The Tweets Is Watching: A Story To Tell
March 10, 2010
During my Tweets Is Watching: B.I.G. Edition I sparked a conversation between “A Story To Tell” producer Buck Wild & Matt Fingaz. It was through their back and forth tweeting that I discovered what some industry vets know, that “A Story To Tell’ was almost the greatest story never told, no Saigon. Here’s a few of the tweets that were exchanged.
Matt Fingaz-
Buck Wild-
Chris B.-
Just Blaze-
The Tweets Is Watching: B.I.G. Edition
March 10, 2010
So it started this during the early hours of March 9th, randomly asking some of our favorite producers what their favorite B.I.G. beats are. I couldn’t let this day pass with out honoring the late great Christopher Wallace in some fashion. Here are the responses from some of the industry’s top producers and the up & coming. Rest In Peace BIG!
Buck Wild-
Illmind-
Ariel Borujow- 
Just Blaze-
The Letter C-
Matt Fingaz-
Maine-
Prime Maximus-
Novel-
Dae of The Klasix-
Kane Beatz-
Boi 1da-
Omen-
Dawaun Parker-
VIDEO: Just Blaze Says Big Pun Helped Put Together His First Studio
February 16, 2010
This is from last week’s Big Pun tribute show on Toca Tuesdays. (spotted @ Nahright)
Just takes a serious trip down memory lane on this one…
Just Blaze talks about Big Pun on Toca Tuesdays from Toca Tuesdays on Vimeo.
Ariel Borujow Speaks On Just Blaze’s Move To Stadiumred
February 4, 2010
Just Blaze recently announced that with the closing of Baseline studios that he would be moving his operations to the Stadiumred facilty in Harlem, NYC.
“I’m looking forward to setting up shop with the guys at Stadiumred. I’ve been in this business for 13 years and their vision and drive are the perfect compliment [sic] to what I look to build during the next phase of my career. I’m looking forward to creating something great with them. World domination coming soon!”
Nodfactor spoke with the owner of Westward Music Group and resident of Stadiumred, recording and mix engineer Ariel Borujow about his new neighbor.
“It was more than a decade ago that I first worked with Just Blaze,” he shares. “Our paths have crossed a bunch of times over the years and working together on projects has always been successful. This summer it will be two years since I moved my company, Westward Music Group Inc., up to Stadiumred. The vibe here is like no place else; when Just Blaze came to visit me, it was clear that he would stay. His coming up here brings amazing talent and work ethic to the most collaborative space on the east coast.”
Nodfactor will be heading uptown to interview super producer Omen in the near future and don’t forget to keep sending in those “Ask The Pro” questions for Ariel as well!
R.I.P Baseline Studios
January 30, 2010
On Thursday January 28th producer/label Exec Just Blaze said good-bye to Baseline Studios. A home-going ceremony was held and documented by photographer Alexander Richter and Nodfactor’s Christopher B will be showing us his video shortly.
Lots of folks have pieced together some of their favorite memories of Baseline, namely the homey Paul Cantor and several others. I’ve got a few of my own.
The very first time I entered Baseline was to have Jay-Z play the Black Album for The Source staff. I’m just gonna let that sit right there…
The next time after that was to interview Just Blaze for his first feature in The Source magazine. I had been steering away from the rapper coverage and damn near begged my then boss Kim Osorio to grant the feature on the super producer. Just was already killing it on the radio but after seeing him shut down a Beat Society at the Knitting Factory with a guest set I convinced K.O. that the time was now. As with everything Source related there were some political hurdles that I was unaware of that kept the story from happening sooner but the powers that be finally relented.
So after a few attempts were made to meet up I showed up at some u-Godly hour to interview Just in his office at Baseline. You can check out that interview clip HERE.
A short while after that experience I had made my exit from The Source and took over as EIC of Scratch where my first cover was none-other than Just Blaze. I relinquished the writing duties to my man Sean Sharp for that piece and timing didn’t permit me to attend that shoot, but trust that Just would make it back into the book a few more times.
