#15 - Hit-Boy

be on the lookout for that. Also, just want to shout out to everybody who's been leaving reviews on Apple podcasts. If you haven't done that, man, please go in there leave a review. I prefer five stars, but you know, any feedback is definitely wanted. And speaking of feedback, if you've got any feedback on the podcast, just like hit me up, Twitter, Instagram, whatever. I appreciate everyone who tags and and shows love, but yeah, just get at me Twitter,

Instagram at bou leg keV. Do you have any feedback? A lot of dope music out I just want to give a lot of love and and and acknowledgment to Big Shawn's album, one of the best albums of the year. I think I already gave this album a lot of love, but I want to do it again. Hit Boy is on the podcast today now. He executive produced Big Seawan's album. He also put out two albums this year, one with Dom Kennedy in August, another album with him himself and

him the Chauncey Hollis Project. Those are both albums that he's producing and rapping on. Then, he executive produced NASA's King's Disease and executive produced Big Sean's Detroit two. And coming next month, there'll be a Benny the Butcher and hit Boy album called Burden of Proof. So I just want to acknowledge the twenty twenty that today's guest is having.

Also shout out to Alchemists, just cause if we're shouting out producers who have had amazing twenty twenties, I feel like hit Boy and Alchemists are the two guys you got to talk about. Alchemists put out a whole album of Boldie James, whole album, McConway whole album with Freddie Gibbs. Jesus, that motherfucker's working. Shout out to ALC, Shout out to hit Boy, shout out to our sponsors. All Right, we have got two amazing sponsors, possibly adding more soon, but

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dot com. And if you support our sponsors, that's kind of a way you can support what I'm doing. This is obviously my own platform. You know, I do the radio thing, but this is a platform that I have one hundred percent ownership in and I'd appreciate any support with our partners. So I appreciate that, And look, we got a big episode today. I've known hit Boy going on who probably eight or nine years, very close with audio push from I E. Shout out to Price and Octane.

Those are my brothers right there. I've known them for about ten years and I met hit Boy through them. They were on HS eighty seven and I had a bunch of dope days going over to hit Boy's house in Tarzana. He had a house called the House of hit and it was where him and everyone on his label lived, and yeah, man, it was just real dope. And Hit Boy's always been one of my favorite producers, and I just feel like he hasn't got a lot of his just do and I feel like that's starting

to change. I think that battle was against Boy. Wander started to help that a little. But salute a hit Boy he is on the podcast today. Again, thank you to everybody for tuning in. I'm also curious anybody who's listening to this tweet me or Instagram dm me and let me know what other type of guests you'd like to see on the podcast. We've been going heavy with the rappers, producers, you know, all that, but I'm really

trying to switch it up. You know, we have my boys Chappelle Lacy on the show, who's a comedian, so we're gonna try to get some more comedians on. But yeah, just like what kind of guests would you like to

see on the show. There's a potential Patreon that we're working on where we're gonna do like an extra episode every week that you can subscribe to our patreon to listen to, and thinking about kind of leaning more in the music industry aspect on that to where like we talk to a lot of industry insiders, managers, just people behind the scenes, record executives, A and rs all that to just kind of just give people a lot of game. So let me know what kind of content you want

us to do on the Bootleg Cab podcast. And I think everybody who's been listening, we dropped the Dizzy Right and Demrick episode that's out, and the week before that we dropped the Gashy episode. If you did not listen to that Gashy episode, it's one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. So even if you're not a Gashy fan, it's just a great como. Go check it out today though it's about hit Boy. Shout out to hit Boy

man the legend himself. Let's get into this podcast. It's out Bootleg Cab Podcast Episode number fifteen with hit Boy Heard it out, Congratulations on it on everything, Thank you bro. Just locked inn Man, you already know, man, I've just been I've been seeing a lot of love, a lot of people add me on ig add me on Twitter, just like, Man, You're going crazy, and it's like, I feel like I've been in this pocket. But I guess

it's just taken a minute for everything to catch up. Yeah, it's interesting because obviously you and Sean have been working on Detroit two for a long time, since twenty eighteen. Yeah, I feel like you know this has been highly into paid it House. How long ago did you and nas decide to fully connect for King's disease. It's crazy because, like you said, we was working on Sean album for a minute. We was already in a groove with that.

So I was just you know, from talking to him every day working on his records and listening to records that wasn't mine, but that he was gonna put on the album because I'm executive producing it. I just got sold deep in a bag that by the time me and nas linked was was it was only February this year. That was six months ago. I mean, it's fucking September, right before the pandemic, right before the pandemic. That's what's

crazy about King's disease. People think it's like, oh, they took the COVID shit, But we could th all the King's disease before this shit cracked up, before he was all in the house, before all the corona all that. So yeah, we connected in February and just did a record, and we just kept doing songs, and before we looked up, we had an album. And it didn't even take long to get the base of it, like maybe a couple

of weeks. Wow. I want to dive into everything that's going on in the last year, but I kind of want to also touch base on. You know a lot of people who are watching this might not know your come up, might not know where you're from. You from You're from Fontana, right, I'm a two ten baby. I'm from between Pasadena and Ie. So I stayed all over the Ie. But I stayed in Pasadena until I was thirteen. Okay, you know what I'm saying. So I just called myself a two ten baby. I'm back and forth off to

two ten. Man. That's I take that. I take that freeway every time I go back home to Phoenix, take the two ten. But yeah, so you started getting into music. Was it first as a producer? Was it first as a rapper? Like? How was your introduction into the into just just creating? Man? I was always into it. But when I was like thirteen, I just like picked up a pen and a pad and I was just like, man, I don't know what I'm about to say, but I'm about to just try to get something out. And I

