Bloggin 4 Beats: The Learning Curve

As some of you may or may not know I post remixes that I do at home from time to time in this blog section of Nodfactor. I’ve been doing beats and remixes for about two years now using nothing but good FL Studio and Adobe Audition. I usually test them out on my friends for reaction before I post, but most times I just throw them out there. I think I’ve gotten better but I’ve hit a bit of a slump lately because to be honest, I care more. That’s right, not care less, I care MORE. I’ve become so critical of everything I do that I don’t want anybody to hear ANYTHING.

So I decided to go back and revisit some of my older pieces for inspiration/ courage. I was actually happy as hell to find that I had enough remixes to make a one-hour mix. WTF? The mixes are riddled with technical flubs and some of them are off beat as hell (“World Is Yours” remix) while some fell right in the pocket (“Ms. Fat Booty” remix). But in every case I liked how they FELT, which is what it’s about at the end of the day, right?

There’s everything in here from Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys” to Royce’s “Boom.” Take a listen or download it [here ]

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Video: Ski “Taxi” feat. Mos Def

Ski told me he was cookin’ up some shyt with Dame. This looks promising. (props to OKP)

Ski feat. Mos Def-Taxi from Creative Control on Vimeo.

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VIDEO: In The Lab With Engineer Ariel Borujow

Had a really great convo with platinum engineer Ariel Borujow. He walks us through his rooms’ set-up, what he’s working on and explains why the fine art of mixing and mastering is in jeopardy.

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Video: Large Professor Visits Amoeba Music

Large Pro does some digging at Amoeba Music and speaks briefly on his mentor Paul C and what he learned from him about vinyl archeology.

“Paul C was a professional beat digger…” -Large Pro
(thx to NR)

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WHO DID THAT BEAT? King Karnov Is Back On His Bullsh*t

King Karnov
From: Minneapolis, MN
Credits: Busta Rhymes, “Watch How You Talk” and “We Want In”

Contact: Myspace

The very first producer featured in Hydrosonics is busy making moves. Read more…

“Watch How You Talk”

“We Want In”

NODFACTOR.COM: Glad we were finally able to catch up again. That “Watch How You Talk” is hard and it’s definitely your style. Did you make the beat specifically for Busta or was it one you had in the stash that you sent?
King Karnov: No I had that beat on a beattape. The “We Want In” was as well but then I kind of tailored that for Bus cuz I had to replay the instruments.
NODFACTOR.COM: Which ones?
King Karnov: Piano, bass, clavinet and strings.
NODFACTOR.COM: Why did you have to replay them? Sample clearance issues?
King Karnov: Yeah you know that. The majority of the album was pretty sample free.
NODFACTOR.COM: The project as a whole got some pretty bad reviews. How did that feel?
King Karnov: I feel like the reviews were pretty harsh but it’s all good.
NODFACTOR.COM: Have you spoken to Busta since the album dropped? What is your relationship like with him, if any?
King Karnov: Aw man we like family man. He definitely looks out for me. When he came to mpls we chopped it up. Was about to hit the studio and the gym but he had another show. He’s a good brother.
NODFACTOR.COM: How did you first link up?
King Karnov: Through Bishop Lamont (big up to Bishop) because they worked on a song that I produced and he hooked me up with working with Bus. Man Bishop Lamont is a great artist and friend of minds.
NODFACTOR.COM: How did u meet him?
King Karnov: Well. After I got the article in Scratch (Hydrosonics) he was like the first person that called me. At the time he just signed with Aftermath and was looking through Scratch when he turned to my article and called me.
NODFACTOR.COM: That’s hot!

King Karnov: Sent him beats and he just spread the wealth. Like everybody he knows he gave them a beattape and number. [There'] still artists that call because they got a beattape through Bishop [Lamont]. With that I got tracks lined up to put on there.

NODFACTOR.COM: So you had some big plans for a project that you were telling me about on the phone. What’s up now?
King Karnov: The mastered version of “Watch how u talk” is going on the album with 3 more artist. Just trying to get more songs and chop the first 16 for an album.
NODFACTOR.COM: You’re adding 3 more artists to that song? For your album?
King Karnov: A mixtape before the album is coming to called The Sire mixtape. The compilation afterward does not have a title yet. I’m just working on that. Got other features. Sean Price, Little Brother and others on my record and gettin more artists.

NODFACTOR.COM: Are you still using the same set-up as when you started? Or have your placements allowed you to expand?

King Karnov: Yeah. I have upgraded as far as setup goes. I upgraded to a MacBook pro. with Logic Pro 9. But now I have more guitars basses and a couple of vintage keyboards as well. I got the keyboards from a family member. Just a couple of old boards, a Roland and a old Yamaha. Also about to pick up a Moog or a poly evolver. Even though I do a lot within Logic I use Reason as well. Just working with artists has allowed me to expand
by selling brats of course but also by going to studios and studying some setups. It’s also just going to the Guitar Centers and searching for the right equipment.

NODFACTOR.COM: So do you record your self playing and treat the music like samples?
King Karnov: Sometimes or I lay the beat down and play some parts back
NODFACTOR.COM: Did you take lessons to play your instruments or just learned by ear?
King Karnov: I took piano and guitar lessons. I’ve been playing guitar and bass for along time. I’ve always played piano. My mom taught me. Then I got lessons from Sherman Davis who was a jazz musician and also my drum teacher.
NODFACTOR.COM: That’s great. I’m sure it makes a world of difference.
King Karnov: I love playing bass a lot but is hard to pick a favorite it does. Gives a lot of flexibility. man it’s been along time from 05.

