*Interview* Sinista

Tae: Tell me about yourself, where you’re from and how you got started.

Sinista: I’m from the Florida Projects in the 9th Ward, of New Orleans, and I started back when I was 11 years old. My uncle had a studio back in the early 90’s, I used to sneak in and teach myself how to make beats and record.

Tae: What makes you stand out from other producers?

Sinista: I’m well rounded and I can do a complex track just as easy as I can do something simple.

Tae: What category would you place your music and if you could name it, what would you call it.

Sinista: I’m a diehard fan of gangsta music, but I’m good at making my music gangsta as well as radio playable. I’ll call it, Sinista Music, all the music I do have a dark, drama feel to it.

Tae: Who are your top 5 artists?

Sinista: I would have to say, Jay – Z, Young Jeezy, T. I., Lil Wayne, Juvenile

Tae: What kind of equipment do you use?

Sinista: I use Open Labs, Miko and the program I use is Reasons 4.0

Tae: What inspired you to become a producer/beatmaker.

Sinista: I met Mannie fresh at about 11 yrs old at Peaches Record store and hearing Dr. Dre’s, The Chronic and I was like, damn, I gotta do that.

Tae: Is there any advice you’d like to give upcoming artists or producers?

Sinista: Be very aggressive, don’t take no for an answer, don’t sell yourself cheap, get your money. If rappers can afford to buy top of the line clothes and shoes, they can afford to pay you for a beat.

Tae: Who are some of the artist you’ve worked with?

Sinista: Man, I've worked with a number of people Soulja Slim (RIP), Partners N Crime, Ms. Tee, 5th Ward Weebie, Choppa, Magnolia Chop, Juvenile, Hot Boy Ronald, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Trae da Truth, FloRida, Wacko & Skip, Sess 4-5 and a lot more, those are just some.

Tae: Who would you say influenced you the most musically?

Sinista: I would have to say, the great Mannie Fresh and Dr. Dre.

Tae: What upcoming projects are you working on?

Sinista: I’m working on an album for Juvenile as well as my own project that will be released via iTunes.

Tae: How can people get in touch with you?

Sinista: People can reach me via MySpace at www.myspace.com/sinista54 , on twitter at www.twitter.com/godjsinista and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sinistatrax

Interview: Bout Dat Money Music

Tae:
What is Bout Dad Money Music and how do you stand out from being another run of the mill producer?

BDMM:
Bout Dat Money Music a production company founded by me, LCD.  What sets me apart from these other cats is the broad range of things I can accomplish musically. I have a signature sound but I also can make almost any kind/style of track. I’m also a songwriter and engineer, so I really don’t have to leave home for anything.

Tae:
What inspired you to become a producer?

BDMM:
I grew up in a musical family… starting taking piano lessons at age 4, also took saxophone lessons for a while. My father’s been composing music on the piano for as far back as I can remember and my younger brother’s in school for music production and engineering as well. Basically, I didn’t choose music, music chose me.



Tae:
Who would you say influenced you the most musically?

BDMM:
Besides my pops, I’d say Dr. Dre. His productions are like movies. The composition, arrangement, instrument and sound choices, the mixes, everything about Dre’s work is top notch and definitely influenced my musical ear.

Tae:
Who are your top 5 artists?

BDMM:
I got a squad that can see any of the “Top 5” in the game right now, so I don’t even have a list to give you. No disrespect to everyone that’s out now, but I’m not checking for them.


Tae:
What kind of equipment do you use?

BDMM:
I have Pro Tools running on a Mac, Roland keyboards, Yamaha monitors, Audio-Technica microphones running thru an Avalon

Tae:
Is there any advice you’d like to give upcoming artists or producers?

BDMM:
Be true to yourself and true to your craft. If your music isn’t genuine, the people will know. Work hard and align yourself with like-minded individuals to find the right recipe.

Tae:
What upcoming projects are you working on?

BDMM:
I’m part of a new group based out of Atlanta called “HOMEGROWN”, I’m producing the whole album. Also got mixtapes by Ice the Villain, Pizo and Lil Dee on deck, the 2nd FNFG mixtape, and some other projects that are still under wraps. I'M WORKING HARD!

Tae:
How can people get in touch with you?

BDMM:
www.twitter.com/BoutDatMoney
www.boutdatblog.com - as all the projects get done they will be on the blog
bdmbeats@gmail.com

Tae:
Thank you for the interview is there anything else you would like to add?

BDMM:
2010 is full of opportunities for LCD and Bout Dat Money Music. Stay tuned for what’s in store.