just every day I was on it, just writing. I used to fill up notebooks just like you know, wrapping all type of whatever, just anything I could think of. And then I finally got to the point where I can record. So that's when I met this kid in rialto this nigga was making beats, recording itself acid pro fl bro. So we was making albums and he was doing all the beats. And then after a while I just started messing with it playing. I was just playing around like and I was just like this shit is

pretty fun. So I just kept going in and after a while, like I was heavy on you know, video games and shit, so I replaced you know, video games with beats, and I just kept making beats every day. I was playing basketball. I played my whole ninth grade year, and I was was practicing for you know, my this the next season, and Bro, over a weekend, I like got a computer set up the fl and I went to school the next week and I was like, yo, I'm not I'm not coming back to practice, Bro, I'm

about to be on these beats. And this is two thousand and three. So they looking at me like, get the fuck yeah, beats. You know what I'm saying, Like, that's a one early you get a one, it's a one in a million chance. Well that's like early free loops.

That that's around the time Ninet had probably made like like Little Brothers started a pop man, that shit was like FL three point five, Like it was just I can't even remember the functionalities, but I don't think you could do a whole lot back then, So you pretty much replaced all of your extracurricular shit video games, sports, sports.

I'm going all in on beats, on just music. I was making albums, I was recording, I was writing, I was making beats just But I'm glad I stuck to like the sonics of it early in my career, just like because I feel like you get a longer life when you locked in on the sonics of it, Like being a rapper, you get a certain shelf life, so you know what I'm saying, everybody don't last forever with that. But making beats, you could catch runs on runs like

I'm on my fucking damn their third run. I'm thirty three years old, So it's like, you know, locking in on the sonics also allowed me to be able to fucking make still make my music and make the shit harder than this ever been. Like I feel like every song I do is just getting better and better. So and I'm seeing people that I respect reach out like, yo, you you're really going on this ship, Like it's not just the beat, so it's just music at the end

of the day. It's crazy because like you said, you've had some runs, right, Like I think we all know your first kind of run or introduction to everybody, kind of knowing that who hit Boy is was Watched the Throne, that era of working with Ya and in Paris is one of the most iconic songs. Yeah, ever like that that way had to be like it, you know from there you you you, You was on you know, working with re Read and and there was rock just a

crazy run. I felt like at that time I was real close with my dude Lifted, who did Mercy, who was working with Kanye what? Yeah? But what because why didn't we get more music with you and yay Man? Bro? Look, this is the thing and that's that's why it's another like it's another part that's you know, my story that's disconnected because you got to think about it. Bro. I was signed to Good Music for two years right as a producer as a producer, and I mean I produced

you Know Wish You Would with him and Rose. I produced Stair, flu I produced Click, I produced Christmas and Harlem. I produced Niggas in Paris. Is that my Mortal Kombat on. Let's turn that thing on, keep going. But so so in Paris click, I mean, you know what I'm saying. And it's just like that's just a two year span and let alone like, you know, producing stuff like my God for pushing, producing multiple songs on John Legend's album, producing songs on Big Sean's Detroit One. I had a

I had a beat on there. So just like I was doing it, I did a lot of show you did do a lot. I just think that like, once that two year span was up, it was it was almost like that was like it with y'all working together. I mean, you know, we both creatives, you know what I'm saying. We both just like it was always something but there's nothing but respect on my side, you know as far as the creative goes. Like when you were signed with Good, was it like do they get first

right refusal on your beats? Man? I mean they would just take the hardest shit. So it was basically like that anyway, right, I mean you know it's funny. Bro. At a point I was like telling my manager like if it's not Yay Jay or Beyonce, like don't book no sessions like this was at for I don't know, I can't think about how long I was on this way, but I was on that way for a while, just like you know, that's something that's crazy to be able

to even say. But you know, I guess this is why people want to call it a reseurg is now, Like it's just me spreading my sound out more and just locking in with more people and just dial in, dialing in on just that level. I guess now the other waves that I was a really good, big fan of and really close to shout out to through my dog's audio push when you launched HS eighty seven and

really just went hard putting on your your area. Nah, that was another thing man, Like you gotta understand, uh fucking I caught niggas in Paris and I wasn't trying to make a niggas in Paris. That was just the

type of music me and the homies did. Like one of my one of my niggas, Chilly Chill, he had a he had a song on the Niggas in Paris, but we was about to drop that on his mixtape right before right before done, hit me like yo, send me the files, like that was just a beat that I was like, whatever on, you know what I'm saying.

So it's like, like, you know, balancing that, balancing producing for high level artists, trying to do my own shit, trying to like, you know, produce for Audio Push, Kate Roosevelt all the homies like that was just a lot for a fucking twenty five year old to deal with and not having like the proper infrastructure. So it just was me pushing myself every day and after a while,

you just get burnt out. So you know, I just had to really scale back and just get let me be, like, let me go back to being hit boy, like, no expectations, no industry as shit, Like I'm about to just make heat and I'm feel a lock in. Is there anything you regret about that HS eighty seven era? You guys made some amazing music. I think a lot of it

was really slept on. I think you know, come as you are about Audio Pushing one of my favorite tapes, and I just felt like you guys kind of despite even being affiliated with Interscope at the time, I felt like they never really gave y'all like did just do for the level of music y'all were making Was there anything? It's just like I said, Man, I had so much going on, trying to you know, remain hot as a producer, you know, getting my artists ht all that shit. But

it ain't nothing I regret at all. Hell No, like you know what I'm saying, being able to put on for the homies, get him opportunity regardless of you know what I'm saying, how everything panned out. Everybody's still doing their thing, like you know what I'm saying. So it's like we all got to learn. I got to learn on a high level, you know what I'm saying. I caught that record Jimmy Iveen just gave me a crazy bag and then the house hit. But then that was it,

you know what I'm saying. It wasn't like this is how you do it. Woo woo, here's your frunning bag. Now you figure it out exactly. So you know that's that's that's cool. But you know that's what that was like going to like college, like for me, you guys had a house and Sino Tar that was cracking. It was crazy. Everybody was in rooms working like five studios. Everybody was pulling up working. But you know, it also got to be too much, you know what I'm saying.

