Add ‘Grammy Nominated’ to my Resume!

Toni isn’t up for a Grammy this year but I AM! “Tha Carter 3″ is nominated for ‘Album Of The Year,’ the most prestigious category awarded to each of the Artists, Producers, and Engineers on an album, and Best Rap Album! Pray for me, and if you’re a NARAS member, vote for “Tha Carter III”! Check out Grammy.com for the full list of Nominees.

I Just Heard Some Real Bad News…

Click the pic for the full storyJust when I thought that the homey had ditched sampling in favor of a totally new original sound, I got a reality check over at HipHopStreet Blog. They expose some original samples that went into the creation of the “808s and Heartbreak” album. Don’t get it twisted, I commend ‘Ye on all of his success and I hold him in very high regard as a producer, but I feel a little bamboozled. My readers went IN when I first spoke on Yeezy, what do ya’ll think now?

Maestro joins the Midnight Club!

Me and Cube’s single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” off the “Raw Footage” album is featured on Rockstar Games’ latest blockbuster “Midnight Club Los Angeles.” I copped it for XBOX and it goes hard! Check out Rocstargames.com for the soundtrack credits.Listen to the remix featuring Cube, Nas, and Scarface…

Maestro and City Black in Rap Reviews.com!

Ever since it was brought to my attention that chicks ‘google dudes’ I’ve made it a custom to throw my name in the search pane and check my ‘googleability’. This time I unearthed a piece on RapReviews.com for Dem Franchize Boyz’s album “Our World Our Way.” Just when I thought the chances of being recognized for my tracks on this joint were as slim as McCain’s chances of being president in 2012, I was pleasantly surprised!

“…Every now and then they can pick one or two and decide on a “#1 Girl,” a Vaushaun “Maestro” Brooks produced track that could sneak its way into a quiet storm mix on urban radio without disrupting the flow. “The Life” featuring City Black is pretty slick too.”

Yeah City Black, my ‘googleability’ is on swole, now its time for you to upgrade your status! Big up to JPB, City Black, Mookanooks, and 2/4 FMG for making our “Ride or Die Thanksgiving” a memorable one!

Bush Shows Love…Pardons John Forte!

I’ve always been a huge Fugees fan (Clef’s “Carnival” was an extraordinary album) so I was deeply saddened when the homie John Forte was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being caught with $1.4 Million worth of liquid cocaine. On December 22nd, he will be released courtesy of a pardon from President Bush! Enjoy your freedom homey. Read the whole story @ Washington Post.com. I credit Forte with producing/performing one of my all time favorite hip hop songs…Listen & Enjoy President George W. Bush has pardoned rapper John Forte, an affiliate of the Fugees, who has been serving prison time for smuggling drugs, sources told AllHipHop.com.

Forte was one of 14 persons that Bush has pardoned or granted commuted prison sentences.

This wave of White House pardons is Bush’s latest, as he has less than two months in his presidency. A pardon cannot be overruled.

Forte was arrested at Newark International Airport in 2000 and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. Police caught him accepting a briefcase with about $1.4 million worth of liquid cocaine in it.

Forte was hit with a 14-year sentence in a federal penitentiary under minimum sentencing laws even though it was his first offense and he was a non-violent offender. He began his bid in jail in 2001 and has fought the laws vehemently.

Through the ordeal, he maintained his innocence and turned down a plea deal.

John Forte has released two albums, Poly Sci and I, John.

John found an ally in legendary singer Carly Simon and her son Ben Taylor, both close friends. Forte lived at Simon’s estate in Martha’s Vineyard for about six weeks in 1999 and even spent the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family. Simon and Taylor have lobbied on Forte’s behalf since he was incarcerated.

Much speculation has been made of others Bush may opt to pardon. Most of these involved those that government employees that may have unjustly interrogated suspected terrorists in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

A pardon of these cases would severely impede president elect Barack Obama from investigating such crimes.

B Cox in Remix Magazine

The big homie B Cox talks Gear, Technique, and Attitude in this new Remix Magazine feature. Check it out HERE…a must read for Logic users and aspiring producers!

