MTP "We Got The Jazz" - Sun May 25 @ 9PM

Constant Interview (Feb 2007 MTP Beat Battle Champ)

Meet The Producers - Where are you from?

Constant - I am originally from Willingboro, NJ, but l live upstate NY now.

MTP - When and Why did you start producing?

C - I started producing in 2002. FluiD was producing for a little bit and sent a beat CD to me when I was living in TX. I said to myself, shit, I can do this and better. Being his twin brother, we've always been in close competition with everything we do whether it be music, sports, or whatever.

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

C - At first, I started using Fruity Loops like many new beat makers. At that time that's all I was. Then I went to Germany where I became a PRODUCER. I used other folks equipment along with what I added to the studio. Now I use the Motif ES, mixer, Pro Tools, and sometimes FL every now and then. I also create new drum sounds using live instruments.

MTP - How was the German production/Hip Hop scene different from America?

C - The demand for American hip hop in Germany is greater than stateside because they don’t get the quality from their artists as we do on an everyday basis. They do have a few amazing producers in various cities. Fans would repeatedly thirst for more from a couple of my artists. It felt like Jay-Z was coming to town even though we were unknown to the American listeners. Doing a show 2 weeks before I left with Poetry N Motion’s Michael Ameer topped it all. Overall, Germany is a great place to get your start.

MTP - Do you have any professional training in any particular instrument?

C - Yes, on the drums and the clarinet.

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

C - I have a few, but I feel having sample free beats shows the more creative side of me.

MTP - What producers do you look up too?

C - Timbaland, Premier, RnR, Tony D, and Marley Marl.

MTP - What’s it like being in a beat battle?

C - MTP was my first battle and with the crowd listening to my beats for the first time, it was a nerve racking experience. I was scared as hell because, I didn't have a clue how it was gonna be run and I wondered "are these folks gonna feel me".

MTP - How can it help a producer?

C - Its a good place and opportunity for people to network, whether you are a producer or an artist. Any event where you can put your music out there to be heard can and will show the producer where he/she is and where they need to be.

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

C - Sampling is the foreground of hip hop instrumentals. The samples producers flip, chop, and cut gives a certain energy and vibe to their mix. Playing out melodies is my thing though. I feel "I created that beat; that's my track... not anyone else's". Most listeners don't care what they hear as long as it sounds good to them. Well, I make music for me first and if other people feelin' it good. I do sample every now and then, but it goes along with my quote... "Creation is inspired by the relic of the innovator's persuasion" -Constant '05

MTP - What is your "dream" keyboard?

C - Yamaha Motif XS 8

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

C - There are a lot of producers that upstage the common producer. From the music I hear today producers still aren't given their credit they deserve. It's just like hip hop artists though... the best producers aren't mainstream. Take MTP for instance... I heard beats off the folks that didn't make it to the finals like Future, Quest, and Kingshon that are right up there with the best of mainstream.

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

C - There was a cat in the hat rapper tryna tell another producer how to do their job. It wasn't my session until I made it a point to let them know, if you don't understand what a producer does, keep your mouth shut. A good session to me requires the artist to have a solid understanding of what the producer does. With a bad producer/artist relationship it makes it harder than it needs to be to create what you want.

MTP - What projects are you currently working with?

C - I'm currently working on Sumecca's album "Sumecca Forever". We have 30 tracks recorded and are going through them to decide which tracks to put on the actual album. I am also working on Volume 5 of my 4 Seasons Mixtape series.

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

C - Folks come to my myspace page and think I'm from Brooklyn because my screen name is "DBrklyn Studios". It's actually my daughters name... Danisa Brooklyn.

MTP - Whats your contact info?

C - www.myspace.com/dbrklynstudios # (845) 558-6540

MTP - Any last words?

C - GOD, MOMS, my wife, Trevor, the real DBrklyn (my daughter), Sumecca (100 G's), Anon, Doe-Low, FluiD, Tracy Ross... Ya'll made this shit possible!!!

Rugged N Raw Interview (2005 MTP Season 1 Champion)

Meet The Producers - Where are you from?

