Check The Credits DVD – Dame Grease & Ron Browz (Review)

Surely many of you have seen the Dame Grease/Ron Browz video clips making the rounds lately.  The short web clips are actually part of a much longer version compiled and distributed by Fullhub Entertainment as part of their ever growing series of Check The Credits DVD’s.

Check The Credits is a Smack inspired DVD magazine aimed at the production aspects of Hip-Hop.  The creators have done a great job capturing candid, in-depth interviews with established producers Dame Grease, Bang Out, and Ron Browz.  It’s invaluable to hear their war stories and insight about the type of drive and motivation necessary for success in the music business.

In addition to the interviews, there are also tutorial segments from lesser known producers Stunna Loadz and GM Productions covering FL Studio techniques, sample manipulation, and beat construction using an Akai MPC 1000 and MPD 16.  Not necessarily advanced topics, but nonetheless good info for someone looking for new ideas or possible workflow changes.

With all the good, however, there are some definite drawbacks to viewing the video.  At times the camera work is questionable and the low audio levels (mostly during the beginning) were particularly frustrating.  Also, seeing that the DVD is billed as a producer’s DVD, it could’ve stood additional editing to drop the interludes containing unrelated street segments, freestyling, concert scenes, and independent music videos.  Although viewing would have been signifcantly shorter, overall it would have packed much more of a punch. 

With the real strength of the DVD lying in the in-depth producer interviews, even taking into consideration its shortcomings, there is enough quality footage and info to justify the meager purchase price.  While Check The Credits is certainly not perfect, much respect is due to Fullhub for tackling an oft-ignored aspect of Hip-Hop and maintaining a focus of production.

Head over to Fullhub for purchase info and previews.