NODFACTOR.COM: Yes! I’m proud to say that I played a small part in it all. lol

King Karnov: Man u played the most integral part to bringing me over the fence man. I remember when I submitted my beats to the mag. I had just lost my job at the post office. I was just like I have nothing to lose. No retreat no surrender. After that my wife got my PowerBook for my birthday right when u called. I just could not believe it. From Minnesota? I just thought the chances of you emailing me was like (John witherspoon said in ladysman) a wet bird flying at night.
NODFACTOR.COM: That’s the beauty of beats, they don’t know geography.
How has it been managing your career from out in Minneapolis?
King Karnov: King Karnov: It’s been cool. I’ve been on a couple of records, a lot of mixtapes and now I’m starting to really build my company with a great staff. Writers and a couple of personnel and preparing for first quarter. I’ve done a lot of research.
NODFACTOR.COM: What have you learned from it?
King Karnov: Minneapolis is far from the coasts but the music and the right people with you can bring good results. I learned that to produce you really have to study up on what that job title requires. It requires knowledge of music, engineering. Knowing how to work with writers, make good contacts along with great music. It’s not just putting a bunch of tight beats on a CD to send out because there are thousands of people doing that. There has to be individuals creating a different innovative sound. For me it has allowed me to not play the waiting game as long because if you are working on projects , or working with singers or mcs. It will allow you to tell artists what you have as a producer and ideas that can help them. Or you can put it out yourself as songs to be used.

NODFACTOR.COM: What have you learned on the business side?
King Karnov: The business side is the hardest part and it is where all the brainstorming takes place. That’s why I say you have to have the right personnel. Right now I’m in the process of hiring a new manager. I have 2 individuals I’m talking to right now but I have the rest of my staff hired. This is really a job along with making music. I have
three writers, one singer, one mc, and one lawyer who looks at my paper work.

I’m also working with a violinist and I am coming out with a instrumental album. I’m playing guitar and other instruments over it. [Making] joints with guitar solos or just all original stuff. Just trying to do all styles of music.

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QVALI Named Winner of Bekay “I AM” Remix Contest

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Forget 2012, The World Is Ending In 2013 For Record Labels

From Wired.com

The late ’70s, when punk exploded and disco imploded, were tumultuous years for the music industry. A time bomb embedded in legislation from that era, the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, could bring another round of tumult to the business, due to provisions that allow authors or their heirs to terminate copyright grants — or at the very least renegotiate much sweeter deals by threatening to do so.

At a time when record labels and, to a lesser extent, music publishers, find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented contraction, the last thing they need is to start losing valuable copyrights to ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s music, much of which still sells as well or better than more recently released fare. Nonetheless, the wheels are already in motion.

“The termination that’s going to be coming up is going to be a big problem for the record companies and publishers,” said attorney Greg Eveline of Eveline Davis & Phillips Entertainment Law.

“It’s written into the statute,” said entertainment lawyer Robert Bernstein. “It’s just a matter of time.”

The Copyright Act includes two sets of rules for how this works. If an artist or author sold a copyright before 1978 (Section 304), they or their heirs can take it back 56 years later. If the artist or author sold the copyright during or after 1978 (Section 203), they can terminate that grant after 35 years. Assuming all the proper paperwork gets done in time, record labels could lose sound recording copyrights they bought in 1978 starting in 2013, 1979 in 2014, and so on. For 1953-and-earlier music, grants can already be terminated.

The Eagles plan to file grant termination notices by the end of the year, according to Law.com. “It’s going to happen,” said Eveline. “Just think of what the Eagles are doing when they get back their whole catalog. They don’t need a record company now…. You’ll be able to go to Eaglesband.com (updated) and get all their songs. They’re going to do it; it’s coming up.”

READ MORE HERE

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AUDIO: Mr. Porter Gives Props To Khalil & Hi-Tek

Gaffled from 2dopeboyz (who put the .45 to the back of YHTN)

Mr Porter calls into The Friday Night Live show and the interviewer starts out saying “The focus is of course about Mr. Porter the producer” but then goes into mad talk about Eminen and Relapse 2.*shrug*

Stuff we care about?

“I’m working on a solo project finally” (SCORE!)

“I think DJ Khalil is the most creative of the five of us (Dre, Nottz, Hi-Tek, Khalil, Focus and myself) I was one of the firs producers Dre started working with after Everbody brings a different thing to the table. Khalil is one of the most creative guy I’ve ever heard, Focus is really technical and Hi-Tek is the essence of…when you think of hip-hop and Hi-Tek you always associate him with a Talib Kweli song but the guy is really deep as far as music. Everybody just plays a position…I would consider myself the nucleus because I can do everything they can do. We inspire each other because we respect each other. ”

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Damn, coulda asked him about THIS…

or this

or this

or this

Can’t wait to get up with this man again…

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DOWNLOAD: Wale’s “Beast” (Prod By 9th Wonder)

Here is something that didn’t make the final cut of Attention Deficit for whatever reason.

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DOWNLOAD IT HERE

If you want more of this team up download the Back To The Feature Mixtape HERE.

(Props to 2Dopeboyz.com)

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And Then What Happened…?uest Loves Santo Gold

Yeah, that’s Santo Gold on the cover of the “Silent Treatment” 12″ back in the day. I ran into ?uestlove at a luncheon for The Roots picnic and asked him about how they met while he was rushing out to Jimmy Kimmell Fallon rehearsal.

?uestlove On Santo Gold from Jerry Barrow on Vimeo.

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