And yeah, the parties were kind of cool for shore. The parties already cracking for show. But just yeah, bro, like that's what led me to this point I'm at now. You know, just I did that for years, like having these home studios and just locking in, having people in and out, and I feel like me going crazy now was me like, I'm about to go work by myself. I'm about to like just really go back to just hit boy. And you know, I got I found a perfect room to lock in on within the first year.

I want to gram me out that motherfucker with it. Rest of peace in the middle. So you know, it's just, oh no, I just went back to being me like full blown. We also skipped over surf Club that era, right exactly. Surf club Man, say surf club man, Surf Club HS eighty seven, nigga, all that that's that's that's that's long as I'm alive. That shit is alive, is repping.

I'm repping like that shit ain't never going nowhere. Like it's just you know, it's time and for everything one hundred percent, man, all right, So let's let's fast forward now. You know, obviously you're having an incredible twenty twenty. I think that I've seen a lot of people each ship during this quarantine and a lot of people thrive, and I feel like you are thriving, my brother, Like, yeah, man, I'm blessed for Shure man, and this is all ship

that's been in the works. Like you said, it's not like you know, like you made a conscious effort to like, nah that that go for Like you know what I said earlier in the conversation, imagine if I was just just a rapper, like I couldn't do no shows right now, Like I'll be on a different fucking lot of depending

on those back end club bags for show. So me being a producer ship niggas is still getting beats through email and they still pulling up doing safe sessions and ship, you know what I'm saying, as as safe as we can be and just you know, fucking being a producer

ship right now for Shure. Let me ask you this, with King's disease, are you were you conscious of the fact that people have critique NAS for having a baddier for beats, not for show, But I mean ship that's just people always formed narratives that that is listen, my favorite rapper, so that my number one. That's just people talking,

just saying what they're gonna say. But at the end of the days wrapped on some hard as still mad and I mean no, but I do think that I do think that there was like an error in NAS's career where he was like definitely like maybe giving Chris Weber a couple of beats on his album that's funny. No, I mean you know that that's where he was at

in life. But at the end of the day, man, like I just knew it was a job of service like that I had to really, you know, I was putting on for a lot of people, and I know a lot of people wanted to hear him sound good. So dog for real, Like I feel like it's almost like you had a duty as like a participating in hip hop culture to be like, yo, now we're gonna

make sure this shit is solid. I was on it every day, man, like we you know what I'm saying, chopping it on the phone every morning, like he giving his thoughts on giving my thoughts, Like I'm updating songs by the day, adding production, taking away shit, just trying to make it sound, you know what I'm saying, as enjoyable as possible and for it to end up being, you know, received on this level. And I woke up to a fucking FaceTime from Timbling the morning the album dropped,

and just the stuff he was saying. I'm like, Yo, damn, this is really like it's touching people on that level. You know what I'm saying. You always hope that it will, but your people on that level to reach out and just be like, Yo, this shit is this shit is

super hard, bro like man like, that's that's the win. Obviously, you and I was working together at what point in time and whose decision was it to be like, Yo, let's let's do this whole ship together, like let's do a whole It was pretty fast, bro like once we because he could have been like I just tried that. Yeah,

yeah for sure with energy. The energy was just right, bro, Like, we was making you hear the album like them joints, A lot of them joints like the Skeletons at least, was being made within the first few sessions Blue Bends, you know what I'm saying. Fucking Cardi five saying before Charlie was even on it. It's just like, you know, we all we was tapping in and we felt like, Yo, this is this shiit feels different and he just kept saying like, Yo, I'm just keep pulling up, and he

kept pulling up. Ship. It's crazy because nas has always people have always wanted to hear him do full projects with producers. Specifically Premo Primo is like the one that everyone's like, Yo, what we need That Naza Premo album. I remember there on the cover of that Scratch magazine back in the day and like you got it, like you got the whole no Like project and it came out incredible. Man, Like thank you bro. Yeah. Now, you and Shawn's relationship obviously, you guys have been working there

like you said you were on the first Detroit. You've been working with good music for so long, and it seems almost like like I said, y'all been working like you said, you've been working on Detroit too since twenty eighteen.

It just feels like he really trusts you, man, and that's you know, It's funny because I've we've we've had conversations and bat, I mean, obviously making an album, you're gonna go through ups and downs, and I'm like, Nigga, you gotta trust me, Nigga, you got every like really going in on that fact. Then you know, he like, Nigga, you got damn there my whole album, Nigga, I trust you know what I'm saying. So it's like, I don't know,

we just developed like we always was cool. Like I said, we did click together back in the day, did a joint on Detroit or the first Detroit, And when we taped back in it was at the same time when I tap back in with Nip, we met. We we all linked up like I've seen him walking together, fucking chopped it with him, told him like, look, I got ship for both of y'all. Sean pulled up. We might have did like six seven, just scratch ideas the first day he pulled up and I'm like, oh, yeah, this

shiit feels right. We gotta keep it going, and we just kep locking in. Yeah, Because I also feel like there's a lot of pressure on Sean man, Like you know, he tried putting out some singles that that you know, I feel like the right approach was to just drop the album and let the people choose, but you know, def Jam's gonna try to throw singles out there, like he put out the Berserk record, which was fire. That

shit went gold, you know what I'm saying. That shit was fire, But I'm saying, like, you know how these