Interview: Supa Produca D. Bottz

Houston is the birthplace of a lot of hot rappers. Many people don't sit and think about who made the beats. Tae had a chance to sit down with D. Botts of Bottz World Productions, here's what he had to say:


Tae:
Who is D. Bottz and how do you stand out from being another run of the mill producer?

D. Bottz:
D. Bottz is your unaverage ordinary cat from Houston that has and always will make real music!!

Tae:
What inspired you to become a producer?

D. Bottz:
I’ve been playing the drums since I was 4, and started tinkling the keys around 18. I got a job at Guitar Center and a friend told me I needed to produce. 10 years later (Pause) here I stand.

Tae:
Who would you say influenced you the most musically?

D. Bottz:
Well, I can listen to it all, from Jazz to R&B, Abstract to Gospel, Hip Hop to rap, soul to classical. I’m not really influenced by one particular genre, I just love it all.

Tae:
Who are your top 5 artists?

D. Bottz:
Wow, my top 5? Hmm, right now I’d say, Ryan Leslie, T.I., T. Pain, UGK and Kanye.

Tae:
What kind of equipment do you use?

D. Bottz:
I’m still an old school analog dude so I’m still on the MPC as the brains of the operation (ie. 2000, 2000XL, 4000). I have every board that’s the standard Fantom, Triton, Motif, Nord and Pro Tools.

Tae:
Is there any advice you’d like to give upcoming artists or producers?

D. Bottz:
The only advice I’d give is to produce what you feel and not what you feel. (Laughs) Think on it.

Tae:
What upcoming projects are you working on?

D. Bottz:
I’m currently working on Bun B, Mya and D. Woods from Danity Kane and a few local gospel projects.

Tae:
How can people get in touch with you?

D. Bottz:
I can be reached via MySpace www.myspace.com/bottzworld, Facebook or on my website, www.bottzworld.com which will be up in January 2010.

Tae:
Thank you for the interview, is there anything else you’d like to add?

D. Bottz:
Thank you and be on the lookout for Bottzworld in 2010. Be Blessed.

Sonic Skillz Interview

Tae had a chance to sit with Sonic Skillz and get his outlook on hip hop and being a producer. Check it out:

Tae:

Who is Sonic Skillz and how do you stand out from being another run of the mill producer?

Sonic Skillz:
Sonic Skillz is the alter ego of DCT, who's just a mild-mannered guy from New York who lives in Florida and loves to create. I think I stand out from being another run of the mill producer, by simply trying to be me. A lot of guys try to hard to replicate whatever sound is hot at the time, but as for me, I really try to find my own style.

Tae:

How would you describe your music?

Sonic Skillz:
My music is a mix of different things - it's based in hip hop and R&B, with jazz, new age, and orchestral influences. And lots of Rhodes piano!

Tae:

Who would you say influenced you the most musically?

Sonic Skillz:
Wow, there's no way I could limit it to just one person, but I'll just name a few if I may: Quincy Jones was a huge influence, the stuff he did with Michael Jackson really helped to provide the soundtrack to my childhood. Besides him, I'd probably say composers of video game music were a big influence on me. Like most kids growing up in the 80s and 90s, I probably played more games than I should have, but a lot of the songs from those games stuck in my mind.

Tae:

Who are your top 5 artists?

Sonic Skillz:
If I had to narrow it down to 5, I'd say (in no particular order): Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Mark Hill, Joshua Morse, and Eminem.

Tae:

What kind of equipment do you use?

Sonic Skillz:
I mostly work with FL Studio, with some stuff done using Reason and Cool Edit.

Tae:

Is there any advice you’d like to give upcoming artists or producers?

Sonic Skillz:
Like I said before, just be you. Not every rapper is going to be Jay-Z or Lil Wayne, and not every producer is gonna be Timbaland or Kanye West. Don't try to be the next "big name," be the first you.

Tae:

What upcoming projects are you working on?

Sonic Skillz:
Right now, I'm mostly producing tracks for artists on my independent label, Urbanizm Music. I'm also working on an album entitled Sonic Underground, which will feature me producing or co-producing tracks for emcees of different styles and from different parts of the world.

Tae:

How can people get in touch with you?

Sonic Skillz:
The best way to get in touch with me is thru my website, http://www.sonicskillz.com or my label's website, http://www.urbanizmmusic.com. For those that have Twitter, I'm there at http://www.twitter.com/SonicSkillz.

Tae:

Thank you for the interview is there anything else you would like to add?

Sonic Skillz:
I'd like to thank you very much for the interview, and to thank people for supporting me and my music. If there are any performers looking for beats, or anyone who just wants to vibe, don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

Hold On - Noodle the Innocent Child