Producer Interviews

Teddy Riley On Blackstreet “We Don’t Need Auto-Tune”

Producer Teddy Riley discusses reuniting Blackstreet for another album, the untold story behind the creation of “No Diggity”, issues that prevented Guy from resurfacing, and using Auto-Tune as a replacement for talent. We’re not the Auto-Tune group. Our sound, we don’t need Auto-Tune to be on key.

Black Milk On Early Beats, Breaking Into Production

Pound Magazine caught up with Black Milk to talk about his first equipment, early beats, snatching open drums from J Dilla, and first hearing his music on the radio. He also talks about pursuing music production while working in stock rooms and restaurants, then finally receiving his break into the music business. Interesting Fact: Black … Read more

B-Side: Vitamin D Talks Seattle Hip-Hop, Beat Battles

A focus on veteran Seattle producer and engineer Vitamin D covers his heavy involvement the local hip-hop scene and the city’s unique incorporation of both west coast and east coast elements into its sound. Locally I’ve mixed and engineered a big percentage of what kinda comes out.

DJ Premier On Rane vs Vestax and Dr. Dre vs Pete Rock

iKeepIt100 returns with part 2 of 21 questions with DJ Premier as the producer talks about his preferences Rane vs Vestax, Pete Rock vs Dr. Dre, sampling vs non-sampling, and terrestrial vs satellite radio. Pete Rock is funky. Dre is the ultimate producer… period.

DJ Premier On Ruggedness In Hip-Hop & BET Cyphers

Imflashy interviewed DJ Premier while he was in town for the Red Bull Big Tune National Finals. Primo discusses his involvement with BET Cyphers, some of the different personality dynamics of the participants, upcoming projects, his desire to hear more ruggedness in music. You don’t hear a lot of ruggedness anymore. That screw your face … Read more

The Legendary Traxster Interview w/ Jack Thriller

Chicago producer The Legendary Traxster runs down his work Twista, E-40, Mystikal, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Chris Brown before explaining his motivation to begin making music and the challenges that he faced when attempting to redefine his sound.

Pete Rock On Meeting DJ Premier, Production Competition

Hip-Hop Chronicles and Pete Rock get together to discuss how the self-described soulful producer first met DJ Premier while working at WBLS and the friendly musical competition that the two producers have between them. Pete Rock also goes on to discuss the five upcoming releases that he has for next year and his favorite DJ … Read more

AraabMuzik Claims Kanye West Jacked His Style

Twenty-year-old producer AraabMuzik, The MVP of the MPC, talks about his musical background as a drummer, his first big break with Cam’ron’s “I Used To Get It In Ohio”, his upcoming album. Perhaps the most interesting part of the interview occurs when the producer claims that Kanye West jacked his style at the VMA’s, though … Read more

Marco Polo Talks DJ Premier, DJ Khalil, Early Career

Marco Polo tells his story of fighting of initial recognition during his early days as a fledgling producer, the influence of DJ Premier in maintaining aesthetic, being a good producer vs being a good Canadian producer, and the standard that DJ Khalil has set for the future of hip-hop. If anything, what I think I’ve … Read more