labels are like, oh, it's not working on radio. You know, like he's single again, was fucking fire, that's gotta be that has like fucking that shit is huge, but it you know, I feel like with Sean like kind of a similar space where it's like, yo, you can't name something Detroit too, Yeah, because people fans at least kind of look at that as his best project for sure, you know what I'm saying, And so for him to

name that Detroit is conscious of that for sure. And it also seemed like it might have got to him a little there. We saw you know, artistry is a crazy thing, man, Like it really can fuck with your

head and your emotions. So you know, but I mean you could you can hear in the album like talking about growth, you talking about you know, the mental things that all the shit he's been through, and it's like that's something that we should appreciate, man, because a lot of people not laying that all out there like that. A lot of people are not being transparent in their music like that Deep Reverence. That record was obviously Seawn's verse was recorded after Nipsey passed. Was that Was that

Nipsey verse gonna be for Sean originally? Or was it? How did that workout? We was just cooking, you know what I'm saying, Like the same time we had did Rights in the Middle, he pulled up we did the first verse, and he was like, man, pull something else up, start start going through beats. Pulled up the Deep Reverence beat, loaded it up. He sat there, thought it out, did the verse, and again he was like, shit, let's go

to some other ship. So we just was flipping through ideas and that was one that just was so happened to be sitting there on one day, me and Sean was just having a real life conversation about a lot of the stuff that he talked about in Deep Reverence. And I was like, bro, you gotta put this ship in the song. In the song, So I pulled up the nip joint. I was like, this could be the perfect ship for you to just spas on and he

went in. Was it hard? Because you know, there's the interview clip at the Anery talked about wanted to work with Sean. What's it? How hard was it to get you know, his fan to clear to clear the verse? Was it? I mean they showed love for show Black Sam, like Steve, Steve O, like the whole squad. They just made sure it was they won. It wasn't you know,

too tough. I mean, me and Nip got a Grammy together, So it's like, that'sh It's crazy shit, no to you know what I'm saying that I'm taking care of the music for show. Yeah, Racks in the Middle is uh, all time amazing record. Getting that Grammy, bro, had to be like a bittersweet thing, you know what I'm saying, winning that but not having it there to have it with you. No, Yeah, that shit was. It was dope getting the Grammy. But yeah, I mean a lot of people ask me, like which won me more out of

like Niggas in Paris and Racks in the Middle. It's just like, you know, they both meet a lot, but Racks, that shit just was like unreal, bro, Like just seeing that whole play all the way through and it actually play out is No, it was no industry bullshit to making a record. It wasn't no an r ass shit. Like I put the record together. Nip was fucking with it. He you know, it was his whole thing was like I don't care who not fucking with the ship. I'm

making sure it come out. Like his label was like fighting him, like yo, it's another record by another artist coming out, you need to hold off and whoop the whooping. He was like fuck that. He was like I went and banged on them niggas and Nat didn't put it out. So it's like for us to win a Grammy in then the other record not even be mentioned. It's like, okay,

I guess I do know something. You know. No. It was funny because I remember when Nip put the record out, Like I was talking to him and he was just like I was like, yo, so like it was just like on the album and he's like, nah, just it just feels like we like it just felt like we need to put this out like and just see what it does. Because one of them records definitely man, it was it was. It was all time and man and all god. It just was a line it was supposed

to happen. Yeah, and also a record that really helped. You know, obviously Roddy was was doing his thing, but really kind of helped kick off Roddy's you know commercial looks. When we talk about your run. Benny the Butcher was here Burden of Proof, you and him crazy, uh your your uh just love with Griselda has been lit. You're on Conway's album, the record he just put out with Days Shout. But yeah, you and Benny. I remember I was so excited to see y'all in like last year

I hit you. I was like, bro, I gotta pull up here with y'all cooking like because because Griselle is some of my favorite shit and you're one of my favorite producers. And I think it's like a match that I knew was gonna be fired. But it seemed like, you know, wait, Griselda and hit Boy. I mean I feel like that that was with the Not Shit too. You know, people was like, man, I don't know what

it's about to sound like. So for me to always have this versatile like mentality and just versatile sound and for people to think only did club records that this was a perfect opportunity for me to dial in with artists who have that crowd that's going to be able to show like damn, like it really is that, you know what I'm saying on all levels, like you could do an hour. I feel like any you know, anybody can chase what's hot in the club right now. But

to make those timeless album cuts, them times records what like? Again, I'm sure it was like you and Benny probably popping it up, and then he comes through and then it's like, oh, we should just do a whole project after that, y'all saw him come to La. We had never even chopped it. I just hite him, like, bro, if you if you got time while you out here, just pull up. I got some shit. He came through first record we did. I'm like, this shit a classic, you know what I'm saying.

First song, so I'm like, we gotta keep going. Once again, he kept pulling up. Before you know it, we had an album do Like it's really been simple math, like just having that shit on deck, having some soul. What's having something hard? Like just having different sounds and people

they gravitating tours, you know what I'm saying. Without without it being some water down shit, what do you think it is about the Griselda shit, Benny Conway that the chemistry between you guys is so natural being somebody who's traditionally looked at us, somebody who's out at you know, Cali. You know what I'm saying. And those guys are so

extremely underground East Coast boom back shit. I mean, I just fucked with music period, bro, you know what I'm saying then, Like whether it's something on the radio, whether it's something I'm hearing out on the random, Like I just fuck with anything that feel like something and feel you know, feel like they're doing it with intention, Like you know what I'm saying. Every bar the boys is

serious about this ship. You know what I'm saying. And you could tell and people who take the craft serious when you when they link up, you know you're gonna get some beautiful nine times out of ten. So I'm taking my ship serious the whole. Grizelda day on their wave, so you know we locked in. I know you just put out you put out two of your projects. You put out Something with with Dom in August also known as and then you put out the Chauncy House Projects

project before that. You are you? Obviously I just told you I'm like, yo, man, these projects are fucking fired. You're looking are you? By the way, that record you got with thirst y'all going back and forth, it was crazy mood, chain shot. That's just crazy man and chance Port. Are you thinking about doing a hit boy album that is essentially maybe you participating in rapping somewhat but kind of like a almost like some compilation ship where chronic ship,

