S1ncere Interview (July 2007 MTP Beat Battle Champ)

******* PICTURES COMING SOON *******

Meet The Producers - Where are you from?

Sincere - Union City, NJ


MTP - When and Why did you start producing?

S - I started making beats Dec. of ’02. For Christmas, one of my cousins gave me a copy of this program Reason. Thats what really opened my mind to sampling.


MTP - What was your first piece of equipmenmt and what do you use now?

S - Technics SL BD1 was my first piece (big shout to Unusual and Cassius). We copped it at the Salvation Army for 20 bucks. lol. I just bought a Mac G5 now, so....


MTP - What software do you use?

S - Fruityloops. In a week, it's all gonna change.


MTP - Do you collect records? How do you feel about the diggin culture?

S - Yea, I got a few gems. Diggin laid the foundation for the classic hip hop records we listen to. Even the records out now use some of those pop breaks. There’s an r&b song out now on the radio with the "Juicy Fruit" drums over the beat, so there it is. Even if hip hop dies, diggin’ll still be here just ‘cause people love discovering those rare joints they know not too many people have.


MTP - There are several videos out now talking about legendary diggers. Who are your top diggers?

S - My top diggers are Mark the 45 King, Diamond D, Biz Markie and Madlib.


MTP - Whats it like being in a beat battle?

S - For me, there’s nothing like it, really. Its a better feeling than getting high or nice. When the crowd is feeling your shit, it’s definitely fulfilling and surreal. And nerve racking, I’m not gonna front. I was a lil nervous lol.


MTP - How can it help a producer?

S - Since I’m not a DJ, beat battles are like the next best thing to knowing what the crowd is into, you know? What catches their attention, what makes them wild out. That’s why for DJ’s, producing becomes 2nd nature to them just because…they know the beginning of “this record” gets the crowd going nuts, and the bridge for “that record” got people singing the melody and all that. So yea, I’m learning a couple things.


MTP - You've just won the July MTP Beat Battle. What are you expecting for the finals?

S - Stiff Comp.


MTP - Whats your thoughts on the whole keyboard vs.sample beat discussion?

S - It’s all on how you use it. Me personally, I love taking a record and just molding it to something else. But I also like using keyboards like the Microkorg, to add a different vibe to my beats.


MTP - How do you feel about the beats that are used in music today?

S - My boys put me on to these new-ish producers out now like Oddisee, Black Milk, Illmind. Madlib is the most inventive out right now. Their shit is hot, they keep it alive for me as far as beats, besides the legends of course.


MTP - How about the more commercial producers such as Swizz, Kayne or Timbaland?

S - Timbaland is on my legends list. His boy Danjahandz is dope too. I like Swizz and Kanye but The Neptunes are on my top 3. They could make a classic punk album like "In Search Of", then switch to 80's r&b like "In My Mind", and still go hard for Clipse's last album. Dre, Hi Tek, Nottz, Organized Noise, and the list goes on.


MTP - What is the worst studio session you have ever been involved with?

S - It was the summer of ’03 when I decided to lay down vocals. Bad move. lol.


MTP - What projects are you currently working on?

S - Nothing’s etched in stone yet. We’ll see. There’s some real talented groups coming out of Jersey that I want to work with tho. Definitely. I'm tryin to break ground.


MTP - Whats something the readers may not know about you?

S - I used to bag up groceries at FINE FARE for school gear, ask about me.


MTP - Whats your contact info?

S - www.myspace.com/s1ncere87
R_rod12@hotmail.com


MTP - Any last words?

S - My boys make beats also...Cassius and Unusual. Check for them at www.myspace.com/cassius86music and www.myspace.com/unusualbeatz . Thanks to MTP for the interview, and shout to everyone who's in grind mode tryin to find their niche, peace.


SINCERE TRACK