Clipse presents Play Cloths

Get like me and be the first person in your hood who’s up on the fly exclusive ish! Head over to the ‘Play Cloths’ online store to cop the ’80’s Jack Tee’. Also stay tuned for Maestro to drop heat on the new Clipse Album coming in early ‘09. Ya’ll know me and the Clipse go way back and the new tracks are even more RETARDED!

Autotune for the Low!

Antares Auto-Tune EFX Vocal Effect & Pitch Correction Plug-In is available for a limited time for only $99 at Guitar Center. Also comes with an iLok ($39 value) Sounds like deal to me! For those who don’t know what Autotune is, read this!

Barack Obama is our next president! But…

Although I voted for Barack I can honestly say that I don’t share the overwhelming elation that most black Americans are feeling right now. My parents hail from a small impoverished island and immigrated here with hardly more than the clothes on their backs, but I’ve never once felt that being Black was a limitation. I’ve always known that hard work and outstanding achievement leads to excellence. Unfortunately, many Blacks in America have never shed the shackles of slavery although its been ‘over’ for 145 years. True mental slavery has always been perpetuated by the erroneous belief that the color of a man’s skin weighs more heavily than the content of his character and his pockets! Sadly, I feel that Barack’s victory is based more on ‘racism’ in his favor than on his merits. Don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that the best man for the job won the election! But when has a Black man with such stellar credentials tried to achieve such a feat before? When has a Black man with such strong values and charisma ever attempted to lead a movement? Its highly likely that with the right leader and unified support the struggle that Black American’s have endured for so many years may not have lasted as long. Overall I’m more proud of Obama’s quality than his color. MY PRESIDENT IS SMART!! Why didnt anyone forward THAT text on the 4th?

Def Jam Vice Pres Shakir Stewart Dead

I’m saddened by this news. I’ve seen lesser men devoid of Shake’s many gifts withstand seemingly insurmountable obstacles so its hard to imagine the pain he must have been going through. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

And While We’re on the Subject of ‘A Millie’…Cha-lo vs Bangladesh

Check out Rahiem Shabazz’s blog to read up on the controversy over the ‘A Millie’ track. If you ask me, giving a sample to another dude who turns around and uses it to make a hit doesn’t make YOU the producer. If you’re fortunate enough to walk away with a check and a credit for your contribution to a major release thank God for your accomplishment and keep up the good work! Rather than spending your money to buy a plaque before the label issues the free ones (which is not the hot move), you should hire a good publicist and use the credit as leverage to land bigger and better placements of your own. Congrats to Bangladesh and Cha-lo, and thanks again Nelly for giving our tracks to Weezy in the first place!

3 Peat x A Millie Remix

LMFAO…peep how weezy’s face distorts as it plays
And here is the rest of it.

Timbo the King

One of the best that EVER did it!”When you hear a rhythm that is being played by an instrument you can’t identify but wish you owned, when you hear a song that refuses to make up its mind about its genre but compels you to move, or when you hear noises that you thought couldn’t find a comfortable place in a pop song, you are hearing Timbaland.”(source)
Click here to read the whole article @ NewYorker.com!

New Apple Macbook Pro!

Here it is at last! Apple is now using “Brick” technology which carves each computer from a single brick of aluminum! Except for the wack ass mac book style keys and only 1 firewire 800 port it looks pretty awesome. BTW, if you see me next week and wonder why I don’t have the new MBP the day it drops don’t be alarmed! The recession hasn’t hit me! I’m not an early adopter when it involves computers, Apple is well-known for debuting less expensive versions of these Macs a few months after the initial release.
FOR MY REAL REASON…->HAHA, forget all that early adopter talk, I really just dont wanna be like my boys Jason & Ace who’ve only had their pros for weeks and months (respectively) but will be carrying around dinosaurs in less than 24 hours, lol. (Hey Dee “less than a yr club” I see you!)

T-Pain…Chopped and Screwed!

Once in a while a song really catches my ear. This is officially one of my favorite joints of the year. First time I heard it on the radio I had to pull over! Dope production, dope concept, dope video…T Pain is a talented dude. Enjoy (or hate if you’re a hater)

Pour out a Little Liquor…Legendary Tupac Producer Johnny "J" Passes Away

Johnny “J” JacksonAugust 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008R.I.P…You Will be Missed
Unfortunately, most talented people are only recognized after their deaths. For those of you hearing his name for the first time, check him out.

