BLASTAH BEATZ INTERVIEW
CHAMP MAGAZINE
Nathan “The Boy Hollywood” Adom
CHAMP: What’s Goodie Blastah Beatz? What are you up to at the current moment?
Blastah Beatz:All good Hollywood. Going through beats and a temptative tracklist for my album – it’s going to be crazy!!
CHAMP: Now you have a PHD in Beatmaking.I like that. How long have you been making music for homey?
Blastah Beatz: (Laughs) Yeah, that's the title I gave myself and the title of my album. I started messing with music around 2002 but I've only been taking it seriously since 2006.
CHAMP: Now your production caught my ear on the Padded Room joint. Which is crazy?! How did you and Joey hook up and start working together?
Blastah Beatz: Thank you, I appreciate it. I reached out myself, saw they were starting the album and giving up-and-coming producers a shot so I got at Killa BH, who liked my sound and we took it from there.
CHAMP: You hail from Portugal Europe. How's the hip hop scene out there and how does it feel to have your music heard across the globe?
Blastah Beatz: In Europe countries like France, Germany or the UK have a pretty good scene. There's not much support in Portugal though, it's hard for artists to come out here to do shows and such. We’re not very appreciated in the public eye, although it seems to be changing with time. It feels great to have the exposure I'm having, and the response I get from my peers is ridiculous. I never did anything in my country to be heard or known so it's even more difficult for them to believe when they find out about my work.
CHAMP: You have a list of reputable artists on your resume. Let the people know who else you've worked with, and what tracks they can identify you from?
Blastah Beatz: I produced tracks for and featuring artists such as Joe Budden, Busta Rhymes, Papoose, Murs, Big Lou, Del the Funky Homosapien, Supastition, Cappadonna, Pumpkinhead, J-Hood, Ruste Juxx, and the list goes on and growing every day. A great track I produced that you might not know was the 16-minute long "Who (Killed Hip Hop)", by Joe Budden.
CHAMP: You were also at the One Stop Shop beat battle 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. How was that whole experience and what happened when you were there?
Blastah Beatz: Although I didn't get any placements out of that conference, the experience was priceless. At the time I was struggling to find my sound so I was experimenting with a more commercial style in order to get bigger placements. I saw and heard things that, once I returned, made me decide I didn't want to pursue it anymore. That's when I really became who I am today, 100% focused in doing what I really love: those 90's boom-bap sampled joints. A lot happened and I met people whom I still stay in touch to this day; shouts to Sha Money for putting the Conference together every year.
CHAMP: Now you are sample heavy. I love the sample life because that’s the origin of hip hop. What are your thoughts and views of the keyboard/trance type music bubblin?
Blastah Beatz: That's exactly what I meant in the last question. I think the sample is everything because it's the foundation, the roots. I heard people in the Conference dissing The RZA (one of my main influences), saying he's not a real producer and such. Of around 100 persons hearing the convo I must've been one of the few disagreeing. I don't like what’s being produced nowadays at all. To me that’s not Hip Hop, it’s something else. Some people call it evolution, but it’s a step to the side and not forward. With sampling, we’re bringing lost jewels to a broader audience; we’re recreating the vibe those artists had back then to a contemporary public, so they won’t be lost in time. Anyone can do a 4-note synthesized beat with the 808 kit, f*ck a bubblegum beat. Now I have to excuse myself for one thing. I produced Fes Taylor’s single off “Inspectah Deck Presents: Flight 10304” called “Ocean Drive” back when I was experimenting; it leaked last week. I made that beat back then and I sampled a German house joint from the 90’s: I hope I won’t do it again (laughs), but that’s the beat that secured me the place at the One Stop Shop beat battle. They were hoping to hear more joints like that, but it’s just not my thing. That was the biggest lesson I took home from the Conference. Most people choose synths over samples because it sells way more.
CHAMP: Now do you see the sample hip hop joints testing the time and still being relevant in the future?
Blastah Beatz: Sadly, sampled joints are relegated to the independent scene so most new producers don't want to follow the technique. They will always be relevant though because you can’t erase what’s written within the History of our Music. Mainstream artists aren’t looking for that anymore though. That’s a big turn-off for young producers, but there will always be a select few that will keep it alive. I hope I can be an inspiration to them.
CHAMP: You also have a deal with Master Works Unlimited/Sony Red? Not many producers are given a deal.
Blastah Beatz: Yes, that's still in the works. Master Works Unlimited is a new imprint I'm signed to, negotiating a distribution deal with Sony RED. That's where my album is coming. Shouts to Michael King aka iCON the Mic King (the CEO).
CHAMP: What else can we expect from Blastah Beatz in 09?
Blastah Beatz: A lot of freelance production. I'm on the new Lost Children of Babylon album, Kam Moye (Supastition's alter-ego), Big Lou, Islord of Killarmy, Scape Scrilla of Screwball, Imam Thug, Trife Da God, ... I produced a single for Divine which features Tragedy Khadafi; I'm dropping a 12'' single with iCON that features Supastition and Blue Raspberry (a prelude to our full lenght "The Season Of Our Discontent", coming in 2010); and I got 3 joints on the "Inspectah Deck Presents: Flight 10304" by Fes Taylor, dropping April 7th on Chambermusik/KOCH Records. I'm dropping a mixtape for free download over the next few months mixed by J-Ronin and hosted by iCON, which consists of some of my discography so heads can hear and know more about me. "Ph.D. in Beatmaking", the main course, is coming in 2010 and the line-up is looking crazy!!
CHAMP: When can I come out to Portugal and get a feature of you doing your thing out there man?!
Blastah Beatz: Ah man, are you serious?! Anytime, tape me producing a beat and I'll let you crash at my grandma's house (laughs).
CHAMP: THAT’S IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!
NOW I LAY - JOE BUDDEN (PRODUCED BY BLASTAH BEATZ)
