#2 - Scott Storch

Our first official podcast was a great success. Listen, man, I just want to shout out everybody who listened last week who tapped in. Shout out to Freddi Gibbs for having a very very drunk, I mean listen, belligerent conversation with me that people seem to enjoy. So I just want to shout out to everybody ended up charge on iTunes the Apple podcast, which is a big deal. I didn't have any expectations for the first episode, so I just want to give a big shout out to everybody

who showed love. Man, a lot of love, man, I feel it. I appreciate it every week and to give you guys something dope. And this week I'm actually gonna be doing another podcast that's not gonna be an interview. Like I said last week, I don't want this podcast to be a contingent and hinge on having interviews every episode because that's not ideal with what I envision this

podcast to be. Obviously, there's gonna be a lot of dope interviews, and I'm gonna try to do an interview every single week, but there's gonna be a lot of episodes that are gonna be on off days. We're gonna try to do an interview every Monday and then every Wednesday. Every Friday, I'm gonna chop it up with the homies, my boy dub Pecks and just talk shit, you know, talk about topical things, talk about what's going on in hip hop, talk about what's going on in the world,

all kinds of cool stuff. So I'm excited that episode, where we haven't recorded it yet, it is probably gonna get recorded tomorrow or Tuesday and drop on Wednesday. So there'll be two podcast episodes coming out this week and much love man salute to everybody out there. Definitely appreciate it. Also shout out to our sponsor currently our only sponsor. But guess what, we just locked down another sponsor and

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our sole sponsor currently. So much love to them. We're gonna get into the Scott storre To interview though, oh I didn't touch on me having the COVID nineteen, so I definitely still have COVID nineteen. I just got my smelling back, but I definitely have felt a little under the other the last week or so, and hopefully I'll be better by next week and I can go outside and deal with humanity again. But as of right now, I'm pretty sure I still have COVID nineteen. I'm fine.

I'll be okay, you know, just hanging out at the house, that's about it, and just instacarting my groceries and anything I need. So if you are one of those weirdos who thinks it's i don't know, inconvenient to wear a mask or thinks this shit is fake, fam, I got it all right, It's real. I couldn't smell none for

a motherfucking week. My g I digress Scott Storch, one of the greatest producers of all time, somebody who has always intrigued me, someone who I've always been a fan of, Somebody who I've always wanted to have a sit down conversation with. My good friend Steve Lobel manages him. He's had a hell of a roller coaster ride of a career of a life personally, he's had some public lows that we've all seen, and over the last four or five years he's really bounced back and has been just

kill and shit. And I mean there was some stuff that. Out of respect for his wife, I'm sure he didn't dive into too many details about on this podcast. But man, let me tell you something. Scott Storch has had one of the craziest lives and whenever his movie comes out, it's gonna be fucking epic. So this interview was done about a month ago. Yeah, we recorded this about a

month ago, right after his single dropped. He put a song out with Tiger in Ozuna and this we recorded it the night that it came out, actually, or the night before. So shout out to Scott Storch, legendary guy, and was super excited to sit down with him. I hope you enjoy the interview. Man, let's get into bulet keV here with the legendary Scott Storch. Man, who needs

no introduction. Your new single just came out, sir, I don't want to fuck up the pronunciation fuego, which pretty much just means like hot fire, right, yeah, that hot fire. Why I'm curious because I think ever since you announced you were gonna be doing like a project, super excited to hear what you. I know you're sitting on some huge records. Yeah. Man, you know we're not that far along the product in the project. Uh, but we were. We I got like four or five solid songs that

I really want to use for the project. But we're just getting going on it. But you know, we wanted to, you know, put out a single and and do something like the first time that was like super global and and you know, had had potential to hit many markets, and just do something that doesn't ask you like why like like Scott Storch, don't we don't. We don't necessarily associate you with the Spanish ship. Come on, man, you know about that the Yankee in fact, though, oh shit,

that's real. But I just mean, like, I just mean, like overall, like you know what I'm saying, like, oh yeah, you know what I mean. I just for me, pioneering and just trying new stuff, and even new stuff for me is fun, you know what I mean. It makes it like I don't like getting burnt out on doing like what you'd expect from me. So it still has that melody and production value and that you know I'm known for, and it's doing something that I feel like,

I don't know. Hey, listen, man, you're one of the most prolific producers of all times. I think you can do whatever the fuck you want right now. You know what I'm saying. I want to go back bro because like we were just having this discussion about The Roots, and I'm like a first time I ever saw the Roots, I was probably thirteen and this was like two thousand and two or some shit, Okay, and this was after you would probably stopped working with him, like on a

more regular basis. I went to the production up. But remember like buying the bootleg of Organics, which was like the first Roots album, but it wasn't like their first major album. Yeah, that was Do You Want More? Do You Want More was their official debut. We did Organics. We recorded the whole album one day. Wow. Yeah, I'm saying we recorded the whole album in one day? Was that out of necessity because back then studios arm was expensive and well yeah, but then at the same time, yeah,

we wanted to, you know, make it economical. We had a limited budget, but we were a live band. We were used to playing these songs live, and we were able to all set up at the same time record to a click or a cow bell or whatever. We were recording right, and the band would start the song and we would cut them off from beginning to end.

I'm curious like back then, like being around that early nineties Philly hip hop energy, like especially the Roots, Like, did you do you feel because at the time there was no precedent for that much live instrumentation in hip hop or let alone a band in hip hop? What was did it feel like as special as like now? We obviously the Roots are you know, one of the greatest rack groups of all time, But back then as a kid, did you realize like what you were a

part of? Yeah? No, I mean I knew we were on some special you know, like there was a couple of things that sort of resembled what we were doing at that time, but it wasn't what we were doing, like I mean, like the Diggable Planet. Yeah, of course, different things like but they were they were wrapping over samples. There was another group in Philly called the Goats at the time, but that was like a college band, but it was like hip hop, like you know, right, the

Roots were special. You know, I knew it was gonna have a long lifespan, but I just as much as I loved being a part of it, I wanted so much more to be a record producer and stay in the studio. I'm the kind of person that likes to like wake up in my house every day and I'm not a big fan of going on the road and just chose a different life. Yeah. So obviously you win your first Grammy with the Roots, which was I mean, I love by the way, shout out to everybody watched

you versus Battle. That ship was legendary. It was it was,

it was, It got ugly. It's all the same. But like, at what point in time after you pivoted away from working with them full time, Like what was that that first big look for Scott Storch at Scott Storch to brand like as as as a solo guy who decided to break away from this Roots crew, Like what was that first thing that happened where you're like, oh shit, like I think this can actually work, Like I like me as a record producer can actually be a thing.