Rugged N Raw - I am born and raised in NYC, the borough of Manhattan. But not for too much longer, rent is goin up!!!

MTP - When and why did you start producing?

RnR -I started producing about 6years ago. My school's radio station had an MPC, and my boys I.mpaq, DJ Static of Stronghold and Notic were the production heavyweights. I was just an MC. I started because no one was available to give me original beats. I was the newbie around and the hot beats had to go to other people, so I learned and made my own beats.

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

RnR - Always have, always will use an MPC. I am thinking about putting random kazoo sounds in my beats. HAHAHAHA But for real, I am learning the keyboard so that I don't gotta worry about samples all the time.

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

RnR - I got a bunch of records at the crib. I think diggin is kool as hell. It's definitely an art form that takes time and patience. I don't dig as much as I would like to because I don't make as many beats as I used to. But props to those that are doin it.

MTP - What do you think of digital diggin compared to crate diggin?

RnR - Nothing is ever like crate diggin. With crate diggin, you have to actually go out there and literally get your hands dirty, plus everything costs money. The only thing about digital digging is finding certain things that never made their way to vinyl. I made some beats where the samples are MAD obscure and is not on vinyl. Of course, I can't tell you my sources, but just know that I be lookin too!!!

MTP - What's it like being in a beat battle?

RnR - It's great if you're winning! HAHA It's definitely a unique experience. It's a competition to see who put more time and effort into their music. Everything is laid out and it allows you to speak without actually talking.

MTP - How can it help a producer?

RnR -Networking all day!! In the end, battles are supposed to introduce you to new people and new ways of doing things. They can work with local MC's and get their rep up.

MTP - Rumor has it, you are a 7 time beat battle champ? How do you stay successful and when are you gonna retire?

RnR - The rumors are true. I am a seven time beat battle champ. I stay successful by always staying one step ahead and differentiating myself. I used to go to battles and scout other producers. A lot of them stick too much to the same formula and I ALWAYS try to do stuff they can't. When I was involved with the MTP battles, I went almost every month and came to the championship with stuff totally different from what everyone else did. I'm not really tryin to battle anymore, I'm more focused on rhymin and puttin out songs. However, for money, someone can get their ass kicked!!!

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

RnR - As long as it's hot, I don't care what people use. I think that argument is overrated. When you really think about it, keyboards are just royalty free samples. So unless you are playing an instrument, guess what? You're sampling.

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

RnR - Some of them are phenomenal and some are doo doo pie, but it's always gonna be that way. But please, no more hit singles of just a drum pattern. That was kool back in the 80's when the drums were heavy and EQ'd properly. No more of these bullshit keyboard drums with a lil hi hat and a whisper. Put some effort in it, people!!

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

RnR - Hmmm... well.. I gotta say, I work part time as an engineer in the studio where I make my music and the worst session I had to record was a drunk emcee (beyond belief) that only came in to do ad libs for mad songs. He was yelling them all out, even on the love songs. What a waste of time!

MTP - What projects are you currently working with?

RnR - Mostly my stuff to be honest, and I am involved with Hasan Salaam and Hi Coup's new stuff too, but I am pretty in house as far as the projects I'm involved with now.

MTP - Tell me a little about 5th column?

RnR - 5th column is a collective of straight up illness. We are Hi-Coup, Badsportt, Hasan Salaam, I.mpaq and myself. I was actually the last member inducted. We are working as solo artists now, but we collaborate and keep each other sharp. They are a great bunch of people and we will be putting out LOTS of quality music for a very long time.

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

RnR - Reportedly, I talk A LOT in my sleep. Rumor has it, I have full conversations.

MTP - Whats your contact info?

RnR - http://www.ruggednraw.com/, www.myspace.com/ruggednrawrnr and email address rnr@ruggednraw.com

MTP - Any last words?

RnR - To every aspiring musician, just stay original and persistent, and your time will come. Oh, and get your copy of "Another Level" (Shameless Promotion) :)

Chops Interview (April 2007 MTP Beat Battle Champ)

Meet The Producers - Where are you from?

Chops - Maywood, NJ

MTP - When and why did you start producing?