3 Peat + White Boy + Guitar= *ROTFL!!!

LMFAO!! Dude really knows the words!
*Rolling on the floor laughing

Is He Creative or RE-Creative?

A collection of Before and After samples from the boy ‘Ye. I love dude as an artist, but as a producer WOW…Ya’ll be the judge…watch this video and witness the genius of his production catalog unravel before your eyes!
(whatup Elite and J, I see ya’ll!)

Dem Franchize Boyz…Our World, Our Way…In Stores Sept 30!

#2 and #9 (and the 2 iTunes exclusive bonus tracks) Produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks…Congrats to all the producers that placed joints on this album!
Tracklist…->

Tracklist:
01. Get Cha Hustle On
02. Put U On
03. Mr. Feel Good (Feat. Mannie Fresh)
04. Come Come (Feat. Blaze)
05. Shawty Foreal (Feat. JR Get Money)
06. Talkin’ Out Da Side Of Ya Neck
07. Turn Heads (Feat. Lloyd)
08. Roll Ya Arms (Feat. Peanut & Joe Blow)
09. #1 Girl (Feat. J Que)
10. Make Ya Mad
11. The Life (Feat. City Black)
12. I’m Fresh
13. The Killers, The Dealers

You Call this a Recession? I Call it Recess!

New posts…New kits…New News…COMING SOON! STAY TUNED!!
And here is the rest of it.

‘10 Things Everyone Recording Music Should Know’

Here are 10 great tips that all producers should know. I ganked the list from one of my favorite blogs Music Thing.
Enjoy
Click here for the list->
1. Keep cable runs short particularly low impedance I.e. guitars and mics. It WILL affect the sound. Having said that I don’t believe expensive cables offer significant improvement.
2. Even the best instruments and recording equipment will probably sound like crap in the wrong hands. The reverse can also be true.
3. Don’t suck the life out of a recording by overuse of limiting and compression.
4. Go for performance not perfection.
5. Log EVERYTHING on a recording so that anyone can pick up where you left off. Particularly tracks that should not be used – better still, get rid of them.
6. Always consolidate tracks (in other words all tracks should have the same start and finish times) so that they can be loaded onto a different platform. Give every track a meaningful name.
7. Even if your ideas are making all the difference, make the other person think they were theirs.
8. The two most important things on a great record are: 1. The Song. 2. The Song.
9. Never trust anyone in the music business with a vowel in their name.
10. The check is NOT in the mail.

“Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” – Review Of Ice Cube’s "Raw Footage" on TSS.com

“Backed by producers with a knack for creating those scowl-inducing sound beds such as Maestro, Tha Bizness, and Emile, Ice Cube paces himself to create his most well-rounded offering this decade.” Read it all @ The Smoking Section.
And here is the rest of it.

Gangsta Rap Sample Pack!!

50+ high quality DRUM, PERCUSSION, INSTRUMENT, and FX samples taken from and inspired by Maestro’s certified banger “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It.” (MIDI file included too!)This kit is dope…the proof is on the charts!!
This kit is perfect for producers trying to recreate the classic west coast sound or as a premium grade addition to your sound collection!

All sounds are in hi-definition .wav format compatible with MPC 500, 1000, 2000, 2000 XL, 2500, 3000, 4000, ROLAND MV-8000, KORG TRITON, YAMAHA MOTIF, EXS24, MACHFIVE, KONTAKT, FRUITY LOOPS, REASON, HALION, PC, MAC and many more!

Maestro’s Beat Made Him Do It!

Cha-Ching!!…One more pic for the haters after the jump>>

Ice Cube’s "Raw Footage" Debuts At Number Five On Billboard 200

That’s hella big for an indy release! Hit up XXLmag.com for the run down.
FYI…I’m in LA gettin money, holla if you got some fa me!

Swizz Beatz on Forbes.com

Swizz is rich as fuck. Check out the article on Forbes.com or take my word for it.