I went with us this dude, uh, the guy that actually got the record deal for the Roots, Derek Jackson. You know, he brought it to Wendy Goldstein, et cetera, et cetera. But you know, after I left, I ended up getting in contact with this guy and he took me to New York from Philly and we did a run all the way around the city and went from label to label. This that the other couple of you know, I was hoping to just cut a record while I

was in New York, like that's all I wanted. And one guy came through for me, my first client, who was it Buster Rhymes Buster, and we made a song called blood Out and it went on the ED Strikes was Anarchy, Yeah, Anarchy album, And then I set up a gig to come back the following week and work with Capona Noriega and Capone. The day that I was going to the studio to meet, he literally was getting brought from prison to the studio, so this was like

his first studio stop after getting out. Did you end up on did you end up having production on War Report or any or what did you did you forget. Yeah, I think that's crazy, man, So Copone and Noriega. It's crazy because Nori also had a lot to do with Pharrell starting with Super Thugs. That's kind of interesting to know. But but obviously you're the You're known as the piano man.

You know what I'm saying, Like you once like you because I feel like there's a Skott Storge sound and a lot of people say that you know, you like like but when it comes to the keys and and and the way you played them bro like in the early two thousands, I just feel like you had a signature sound. I mean, I think you still do. But but yeah, but you know what, like a lot of that sound, it's it's a part of the evolution of

what hip hop became. Yeah, and you know we have to leave it there and go for new stuff and innovate because you know, people, you don't want people to be like, oh, that's what he was doing back then,

Like we want some new ship. Like You've done a great job of pivoting recently because I feel like you kind of had to like kind of prove to everybody like you're back over the last four I had to get back because you know, I left music to go off and do the debauchery and shit that I did when I wasn't making music and doing drugs and all right, and come back flash forward a decade later and now you're trying to like, you know, you have to reevaluate

where is music now? And like, you know, we learn it. I mean not the musicianship part, but the production, the sonics and you know, the way, you know, the simplicity of things. You know, like I had to relearn it. Yeah, No, I feel like you you you kind of did something that's so hard to do because if you think it's super hard, if you do, if you think of a lot of the producers that were popping back then, like a lot of those guys aren't around anymore. There's a few,

there's like Timbaland, there's Dre, there's yourself. But like the fact that you're able to tap in with Trippy Red and tap in with well we we used to have a specific way of looking at music as a whole, as a you know, producer, musician. And once you think you know the right way to make done, because there is no right will there's the right way to make music. It's always evolving. And changing, so you have to like constantly reinvent yourself. And it's also your stuck. Subjective music

is subjective. The people that can just keep going and and evolving it that's you know, That's the thing. It's rare in I always wanted to ask you this. I remember you did clap Back for jar Roll right, which was a fire ass record, but at that time, nobody was smukling with gen Roll. It was kind of that weird part of his career where fifty they had the beef and people kind of chose when you ended up

working with fifty on the Massacre? Did was that like a conversation, like like you did lean back obviously, Yeah, I was like that kind of guy, and I know you made that clear to everybody. I am not on some wrap beef ship, but at the time he was, and I'm trying to eat like I was a starving art you know that you could have mad records out still hadn't made no money, so motherfuckers was working and like,

you know, I leave those beefs to other people. But like a lot of times I would find myself doing records, you know, for people, and like I would get like that clapback is an example, Like it wasn't supposed to go to him like that. That beat was so fire. That beat I made in my house the day before I was going to New York. I was going to New or to work with with Janet Jackson at y Clutch Studio. I remember just clear as well, and that day before P. D. Crack and Beanie Siegel stay to

my house in Florida. I made that beat and I guess, you know, just it never happened, like they just were sleep in the studio. It wasn't, you know whatever. So so that was meant for. I left the next day to New York and I got the call from Rule like Yo, I need something. I was like, all right, give him this beat and it was like a two track and it never got That song never got mixed. Wow. Yeah, Like the music of it was just given like a two track on like a DAT tape like from the crib.

So maybe they equt it or whatever. But that's crazy weird how like records end up that. It's funny because I think that's when it like obviously it wasn't like the biggest hit in the world that that beat was so hard, man, it could. I used to cringe in the club. I would hear it because it was like, oh my god, it sounds so thin compared to all because you knew it wasn't mastered. Yeah, it wasn't mixed, but mastered. I'm like, dude, making me look bad, yo.

So another you know when we watched the Battle, shouts to everybody who watched the Versus Battle with you and Manny Fresh. The Doctor Dre records I think are kind of like had to be like one of like the turning crowning moments of your career. Like talk about like obviously being a part of Chronic two thousand and one, which was very very interesting time and hip hop because I remember that album being teased for so long, and I remember death Row cock blocking and putting out an

album called Chronicle. Had to make a Chronic two thousand and one right because it came out, and like I remember, I was like, dude, like that didn't make sense. But I remember that weird ass death Row album. It had like a cigar on the you had the cigar on the cover, and then the guy who sounded just like Snoop Dogg. There was a guy on that album that

was like a snoop impersonator. I swear to god, Sugar was petty, but nonetheless, like that album was, It's one of the top ten greatest hip hop albums of all time. Can you talk about, like, how did that initial connection happen with Dre? I think you've spoken a lot about like the process of making those records, but like you getting into the fold with Dre becoming a part of that team that worked on that project. Okay, So there was obviously the moment where I left the Roots and

