What
made you want to start making beats?
Well, I started Dee-jaying first, then I started rapping. From there, I didn't
have anything to rap to so I started rapping over break beats and
adding different shit to it.
What equipment did you start with?
Turntables, 4-track and a Casio SK-1 keyboard.
What did your first beats sound like?
Ha..them shits were trash looking back on it now but for a nigga to be rapping,
scratching and producing his own shit, it was
great!
How has your sound changed?
Well, I've learned a lot through the years. or course i got better equipment
so that helps me experiment more.
What equipment do you use now?
MPC 3000, MPC 1000, Roland 2080, Triton, Roland VP-9000, Reason software, Pro
Tools 001.
How long does it take you to make a beat?
It takes me a while because I gotta be in the right mood. If I'm feeling it,
10 minutes, if I'm not, 10 days. I'd rather have quality than quantity.
Right now, a lot of producers are making one or two hot beats for every 50 beats
on a CD. I guarantee you won't hear no bullshit on my Beat CD.
How do you know when you're done with a beat?
Pretty much when I can play it the next day and it still sounds hot. And all
of the main elements are there like the intro,verse,chorus,bridge, break, etc
How and what sounds do you look for in a sample?
It's all about being creative. I listen to a sample and figure out how I can
make a track out of it. I get pieces of a sample and do whatever I have to do
to make something.
What's the best sample you've ever found?
I would have to say the 'Many Men" sample because it was the most sucessful
sample track I did. "Losin Weight" by Cam'Ron featuring Prodigy is
close too.
You've worked with so many big names, what is your favorite track that
you've done?
"Pull It" by Cam'Ron featuring DMX. That was one of my first joints.
That had the clubs rocking in NY.
You worked with Children of the Corn, how was that?
We were all from the same block growing up. We thought we had a good thing going
until everybody got record deals.
What was it like working with Big L and hearing him over one of your
beats?
It was cool. He was holding it down for harlem. That was my first experience
in a real studio. I never looked at it like that because we were trying to build
a family so it really wasn't about L, it was about the crew.
You did a lot for Cam's first album, do you still want to work with
him?
Yeah, i did like 20 songs between his 1st and 2nd album. I'll work with him
again. I think the fans would love to hear the old original Killa Cam shit.
You also did "Dopeman" for Jay-Z, what was it like working
with Jay?
I've known Jay since "Reasonable Doubt". To be honest, I've never
been in studio while he recorded my joints. I pretty much left him with tracks
and they would call me and tell me he's using one of them. Actually, Jay had
"What They gonna Do" pt 2" off of The Blueprint Vol 2 done and
on his album without me even knowing.
What about J.Lo?
Actually, I was working with Cam'ron in the studio. J-Lo came through and heard
some tracks and picked one. That was it. It's crazy how some things happen so
easy. Now, it's hard as hell to get at her.
You also got down with Ghostface, how was that experience?
Ghostface is one of those artists that you want to hear over your tracks to
see what he will come up with. I think "Goodtimes" and "Ghostface"
of the new album came out hot.
Who would you like to work with next?
Jadakiss, Saigon and Ludacris.
What's the last beat you've heard by another producer that amazed you?
"Eric for President". That amazed me when I first heard it. There
hasn't been nothing since then for me personally.
What's the worst instance of biting you've seen go down in Hip Hop?
The basic sound-a-likes. The fake Jay-z's,Biggie's, 2pac's. I'm from an era
when you had Kane, Tribe, Ice Cube. Now, all these new younger rappers wanna
battle and can't make a record to save their deals or their life. No originally.
What's coming up for you?
Well, I'm hoping to finish up stuff with Saigon, Lil Scappy, Nappy Roots, 50
Cent, Red Dot
How can Heads reach out to you?
Hit me at digga@sixfigga.com