LL Cool J – Exit 13

Congrats to my boy Toshi for placing two ILLFONICS tracks on LL’s new LP “Exit 13″. This joint will be the 13th and final album of LL’s deal with Def Jam, a deal that has lasted for more than twenty years. I havent heard the tracks yet, but I’m sure MATT and JED got busy! Tracklist after the jump>>
1. It’s Time For War
2. Old School New School
3. Feel My Heart Beat feat. 50 Cent
4. Get Over Here feat. It’s Ya Girl Nicolette, Jiz, Lyrikal & Ticky Diamondz
5. Baby feat. The Dream
6. You Better Watch Me
7. Cry
8. Baby “Rock Remix” feat. Richie Sambora
9. Rocking With The G.O.A.T.
10. This Is Ring Tone M… feat. Grandmaster Caz
11. Like A Radio feat. Ryan Leslie
12. I Fall In Love feat. Elan of The DEY
13. Ur Only A Customer
14. Mr. President feat. Wyclef Jean
15. American Girl
16. Speedin On Da Highway/Exit 13 feat. Funkmaster Flex
17. Come And Party With Me feat. Fat Joe and Sheek Louch
18. We Rollin’
19. Dear Hip Hop

New Styles from The Bureau!

The homey Jon just dropped off the whole new line for me and the fam! The Bureau’s been lacing ya boy with the new shit for years…Check out their site and get u some! Pics of the shipment (minus what Chico took, lol)>>

Maestro featured in XXL Magazine "Production Credit"

Click the pic to zoom. I didn’t get a chance to post this when it hit stands in April, better late than never…Thanks again Steve and Toshi!
From the April ‘08 Issue

Clipse x Maestro x Joss Stone @ XXLmag.com

Classic caption!Big Ups to J Rod @ XXL

Clipse featuring Joss Stone "Celebrate" Produced by Maestro

Ever since this morning this joint has had the internet going NUTS! Its a ruff cut, the final version has live bass and is BANGIN, but I figured I’d give ya’ll a taste (PAUSE)
“Celebrate “…Clipse x Joss Stone x Maestro
Peep some pics from the session >>>

The Madness Behind Maestro and Clipse Presents Re-Up Gang

What started out as an innocent convo about a brutal album review turned into an exclusive tell all expose on why the new “Clipse Presents Re-Up Gang” album isn’t the classic it was supposed to be…Ketchum’s new and improved site Speech Is My Hammer has the full story!

The Underdogs vs The Bill Collector

Elegante Leasing Ltd. is suing producer Damon Thomas, 1/2 of the Underdogs for 3 whips he leased in ‘07. Elegante claims Thomas defaulted on his payments and owed them nearly $500k! Its quite possible that the person who D appointed to handle his car-notes was slippin, betta get that in check homey! I’m not yet rich enough to condone the poor financial management, but this man produces DOPE records, makes major paper, and smashed Kim Kardashian’s sweet buns for 4 years before Ray & Reggie came and wore her out. The top feels so much better than the bottom!
Check out Underdogentertainment.net…the site is CRAZY!

Elite on DMX "Walk With Me Now, Fly With Me Later"

Check out the homey Elite breaking down his 2 new tracks on X’s new album…Behind the scenes shit like this gets me hype about a project! Congrats E…Check out his site Elitethatsme.com. What’s up wit a link to X’s camp Elite, I’m tryna eat too!

GZA Solo Album…Pro Tools

Very dope cover art, but somebody’s asking for a meeeeeean lawsuit! seen @ fatbeats.com

The GZA is back with his long-awaited new solo album, and he hasn’t lost his step on the mic at all! Beats and guest verses from RZA, Black Milk, Roc Marciano, Masta Killa, True Master, and more!

L.I.P. Reginae Carter

The lame ass rumor that Weezy’s daughter Nae-Nae died in a car crash is FALSE. But if you care so much, go buy a couple copies of the Carter 3 to ensure that everybody who eats off the album can push big whips that won’t crumble

Young Jeezy "The Recession"..Tha Bizness is on it!!

Congrats to J Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness. Them boys did the heater “My President” on Snowman’s album “The Recession.” Keep up the good work my nigs. The album also features production by Shawty Redd, Cannon, Drumma Boy, and engineering by my man Dee. Hit up Complex.com for the full rundown.
And if you’re wondering why I didnt mention any of the other producers…

August 12th Is Vinyl Record Day!