I was trying to make a career for myself. What year did you officially like break away in ninety five? Okay, Yeah, I left the group. I actually ended up in ninety seven getting a visit from them when I was in the middle of working on the song. But this whole other story, and I gave them more records. But at this point, I'm trying to make a life for myself

as a producer, and you know, I was struggling. So The Roots had a like an open mic women in music series that they used to do every Sunday at the Wetlands, Okay in New York, and every Sunday for a year, I would do this. I was part of the house band. It was me Questlove, you know, a couple other cats and then like crazy, I mean all everybody was there. Common was always there. You know, Eric Abadou was there. It was a movie. It went on every Sunday. So finally, after a year of doing that,

they did one in California at the Martini Lounge. Okay, so I see this girl when I go out to the Martini Lounge my first time ever in California, never been to Cali, and this girl from Philly comes up to me that I knew it was a rapper that I'd worked with whatever, and it was Eve. Eve was like, yo, I got I got a I got a record deal with Doctor Trey. This is prior to her going to rough references before we do like really knew Eve. She was like way before. She wasn't like upstreams downstreams. She

was side streamed. I guess you know, Drey was so busy with him, and you know, yeah, Dre had that weird era where he put out that Aftermath album with the bomb on the cover and it was like more like a compilation album. Yeah, this was ever after that. Yeah, okay, okay, so you know we've been there, done that, yep, that record. Yeah. So so I'm like out there, like I'm literally at this moment in my life, probably two months behind in

my rent and like struggling whatever. And she's like, come meet Doctor Trey, probably like ninety eight, ninety nine, getting ninety nine or yeah, maybe it was ninety eight. I think it was ninety eight. At any rate, she says, come meet Doctor Trey and you know, playing some music. I was like, I don't have any music with me, so we'll come play the piano for him because I didn't have any dat tapes my CDs, and I played.

I sat in the lobby and waited for a few hours, and you know, he's like, all right here, you hot on them keys. So I played some shit. He was like that. He was like, don't go anywhere. Got a hotel room key and fucking stack of money like everything. It's like, fuck with us. We were making this album and he's just like the vibe of like this different like style. I guess that he was used to hearing in you know, California musicians that he would bring in

different keyboard players. Yeah, and it was something completely different East Coast, but still like universal about it and he was fucking with it, so he put me on the team. Bro was honor. I learned everything there. That's where I learned to really understand music production. And how long was that era of your career where you were in there learning? Like right, yeah, like how long did that last? Like four or five years of like and so you're just

soaking up like everything, like because he's so meticulous. I hear him crazy about incredit Sonic, Like you said you hated here did jar rollsong in the club because you could tell the difference of the that Like that's probably probably got that for being around Jerry's a little sure. It's insane to think, like I feel like it's like still Dre, like low key, like the fact that you're a kid from Philly and kind of shaped like West Coast Sonics for like the next like eight or nine years.

Because if you go and like listen to like games documentary, like I just feel like those keys are there at their West Coast now, Like it's like you know what I'm saying, Like there's records that you hear that are like we kind of you know, I can't take credit

for like Dre's production is I'm obviously. Yeah. Yeah, like I brought to the table, I slowly, like the Chronic two thousand, I brought a certain it was more I mean, it was production, but it was like even more might want to call it writing, like we were writing these things and this and that, and you know, he was you know, he definitely had a vision for what he was doing. But I brought to a new sound that was different, like than the you know, G funk exactly

thing going on. It was more orchestral. It was like pianos and you know, something totally new. Did you Because at the time Dre had so many artists that I mean, damn, I would have loved to have heard with a rock him album, But it sounded like under Aftermath. We were around for some of that. Did you? I was gonna ask you, did you work on the unreleased rock album? Yeah? How was that? How did I even rock him? Come meet me in Miami one time? Work with me? Now?

Is this like remember he doesn't fly, you had to drive out the Actually is this like peak like Storach like Miami time? Yeah? But yeah, no, but I mean we I worked with him with Dre like right in LA and then I worked with him later in uh in Miami. Randomly, there has to be like legend talk about like the rock king music that you heard while he was under aftermath because we never got to hear any of it. I mean some of the ship was pretty dope. I ca't front it was. It was pure

unadulterated him. He's this kind of rapper that like, once he opens his voice, he's got a tone and a particular style. DMX one of those people I'm looking at right now. Yeah, shout out to the belly poster in the room. Legendary. Yeah, No, that's I always like, even like hit Man, there was I just felt like there were so many fire artists in their aftermath that Devin the dude did he sign it after Man? No, I'm just saying on that album, Man Devon is one of

my favorite shout rap a lot rod he was. He definitely did his thing on that album Facts and you know, I miss it so much, but I used to all the time after, you know, being in that crew, be able to call my brother Nate Dog for hooks for songs, and you just you knew you was going to get a hit. You know, you're like yo getting Nate. You and you and Nate's relationship very strong. Yeah, we were cool. That's crazy because I like, what was the the he was on? It wasn't he on a kiss record that

you did? We did the Uh yeah he was. But there was a record that I really liked dB C and him, The Streets def Jam Ghetto Heisman was the name of that album. Yo. One of my favorite West Coast rappers ever doesn't get enough respect, my favorite of the three and West Side Connection for the record. Shout out to Ice Cubing back ten. But yeah, man like and then obviously man like. I always tell this to shout out to Steve Lobell. Steve, we work, were working

the legend. But always am like, Yo, man, whenever your Netflix mini documentary series or movie or whatever your life story fan is the Wolf of Wall Street of music dog. But like, we gotta get Steve Leabelle to play a cop in the movie. He's got to play you know, he's got to play himself or I want to know who plays Steve at the end of the movie. When when during your comeback good Bruce willis, Oh my god, that's great, But now I mean you you you obviously

It's well documented by the way. I thought it was very corny. The skits during that battle that Manny for I thought that was the corniest shit ever. But I digress. If you can't dazzle them with genius, baffle them with bullshit, shout out to six or nine. Uh. Nonetheless, that era of your life, they got out of control, right, So there's a point in time where you're clearly the biggest producer, I mean at your peak. Like what was the Scott

Storch beat costing? It was like a little soft eighty racks. That's crazy. Was there ever an era in hip where peop were getting like two hundred and fifty a beat? Or is that just? Yeah? The thing we've had these situations, me and me and Timbaland we split a million dollars for a beat? Really, hell damn? Which beat was that? Huh? Which was for a commercial? A commercial? Yeah? For what company? And one and one shoes dropped a million? Shit? That's crazy.

