By Philly Stress
Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:40 pm
This one Speaks for itself. You should see his record Collection!
Easy Mo Bee is responsible for the original BAD BOY sound that gave birth to stars like Craig Mack & The Notorious Biggie Smalls.
His music can only be described as Real Hip Hop at its best. Easy Mo Bee's discography consists of Gold and Platinum street bangers.
We caught up with Super Producer Easy Mo Bee at his basement lab where records were literally wall to wall. You are about to bare witness the true meaning of BOOM-BAP
The EMU SP1200 appears to be the backbone of your music production.
I'm still using the SP1200 along with the AKAI S950 after all this time.
What features are you using on the SP1200?
I use the multi pitch a lot because you can spread one sound across the pads like a keyboard and play different notes. I like using multi levels on my beats to extend short phrases and to control the volume of the sounds in my sequences.
Describe your production style?
I would say Precision. I strive to make my shit precise in the quality of the song and the character of the record. I like to put extra shit that's needed and sometimes that means keeping it simple.
What swing settings do you use for sequencing on the SP1200?
When I did "Flavor In Your Ear" by Craig Mack, "Jeeps, Lex Coup, Bimaz & Benz" by Lost Boys and "Everything Remains Raw" by Busta Rhymes I've used 16 triplets. I sometimes use 1/32 & 1/32 Triplets. 32nd triplets are a little swingier. Nottz & DJ Scratch is big on the 32nd triplets.
How are you using the SP1200 with the Akai S950?
I like to use the SP1200 a lot for my drums. I use the SP1200 for my main sounds and definitely for my bass sounds. I don't play any bass through my S950. I use the AKAI S950 for filtering my sounds and fillers. I dress the beat up with the S950.
Describe the EASY MO BEE sound?
Most of what I've done is based on a record I've heard. My record collection is my main influence. That's where it all starts.
Quartely Weblication
Easy Mo Bee is responsible for the original BAD BOY sound that gave birth to stars like Craig Mack & The Notorious Biggie Smalls.
His music can only be described as Real Hip Hop at its best. Easy Mo Bee's discography consists of Gold and Platinum street bangers.
We caught up with Super Producer Easy Mo Bee at his basement lab where records were literally wall to wall. You are about to bare witness the true meaning of BOOM-BAP.
How much do you rely on the engineer to achieve your sound?
I like for the engineer to EQ some of my sounds. There are times when I tell the engineer to leave everything flat. I EQ my sounds before I sample them. It's important to know how to engineer your own sound and know exactly how you want your sound to come out.
Describe the mixing process for the smash hit "Flavor In Your Ear" by Craig Mack. What did you do in the studio that you couldn't do at home?
We used some reverb on the drums. The drums are gated real tight in the mix. People don't know that the siren sound in the record was a music sample. We remove most of the music in the siren with EQ. "Flavor In Your Ear" was inspired from Craig G's "Dropping Science" produced by Marley Marl. I wanted to do a record like that.
What's your feeling on sample based production?
It's forever and it will never go anywhere. Just about everything that we do is based on another record. You'll have cats that will replay an old rare record that know one has heard before and people think it's original.
You have a sick ass record collection. How often do you shop for records?
In passing. If I see a Salvation Army, Flea Market or a real old record shop I'll check it out.
Do you use a portable turntable?
No, I just go by instinct. Sometimes I just look at the cover and buy it. I usually check the personal on the album.
What are you doing to stay current with your music? How do you keep your skills sharp?
I listen to the radio and mix shows. You got to listen to what cats are doing. It's important to differentiate yourself from everybody else. I also stay listening to old Hip Hop records. There's a lot of beats we're using now that was used in the past. There are old techniques that are still used now.
What do you do to overcome production block?
Sometimes I'll play an old 70's Blackploitation flick. It's important to be inspired. Don't force it just let it come and eventually you'll get some ideas.
Have you worked with live musicians on previous projects and do you plan to use live musicians on future projects?
