Northern Profit Interview (Arthur McArthur & Big Pops)
The Boy Hollywood
CHAMP MAGAZINE
CHAMP: What's goodie Northern Profit? What are you up to at the current moment?
Northern Profit: We're chilling man. Working hard in the studio every day.
CHAMP: Now the group Northern Profit is made up of Arthur McArthur, Big Pops, and Badnuz. How'd you guys buck up and start working together and what does each cat bring to the table?
Arthur: We met in the summer of '07. Our manager at the time, Contejous, put us in the studio together. We banged it out for the first couple days and the musical chemistry was crazy. After a couple weeks of making beats we decided to run together as a group. Each of us brings something different to the table. Big Pops is a sample head. He can chop shit for days. I'm a beast on the keyboards, and I can mix. Badnuz has been doing it for a lot less time than either of us, but he's got a great ear for how the overall beat should feel and sound and is starting to get good on the keys as well.
CHAMP: Now the name Northern Profit. Where does that come from?
Arthur: We chose that name basically because we're from the North and we're chasing that paper. Phil Blunt came up with the name when we first started, and we just ran with it.
CHAMP: I'm definitely familiar with Arthur McArthur from the infamous and controversial Battle of the Beatmakers competition you were in. Do you feel you were robbed that night?
Arthur: Naw. I mean it was a real close battle, the first round seemed like he underestimated me and most people felt I won, but it was judged a tie. The second round he pulled out the Transformers beat and definitely got me with that one. But it actually turned out really well for me. The controversy that sparked was much better promo than I would've gotten from winning the battle.
CHAMP: You ended up having a grudge match against Boi-1da at the last one. How was that whole experience and what was the end result of that?
Arthur: It was good. Again, it was close but I ended up winning the battle. We both came prepared, but I had the crowd on my side. We're tied 1-1. After the battle we linked up to cut some tracks for Dr. Dre's "Detox" album. We're actually collaborating a lot now.
CHAMP: How long have you cats been making music for?
Arthur: I've been making music my whole life. When I was 4 or 5 I'd either be banging on the piano, or out on the curb directing an orchestra of the neighborhood kids on pots and pans. Haha, I was pretty much born to be a producer. When I was 7 I started taking classical piano lessons. I was a prodigy at that. At around age 13 I stopped taking piano lessons and taught myself how to play guitar. I played around in rock bands and stuff until I was 17-18, when I got my first music making program. Production has been my main focus since. I'm 20 years old now.
Big Pops: I started producing when I was about 16. I'm 22 now.
CHAMP: What kinda tools can we catch you guys messing with when making a beat?
Arthur: Our main program is FL Studio. I also track and mix using a program called REAPER. I play the instrumentation with a keyboard, a guitar and a drum controller.
Big Pops: Sometimes we start with a sample, sometimes I have an idea in my head for Arthur to play or sometimes Arthur or Badnuz just start freestyle playing on the keys and we hear something crazy and start with that. Once the initial session is done it usually goes to Arthur to mix and finalize the beat.
CHAMP: Recently you placed probably one of the hottest track on Drakes So Far Gone. The Uptown joint. Big big joint. How did Drake get a hold of your work?
Arthur: Thanks, that joint was me and Boi-1da. We hit up Sunny Diamond's spot in Scarborough and banged that out when we were doing stuff for Detox. Boi-1da sent it to Drake, and it was a wrap from there.
CHAMP: What was your reaction when you heard Bun B and Weezy was gonna be on it?
Arthur: I was really excited. I mean, in the industry, you never know 100% if features are gonna come in time, but when I heard the verses it was crazy. All the artists definitely did their thing on it.
CHAMP: Who else have you guys produced for?
Arthur: We've done joints with Lil Wayne, Bun B, Drake, Joe Budden, Alchemist, Styles P, Wordsworth, Black Milk, Elzhi, Big Lou, Killah Priest, Nino Bless etc… We've also done some work with Mr. Probz, Sonny Diablo, Neenah and Winne who are all doing big things out of Amsterdam. We've worked with most of the people that are doing their thing in Canada; Richie Sosa, Mayhem Morearty, Kardinal Offishall, Camoflaugue, Empire, Promise, JD Era, Mason Payne, Izm, Deepwaters, SLUG, Tassnata, the list goes on.
CHAMP: Sampling vs. Original based beats. What do you guys prefer and why?
Arthur: I don't really have a preference. Sampling is a lot of fun, but clearance issues can be a pain in the ass. I'd say about half of our hip-hop stuff is sampled.
Big Pops: I highly prefer sampling just because of the sound and vibe you get from it. Digging through crates all day getting the fingers dusty then you find that gem… it’s the illest feeling. Most of the records I grew up listening to and loved were all sampled. The majority of my solo work is sample based but I always add to the beat instrumentation wise and have made beats that aren't sampled too. You got to be versatile.
CHAMP: Other than yourselves, what other producers in the north are you guys feeling?
Arthur: We're feeling Rich Kidd, Boi-1da, Mega Man, Soundsmith, Tone Mason, Gigz, Saukrates, Frank Dukes, Spinz, The Vanguards, Vokab, Junia T, Blackghost, Slakah - tons of people from the north doing major things and making incredible music, too many to name!
CHAMP: What projects are you currently working on?
Arthur: Northern Profit: Right now we are working on getting placements and trying to do a lot of work outside of Canada. We plan on dropping a compilation of artists on our beats very soon. We have our business Hustle & Flip (www.hustleandflip.com ) up and running and we do everything from CD duplication, Printing, Web Design, Graphic Design, Clothing, etc etc. Besides that we are just always in the studio beefing up our catalogue.
CHAMP: What else can we expect from Northern Profit in 09?
Arthur: Northern Profit :Big things! Keep your ears tuned, and if you're looking for production hit up www.myspace.com/northernprofit , www.myspace.com/arthurmcarthur or www.myspace.com/bigpopsbeats
UPTOWN - DRAKE FT. LIL WAYNE & BUN B (PRODUCED BY NORTHERN PROFIT)