You know he was commanding some crazy money. Like I was just coming up. He was already there, like chilling I was, so I was like, goddamn. But in that era, I just feel like you were one of those guys, like you were like one of those guys. It's like, yo, if you get a Scott Storchby, like you're fucking out

of here. And I was given everybody that money's worth until the habits came in and then it was just like now, were was there ever any because I think there's always like speculation that back then certain female artists would sleep with producers to get beats? Did that ever have no to get beats? Yeah, or like to get a discount or like no, I mean they was playing eighty thousand and they were still coming out of there.

It was still coming out of their budget. Yeah, they were still coming out of you still got to recoup this, and the fuck that's crazy now, But like, what do you remember the year that ship started to kind of get a little hazy and out of control, like where it was like, fuck, man, this is the This was kind of the beginning of the end because I originally you weren't a big club guy, right, No, I wasn't.

I was stuck in the studio. And then like somewhere just after I turned thirty, I think that I went a little cuckoo and I started getting into you know, the night life. The Papa rozzis and this and excessive ship and then like cocaine came into the play and you know, Jack Daniels and lots of pussy, man, I can you can say whatever you want. Yeah, lots of pussy. And I was going crazy and I stopped working work just just like I got so much money became secondary.

And then so are we what do we what are we calling this? Like six o seven? We're calling this oh seven leaning into eight more So that was kind of the beginning of Sugar that's wild man. And then yeah, yo, it's I mean you brought it. I just know you have the most legendary hit list in hip hop if it ever, if it ever came out. We didn't have Instagram, Bro, I'm hearing the victims were you know, shout you saw

my Fat Joiner, but you reposted it. Yeah, Fat Joe's like he fucked all of them, all of them, whoever you're thinking of in your head right now, reminding me and my boy, I remember my girl, shout out my guy DJ Chris John from Tampa. Fat Joe's old DJ. But Chris John was like fair Scott Storch's house. He was coming down the stairs with this bitch on this and this bitch on the other end, and here and thumbs and thumbs up the ass, thumbs up the ass

of them. And we're talking about cramdala cream is what we'll say prior to them, being that we're in a new chapter. Yeah, and now, by the way, congratulations having a you just had a new baby, so congrast you know what that passed. I'm like, you know, I feel like I'm happy right now because I did all that ship. You go out of my system and I'm like, I'm cool, I'm content. I'm not sweating, No, you know, going to the club and trying to find like I just did so much of that. Like I'm in the same I'm

in the same same vibe of my life. I like waking up early and hanging out with my nine month old baby, watching movies, chilling with the lady. Yeah, once you get that ship out of your system, the thing is you didn't start to your thirty so you got you like got it, like you had to make up for your twenties of missing out on all that. No, I was always a fucking monster in that department with the women. Yeah, but just like it was a different thing.

It wasn't like, and I don't know how many women have you had at the same time, at the most at once. I can imagine some of those parties had to end up with your bedroom just being lit as fuck and you and you being the just wait for the movie the movies, wait for the movie? Are we talking like a starting five? Like? Are we talking like a five path? You know what, I can say this,

and I like to say this. Through that whole era of me being with lot, you know, for miscuous or whatever, I always treated everybody with respects and well, everybody always had a great time. There was never any funky shit going on in my circle, so you know, it was cool. You know, I think it's dope is your relationship with Fat Joe? Because Fat Joe is one of those guys who I feel like never wavered in his friendship with you,

if that makes sense. Yeah, No, he always remained loyal to me because I feel like a lot of people

Chris Brown as well. I just feel like a lot of people like kind of wrote you off man, and like I think a lot but I think looking out of my mind, I mean, fair enough, but I think a lot of times like in our industry, like once you can't do something for somebody like you almost like get the ignore on it, you know what I'm saying, Like, like, did you a lot of those people who maybe a lot of the people that really cared for me, wanted to believe time and time again, you know, they wanted

to believe, so they would you know, tolerate it with you know, we you know, we just after a while you just figure it out. Like you know, you can't nobody can force you to to get your act together. You have to do it. You just have to get it together. And then I want you to talk about the project you have, the Heavenly Center, which I think is a great approach because I grew up around, you know, my family being big, big drug addicts, and I think

the twelve step program is a little dated. Hell yeah, it's it's prehistoric. It's prehistoric, and it's kind of like faith based, you know, it's kind of like you know, and I think that you know, kind of from what I understand, the Heavenly Center is a cannabis centric like a place to try to help people get off certain

drugs by by using cannabis. Crowd yeah, not just I mean we allow the cannabis and we'll educate you about the cannabis and like try and evaluate you and see what cannabis works the best for you and how much of it Millig, It's really it's really helpful to get people off opiates by the individual. Yeah, it really helpful. And for me it worked to get off of cocaine and like, you know, I'm living proof of that shit. You know, people have anxiety when they when they're recovering

from hard substances. Cannabis helps with that and get you through that and people you start enjoying the way you feel, and it's not like a negative thing like whereas like some of these drugs, the high that comes from that destroys your life. It's not the case with cannabis. So people want to feel like they have something that they can relax and you know, just and it's also it's an anti inflammatory. So like I think a hard like we talk about people who get fucked up on Perks

and ship and heroin getting off. The getting off means those withdraws and if you could just dab yourself, you're you know, it helps, man. So the Heavenly Center is opening up when it's first July first and it's in La it's in Studio City, Studio City, so it's in the valley. See the heavenly I like that. Come on man, that's fire. So is that something that like what like, obviously we know you're on this like comeback trail and

we know you're you're your lowest of your lows. Was what was the inspiration of saying, like, you know what, I'm going to try to help people. Yeah, that was definitely part of it. And you know, conversations with obviously with Steve LaBelle and you know he's always helping me, you know, trying to you know, to expand one. Of course, of course it's not always about like making a beat,

Like there's so much more we can do. Like you know, dude, you we wouldn't have Yeasies if Kanye West just it may beats all time, we wouldn't even have him rapping. He would still be just producing facts. You're you're your last five four or five years. We touched on that a little bit, but we're talking down below from Roddy Rich.