Yeah, when I was producing Miles Davis. I would make the main beat track and Darren Williams would play keys on top. I plan to use future projects. I know Horace Sliver's (Jazz Legend) son G-Wise and he's a fluent keyboard player who make beats.
What are some of the misconceptions people may have about
Easy Mo Bee?
People think I'm strictly a Hip Hop producer. I can play keyboards and drums. Check out Miles Davis "Doo-Bop" album and you'll hear a song titled "Sonya" which I constructed and played keys from start to finish. The kicks and snares were the only samples in that record. Darren Johnson played the keyboard solos.
I' have R&B capabilities but I like to bring the Hip Hop flavor to my tracks. I've arranged and sung background vocals. I can detect if a harmony is on & off.
The Role of the Hip Hop producer has changed over the years How has it affected the industry?
Producers today are using more modern equipment. More producers have studios in their house and that is taking away the role of a commercial studio. Unique Studios was a place I've recorded a lot of records and they recently shut down. D&D Studio is another studio that also closed down.
Digital Equipment, Protools, and the ability to record in your house have shut down a lot of these studios.
Most producers own a production company with their own stable of producers and the label will sign that production company. Labels are looking to the producers for what's hot today.
Quartely Weblication
As a musician, DJ and producer how much influence does your DJ skills play in your music production?
Being a DJ lets you know what people want to hear. Every DJ knows if you play a hot record you'll get positive feed back. You can apply DJ techniques into production for instance speeding the tempo of a record from 33RPMs to 45 RPMs.
If you know your history this techniques was used years ago on classic break beats like "Rocket In The Pocket" by Cerrone and "Mary Mary" by the Monkees. Everything that we do comes from somewhere.
Describe the making of "If I was your woman" and the creative chemistry between you and Alicia Keys?
Alicia Keys is a great producer. I knew I had to freak the Isaac Hayes "Walk On By" different from the way I did it on Biggie's "Warning". I freaked the bass line to follow Alicia Keys singing.
I was imitating what the bass was doing in the original Gladys Knight record. We used Protools to time stretch & pitch shift the bass parts of the record. Using Protools made the music come out exactly the way I wanted.
I just used the SP1200. Alicia Keys played piano & keys and Duane Wiggins from Tony, Toni, Tone played the bass. He played on top of what the bass was doing in the song. He added fills to compliment the groove.
EASY MO BEETHE KING OF BOOM-BAPBy ONE STOP BEATS
Page 2 of 2
AUDIO CLIPS OF INTERVIEW COMING SOON
How important is it to know your history as a Hip Hop producer?
It's real important. We were talking the other day about who was the first to filter a sample in Hip Hop production. The first time I've heard a sample filtered down to the bass was on Masta Ace's "Music Man" produced by Marley Marl. Pete Rock is known for filtering but Marley Marl did it first.
It's important to acknowledge early Hip Hop producers like Larry Smith, Kurtis Blow (Orange Krush Band), Jazzy Jay, Full Force, Grand Master Flash & Teddy Riley just to name a few.
SEE YOUR
AD HERE!
SCRATCH MAGAZINE featured EASY MO BEE in its Premiere issue. You were asked to pick producers hot enough to improve on Biggie's
Ready To Die album. Do you have any additional comments regarding the producers you've picked?
I wouldn't change my selection in producers but for those who are familiar with the article I would have had my brother LG (producer for ILL AL SCRATCH & NAS)
produced JUICY because of his organic soulful sound. He uses live instruments with that Boom-Bap flavor.
A lot of cats overlook the song RESPECT & I chose myself to do the remix. I think Lord Finesse would do a hot remix too.
You have an incredible sound that has become legendary. Every time you load a track into the SP1200 it has Boom-bap written all over it. Define Boom-bap?
Boom-bap is chopping samples, kicks and snares manually from records. Holding note repeat on one sound to make the track bang. Cats that don't like Boom-bap are the ones that can't do it. www.easymobee.com
Easy Mo Bee is responsible for the original BAD BOY sound that gave birth to stars like Craig Mack & The Notorious Biggie Smalls.
His music can only be described as Real Hip Hop at its best. Easy Mo Bee's discography consists of Gold and Platinum street bangers.
