In The Mix With DJ Nice
October 20, 2008
You know DJ Nice from mixtapes like Joel Ortiz’s “Brooklyn Bomber,” Joe Budden’s “Lost Sessions” and Juelz Santana’s “Presidential Dope.” The 20 year old from New Haven, CT kicked it with Nodfactor for a minute to discuss his rise through the ranks as a DJ and Producer in the digital age.
Interview By Aaron Matthews
Drumma Boy: Makin Easy Money Playin Hits In Style
October 13, 2008
Name: Drumma Boy
Based out of: Memphis, TN
Hit List: Young Jeezy, “White Girl,” “Put On,” Rick Ross, “Here I Am,” Paul Wall, “Gimme Dat” Plies, “Shawty”
Awards: ASCAP, “Most Performed Song” 2007 for Plies, “Shawty”
Large Professor: Revolve Around Science
September 29, 2008
By Jerry L. Barrow
“I would come out of Lefrak with duffle bags full of records…” - Large Professor
He studied at the feet of a master and became one of the most influential beatsmiths in hip-hop. William Paul Mitchell, aka, Large Professor is the quintessential hip-hop producer; low-key, humble and continually making magic behind the scenes. His discography reads like a who’s who of hip-hop. As a member of the group Main Source he crafted classics like “Lookin’ At The Front Door,” “Live at The BBQ” and “Fakin The Funk.” As a producer he made legendary MCs like Rakim, Kool G Rap and Nas achieve their greatness and as a solo artist he’s given us two collectible solo albums, The LP and 1st Class.
After releasing two volumes of instrumentals the Queens,NY native is releasing a new CD of original beats and rhymes appropriately titled, Main Source on September 30th. Taking things back to the break-beat foundation the CD features guest appearances from Styles P, AZ, Jeru The Damaja and Big Noyd with a lush collection of chopped soul and pulsating ear candy. I caught up with Extra P to talk about the Late Paul C, teaching Q-Tip how how to make beats why Nas doesn’t like “wearing the same sneakers.”
Video Interview: Soul Diggaz, Pt. 1
September 22, 2008
If she’s fine and she sings, chances are the Soul Diggaz have laced her with a beat. Newark, NJ’s production trio of K-Mack, Bless and singer/song writer Corte Ellis have amassed a highly respectable discography that includes Beyonce (”What’s It Gonna Be”) Britney Spears (”Naked”) Fantasia (”Bump What Ya Friends Say”) Brooke Valentine (”Cover Girl”) Tweet (”Sports, Sex and Food”) as well as a Gap commercial featuring Madonna and Corte’s cousin, Missy Elliot.
Nodfactor.com went out to their studio in The Bricks to talk about their beginnings in production and to get some beat tips. In this first clip they offer advice to up-and-coming producers and why they think P. Diddy is a genius.
Video Interview: Pharoahe Monch
September 15, 2008
In this Nodfactor.com exclusive Pharoahe Monch speaks about his own production techniques and the influence of other producers like Large Professor, Denaun Porter and the late Paul C. And did he really pass on the “Time’s Up” beat? Click to find out!
Pri The Honey Dark: Femme Audio
September 8, 2008
Interview by Jerry L. Barrow
“I spit a rhyme, melt your whole style like acetate/ I make a beat and make the Wonder Twins deactivate...”- Pri The Honey Dark, “I Be”
Pri The Honey Dark is one of the few artists to claim reign over both beat AND MC battles. The Brooklyn-born single mother has won the Vibe Magazine, Blaze Magazine and Everlast boxing MC Battle Championships and came in as a runner up in the MTP and iStandard Producers Showcase battles. Her double-edged attack has led her peers to dub her the female Dr. Dre. Business-minded, she has founded the Female Producers Association (FPA) to aid her sisters in the industry.
This fall she is giving the world a more complete taste of her skills with the debut, She’s The Producer. Her first single, “I Be” is a battle ready declaration of independence where she brags that she stands out like “Puerto Ricans in Nigera” over a pounding, string-driven beat. With a voice that sends opponents heading for the hills and battle-ready beats, who are we to disagree?
Video Interview: Pete Rock & Green Lantern
September 4, 2008
A few months ago Nodfactor caught up with the legendary Pete Rock and DJ Green Lantern to discuss their song from NY’s Finest, “Don’t Be Mad.” In the process I got them to share their views on samples, remixing, filtering, and everything under the sun. Watch parts 1,2, and 3 below.
JLB
Part 1, The Making of “Don’t Be Mad,” Classic Drum breaks and When to clear samples
Part 2, Making “We Roll,” Truncation, TR-808s and new sounds
Part 3, What makes a remix great and the influence of “Shut ‘Em Down”
On deck: Pharoahe Monch speaks exclusively on the influence of the late Paul C, working with Denaun Porter and his own production
Q&A: Daz Dillinger Goes Left on Suge, JD and Deathrow
August 25, 2008
Maybe he wasn’t in the mood. Maybe he was high. But Daz Dillinger wasn’t much in a mood to talk beats. He was in the mood to talk money, hustling beats and anything that comes from making the beats. At the end of the day isn’t that information just as valuable? With his new CD , On The Left Side, in stores now, Daz spoke candidly about leaving So So Def, working with the new owners of Death Row, getting his Detox on and what Suge Knight is doing in Boston.
Q&A: Tanya Morgan Take it To The Bridge
August 13, 2008
Cincinnati and Brooklyn make great hip-hop together, just ask Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek. In 2003 MCs Donwill, Illyas and MC/Producer Von Pea added on to that legacy by forming the group Tanya Morgan.
An online mixtape called Sunlighting lead to their debut CD, Moonlighting in 2006. While they are working on their next full-length follow-up, they’ve released The Bridge EP to keep their fans happy. Nodfactor took a moment to speak with Von Pea and Donwill about that Brooklyn/Nati connection and making beats on a budget.
J*Davey “Distortion” To Static…
July 29, 2008
Brook D’Leau is a lucky son-of-a-gun. The L.A based producer gets to make soundbeds that the sexy Jack Davey lays her cyber-kinky lyrics in. The result of their sonic copulating, The Beauty In Distortion/Land of the Lost is ear candy of the sweetest variety with surprises in every note. By weaving influences from Prince to Talking heads into their hip-hop flavored punk swagger D’Leau may be responsible for the most inventive sound in recent times. Nodfactor took a moment to tap at his cerebral cortex to get some finer points on the delicate practice of aural sex.