We're talking russ I mean trippy even like the stuff he did with six ' nine, you know, crazy right, Like what who is the the one artist that is a new school artists that you feel like you have an insane chemistry with like that. It's just like Russ for sure, I was gonna say, I've got have not failed yet. We've made I don't know we We've released how many songs with him so far? Five? Five? More than that? And Russ is the kind of guy six or seven. Every time we would go in the studio

we worked six or whatever. The number of records that's out is the number of records we did, and they all go out. Yeah, yeah, that's wild. And then like it's crazy because I know that like he kind of prides himself on self production on but I remember seeing an interview was like, yo, the one guy wanted to get in with the Scott Storch. Yeah, he was saying, I think Doctor dray Me and Timbaland were his top three. Like like getting like letting like letting somebody like into

this creative process like it's got an honor. Man. It felt good, like you know when people like you know, it gets you inspired, when you feel you know people are feeling what you're doing, and it's like because they don't know what to expect after, you know, when they're

gonna come into the studio with you. Like I remember Russ was even saying, he was like, man, it's one thing to get an opportunity to come in and work with Scott Storage, but He's like, and then for it to be dope, that's that's that's on the cake on your album is something that I think is overdue because I think back in the day when like DJ Clue was dropping the professional and like you, I mean Timberland even you know, I mean obviously tim Tim was rapping

Timberland and Magoo, Oh my God, shout out to Magoo fake as q Tip. I love him though when I was a kid, who was one of my favorite rappers. But I feel like this is something this way overdue, man, Like are you reconnecting with uh any of the veterans, the Vets, the Fat Joe's. I think, I mean, it's gonna be multi fascinated album and it's not just rap shit, It's gonna be all different kinds of ship. What about little country, some country? But what like obviously you when

you did don't say nothing. I was I remember as a kid seeing the article or the ad in Double Excel and it's saying produced by Scott Storch oh Ship. He's back with he's doing the Roots record. But I'm wondering what would what would have to happen like now, Like would would that be something where you'd be like, Yo, I need to like it's my debut album. I need to bring thought and question to do a record like going It's already happened. Talked to Black Thought maybe a

month ago about it. By the way, Black Thoughts is one of the greatest rappers. I want to make a record like with Black Thought and like J Cole, something crazy with quest love on the drums, bru and ship like that that sounds like a hip hop what dream? I told them. I told both of them. I told J Cole and I told Damn, that's that's great, yo. You working with six N. Obviously, prior to all this crazy ship going on, I remember seeing that video you Want the Keys. It was the Tory record, by the way,

Tory shouldn't that that That hook was crazy? Crazy? Was there? But was there any other records that that we didn't? We never heard that? You guys did? Yeah? Do you? It was like more is there is that? Like? Uh no, no, no no, I mean, are there any records that are that we have that haven't come out that that that

are no, no, no, okay, what is that? Like? I wonder as a producer because on the hip hop side of things, I feel like a lot of rappers just are I mean, he's kind of black on him, But as a producer, you're kind of not necessarily I don't know if you're held to the same standards, like would you would you work with someone like him again if it made sense? I you know, I hate I don't even want to answer this question because I know people

are gonna intentionally for no matter what I say. If I said I would, I won't, won't whatever they're gonna like, you know, just talk about it. But I'll just say this. You know, I don't turn my back on anybody in life. That's it, you know what I mean. I mean, you've been You've been in some low places, man, I've been in some low places. You know, human beings can work through shit together, you know what I mean. That's Hey, that's some real shit, man, That's some real shit. Yo.

Is there ever a beat of yours that you wish? Uh? Like that that came out that like maybe it was a record that you were like, you know what, it wasn't worth the bag. Yeah, those who happened, let's not even address those. Can we have any examples at all? Just one? Can you give us one? I don't know, there had to be a record that dropped that you were like, damn, Like maybe it's somebody who's not around anymore. Not I mean, obviously, maybe they're just you know, I

can I don't want to, you know, I can't. I don't want to offend it anybody with that. But yeah, there's been some records that were whack. Let me go through, you know what. More than there were being records that were whack, there's records that sometimes I remember jay Z telling me that record went to the wrong person. He sat me down. He was like, he's like, you should have gave this record to that person, you should give

that record to this. Well, give us that example. You don't remember, yo, that's real because a lot of it is, uh, it's fit right. It's like, damn, can you imagine if I always remember I don't know if you watched the jay Z documentary where Timberland's playing in beats and Timer them plays him the potion and then Luda ended up with the potion and jay Z passed on it, and it was like, oh, that happens all the time. Jay

would have got on that ship. Or you know, like you maybe you had one artist who's here, and then there's another artist that's your favorite artist and that's a huge artist, and the one artist came to see you and you were playing beats and then ended up getting that and you're like you didn't realize that next week you were meeting with this fucking massive artist and you're like, fuck,

but you can't. I'm not grinding like that. I don't I know a lot of stories where people will take the ship like yeah, no, no, I need that be back, like jay Z, Oh yeah, this one already took it. Whatever. I never done that. Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna take a guess. Let me get a guess on on a whack beat or a beat a song of years that you weren't a fan of. Let me just get a guess. Let's go with h Brook hogans about us. Come on, man,

I see what his interview is going. Shout out to Brook Hogan man, yo, secret, Yeah, I mean we're kind of being filled right now, So go ahead, I'll tell you a secret camera MOTHERU big bag for that record? Big bag, big Bag? Now was the Brooke Hogan? Was that was that? Was? That? Was that Haul Cogan money? Huh nah? Or was that from her label? That was from her label? That's crazy that did you like chop it up? Did you chop it up with Hulk? Yeah? Cool,

that's crazy Holster the Holkster. I'm all right, yo, it's it's it's interesting because like, yo, you did Shutterbug Shut Up. That was such a great fucking album. Man. You know what's interesting about that song. That's the only record that I'm proud of at all that I made as a complete fucking junkie because it was in that era, right, Yes, that's interesting. Yeah, I'm looking I'm looking at the records during that time, and I'm like, and I remember the conversation.