I mean chronic ship. Yeah, I'm just I'm just working, bro. I don't really be That's the thing. Even with these projects I'm putting together like they so organic, and it's just like once I get in the room and and it's moving, like we start to form it naturally. So I can't call what's next. But I just know like I'm cooking up records every day, I'm making beats, I'm recording, I'm doing all the above. So it's gonna line up eventually.

Who is there? How about this? What's the other rapper that you have the most records in the cut with right now? Man? I got a gang of ship with Sean, I got a gang of ship with my nigga, te Grizzly's Serious Man B his last his last album. You had some ship on that. That's his best that's his best body of work. You have five joints on there. You know what I'm saying. We got an album worth the shit though, probably like two albums worth the music.

So you know, I just be taking it one day at a time and trying to run it up with niggas as much as I can. But t Sean Benny, you know, like I said, I'm just locked in. Obviously, me and Don got a hunting records. You and Dom, Yeah, that's that's family. That was what I'm saying. Talk about you and Don's relationship. I feel like Dom has been I feel like he's almost made the decision to like I don't know, man, I feel like Dom just be staying out the way. That's Dom though, you know what

I'm saying. He one of the most cali niggas on earth, you know what I'm saying. So he just he'd be vibing just like on his own wave like and he don't care about no extras, Like he don't care about no industry shit. I don't care about none of that. So you know when we linked, I mean we did

music way back, like from the West Side. Would love the first one and all that, so for us to link, like we linked like twenty sixteen before we put out the first half a mill and we just like was on a similar wave like as far as how we thought, you know what I'm saying, like, and that bled into

the music. That's why people hear our shitn't be like damn y'all meshed well, I wouldn't think, but like we think similar to like as far as like just being laid back, not really giving the fuck about the extra and so you know, once we start locking in this half a meal shit, that put me in perspective like, okay, like this is how you make a project that you know feel like uh, just like a moment, like something

that people could fuck with. And that's something that always admired about his own shit, Like when he put out an album, it feel like from the art work to the merch he doing, like the music, it just feel real, Dom Kennedy, you know what I'm saying, So from me to lock in with all these other artists now, like I'm just taking a lot of the stuff from you know, doing the half meal albums and applying it to what

I'm doing. Now, give me what's like your top two or three studios sessions ever, just just obviously, you know, I'm sure Racks in the Middle has gotta be up there, but like in general, like you've had some insane situation. I mean, you just said I told my manager if it ain't Jay, Kanye or ye, Like, I mean, obviously making Racks in Middle, that whole process was just fired from the time we started it till we got it mixed and put it out like that. Shit was just

a moment. But going back, like when I first met Hole, that shit was crazy. What what session was that for? That was a wash the Throne session. And I had been you know, we was working out of the hotel in New York, the Mercery Hotel. Yeah, so I had been up there a few days and I'm like, damn, it's whole gonna come through. I'm just fucking with Kanye every day. We making beasts together, he recording all my ship. We just cooking. We was working on John Legend stuff.

We were just literally just cooking. A few days into me being there, mind you, was like a snowstorm and shit cold as hill. So I walked out to like walk down the block, mind you on freezing to get down there. As soon as I get there, I get an email from Yah like Yo, you gotta come back to the studio. So like fucking walk back to the to the spot and I walk in and Hope is just you know what I'm saying, sitting right there, and he was just cool as hell, like you know what

I'm saying. I thought. I thought like I had heard like you know what I'm saying, Like, bro, it was like, oh, some like mean type shit, you know what I'm saying. So for him to be so cool, that shit was just flying man, like damn, like you know. And then we made Niggas in Paris. It's just like you can't even fucking write that. That's crazy. Hey, how many records? Uh? Never that we never heard because there was this rumored sequel to the Good Music album that was supposed to

come out. I heard one song called trash Bags that Lifted played me. Uh that was like almost like a Mercy part too. But I'm sure there was so much. I feel like I do remember that trash Bags. Yeah, they had the whole lineup, they put everybody on it. I remember Pushing Push a T had a line it was like body bags. I need my Money and Body bab was crazy. But nonetheless, how many records did did you guys, Like did you have that were supposed to

come out that ended up not ever? No, that's the thing, bro, Even with the whole Watch the Thrown Ship, we had made other records in person, like you know what I'm saying, Like Niggas in Paris was a beat I just emailed. The records we was making while we was in the studio was totally different. They didn't even see the light

of to day. They never I thought them songs was going on wash the throne like Niggas, was hype on them then making and this beat I just randomly email ended up being like Damnar the biggest song on the album. So oh no, no, no, not damn nearly the biggest song of world. Yo. Do you remember like the first time you saw the reaction in the club did that song? Hell? Yeah, for sure, because the reaction in the club to that record was like really on that. I was just hype.