Chops - I look at my official start date of producing as August of 1998, when I bought my "own" drum machine. I started to produce because I've been around music my whole life. My father had a record deal when he was a teenager, so it was just natural. I had a drumset before I had my first baseball mitt.

MTP - What did your father do?

Chops - My father was in a doo wop group called the deejays, they were signed to a small label in the late 50's. they cut some records and toured opening for groups like dion and the belmonts, the platters etc. unfortunately no major label would pick them up because they were an interracial group which was frowned upon.

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

Chops - My first piece was an ASR X PRO. Now I have 2 mpc's, that same asr, a roland fantom x6, motif xs6, cdj 800, technic 1200, pro tools, and I own in the arena of 8-10,000 lp's (give or take a few). I have collected records for the past ten years.

MTP - How do you feel about the diggin culture?

Chops - I view records as part of equipment (ehem you mp3 producers). I think the diggin culture is great. I can't say if some would view me as one, but i do enjoy coming across very obscure samples.

MTP - Whats it like being in a beat battle?

Chops - Nervous.... for everyone else if I'm in it. Seriously, its a crap shoot. You better bring heat rocks!

MTP - How can it help a producer?

Chops - It's a place to be heard. There's plenty of open mics and mc battles for rappers and lyricists, but nothing really for producers to showcase there work. I was in my first beat battle at the Nuyorican in April of 2003 (IPA Beat Battle)

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

Chops - I love sampling. Its how I started to make beats. However, keyboards get you a hell of alot more money when it comes time to sit down and do some paper work for a track. Many write off keyboard producers quickly, but I got joints you would swear I sampled. Its all how you freak it. Those who talk shit about keyboard producers are just mad at themselves. If its so easy, I challenge them to do it. Its not that simple to come up with something from nothing. For me, there is no discussion. Keyboards and sampling are two different worlds that collide in my realm. My suggestion to those that do not have one.... get your money right and go buy one.

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

Chops - I like some, but certainly not all. I like whatever is very outside the box. Nowadays, I live by one saying when it comes to contemporary hip hop, "it'll never be the 90's again!" Sometimes we sound like the old school rappers of the 80's complaining about the takeover of "gangsta rap" in the 90's. Bottom line is, like or not, hip hop is an ever changing genre. Sure we could use more consciousness and less negativity in the music, but the artists are only responding to what the consumers are buying. All in all, I am not worried. It will all come full circle again one day.

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

Chops - The computer crashed in a session causing the loss of 12 songs we had completed in 7 or so months. The hard drive was clicking louder than a fake Rolex....ouch!! Damn, what projects are you currently working on? I am currently working with Ticky Diamondz of the E.T.C. music group. This is a label started by Ed Lover, Ceas Roca, and Ticky Diamondz. The album is coming real soon. Also, I have been having my beats shopped to labels by E.T.C.. One thing I can say, its not who did the beats or who you gave them to. Its more whose hand your cd came from.......

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

Chops - The meaning of my name "Chops"?? (I have been asked that) So here are the wrong answers.

#1 - It has nothing to do with chopping samples.

#2 - I am not Portuguese. I am Irish.

Here is the correct answer - The name chops actually was given to me because of a Warner Bros cartoon. Whenever yosemite sam was dressed as an arab his guard would swing his axe and yell hasson chop. Since my last name is hasson, it turns out a nickname from high school stuck.

MTP - What about that other guy named chops???

Chops - Some people on myspace get me confused with the other dude that calls himself chops (from the mountain bros). I tried to friend him thru myspace and he kinda tried to say the name isn't gonna workout for me. I guess he doesn't want me to use the name, but this name isn't something new for me. I have been called "chops" even before I was in "Forbidden Chapters" (90s NJ Hip Hop Group). I figure...fuck it, I'll Sean "puffy" Combs it and make all my paperwork say: Patrick "chops" Hasson

MTP - Whats your contact info?

Chops - http://www.myspace.com/noncentsproductions

MTP - Any last words?

Chops - Stay tuned!!!

Instrumental Track

Video Clip Of MTP Season 2 Championship DVD