I remember Big Boy. He was like, man, people warned me, they were like when he was in the studio and he's like that, you know, you know, you're not so good right now, but the ships flying like He's like, I like this record. I'm like, cool. I was fucking sweating profusely going to the bathroom to fucking do coke and ship like fucked up with that record? Outside outside of the million dollar commercial? Do you remember the beat that you got paid the most for it by a

label that record, No No, the one No No. I mean outside of that because that was a commercial, so like was pretty close to that. But I'm saying, do you remember, like yo, the most I mean you got in your head like yo, I remember the biggest bag I got for a beat in mighty? Like what what do you remember what record that was? Now? The real I mean, those bags are cool. The big bags come when they motherfucking go, right, because when your record goes

that's when the real bag. It's crazy because like I when you did the bat, I was like, damn, I forgot, like you like launched Chris Brown, bro, like you had his first single like that. Nobody knows that artists are going to be where they end up going, right, And Chris Brown at that time, it was sixteen years old, he was just turning sixteen, just turning sixteen years old, and you're the one of the biggest producers in the world at the time. Like what did did you see

that in him? Like earlier? Was it just like for you just like another placement like yeah, nah, man, Like I made him a promise the day I met him, I was like, yo, I'm making you a number one song right now. And like I just had a feeling like he just seemed like uh for a time, the new Michael Jackson, Like this kid was dancing because he had a crazy ass voice that age, and I could

tell his whole personality, his whole style and everything. Yeah, I knew he was gonna go, and especially since the people that brought him there, one of them was Mark Pitts, you know who discovered like you know, Biggie and shit like that. You and Dre's relationship, how is it today? Great? Has he like like like like I sent him my

single he liked it nice. I had to get approval from the Godfather because you like it like acknowledge like young man, I'm like proud of you, Scott, because I feel like we all should be like that shows fans of hip hop like, man, like, your comeback story is crazy, bro, and it's just getting started. Yeah man, you know, but I'm glad that I'm evolving into a guy that is making his own records and not just being like a you know, a beat slut. Like I'm making my own

albums and my own records movies. When you say it beat slut that what do you What are you saying like somebody who just sells beats to everybody and that's you know, it is cool. But when you're making big records like and you're taking the time and put in the work and be a DJ Kaled and go through, you know, it's fucking hell trying to get clearances and getting vocals and the vocals is it in the vocals? Yeah?

That ship isn't yo. Listen, listen, I'm one record deep and now I'm like, damn, no respect to called because having this deal with everyone's teams. I mean, that's it's it's low key like it's a lot because I put out a project before and it was like it was a lot. Man, it's a lot. Dude. Have you been coming from your background and being as musical as you are, like you said, you kind of had to relearn where

music is now? And I've seen you in the studio even if stuff doesn't end up dropping, I've seen you in the studio so many of these young kids from this young generation, and I feel like sometimes I'll see you in the studio with a certain arts and I'll be like, man that I don't know what that kid deserves to be in the studio with Scott's Storch just because, like, artistically, I think a lot of the there's a lot of a lot of the ship that's coming out. In the

last couple of years, it has kind of been whatever. Yeah, I mean I have to experiment sometimes, I have to like take a closer look at the artists and see if it can work or not, And sometimes it does. Is there ever a time where you're like, man, I just I just can't do this. This is just not Yes, that's happened with the new guys. Who's like somebody, let me tell you one of the things that's crazy to me. Yeah, Like there's you know, people rapping. You know, I'm not

talking about stylistically, but on beat. Okay, if something it's really I mean a lot of people like it and have grown accustomed to wrap completely off beat. I like it slightly off beat. When it's completely not even remotely anywhere near the beat. It fucking ladies and gentlemen. Things have gone blue face. It bothers the funk out of me when I'm in the studio. That's the only thing. And then I'll just get aheadache and I'll be like ya, I'll be right back. I might not come back. Who

are some of the producers that inspire you? Now? There's a whole wave of young guys that are i mean murdered beats. It's incredible. There's a lot of cats out there, you know, vinyls, Vinyls is fire, doesn't get vinyls don't

have like yeah, hip boys incredible. Like I also feel like too, like with with where music is too, Like the d M ship is kind of its own thing, you know, Like is that something that like you can see yourself like doing an DM record on your album or working with someone like Marshmallow or Yeah, I mean a lot of d M isn't d M anymore. It's

definitely just pop music. Like you listen to the Chain Smokers, You're like, this is one hundred BPMS producers that are working on Like you said, like Marshmallow got Roddy Rich on a single. Yeah, like straight regular make a rap shit it is, Yeah, craziest house party you ever threw. Crazy It was back in like nineteen sixty seven, No fucking remember, I don't know it was a lot of

crazy in that generation. What about waking up the next day, what's the biggest thing you would like, like, like I always feel like we all have those nights where it's like, damn,

did this shit even happen? Like I don't, like, bro, I don't even remember how I would get there sometimes, but I would wake up in the middle of the ocean on my yacht, not knowing how you got there, ten ass naked girls and just wake up and the ten piece Yeah, just all ass naked all not even in the bedrooms mad bedrooms in the boat, but like on top of the boat, like out in the front, like just fucking like drink spilled everywhere. Just not even remember.

I didn't even remember how I got on a boat. That shit is crazy. Yeah, we were doing some wild and then, uh, you had an interesting era where you you and you and Little Cambre kind of a thing. We were cool. You guys were like cool. Yeah, I feel like you guys were like one of the early

hip hop power power situations that were rumored. That was a very brief moment, but our friendship was very like long, like we literally didn't really like we weren't together like that we were cool, but we were more like enjoyed each other's company as like more of a brotherly sisterly thing because were you you were here, It wasn't really a physical connection like that, Like it was more like a friendship vibe. Were you which which album did you?

Because she had she had that two album run in that era where it was like Notorious k I Am and then Lebelle Mafia was lighters up right, it was that that was a great album. I remember when you played that ship in that battle. I was like, man, I forgot which song do you wish you would have played during the battle that you'd liken? There's a lot of them. There was maybe a couple of choices that I had influence around me that was like you should like this is there one that you left out there?