We caught up with Super Producer Easy Mo Bee at his basement lab where records were literally wall to wall. You are about to bare witness the true meaning of BOOM-BAP
The EMU SP1200 appears to be the backbone of your music production.
I'm still using the SP1200 along with the AKAI S950 after all this time.
What features are you using on the SP1200?
I use the multi pitch a lot because you can spread one sound across the pads like a keyboard and play different notes. I like using multi levels on my beats to extend short phrases and to control the volume of the sounds in my sequences.
Describe your production style?
I would say Precision. I strive to make my shit precise in the quality of the song and the character of the record. I like to put extra shit that's needed and sometimes that means keeping it simple.
What swing settings do you use for sequencing on the SP1200?
When I did "Flavor In Your Ear" by Craig Mack, "Jeeps, Lex Coup, Bimaz & Benz" by Lost Boys and "Everything Remains Raw" by Busta Rhymes I've used 16 triplets. I sometimes use 1/32 & 1/32 Triplets. 32nd triplets are a little swingier. Nottz & DJ Scratch is big on the 32nd triplets.
How are you using the SP1200 with the Akai S950?
I like to use the SP1200 a lot for my drums. I use the SP1200 for my main sounds and definitely for my bass sounds. I don't play any bass through my S950. I use the AKAI S950 for filtering my sounds and fillers. I dress the beat up with the S950.
Describe the EASY MO BEE sound?
Most of what I've done is based on a record I've heard. My record collection is my main influence. That's where it all starts.
Quartely Weblication
Easy Mo Bee is responsible for the original BAD BOY sound that gave birth to stars like Craig Mack & The Notorious Biggie Smalls.
His music can only be described as Real Hip Hop at its best. Easy Mo Bee's discography consists of Gold and Platinum street bangers.
We caught up with Super Producer Easy Mo Bee at his basement lab where records were literally wall to wall. You are about to bare witness the true meaning of BOOM-BAP.
How much do you rely on the engineer to achieve your sound?
I like for the engineer to EQ some of my sounds. There are times when I tell the engineer to leave everything flat. I EQ my sounds before I sample them. It's important to know how to engineer your own sound and know exactly how you want your sound to come out.
Describe the mixing process for the smash hit "Flavor In Your Ear" by Craig Mack. What did you do in the studio that you couldn't do at home?
We used some reverb on the drums. The drums are gated real tight in the mix. People don't know that the siren sound in the record was a music sample. We remove most of the music in the siren with EQ. "Flavor In Your Ear" was inspired from Craig G's "Dropping Science" produced by Marley Marl. I wanted to do a record like that.
What's your feeling on sample based production?
It's forever and it will never go anywhere. Just about everything that we do is based on another record. You'll have cats that will replay an old rare record that know one has heard before and people think it's original.
You have a sick ass record collection. How often do you shop for records?
In passing. If I see a Salvation Army, Flea Market or a real old record shop I'll check it out.
Do you use a portable turntable?
No, I just go by instinct. Sometimes I just look at the cover and buy it. I usually check the personal on the album.
What are you doing to stay current with your music? How do you keep your skills sharp?
I listen to the radio and mix shows. You got to listen to what cats are doing. It's important to differentiate yourself from everybody else. I also stay listening to old Hip Hop records. There's a lot of beats we're using now that was used in the past. There are old techniques that are still used now.
What do you do to overcome production block?
Sometimes I'll play an old 70's Blackploitation flick. It's important to be inspired. Don't force it just let it come and eventually you'll get some ideas.
Have you worked with live musicians on previous projects and do you plan to use live musicians on future projects?
Yeah, when I was producing Miles Davis. I would make the main beat track and Darren Williams would play keys on top. I plan to use future projects. I know Horace Sliver's (Jazz Legend) son G-Wise and he's a fluent keyboard player who make beats.
What are some of the misconceptions people may have about
Easy Mo Bee?