Happy 8/12! Thomas Edison invented the phonograph that day in 1877. Turn off your keyboards and go dig for records at a flea market or sample some vinyl. Also, d’load “Sample Clearance” to check out some gems that have been lifted from old wax. In honor of the day, the Vintage Vinyl Drum Library is on sale for $9.12 with coupon code 9122008…
But please don’t forget…Mo’ Samples, Mo’ Problems!

Christina Milian Sues Producer Over "Dip It Low"

Read about it @ Yoraps.com…Apparently the producer led Milian to believe that the song didn’t contain a sample. Besides the obvious legal repercussions when the truth comes out, why lie about a sample? The smart producer sees it like this…When she’s single, has a huge deal, and has called me out to Dubai to record her new album at some oil prince’s billion dollar home studio I wanna be on her good side, lol. (and from what I can see, all sides look pretty good)

Fabian Marasciullo in Sound on Sound

(i know the pic is old but Fabe is too busy to send a new one)Check out my favorite engineer Fabian Marasciullo in the new issue of Sound on Sound. Fabe is the man behind the boards on all Cash Money and Terror Squad albums. Most importantly, he blessed 3 Peat and turned my 808 into a MONSTER!!! This article is a must read! I said it before and I’ll say it again, ‘A great ruff mix can place your record, a good Fabian mix will make it a classic!’
Check out these other S4TPB posts highlighting the big homey Fabe!
Go here to see pics from Fabe’s studio in Miami!
And here is the rest of it.

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang…"Zen" Produced by Maestro

LISTEN HERE…New Album in stores 8/5/08

Hi Haters!

Last week I posed an interesting question to all my friends – “wouldn’t it be hilarious if Nas gets outsold by Carter 3 in his second week?” Just as I anticipated, Wayne came back and claimed the #5 position while Nas barely snuck in the Top 10 at #8. Cont’d after the jump so I knew that it was only a matter of time before some huge YT artists dropped and did big numbers, but this is America people!! Weezy still leads the pack of atists “WE” like. Nevertheless, congrats to Nas for keeping real hip-hop and dope lyricism alive! $$CHA-CHING$$

Raw Footage Sampler…This Shit Bangs!

Hit up Illroots.com to hear the sampler of Ice Cube’s certified CRACK “Raw Footage.” The album will be in stores August 19th so mark your calendars…support ya fam and pick this one up. The ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It Sample Pack’ will be dropped on the same day to commemorate the release!! Big ups to my cuz Ace for makin’ this one happen for ya boy.

New Mac Book Pro!

Don’t get hyphy yet, this is just an artist’s rendition of what a new Mac Book Pro COULD look like based on leaked insider information. For all the music heads, imagine being able to mix like this on your computer?! DOPE! At any rate, new MBPs are due pretty soon, so stay tuned! Head over to my favorite nerd site Gizmodo.com for more info on the new Mac Book Pro and other new gadgets on the horizon.

Just Blaze Hates the MPC 5000

Go see how the Akai MPC 5000 sucks ass over on Just Blaze’s site The Megatron Don.com. I took one look at it and told ya’ll back in January that this machine is trash. Logic, Reason, and the MPC 2500 are where its at! Check out this video of JB showing off his MPC 4k setup and talking about his production process. Makes me wanna go fuck off some publishing and freak up some samples!…Big ups to the homey Jim Nice aka Jimbo Slice…I hear u crankin ‘em out on the trusty MPC 4k!

Huey on MTV CRIBS…

Click the pic to watch the vid…I don’t have much to say besides “$100k for THAT chain???!??!?.” Lol, just jokes homeboy! I have the utmost respect for ANY man trying to keep their head up in this fucked up business and still try to maintain a marketable image…thoughts?

Billboard Q&A w/Bangladesh

Check out this cool little piece on my boy Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford, known most recently for the ‘A Millie‘ track, over @ Billboard.com. There’s not too much in depth info, but he makes a good point about wanting to reach the status where he can give artists the tracks that he wants them to have. I feel you on that brotha, my sentiments exactly!