I would be hyped to make a song and then go to fucking Hog or wherever it was cracking at the time and just watching that b That was one of the few records we had them Graystone Nights. You could bring that record back like eight times, back to back to back, like now, those happened like once every like ten years. Bro, like that record. I remember you could play that bitch seven times in a row in the club and at the concert. Oh they did do

it at the concert actually that like thirteen times. I know. I saw him in Vegas and they I think they did. Yeah, I think you were there in Vegas too. Were were you the uh not for the Throne show? I was there for You're in La though, I was in La Yeah, Paris, New York. Yeah. That shit's crazy, man. I want to get back to Detroit too. I feel like this album is uh is in the running for Album of the

Year or it's uh cohesively just incredible. You just mentioned that you and Sean have a lot of other ship. What like, how hard was it picking the records and forming the cohesiveness of what the project ended up being. I mean that's the thing about being an executive producer and then making records yourself. It's like, you know, you don't want to feel like you just bigging your shit up, you know what I'm saying all the time, Like, so it's like I just try to try to just teeter

on the line. I'm gonna let you know, like, Nigga, this shit hard. The motherfucker. Like the respective record like that was earlier in the process. That was a record that wasn't even really thought about being on the album, you know what I'm saying, and then we just started locking in on it more so it's like it's certain. It's just certain moments where you gotta know how to you know, put put the bed in for your ship. But also you know, like, Okay, this record by this

person also makes sense. So I'll just try to help as much as I can. But Sean knew what he wanted, he knew what he wanted it to sound like, so he really placed everything where he needed to be. I just was kind of like, you know, his extra ear Hey, it came out, it came out amazing. It was it dope. I feel like you kind of have a bucket list

of guys who wrapped over your beats. You just did a whole fucking album with nas M and M's on the Friday night Sidher and we did drop the world I didn't even know, Yeah, yeah, dropped the shot out a little Wayne ship that which album that was the rock album? Right? Rebirth? Rebirth? That was the best song on that album. But yeah, it's crazy because like the bucket list the artists that you've been working with is like, like who's left? You know what I'm saying, Like as

far as the all time greats? Whoever? Trying to lock in? Bro? You know what I'm saying, Like, I ain't really you know, I can't call it man, I'll just be letting this ship flow and just let it happen. Yeah, I mean, you know, I wish our cast was making music again because that would be no. You know what I do think about that often. I'm like, Yo, if I got you and Andre, if I got Andre to my studio, Like, well,

what could what are the possibilities that could happen? Honest him saying no clue, But if he came, bro, it'll be over with Yeah, that would be that'd be special. You just tweeted something the other day, was it yesterday about all the records that you and Travis have together? Yeah, and like which was which? Which was everyone's favorite? You and Travis? Uh, I'm assuming there's gonna be more music

in the future, did you guys? Originally link up in the good music days, like back back then, because I know he was around in that era. We linked before he even got with or met Kanye, Like he was fucking with kill Hoffer. Killoffer was mixing my first song that ever dropped, which was jay z Interview, my first rap joint, official rap joint. He came to my session

and I was just like we just chopped it. It wasn't too much, but like when we finally linked, I just was like, man, this kid is fucking he got it. Like I just saw the visuals, I saw the sound he was using, Like just the way he was approaching it. I was like he a real artist, Like he's gonna be straight and this ship for sure, and you know, for him to take it to this level man, and it's like you know we I mean, bro, you see that lineup. You know what I'm saying. Come on, bro,

he has classics? Bro, classics? Which part of Sycamore did you do? I did the first part before like before it cuts into Travis's part. Okay, I was did you ever when you when you I'm assuming you never heard Hi's version of Sycamore until everyone else heard it. Yeah, I don't think I still even heard it? Oh yeah, did the Travis part man hire as a fucking go by the way, shout out for sure? Man, you know that's more good music. You and Travis got any others?

Any I know he's working any are you? Are you? You know? Hey man, I'm just working. Bro't. I can't put nothing out there, but you know, fun with Bro. I saw how big of a deal it was for you to have Doctor Dre shout out I on, I shouted out the ie Doctor Dre. He shouted you out that record? You know, like that shit just took me back, Bro.

Like I'm listening, like to listening to fucking the Chronic when I'm twelve years old, like still living in Pasadena, my family in the crib literally with this ship on repeat all day. You know what I'm saying, And for him to you know what I'm saying, lock in on my ship and shout me out and throw some bars on it, you know what I'm saying. On the Firm Reunion by the way, come on dog that recorducer from Cali young producer looking up to Dre hoppull shit. You

know that's just like movie shit? How because did nas know he wanted to do a firm reunion record, Like, did he come to you and say, hey, dude, I want to get everybody back together, or did the beat kind of speak to him in that way? Now he had he we had the joint, he had did his part, and I just was like, man, we should get A's on this ship and as I told him once and he was like, okay for show, and then we played the song again. I was like, Yo, let's get asy

on this ship and he was like, you're serious. I'm like, for Shure, send it to him, dude, body that ship. And he was like, Yo, I'm about to just throw the rest of the homies on there. And then after that he he just I guess he linked with Dre just like on some regular ship for them to chop it, and he ended up playing the joint and Dre hopped

on that motherfucker right there. Yeah. Even to hear Cormega on the song with Nas again, it's so crazy because they had like that big falling out and Cormega is so fire. Yeah, for sure, they all bodied man Foxy Foxy. Of course, was there ever any attempt to try to get Nature on the record, Not that I know of okay, because I mean Nature's the only guy from the firm that was missing or shout out to Nature. And then Dre was probably the last piece I'm assuming No, yeah

he was. He was the last piece. Added that's just crazy, like na' hit you like, Yo, Dre? What movie? Fire? That shit? Crazy? Bro King's Disease Detroit two Kings Chauncey Hollis Project is aka Don Kennedy also known as Fire courtesy mil squad Man Detroit two King's Disease. Right now, are you still technically Rock Nation? They helped me on the management side. Okay, yeah, so on the management side. But like when you're dropping, Like now, when I drop

