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9/19/2006 What's up? Pep: We're good, we're chilling. Witt: Yeah, we're just getting ready for this new season. The biggest record you have out now is Obie Trice's "Cry Now." How did that track come about? Pep: Obie Trice actually completed his project. He ended up coming to us for the very last song. We got a chance to hear his project and hear what he was missing and we took it from there. We played some tracks for him. He was looking for something more street so he could tell the story of when he got shot in January. When we got in the studio, the vibe was so strong. He was taking it eight to sixteen bars at a time. Did you make that beat specifically for Obie or was that laying around? Witt: That was a beat we had laying around. That was the first beat we had on the beat-CD that was playing. The whole session was spur of the moment. We heard he was looking for a joint and then we went through our stuff and knew that was the one. That's not a typical beat for a single. Were you surprised he chose that? Pep: Yeah. When he told us he picked the record, I thought it was still missing something. I was wondering if it was full enough. It was so unorthodox and different. Over time the record was getting nothing but good feedback. Three weeks later it's a single with a video for it. Can you take us through the making of that beat? Witt: That was crazy too. When we were making the beat, I wasn't feeling it then. Pep: I was telling Witt, This is it right here. The drums were so grimy and the chops were on point. I thought we were going in the right direction. How has the "Cry Now" record changed things for you guys? Witt: We're getting better opportunities to do more work with different artists. The notoriety is giving us a chance to prove ourselves as producers to be reckoned with. Our first big single was D12's "How Come." People were thinking we were one-hit wonders. Then we hit them with "Cry Now." You've also done a lot of work with Proof. How was it working with him? Pep: It was incredible working with Proof. His work ethic was just so constant. If he heard a track he liked or a track that was about an idea he wanted for a track, we would just do it right then and there. Other times he would just hear a track and start coming up with ideas. How was Proof in the studio? Pep: He was an innovator. He was always willing to try new shit. He was always trying to take it to the next level. He was never afraid to try something different. Recording with him was fun. Everything that we were doing was us trying something different. We were creating a new sound in the music. Proof was never afraid and he never stopped working. His work ethic was crazy. He would sleep on the floor in the studio. He would even record himself. That was the type of drive he had. He knew how to work it. He would hit record and run into the booth. How is it working with Bizarre? Pep: Bizarre pretty much works the same way. He lays back more. Once he hears a track he gets the ideas rolling. We just have to follow up with the music. He's real talented. He comes up with a lot of stuff in his head. He's almost like a producer. He doesn't get taken completely seriously as an MC. Should he be? Pep: You definitely should take him seriously. Check his solo release. He has a lot of talent. Just because some of his lyrics are more left field and on the crazy, silly side, that definitely doesn't mean you should take him as a joke. He definitely has flow. You have to get the album to understand. There's a lot of diversity on that album. He definitely stands out on every song. How's the new D12 album coming? Witt: Oh my goodness! The type of energy that's there is crazy. There's a lot of positive music on there. The world is going to be shocked to hear the new D12 record. We have a couple tracks on there. You have your own artist Mae Day. What's up with her? Witt: She's putting a lock on the game. We're working on her album to come out next September. You've also done music for Serch's VH1 reality show. How's the show? Witt: It's hilarious. It's a funny show. You have to see it. I can't give it away, but it's definitely going to something worth tuning into. We did a nice cameo. There's a cameo from our artists Mae Day and Lock. It's just something you don't want to miss. They're playing our tracks throughout the show. How is it having Serch as a manager? Witt: Working with Serch is definitely going to help us get to that next level. He has the experience in the music business already. I really believe that we're going to get a fair chance to get our work out there. Taking it back a little, how did you guys meet up? Pep: That's a long story right there. We were in the sixth grade. We had all our classes together and we got cool. By the seventh grade, we lived in the same neighborhood. We realized we had talent in common. What equipment do you use? Witt: Our main tool in the studio is the MPC2000XL. We track to Pro Tools. We have a lot of equipment. We're also in to analog boards like the DS-7. I think what makes our production stand out is we work with live musicians. We also have a band that's a part of our team. The best musicians come out of Detroit. A lot of Usher and Mary J. Blige's musicians come from the D. This is where that Motown sound comes from and that's what we're bringing back. J.Dilla was a big loss for hip-hop and Detroit. How did his death hit you? Pep: He definitely influenced us because his sound was original. You knew when you heard a Jay Dee beat. It was so creative and soulful as well. We actually got a chance to meet him once inside the studio and once outside the studio. He was a real laid back, down to earth dude. He motivated me to be as creative as I could and to try to be as open as possible to the music. What's next for SickNotes? Witt: We just want the world to hear us. We just want to get the music heard. We want to work with different artists. We want to be that next production squad and bring that Motown sound back to the world. We're going to anchor that movement. We're going to be the leaders of that movement. That's our next step, bringing Motown back to the world. What do you want to say to everybody? Witt: Just be on the look out for SickNotes. We're still Motown. We're not going anywhere. We're rebuilding Hitsville.

By Brian Kayser

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