Fabe Fires Back

My homey Fabian Marasciullo speaks out on Weezy’s latest legal woes at XXLmag.com. Although I undertand that copyright law plays an integral role in the protection of artists’ intellectual property, I feel that the judicial system is definitely beginning to infringe on creativity. Can I copyright a ‘c chord’? How ’bout a couple words out the dictionary? Then I can sue ANYBODY that uses them…That should keep me rolling in dough!
And here is the rest of it.

ATL Rap Nerd Roundtable…

See how it all went down @ XXLmag.com & Dallaspenn.com.
I couldnt let Toshi have all the fun with his roundtable, so we had one of our own. Big shouts to Billy Sunday for orchestrating the pow wow, and Chico, Twerkolater, and The Underwriter for coming thru. We had an opportunity to build on a real intellectual level. The discussion definitely put a lot of things going on in the industry today into perspective. 100

Rhapsody Roundtable: The Production Game in 2008

Rhapsody interviewed the hottest hip-hop, pop and R&B producers on the charts; The result: a state of the musical union, from behind the boards…check it out…Rhapsody Roundtable: The Production Game in 2008 (whats poppin Toshi!)
And here is the rest of it.

The Fuckery…SMH!

Weezy’s being sued by Rolling Stones’ publisher over ‘Playing With Fire.’ Abkco Music Inc. claims the bonus track infringes on copyright of the Stones’ ‘Play With Fire.’ All this over a damn BONUS TRACK??? Damn Streetrunner….SMH…When will the fuckery end!?!?
If you want the rundown…mtv.com

New Maestro Interview @ DUBCNN.com!!

Shout out to Nima Etminan over at DUBCNN.com for this one. CLICK HERE and head over to DUBCNN to read it or hear the full audio, or just…

Its Official…Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks is Multiplatinum!

Click the pic for a better look…taken from Billboard.com’s monthly report of Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications. For all my homies on futureproducers.com, the answer is YES!

Its Official…Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks is Multiplatinum!

Click the pic for a better look…taken from Billboard.com’s monthly report of Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications. For all my homies on futureproducers.com, the answer is YES!

Its Official…Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks is Multiplatinum!

Click the pic for a better look…taken from Billboard.com’s monthly report of Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications. For all my homies on futureproducers.com, the answer is YES!

Its Official…Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks is Multiplatinum!

Click the pic for a better look…taken from Billboard.com’s monthly report of Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications. For all my homies on futureproducers.com, the answer is YES!

Name Droppin’…Reup Gang

Much respect to Pusha [1/2 of the Clipse, 1/4 of the Reup Gang] for droppin’ ya boy’s name in his latest interview on Metal Lungies.com. Be on the look-out for the Maestro produced “Zen” on their latest release. Also stay tuned for another Maestro banger “Celebrate” featuring Joss Stone. More pics from the Joss Stone/Clipse session after the cut…
(Related post…”Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!”)


My publicist Ace in the Bape…Ratti Productionz!!

Name Droppin’…Reup Gang

Much respect to Pusha [1/2 of the Clipse, 1/4 of the Reup Gang] for droppin’ ya boy’s name in his latest interview on Metal Lungies.com. Be on the look-out for the Maestro produced “Zen” on their latest release. Also stay tuned for another Maestro banger “Celebrate” featuring Joss Stone. More pics from the Joss Stone/Clipse session after the cut…
(Related post…”Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!”)


My publicist Ace in the Bape…Ratti Productionz!!

Name Droppin’…Reup Gang

Much respect to Pusha [1/2 of the Clipse, 1/4 of the Reup Gang] for droppin’ ya boy’s name in his latest interview on Metal Lungies.com. Be on the look-out for the Maestro produced “Zen” on their latest release. Also stay tuned for another Maestro banger “Celebrate” featuring Joss Stone. More pics from the Joss Stone/Clipse session after the cut…
(Related post…”Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!”)


My publicist Ace in the Bape…Ratti Productionz!!

Name Droppin’…Reup Gang

Much respect to Pusha [1/2 of the Clipse, 1/4 of the Reup Gang] for droppin’ ya boy’s name in his latest interview on Metal Lungies.com. Be on the look-out for the Maestro produced “Zen” on their latest release. Also stay tuned for another Maestro banger “Celebrate” featuring Joss Stone. More pics from the Joss Stone/Clipse session after the cut…
(Related post…”Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!”)