my solo, shit, I just drop it independent. It's just like you know, going through the whole label ship, Like I'm not trying to get involved in too much of that. I'm trying to really be able to control as much of my ship as I can. So whenever I feel like dropping, I could just drop. That's what I've been on. How important has it been you talked about being a childist where your studio is. How important has that location been to everything that's going on right now? Because you said,

like people just pop in and it's been beautiful. Man, shout out to the whole you know, staff, everybody, they show love being there. I've been there two years now, bro, and just like the amount of placements and not even just placements, like helping people, you know, put the album together, and just all the energy Nip coming through doing racks and doing deep reverence and leaving that energy in there

like that shit is just it's been love. And then people also, you know, rent the other rooms out there, so you know, I run into people, I lock in with people. That's just so happened to be there that day. I saw you say that you would you said, would you believe it if I told you I sold a million dollars worth of beats this year, a million dollars with the beats in twenty twenty? Come on, man, and this is I think you might have said this prior

to King's disease and being out. I think I did, yeah, because I feel like people aren't aren't like really hip to how much work like you got out there, right, That's not that's not what's going on. I mean since I said that, damn there, maybe twenty songs didn't drop that I'll produced so how like, okay, so how many

when you say you made a million dollars with the beats? Like, because because we think of the old school days right where you would hear like, we had Scott Storching here and he said that the most he ever got for a beat was like a quarter million dollars. Yeah, he was like, but that was like the peak for sure. I mean the most I ever got for one bat was like seventy five K seven. I ain't on two fifty shit, But what do you remember what beat it was? Yeah? It was It wasn't even like it was like for

a fucking commercial. No. Storch said the same thing. He said that the beat was a commercial. He was like, it was some commercial and they paid me two fifty and paid Tibulin two fifty. We produced the song for commercial. I said, what, yeah, so it's for what what? What? Damn a Gatorade commercial? That shit is crazy. Have you ever sold somebody your beat and regretted it later? Oh?

I used to when I you know, because earlier like that's why my value is so crazy now, because I was trying to tap into to making like hard beats them there every time I sit down and you know now that I'm I'm just in that zone. Like back in the day, it was just harder for me to get shipped off. So Damn asked me the question, you're cutting this up right? Okay? For no, but I was. I was saying, have you ever sold somebody or no?

That's what I'm saying, Like, that's what made me say that, Like when I when I just you know, when I held onto every beating that it meant everything to me back in the day because I didn't make as many dope ones. Yeahs. So but now it's like, man, okay, I'll make another one, like you know, that's just how I feel about it. Yeah, because uh, I know. I asked Scott, I was like, did you regret giving Haul Coogan's daughter a beat? That's hilarious? That shit is hilarious.

One of the songs that I remember when you first played me Granted my whole life was at your house. It was probably six months before it came out, and I remember thinking to myself, this is the only song I've ever heard that gave me the same chills and vibes of of grinding from the clips, like it just was so hard and like the whole fucking crew was on it, My pops was on it, for your dad was on it. That song though the G Unit version blew up. You don't see this's the thing, right, and

I'll be thinking about this. I'm like, so instead of just like taking a nigga style like fifty shit has just been like hit boy, fucking make an album for us or come work with us. But it's like, I think, I feel like people think too small, you know what I'm saying, Like niggas like, oh, I see they having a wave. They got a heart beat, they got a hard melody, idea, vocal idea. Let me just take that and try to wave up on niggas versus being a real one and being like I'm gonna hit this nigga

and go make some hard show. This was gonna ask you like, did you have any sort of cause that song was so I know that was a very important song for your label and for your crew, for my life, for your life. All of that video was crazy, like did you have any sort of animosity Towards the G UNIT version? I felt like people heard that beat and thought it was a G UNIT song that weren't outside of I mean being fans of what you were doing.

Like obviously you know what I'm saying, Like at the end of the day, bro, you know, like I said, man, I feel like they was thinking small by doing that, you know what I'm saying, because it didn't really even lead to nothing. Like he just said the other day, you want to forget about gun it, you know what I'm saying, And like I put my life on the line to make that record. Put my whole family, you know what I'm saying, Not my whole family, but all

my homies, and put my pops on it. Like that was that was that was that was real for us, you know what I'm saying. Like it wasn't just like, oh it's a heart beat, We're just gonna rap on this ship. You know what I'm saying. I feel like that's what niggas be thinking. So it is what it is. You know, for people who don't know you, you said,

your dad's locked up again? How's he doing everything? I mean because you know, I always thought that was such a beautiful thing that you had him on the whole album. We communicate, We lock in, you know what I'm saying. We talked every other day, and you know It's just an unfortunate situation. But know once he back on the streets, were right back on this ship and then with the with the other everybody else who was a part of

the crew. Kate Roosevelt, by the way, Kate Roosevelt is so fire my niggas fire firefire, h audio push, it's time and dog is timing. Man. I'm just saying, like, how's how's how is that? I mean, I I you know, I talked to Price and and Octane a lot, But how is everybody is everybody still you know, Kosher everything still. Everybody's still putting their music out. Kros He's putting merch out, putting music out. He's doing this thing audio push. They

locked in. Yeah, all the homies can't money. You know. That's my dog. So he was on your project. Yeah, on Chauncey all this project. So you know for sure, any chance, let me ask you this. When you see like, as a producer, there's very like you'll see people come and go a lot, right, I feel like more even

maybe even more so than rappers. I don't know, There's been a lot of rappers have coming gone in the last five years, but producers, I feel like it's like a year to two years, right, and then usually they're sad because they have such a sound that they're out of here, right, it's like that, you know, they got a cool eighteen month run and then it's like, well, what happened to those guys? Well, now there's the new producer.

