain Entertainment staff: Success, Folayan Knight, and Kenyatte Nelson…The Marksmens , Sirius Jones, Music Jones, and Neek Rusha

Interview by Brian Kayser
email Brian Kayser