Later that year I had the idea to do a Year End Roundtable with DJs and producers giving their opinions on what was hot. So I got Needlz, Mr. Collipark, Cipha Sounds and Just Blaze to gather at Baseline for a piece I called “Sofa Kings” where they debated the merits of Common vs The Yin Yang Twins. Good times were had by all. Just Blaze in his polo and Collipark in a suit and cigar. That’s in that epic Nas/Premier Cover issue we put together.
After that I went back to Baseline to interview Saigon for his dual cover with Just Blaze and for a quick re-up with the MegaTron Don. Sai played me some joints from The Greatest Story Never Told that I have yet to hear anywhere else–yet. I hope the world gets a chance to soon.
The last time I think I was at Baseline was for a joint listening session for Buckshot and 9th Wonder’s The Formula and Kidz in The Hall’s The In Crowd. Interviewed them both for the day gig and even chopped it up with Young Guru.
There were probably several other miscellaneous times that I’m forgetting but there was never a bad time had at Baseline and it will definitely be missed.
VIDEO: Just Blaze Confronts Justin Smith
January 6, 2010
“What happens when you pose as me to unsuspecting artist and said artist calls baseline looking to talk business..” (TWITTERGAMEPROPPER)
VIDEO: Just Blaze Reminisces About Baseline Studios
December 27, 2009
For the premiere episode of LTD Presents Conversations, the homey Hawaii Mike sat down with Just Blaze to discuss the history and closing of the legendary Baseline Recording studios. (spotted@nahright)
LTD Presents Conversations: Just Blaze (Episode #1) from LTD Magazine on Vimeo.
VIDEO: Just Blaze Vs. Alchemist @ RedBull Big Tune ATL
November 4, 2009
Just spotted this new video on Nahright:
Props to Missinfo.tv
“Thanks to DJ KillaTouch for this footage from last night’s epic Red Bull Big Tune Battle of the Beats event at Opera in Atlanta. Jadakiss performed, and aspiring producers battled for the chance to collaborate with a major artist (last year’s winner, C-Sick, got his track laced by Nas)….then Alchemist and Just Blaze went beat for beat in a friendly “beat-off” (lol, ok, that didn’t sound right)
I can’t wait for more footage of this to come out (hit me if you see any), looked amazing!”
I would love to see one of these between Pete Rock and Premier…just back and forth for like…an hour LOL
HYDROSONICS: $port Is True To The Game
July 10, 2009
Name: $port
From: Toledo, Ohio
Contact:
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1) Your track “Check In” has been heating up the ‘net. Tell me about the making of the beat and recording of the song.
Well, with that beat, it just kinda took on a life of its own. The beat was originally titled ‘General Made’, because of where I got the sample. I won’t say exactly what it is, but if you knew, you’d understand why. It was this one little part I heard and it just caught me. It sounded so monstrous. So I started messing around with it, et voila. The way the strings where screeching, I knew it deserved some really harsh drums.
I eventually sent that, along with a bunch of other beats, to Theo. He hit me up later like ‘Yo, I think I have something for that ‘General Made’ joint.’ I was excited right out the gate because I wanted to see where he would take it. About a week or so later, he hit me up again; ‘I’m going to record the joint on Monday.’ Now this was the day before I left for the One Stop Shop, so I’m already amped about that.
Come Monday morning, I get another message; ‘I’ll have it the track to you later on.’ Mind you, I’m in Phoenix, so it’s mad early in the morning. Later that evening, I finally land back home. I turn my phone on as the plane pulls to the gate. And, you know, you get that wave of messages you missed because you can’t have your phone on in flight. Sure enough, I get an email with the subject ‘Checkin’ In’. Now I’m scrambling trying to claim my bag, then find an outlet to plug my laptop into, all before my ride comes to pick me up. I found an outlet in a corner, opened the email and boom. I know people were looking at me like I was crazy because I was sitting indian-style in a corner, headphones on, shaking my head.
The song was everything I imagined it could be and more. If you know Theo, then you know he’s really cool and laid back. He doesn’t drink or smoke. But for him to black out the way he did was just insane. The response has been great from all types of people. Because of that, Theo and I are working on a full-length project right now. This is the resurrection of the ‘one emcee, one producer’ era. You have Blu & Exile. You have Torae and Marco Polo. Now you’ll have Theo & $port. We’re working on the strategy as we speak. It’ll be dropping in August.