You know what I'm saying, Like, for sure, is that something that you're self conscious of and aware of because you've never had a sound per se that was like, like you said, people would say to you like, ah, hit boy. You know, I don't know if I want to hear him with knas because he's just making club shit. But like that's not the case if people really have been paying attention to what you do. But like, are are you an observer of the landscape of other producers

and kind of like where people fuck up? You know? I always is, you know, and I peaped the game. I'm a real student of this ship. I'll be watching as much of it as I can. And I never looked at it like it would give me longevity if I stay versatile. I just looked at it as from a creative pros you know, perspective, like I just want to be you know, different every time, Like I don't want to have a sound, but I never looked at it like the sound burns out anyway, you know what

I'm saying. So I had moments of like I would envy certain like you know, producers when it's like, damn, they should connected so hard. But then I might have had bigger records than them. But it's like it didn't connect as much because it was no tag. You didn't hear shit, You didn't hear certain people shouting me out in interviews and bigging me up like that. So it just was a more of a just real grind with

my ship. It wasn't like an autopilot type thing, you know what I'm saying, Like I feel like certain like you know, like a mustard like that shit is like fucking autopilot, like you know what you finna get, you know what I'm saying. As far as like when he was on his initial run, when he was on his West coast, you must have had to evolve, you know,

she had to and most people don't for sure. Yeah, when Muster first came out, it was like like you said, it was the one hundred beats per minuted, it was you know, you knew his sound, and I got to give it up to Muster because he he definitely modernized it because he could have burnt out so he could have Man and he switched up and like ship the fact he's got Lama and you know ten Summers is doing it man. For sure, the tech producer tag thing.

I always wondered this right because I'm like, yo, I almost feel like because you initially didn't have a tag. Crazy thing is on my first place being on the j Lo album. I had a tag. I whispered hit boy in the beginning, and then I stopped using that ship. So yeah, but your bigger records. Initially, for sure, there was no tag on my first beat I sold in oh seven, Yes, but then after that no tags until fucking damn there twenty eighteen. Hey, so your first beat

you ever saw was a Jalo record? Yeah? Did you meet Jalo? I still never Metter to this day and this was seven damn that's my first beat Outso that shit is crazy. So if you see this, hogh at me, man, say what up? Now? That I was gonna ask you because there's other producers that don't have tags, like Louis Bell, who does a lot of the post malone stuff, Like what is like, do you feel like you kind of have to have a tag nowadays? Because no, you don't

gotta have no tag. But it's just good for branding, you know what I'm saying. I was trying to get my brand up because I felt I felt like my brand fell so far behind because of shit like that and not connecting it all the way. So I'm like, let me just find an easy way to just connect my shit now. And it's working out. It is working out? Or is it hip boy? Underbeat you Gotta Go Dessert? That's one of them? Is it the hit boy? Both

of them? Yo? I'm looking all right, So I'm looking at the track listing with all the producers right cooling, Dre's on here, which is crazy. No, Id Mustard's got something on here. These records that that are you're co producing with, right, Let's say like a record like, by the way, the Wolve song is crazy. I don't think you produced that shit, shut Out day Trip. That shit is crazy. But like what is the being an executive producer?

I don't think people understand what that means anymore. Yeah, you know what I say, Like I said earlier, in the conversation, man, just having them, you know, difficult conversations and trying to, you know, just give my opinion on as much as I can without being biased or without being emotional about it, without being selfish about you know, how many songs I got on it. I'm just like, I just want to give my opinion to where this

could be the best possible, you know project. Because Sean he was he was zoned in, he was focused, you know what he wanted. So I just was like, they're trying to be a second ear and add as much, you know, as information as I could for sure. What do you see the rest of the year looking like? After after Benning the Butcher? Shit? Man, ain't no telling, bro, you know telling, I got more sessions is lined up, you know, some R and B stuff, some pop stuff.

Who do you want to work with? Bro? Whoever want to work with me? Shit? And who are really serious about making music? But I'm saying, like, who do you want to work with? Like? Who are you a fan of that you haven't worked with yet? Man, I can't call it, I mean shit, bro, Like fucking I want to do an album for Kendrick Lamar. You know what I'm saying, I want to do an album for fucking jay Z. I want to do an album for plenty

of people. But it's like, you know, I already work with these people too, But if I can get an album with Kendrick, I get an album with jay Z, like you know, that'd be lovely or even evendo. I know Kendrick, when you're shooting music video, I've seen that. I know about. You know, he about to melt the whole games. He about to go on one of them them twelve month runs and then just disappear for three more.

What about some pop shit like I think, like I feel like you in post would make some fire ship like for sure, Like I said, man, whoever opened and work really serious about music? Man, it's lit hit boy like keV you already know, go get a everything. This guy's working on really Detroit to aka Chauncey Hollis Project. Chauncey Hollis Project is fucking fire. I appreciate the fact that you are still on your wrapping ship man, Yeah, because you can wrap your ass off, and I feel

like you're improving. Man, I am bro. Every beat I do get better, every wrap I do get better. That's my whole You're the only I always tell this to everybody, because you mean, you could go into any studio session with a producer, no matter who the fuck it is, and p be playing beats and there's gonna be a few that you're just like I feeling, bro I've never been in the session with you, dog. You ain't never played no whack shit. Ever, it's all like this, Look like,

appreciate it. This ship is crazy. Boom. Well, look shout out to my guy hit Boy. Go support everything he's got going on. They you got any sort of merch or anything. I ain't got no merch, but I'm locking in on it though. I have something, So you gotta get the hit Boy merch. Sure, y'all because y'all have the HS eight seven ship going up. Yeah, I was still mad. I ain't never got none of that, But that's all good. We're gonna get it back going boom.

There you go, man, hit Boy. Blue let Cabin slip one hundred perfect