Like fuck this one? It was like kind of the obvious one that could have got played. Yeah, there's probably something I can't think of it now. Well, the album hopefully will be getting soon. You say you got five or six records that you feel good about their album quality. Oh, they're like you know that these are going on? Yeah, I got a gang of records that are like cool

that might need to be touched up. Yeah, I mean unless it's something real special, it's not gonna who who can you tell us who else is for sure making the album? No? Okay? Have you You know it's funny because I remember one art one one one one artist, So I want to hear you with, right, I got to actually introduce you to is the Baby? Did you guys ever end up getting together and creating after that? Well? I think it was during the Grammys, right, it was

like Grammy week. Bro. I don't know how, but I somehow based ever sending him a pack and I want to work with him. I was like yeah, and like I would just be collecting joints. I was always waiting for one more to come that was better to send, and I just ended up missing the boat. But I'm

gonna catch him on the next one. Yeah, Like when you it's crazy that you're like, yo, like Storre are sending out packs, you know what I'm saying, Like, I won't do that for anybody, I bet, Yeah, but an artist like him, I like, I'm you know, a huge fan of him and Little Baby like both both people that I'll send the pack. Yeah, Like two of the

illest guys right now? I mean, who else do you like as a fan lyrically coming from a guy who started out with one of the greatest rappers of all time as the vocalist of your group shot a black thought who like lyrically right now? Do you respect like on some bar ship like Drake? Of course? I mean, you know, he's just consistent and always you know, you know, it's aesthetically pleasing to the ear. You know, the Griselda dudes or shout out to have you have you got

to work with him? Yet? No, I'm just supposed to get with Benny. Listen, we got to get the Benny, the Butcher, the West Side. Shout out to Conway, shout out to that whole crew. You know. An album that you should check out. I think it'll appreciate is mad Lib and Freddie Gibbs put an album out last year

that was amazing. Like, did you ever because coming up in that era, like when you were hot, like there was this other world where it was like mad Lib and Black Milk and all these like underground, super grimy ass rap producers. Did you like ever like tapping with any of that type of ship or were you just kind of in your own world because you kind of came from that world too. What about Jake Dillon did you ever link, like, did you and him ever have

any time where you guys cross paths? A record that you know, I totally was like reaching for that style when he was active. You know, there was a record that they called Nothing New on the Roots of Things. Where's the where is your first Grammy? Right now? Yeah? The roots Grammy? Where's that at? Do you still? Man? They didn't give us trophies? Really? We got the certificate. Damn, we got the certificate. That ship is crazy. That's disappointing. Man.

I want to I want anybody who's watching this man like who's been through some addiction or might be going through some addiction right now. Obviously besides pulling up to the Heavenly Center June first or July first first, you got to come down there and speak I'm coming man.

I mean, yeah, I listen, trust me. I've been through a lot of drug addiction ship in my life, not personally you know, my family, Yeah, but what is I always would always like what I've learned from experiencing it is like you can't It's frustrating dealing with somebody who's addicted to some ship because you you just want them to listen to you and to just get clean. But like it's really I know it's so cliche, but I feel like, I mean, you could tell me if I'm wrong.

It's like, yo, it's it's it's up to you. Like when you're ready to you have to want to get clean. You can't get caught getting high in the bathroom and now are you ready? Like it doesn't have to be a person who's like, oh yeah, I'm ready to get clean right now. They have to just all they have to do is want to Do you think people have to hit rock bottom first? Yeah? I mean sometimes, uh, you know, some people might get a scare something that like just leads them to it. What was what was

your rock bottom? Do you remember that moment where it was like, man, it's I remember because I remember times when I lived in Vegas and Molly Ma would be like, yo, Scott Stort just staying in my crib right now, Like you know what I'm saying, Like this was when I when with twenty ten twenty eleven back in the day. But like, do you remember your moment when it was like the last time. You know what I'm saying. I mean, there was a lot of those moments. I can imagine

there was a lot of like dark moments. But you know what I mean, by the good grace of God, I got through it. Your wife marijuana, Yeah, shout out to Steve Lobel. But first and foremost I was ready to give it up. I knew it was either for me death or jail or something that was gonna go down, you know what I mean. It was like you never did you never do like get locked up during that whole ship, or was there times where you just did some overnight ship in jail? Or I got arrested one time.

I got arrested one time in Vegas. That'd be a great, terrible night. And you know he wasn't taking part with me on any of that ship. But I got caught in a hotel room with cocaine, like not a lot, like like crumbs of it, and I got arrested. That's some wild ship to get arrested for in Vegas. It's like, what do you think people like we're in Vegas, motherfucker, Like, what do you think I'm doing in my hotel room?

You know what? I'm saying, and then any advice you would give to uh, you know, I managed a couple of producers, and I feel like the production coming up as a producer nowadays, I feel like is it probably was always harder, but I just feel like with the of technology that's available, it's much easier to get into producing. I'm not saying it's easier to get good at it, but same way with DJ and like back in the day, you used to have to buy turntables and records and

it was a lot. Now you just get a little fucking toy and your app Like, But for for producers who you know, like I want to try to break through, Like, what is some advice you would give to them? Because I feel like it's it's a lot of it is luck. Yeah, for a producer, someone who's finding artist to produce and get them a record deal and least an album, Yeah, that's it. Hey artist. Yeah, I mean look at the babies, dude, justice, Like, because one of those that goes is gonna be worth

fifty one hundred fucking placements. That's crazy. Are you currently grooming any artists under under under Scott's stortres? I mean we intend to at some point. But I'm trying to groom myself as the artist with features. It's a different thing, totally totally different. Yeah, I think you know the music I want to hear. Shout out to my guy Dubie. I heard you got you and doubIe did a little uh, a little uh. I don't know EP or something have you. Yeah,

shout out to Doobie Man. Can I smoke cigarette? Go ahead? We got cigarettes? Bag. This guy's got. This guy, Casey is the cigarette. God. Thank this guy's a walking fucking cigarette. That's all. He fucking doesn't smoke. God bless him. I love him. We too. Yeah, yeah, I'd love to smoke for radio, you know, so you records your new singles out right now? Yeah, you'll see at the end of this we're gonna do You'll see at the end of this, we're gonna do a two minute radio joint. It'll be like, Yo,

I want to get some of it phone. I want to set to the president, mister Weaver, mister Weaver, ah man, all right, we're good. Light up that goddamn that cigarette. But but let's get to it pretty much, yo, you and R Kelly working together? What was that session? Like that session was another one of those situations where Record didn't where it was supposed to go. I should have went to someone else. No, watch this, I forget the name of the goddamn group. I don't remember the name

of the group. But do you remember how they were signed to some group for something for like like Adie Rex. Do you remember who they were signed to? I don't remember that either. All right, so I can find out this information. I'm gonna talk to my my my ex manager back in the day, my boy Derek. But I could. I sold them to Beat and they wanted to get an R. Kelly feature, and they got an R. Kelly feature and R Kelly said, hold up, I want this and I don't. You guys are not getting on it.