2) You were one of the few and proud at the One Stop Shop Conference this year. What did you learn from that experience?
Honestly, the one main lesson I learned was that I don’t need a beat battle or showcase to validate what I’m doing. When the main battle came around, I actually had to leave the room because I was so upset. To see people who I consider legends and my heroes all nodding and going crazy to all this music that wasn’t mines just lit a fire under me. As a producer, you’re always thinking that you have it and you want to press play for everybody in the world.
So I was angry about not being able to show and prove. But I was a winner anyway. Turns out, I spent the entire weekend building with none other than Just Blaze, Matt Fingaz and Paul Cantor. We all ate dinner together both nights, and while doing that I was able to fortify some seriously great bonds with both Gooch (Paul Cantor) and Just. I learned so much just from listening. A lot of the conversation wasn’t even about music at all. Hell, we were talking about sneakers and turns out Gooch was filming the whole thing one night as Just gave me props on the kicks I was wearing that night. The footage ended being all over the blogs! I had people hitting me up like, ‘Did I just see YOU and JUST BLAZE talking about Nikes??!’
There was one moment that stuck with me. We were all chillin’ out and I just happened to be ranting about not being in the battle. Gooch told me straight up, ‘Yo, you don’t need to be in a f*cking battle!’ He was absolutely right. I walked away with memories and connections that some of my peers would give a kidney for. Plus, when I stepped off the plane, Theo had a bomb planted in my inbox.
3) What did you start making beats on and what are you using now?
When I was about 15, I started using a game for the Playstation, MTV Music Generator. It was a pretty dope game. You could sample and it had some decent sounds for what it was. I guess I was indirectly preparing myself. Eventually, my older brother Kev had bought a Yamaha Motif and a MPC 2000XL. That was the setup for a while. Once he left the house, I was stuck. A friend of mines was always telling me how Reason was so great and how I needed to get with that. I finally took his advice. Now everything I do is done in Reason. Everything is right in front you and I’ve found a great workflow. I am going to get another MP soon. That’s my first love.
4) What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in the studio and how did you fix it?
I’m still making mistakes. That’s the beauty of the craft, there’s always room for improvement. I will say that the biggest mistake I’ve made is trying to do what somebody else was doing in one way or another. It took me a second to find my own lane. Once I did, I just ran with it.
From a technical standpoint, the biggest mistake I’ve made was on the mixing side. I had to learn the hard way that the way the track sounds is so crucial. I had to learn what it means to listen with fresh ears. I had to learn what translation is. Like I said, I’m still learning. It’s a process, but it’s coming along.
5) If you could ask your favorite producer one question what would it be?
If I had to pick ONE question at this very moment?? That’s not fair, J. I would probably ask Dilla just how he did it with ‘Time: The Donut of the Heart’. I’ve listened to that beat hundreds of times and each time feels like the very first. For him to do that like he did, he made me realize that I have so far to go.
6)” Sax Blue and Yellow” is dope. What’s the story behind that beat?
I’m a huge fan of A Bathing Ape. All of my friends will tell you that. It’s to the point where I don’t feel that my outfit is complete unless there is at least of piece of Bape involved. That particular beat was a part of a small EP dedicated to A Bathing Ape I had put out some months ago. Sax Blue and Yellow is actually a color combination that Bape uses often in clothes and shoes. When I heard that sample, I just saw those colors, hence the title. It’s kinda weird, but that’s the honest truth!
7) Why the name Sport?
It’s funny because the name is really a remnant of my old rapping days. Years and years ago, I wanted to rap. I know, what was I thinking, right?? But I wanted to rap, and would call myself ‘Shine’. Then Shyne came out, so I had a problem. I added ‘Sport’. Shine Sport. I got smarter and quit rapping and calling myself Shine. All that was left was Sport and some beats. The dollar sign was just me being silly about it, but it worked. Everybody knows me by $port. It’s not hard to forget. It’s succinct. I’m not changing, either! It’s too late for all that.
For profile consideration submit your beats to Hydrosonics@gmail.com
Have a beat question? Send them to AskKhrysis@gmail.com
Just Blaze Responds To Beat Jacking Allegations
April 4, 2009
Charles Hamilton take notes, this is how producers set the record straight…
