Stic.man Talks About Producing For Nas
June 23, 2009
While speaking to dead prez about their new album, Pulse of The People, (out today) I took a quick moment to speak with Stic.man about producing for those songs for Nas’ Untitled.
As Told to Jerry L. Barrow
My man Horse from the Bravehearts is one of Nas’ homeys and he reached out saying Nas was trying to get in touch with us. Then M called me and said Nas wanted us to come and work with him on the Nigga album. We naturally assumed he wanted us to do a song with him, lyrically. So we went to LA with a pen and a pad. We were playing him different stuff we had come up with, and he said “nah, I don’t want to take yalls stuff.” We were playing him the lyrics and hooks. He said, “that’s hot but I need a beat for a concept.” He wanted to get at Fox, or he wanted to salute Farrakhan. Eventually we realized he didn’t want us to rap, he wanted a production. He didn’t say it directly, but indirectly. Every time we would write he would say “that’s hot” and then move to something else. Once we talked and realized he wanted a production, we got in production mode. (Laughing)
Luckily he chose 3 joints. The “We’re Not Alone” joint, I already had it. I just had it sitting in the crate for Information Age, and thought “man, I would love to see Nas spit on this so let me play it.” He liked it, so it worked. “Sly Fox” we made that from scratch. My wife’s cousin came to play the guitar, this cat named 0-1. We added some rock shit, because he wanted to get at Fox. We helped him co-write it and give ideas. I wrote the hook for that. The Farrakhan joint was the last song. He called me the day before and said he needed something for Farrakhan by that night. I went in and did what I felt. I already had done 2 joints so I didn’t think the thirds one was going to make it. I sent it to him at 10pm and he called at 12am. He hit me and said “I already recorded it.”
As a fan of Nas, as a fan of real music, and as a beginning baby producer- that was such a blessing to me. It definitely did not make me cocky about nothing because there are so many things I would have improved on, had more time or more involvement in it. I just respect the fact that he had asked us to do it. I mean I had more ideas; but I didn’t want to burn my bridges. I think the album did good. It went Gold at least. It was a blessing. I am still working on my production craft and trying to do bigger and better things.
Danjahandz & Kevin “KC” Cossom Interview w/ Jessie Maguire
June 22, 2009
Jessie Maguire sat down with Danjahandz and Kevin Cossom to talk about their record being #1, their label New Age Rock Stars, and their chemistry as artist and producer
Marley Marl’s Son Remakes “Set It Off” Beat
June 21, 2009
I have to say how much I love the fact that hip-hop has grown to this point. A few weeks ago I posted a video here of Vohn Beatz in the studio with his father S-1 and now we have M. Will, son of the legendary Marley Marl remaking one of his classics. Happy Father’s Day!
found @ 2dopeboyz.com
VIDEO: Reflection Eternal Move The Crowd
June 20, 2009
Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek “reflect” on the making of their debut, Train Of Thought and rock a stage together. (Is Talib REALLY DJing back there? Ha ha!) New album coming this year!
Props to PyramidWest.TV
Bloggin 4 Beats: Neo Soul Orgy
June 19, 2009
I have a weakness for sampling neo soul (which is probably why I like the deep, filtered bass of J-Dilla productions so much). For this beat I layered Jill Scott, Maxwell, D’Angelo, Roy Ayers and even Jodeci elements on top of each other to create this wonderfully incense friendly groove. No vocals this time, just let the beat rock.
I started with the drums and went fishing for a sound to go with them and the D’Angelo piece from “Alright” came first. From there I wanted a bassline and had filtered Jill’s “Gettin In The Way” a while back and tossed it in the pot. I’d use the Maxwell piece from “Welcome” in another beat but that didn’t stop me from recycling. In fact, everything in this beat has probably been in another beat, which is why I had the breaks laying around in the first place. But sometimes you hear things differently over time and this was definitely the case.
Nodfactor Interviews The Alchemist
June 19, 2009
Behind The Scenes Of Diamond D’s “Can’t Be Me” Video
June 19, 2009
DOWNLOAD: DJ Kid Grebo, Paul C Lives Vol 1 & 2.
June 18, 2009
Props to the folks at Unkut (and to Metallungies for the reminder). If you are on this site you should already know who producer Paul C is, but if you need a refresher get a great lesson courtesy of Dave Tompkins HERE and check our interviews with Large Professor and Pharoahe Monch.
After you read that please check out DJ Kid Grebo’s two volumes of this influential producers work for your downloading edutainment.
Vol. 1
01. Intro
02. Atom - Main Source
03. Line for Line- Freak L
04. Sex, Sex, And More Sex - Spicey Ham
05. Girls I Got ‘em Locked - Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud
06. The Ghetto - Eric B. & Rakim
07. Listen To The Man - Kev-E-Kev & Ak-B
08. Its My Turn- Stezo
09. We’re Back Y’all - Freddy B and the Mighty Mic Masters
10. God Made Me Funky - Too Poetic
11. Time To Get Paid - Heartbeat Brothers
12. Go G. Whiz - Captain G. Whiz
13. A Thing Named Kim - Biz Markie
14. Comin’ in the House - Mikey D and the LA Posse
15. Interlude
16. Give The Drummer Some - Ultramagnetic MC’s
17. Ladies First - Queen Latifah Feat Monie Love
18. Got To Get Paid - Live ‘n’ Effect Posse
19. Cooling One Day - Simply II Positive (Organized Konfusion)
20. Stop The World - Black, Rock & Ron
21. Louder - Sport “G” & Mastermind
22. Pelon - 360 Degrees
23. Can’t Get Enough - Black By Demand
24. Outro
Vol 2.
01. Intro
02. M.C. Outloud- I’ll Put A Hurten’
03. Phase & Rhythm- Hyperactive
04. Eric B & Rakim - Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em
05. Ultramagnetic MC’s- A Chorus Line f. Tim Dog
06. M.C. Tatiana- Mission To Rock
07. G. Dane - Coolest Of The Cool
08. Phase & Rhythm- Brainfood
09. Sport G & Mastermind- live
10. Marauder & The Fury- Get Loose Mother Goose
11. Two Shades Of Black- Surrender
12. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud-Do The James
13. Main Source- Think
14. Queen Latifah & The 45 King- A King And Queen Creation
15. Stezo- Girl Trouble
16. Disco Twins & Star Child- There It Is
17. Grand Master Caz- Casanova’s Rap
18. The Rangers- Jacks On Crack
19. Double Dose- Envious
20. Interlude
21. The Heartbeat Brothers- Bring In The Bassline
22. Mic Profesah- Cry For Freedom
23. Double Delight & DJ Slice Nice- Party Jump
24. Rappers On A Mission- S.O.L.O.
25. Princess Ivori- CrackPipe (changed it all)
26. Ultimate Choice- You Can’t Front (We Will Rock you)
27. Live N Effect Posse- I’m Getting Physical
28. Outro
Q-Tip Honored At One Stop Shop Conference
June 17, 2009
DOWNLOAD: Slum Village – Remember The Classics Mixtape
June 16, 2009
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