So he paid them to get off, to get off, damn, and he got plays only and then we threw the game on there. The game was new Hey man, that's crazy. So you weren't even in the session with cows Nah. It was something that like the people who bought the Beat at the Short Club in Miami one time New Year's like it was he was there. I was like,

what is he? You know? It is what I was gonna say is that I'm not talking about him on a social level at all, but on a social level, on a musical level, he's a genius, one of the greatest artists ever. That dude is. I would have loved to see the motherfucking versus battle R Kelly and Usher and nobody's standing out. Fucking he destroyed that. No, he destroyed everyone, destroy everybody. I agree, Unfortunately, Like you said, it's like I think that at the end of the day,

you're allowed well you know, you're allowed to. I think you're allowed to separate art from the person. Man, if that makes sense, you know, like ship, I love R Kelly as music. I don't love him man, I mean, I don't know that motherfucker. But his music was just twelve play bro like songs that make your hair stand up, like man, one hundred percent, bro Yo, you're working, uh, you working with And the Massacre Massacre, I always feel like doesn't get his just due for how fucking incredible

that album was. I think that get Richard that train at such high, you know, expectations, it was almost impossible to follow it up. But I mean, I think it was a matter of like, just like anything else, the evolution of what you know, what he was doing. But talk about like you and fifties chemistry, because there was some chemistry there. I mean, you guys made some classic music and that was the comfort zone. There was a

comfort zone with him. And I'm gonna tell you one of the first reasons why is you know, Dre had me in his studio and he's seen me in Dre's studio, so there's a comfort zone. Like you know, there's a certain quality and a bar set by Dre. And I wouldn't be in there if I wasn't supposed to be in there. So he had he was comfortable with me in my opinion and music and what I would submit because he knew you wouldn't be there if Yeah, so he knew my like my vision is cool, you know

what I mean? Like people always second guests, especially in that time, because it's not like now where everything I mean, I'm not trying to fucking shit on shit, but there's a lot of shit that sounds like a lot to say. Everything is the same drum patterns list like we were making. Every song was its own thing. Are you artistically frustrated when you hear some of this ship? Yeah? I mean, you know, we all fucking lock into the trap bubble and fucking the new drum sounds and this and that.

But bro, I was fucking putting up kicks like crazy shit, like if you listen to like the lean back drums, Like, where were you getting your drums from? Because I was, did you because I remember remember Kanye said that he he would steal drums from a lot of Doctor Dre ship listen, we would, yeah, and then he would flip them and do them and filter them, and so would you would Did you ever take any drums from Dre? Did you ever give you any drums? A shiploaded drums?

I got drums from Timberland I got are those drums? You still use it? Use it as day? No? No, no. I had this zip disc at that time. Was that we were using the zip disc with our our MPs, you know the MP three thousand, of the MP two thousand, and the motherfucking disc I had with all that ship on there was going I could get it again. But you know, I'm sure certain ones are still very essential. But you know, the sonics changed. Did you work on

any iteration of detox at all? Or was that kind of the error in which you and Dre weren't close anymore. We had we've had moments and working you know at some point because I know there's like a million iterations of those faults, you know, I don't think he ever was working specifically on like he would make music and it's something really he gravitated towards it. Then I'm sure he probably would have wanted to keep it for that

or for whatever. But you know, that's why do you think you and jay Z never had a real moment if that makes sense, the way Jay had his moments with Primo and had his moments with Timberland, Like why do you think jay Z and the Scott Storts train never I feel like there were certain loyalties that were established to him and other producers that you know, I was not part of, and they earned that and they from growing with him from the beginning, And you know,

was that is that like a thing like because if you think of like, who do we think of Hope, Like when we think of Hope, we think of Primo to then later on just plaze Kanye like so that was like a Swiss Oh my god, him and Swiss. Yeah, he was on the rough Riders something. But like back then that that was the thing. Like, I mean, it

definitely happened with the Neptunes. I feel like at some point, like with a lot of artists, you would be like Neptune's are always going to be on as a certain soul album, But like, who did did you have that with anybody? That? I mean I had that. I had that with Fat Joe. You know, we made we kept you know, every time we would do something. You know,

certain people. Hey man, let me tell you something. I don't remember a song ever being bigger than Lean back when I was a kid during that summer that ship was I heard it was going crazy. I wasn't there at Summer jam in New York. It was a problem. Yo. That and that beat? Like yo man, what like I think that if you just take away the lyrics. That's

one thing too about these beat battles. That's frustrating because I'd be like, yo, man, who can really just play beats and be like, oh shit, that's one of them beats? Stand up? Oh my god, what do you think is your hardest beat? Like? What's your beat? That? Like, that's probably one of them. You know. Megan Ring was a good one just as a beat. I mean, there's a lot of them that are just yeah, exhibits bets. Oh man, that was his first single on off for Restless right,

very amazing. I'm shot at the exhibit. Oh look, Scott Man, you're a fucking legend. Hopefully we'll get the album before twenty twenty one, for sure. Are you going to be doing? I know for a while there I would see you like going to playing the keys live and places and shit, you know what. I feel like you could have a Vegas residency. Actually, after going through being uh, you know, socially distanced and just at the house so much, I'm

kind of inspired to go and you know, hit the road. Yeah, not hit the road, but do some specific dates and some specific place I saw, like when you came out with Russ. That ship was amazing. You know, support the record and and you know, just catch that wave for a second. Yeah, man, listen, I remember what what show did he come out with Russ? It was out here Stable Center. Yeah, that ship is crazy. That was a vibe man, shout out to Russ. I'm sure you guys

got I'm sure you guys got more music coming. I mean, we just put one out which record? Three am oh that you fire? A shout out to Abadan too. We shout out Abadan. Abdon is uh at the studio? A wonderful man from the Netherlands is that yeah, man out shout out to the Netherlands and shout out to you man. I appreciate you for coming through. I can't wait to hear the fucking album.