Biography: The Beatmaker

Dominic: So who is the beatmaker?

The Beatmaker: I’m the beatmaker.

Dominic: And what do you do?

The Beatmaker: I’m Von Pea's in-house producer – excuse me, beatmaker

Dominic: How'd you two meet?

The Beatmaker: We’re the same person! Just different jobs at different times. I’m talking in 3rd person to make it less confusing.

Dominic: Ah... So what do you use to produce? What's your method?

The Beatmaker: I use a turntable, mixer, Fruityloops and Cooledit. I listen to records and when I hear something that I’d wanna sample, then I just start messing with the pieces I want to use until I have a melody. Then I listen for a drum pattern, program it, pick the right sounds, and then later I’ll add little synths like a bass line, etc…

Dominic: So what do you look for in a sample? Is there anything that is helping to create a "sound" for your production?

The Beatmaker: Nah. I don’t really have a sound. I’ve heard people say "that sounds like (insert legendary sample based producer here)!!" Then someone will turn around and say it sounds like something MF Doom would rhyme to. I just go where the sample takes me. I’m happy that I don’t have a main sound though.

Dominic: What's the bat crack all about?

The Beatmaker: The bat crack was something I came up with back in... Had to be 9th or 10th grade. I named my "studio" the batting cage. So that’s the batting cage seal of approval. I put it on beats I’ve done since way before "Just Blaaaaaze!" or any of that - No diss to Just though. He’s the man.

Dominic: Do you have any formal (or informal) musical training? Where did you get your taste in music?

The Beatmaker: I don’t have any musical training. I was learning to play drums when I was about 13 but I was too busy running behind my friends so I never finished the lessons. My taste in music just comes from being addicted to it. Whatever sounds good to me will get played (or sampled) by me.

Dominic: Did your parents put you on to any music that you're a fan of or were you left to figure it out for yourself?

The Beatmaker: My father used to be a really big Marvin Gaye fan and my mother is a big Isaac Hayes fan, amongst all of the other records they own. But I was pretty much left to explore their records on my own. My father is responsible for me being a (Big Daddy) Kane fan though.

Dominic: He put you on to Hip Hop then?

The Beatmaker: Nah. My older brother and his friends brought Hip Hop around me at a young age but my father had bought It’s “A Big Daddy Thing” back in ‘89 and it became mine after a while.

Dominic: Cool, cool. What are your thoughts on the direction of production since then? Any trends you see? Things you like or don't like?

The Beatmaker: Since 89 to now?

Dominic: Yeah. In general, I guess.

The Beatmaker: Well I’m happy that sampling is cool again. But, then again, I like Swizz and Mannie Fresh and them. If anything, I’m happy that looping hit records is played out. I’ve sampled plenty of popular songs because I wanted to see how I could put my spin on it, but the jacking shit back in 96-97 was wack.

Dominic: Who are you impressed by currently? (besides Swizz and Mannie)

The Beatmaker: 9th Wonder and Khrysis. I think they're becoming like the Kanye and Just Blaze of the underground. You’ll always catch them together on someone’s album. And of course Kanye for Common’s album. I like how he went from the expensive sounding shit on his album to some bedroom producer shit for Common. That’s dope to me. Those are the cats doing it for me as of this month.

Dominic: (anything else we didn't cover?)

The Beatmaker: Can we talk about Von Pea telling me I had a sexy shirt on? That was SO gay.

Dominic: maybe so, but if von is gay then you are an ARROGANT bastard!

The Beatmaker: I am. but thats because the women love arrogance, and musicians, and arrogant musicians.

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