People think I'm strictly a Hip Hop producer. I can play keyboards and drums. Check out Miles Davis "Doo-Bop" album and you'll hear a song titled "Sonya" which I constructed and played keys from start to finish. The kicks and snares were the only samples in that record. Darren Johnson played the keyboard solos.
I' have R&B capabilities but I like to bring the Hip Hop flavor to my tracks. I've arranged and sung background vocals. I can detect if a harmony is on & off.
The Role of the Hip Hop producer has changed over the years How has it affected the industry?
Producers today are using more modern equipment. More producers have studios in their house and that is taking away the role of a commercial studio. Unique Studios was a place I've recorded a lot of records and they recently shut down. D&D Studio is another studio that also closed down.
Digital Equipment, Protools, and the ability to record in your house have shut down a lot of these studios.
Most producers own a production company with their own stable of producers and the label will sign that production company. Labels are looking to the producers for what's hot today.
Quartely Weblication
As a musician, DJ and producer how much influence does your DJ skills play in your music production?
Being a DJ lets you know what people want to hear. Every DJ knows if you play a hot record you'll get positive feed back. You can apply DJ techniques into production for instance speeding the tempo of a record from 33RPMs to 45 RPMs.
If you know your history this techniques was used years ago on classic break beats like "Rocket In The Pocket" by Cerrone and "Mary Mary" by the Monkees. Everything that we do comes from somewhere.
Describe the making of "If I was your woman" and the creative chemistry between you and Alicia Keys?
Alicia Keys is a great producer. I knew I had to freak the Isaac Hayes "Walk On By" different from the way I did it on Biggie's "Warning". I freaked the bass line to follow Alicia Keys singing.
I was imitating what the bass was doing in the original Gladys Knight record. We used Protools to time stretch & pitch shift the bass parts of the record. Using Protools made the music come out exactly the way I wanted.
I just used the SP1200. Alicia Keys played piano & keys and Duane Wiggins from Tony, Toni, Tone played the bass. He played on top of what the bass was doing in the song. He added fills to compliment the groove.
EASY MO BEETHE KING OF BOOM-BAPBy ONE STOP BEATS
Page 2 of 2
AUDIO CLIPS OF INTERVIEW COMING SOON
How important is it to know your history as a Hip Hop producer?
It's real important. We were talking the other day about who was the first to filter a sample in Hip Hop production. The first time I've heard a sample filtered down to the bass was on Masta Ace's "Music Man" produced by Marley Marl. Pete Rock is known for filtering but Marley Marl did it first.
It's important to acknowledge early Hip Hop producers like Larry Smith, Kurtis Blow (Orange Krush Band), Jazzy Jay, Full Force, Grand Master Flash & Teddy Riley just to name a few.
SEE YOUR
AD HERE!
SCRATCH MAGAZINE featured EASY MO BEE in its Premiere issue. You were asked to pick producers hot enough to improve on Biggie's
Ready To Die album. Do you have any additional comments regarding the producers you've picked?
I wouldn't change my selection in producers but for those who are familiar with the article I would have had my brother LG (producer for ILL AL SCRATCH & NAS)
produced JUICY because of his organic soulful sound. He uses live instruments with that Boom-Bap flavor.
A lot of cats overlook the song RESPECT & I chose myself to do the remix. I think Lord Finesse would do a hot remix too.
You have an incredible sound that has become legendary. Every time you load a track into the SP1200 it has Boom-bap written all over it. Define Boom-bap?
Boom-bap is chopping samples, kicks and snares manually from records. Holding note repeat on one sound to make the track bang. Cats that don't like Boom-bap are the ones that can't do it. www.easymobee.com
I use:
2 Technics TurnTables
Akai MPC 3000LE
Akai s950
Akai VX-90
Akai MFC 42
Ensoniq EPS 16+
Moog Little Phatty (OTW!)
BREAK THE BANX MUSIC, LLC.
2 Technics TurnTables
Akai MPC 3000LE
Akai s950
Akai VX-90
Akai MFC 42
Ensoniq EPS 16+
Moog Little Phatty (OTW!)
BREAK THE BANX MUSIC, LLC.
