We've all heard the story. A producer submits a beat CD, then hears a track that sounds just like the one he submitted on the radio. Or the case where a beatsmith hands over his most prized tracks, only to have the sample taken off and re-worked with slight changes. In most of these cases, the producer never sees and credit or money for their labor. They only wallow in the pain of being taken advantage of in an industry that may not care to hear the cries.
Up and coming producer Kil has experienced the agony that comes from hearing a track that he didn't personally sign off on. But, in his case, getting jacked has turned out to be an experience worth reliving. With is production company locked and loaded, he's turning a once unfortunate feeling, into the opportunity of a lifetime. Read up on Kil's background in the field of music production, his up coming projects, and his brief bout with the legendary M.O.P.
BeatDynasty.com: First off, where are you from?
Kil: I'm born and raised in Philly! B'more is a second home for me and I'm currently living in Southern Maryland.
BeatDynasty.com: How'd you get started in the profession of music production?
Kil: Back in '87 my peoples Marvin and Cool DJ Frank came on the block with their demo and I was amazed at the fact that these dudes had an original beat. We were always rhyming off a 12 inch instrumental, but no one had their own beat. So I started troopin' with them out West Philly to my man Hollis Monroe's studio and after seeing his equipment and how we was making beats...I was hooked. The cat Hollis was ill! In my opinion his beats were right up there with the heavy hitters of producers at that time.
BeatDynasty.com: One thing people want to know is, how did you hook up with M.O.P.?
Kil: They ended up using one of my tracks on their new album "Foundation" without getting at me, so we kinda linked up by me getting jacked (laughs).
BeatDynasty.com: Now there was some controversy surrounding that track. Explain what happened from your perspective.
Kil: I'm driving home from work listening to "Foundation" and when "Rude Bastards" dropped, it was my beat! At first I thought they may have just used the same sample but it was my beat; the sample, the drums, the drum programming, everything down to the Pain in the A** sample "Here Comes the Pain."
BeatDynasty.com: M.O.P. and their manager have gone on record that this was a major misunderstanding. Have they made things right with you?
Kil: Fame and Laze are real good dudes. I truly believe that the credits got mixed up.There was some hoopla around the beat CD and who I had given it to so it's just a misunderstanding. Laze is making sure I'm good with the credit and my publishing, and he's just helping me get my name out there. I mean truth be told, those dudes didn't have to respond. To be honest I didn't think they would. How many times have you heard about someone getting jacked but the person who they accuse never says anything? But these dudes got at me within 48 hours to clear things up, which in my opinion shows it was a mistake and nothing malicious behind it. At the end of the day, mistakes happen.
BeatDynasty.com: Would you work with M.O.P. again after this?
Kil: No doubt! Like I said it was just a misunderstanding. M.O.P. is one of my favorite groups of all time! I've got crazy beats that are tailored made for those dudes. Working in the studio with those dudes would truly be a blessing.
BeatDynasty.com: Now that the M.O.P. joint is under your belt, who else are you working with now?
Kil: I'm blessed to be working with a lot of dope artist! I'm producing my homegirl Kyana's entire sophmore album I Am Beauty. I produced four tracks for my homegirl C. Clear's debut album A Soldier Story. I'm producing an entire album for Lunchboxx an ill mc outta B'more called The Discipline. I've produced four tracks for my man Sekani's (a former Source's unsigned hype as well as writing all of the rhymes for MTV's "Carmen" that starred Mekhi Phifer, Mos Def and Beyonce) sophmore album. I'm working with my man Osei on his debut album. And my wife is a singer/songwriter so I'm real excited about her music because it's a breath of fresh air. As soon as I make a beat she's already writing to it, so it's R&B over Hip Hop beats but not like Mary J. circa '91 singing over breakbeats. I mean her singing over beats Rae and Ghost or Jadakiss could be rhyming over...it's gonna be dope. Hip Hop heads will feel it and the ladies will love what she's singing about. My wife's got a beautiful voice.
BeatDynasty.com: What type of equipment set up do you use to produce your tracks?
Kil: Back in '93 I started on a Tascam four track and a Gemini mixer with a eight second sample in it. In '95 I graduated to the Ensoniq ASR10 keyboard, and for the last 5 years I've been on the MPC2000xl.
BeatDynasty.com: Which producers inspired you to make moves in this game?
Kil: Man, so many to name. I knew I wanted to be in this Hip Hop game somehow since '84 when my moms took me to see Beat Street. But after hitting up the studio in '87, that's when my focus turned to beats. So in my middle and High school years Marley (Marl) was huge to me. Those (Big Daddy) Kane, (Kool) G. Rap and Biz (Markie) albums alone were bananas! The Bomb Squad was just incredible with what they were doing for Public Enemy. My jaw dropped every time I heard a new P.E. song. The Large Professor's production on Breaking Atoms was crazy. To this day "Just Hanging Out" is one of my favorite jawns of all times. I loved what Hurby Luv Bug was doing with Kid 'n' Play, Salt 'n' Pepa, Kwame and Sweet Tee. Also what Prince Paul was doing for De La Soul was just mind blowing to me. Paul kinda showed me to sample whatever! Once I was in college though it was all about Primo. That dude is my number one because he's been around since '87 and he's STILL going strong. The late great J. Dilla changed my life on the stuff he was doing. I'll never forget the first time I hear A Tribe Called Quest's "Wordplay" in my man Montez's jeep...his drum programming was crazy! As soon as I heard that I ran in the crib to try to do my drums like Dilla. Dude was the truth. And even though he's not Hip Hop, I've always been a Timbaland fan too.
BeatDynasty.com: What kind of obstacles have you faced as an up and coming producer?
Kil: Just getting my stuff heard. I mean most producers that are out got their start by being in a group. But it's just ten times harder just trying to get someone to actually listen to your stuff. Not just skim through it but actually give up their time and really listen to your stuff. That's why I'm trying to get a manager. I need someone who's up in the mix of things, who has the energy to really get my stuff heard. All my energy right now just goes into trying to be a good husband and a good father and everything else is third, fourth and fifth.
BeatDynasty.com: What advice can you offer someone who is in the grind and thinking of quitting this?
Kil: I'll give them the same exact advice I have to give myself. Just keep at it. For me, I love making music and I'll never stop. God could tell me right now I'll never sell another beat and I'd still be on the MPC getting busy and taking my daughter diggin' with me like I always have. So many producers nowadays do it just for a check and not for the love. Back in '95 a MPC3000 was $3,000..if you're in college $3,000 is a car, not some drum machine . So you really had to want to make beats if you're giving up $3,000! When I was at Morgan State there was about ten producers on campus. But with Fruity Loops, Reasons and all these other programs that cats can download for free or buy for $300, I'm sure if you take a poll at Morgan now there's probably over 100 producers on campus. But how many of them are doing it for the love? If you're in it for a check, I guess just keep at it til you get that check. But if you're in it for the love, do it 'til you die.
BeatDynasty.com: Any last words for the people?
Kil: Good looking to Beat Dynasty for giving me a forum to be heard. Just be on the lookout for the projects I'm working on and my company Naomi Needs to Eat Music Group. If you want some heat, get at me at www.myspace.com/kil889, www.twitter.com/kil889,
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and check out my blog at www.willmakebeatsforfood.blogspot.com.