My publicist Ace in the Bape…Ratti Productionz!!

The Perfect Beat Machine…BMW Gran Turismo

I’ve got a soft spot for Bimmers, and I like this one a lot! The four-door Gran Turismo will go into production 2009. They are positioned just above the 7-series. Head over to Dimewars.com for more pics.And here is the rest of it.

The Rise and Fall of Scott Storch…SMH

It’s been awhile now that people have been talking about Scott’s fall from grace and I’m not gonna waste my energy bashing him. Just know that’ll NEVER be the kid! “Oh No not me, rap game flop V – back down in Texas screaming ‘Hola Pappi!’ Anyway, ya’ll can read about it all here. Its a sad and sordid story but the most hilarious thing I’ve read on the subject has GOT to be this comment by ‘knowitall’…“He always spent more than he had. never had anywhere 70 mill, and was dropping million dollar jewels (that were bought from crooked jewelers, and probably worth nothing) on girls who wouldnt sleep with him on a bet. never had a decent manager, business manager, or accountant. fled from anyone who was real and would tell him reality. this has been a long time coming. he will not recover economically. and many of those bridges are burnt for good. in fact….look for the IRS to come around well before another hit does…..” Classic!

J Hen Makes a Banger on the iPHONE!!

My homey J hen ,one of the most talented producers in the game shows that you can make heat on anything! You hear that Maestro 808 bangin even on the iPhone thru the headphone jack??? “Maestro & Tha Bizness South Kit Beat Pack” coming soon to an iPhone near you!!

I’m Honored…

I’m sure nobody cares about this besides me, but this is my blog and I can write about whatever I freakin want to! Why am I Mr. Happy today? Because the blog that made me want to start a blog of my own added me to its blogroll! Big shouts to the staff over at DALLASPENN.com for linkin’ me up. I remember the first time I stumbled upon Dallaspenn.com, it had posts about EVERYTHING that interested me and I thought to myself “man…if I had a blog it would be just like this.” I’ll save the sap about what exactly I dig about DP, check it out for yourself…thanks again dudes.

I’m Honored…

I’m sure nobody cares about this besides me, but this is my blog and I can write about whatever I freakin want to! Why am I Mr. Happy today? Because the blog that made me want to start a blog of my own added me to its blogroll! Big shouts to the staff over at DALLASPENN.com for linkin’ me up. I remember the first time I stumbled upon Dallaspenn.com, it had posts about EVERYTHING that interested me and I thought to myself “man…if I had a blog it would be just like this.” I’ll save the sap about what exactly I dig about DP, check it out for yourself…thanks again dudes.

I’m Honored…

I’m sure nobody cares about this besides me, but this is my blog and I can write about whatever I freakin want to! Why am I Mr. Happy today? Because the blog that made me want to start a blog of my own added me to its blogroll! Big shouts to the staff over at DALLASPENN.com for linkin’ me up. I remember the first time I stumbled upon Dallaspenn.com, it had posts about EVERYTHING that interested me and I thought to myself “man…if I had a blog it would be just like this.” I’ll save the sap about what exactly I dig about DP, check it out for yourself…thanks again dudes.

I’m Honored…

I’m sure nobody cares about this besides me, but this is my blog and I can write about whatever I freakin want to! Why am I Mr. Happy today? Because the blog that made me want to start a blog of my own added me to its blogroll! Big shouts to the staff over at DALLASPENN.com for linkin’ me up. I remember the first time I stumbled upon Dallaspenn.com, it had posts about EVERYTHING that interested me and I thought to myself “man…if I had a blog it would be just like this.” I’ll save the sap about what exactly I dig about DP, check it out for yourself…thanks again dudes.

3 Peat…Lil Wayne Remains King Of The Billboard 200

For a third non-consecutive week, Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” (Cash Money/Universal) tops The Billboard 200. The album moved 125,000 copies during the tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Three weeks at #1, that’s what I call a 3 Peat!

Another interview, not with me, but still a good read…

Click the pic to hit XXl.com and read the excerpt of the interview, Head over to Hip Hop Is Read for the full story

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!

The New Clipse Re-Up Gang is slated to drop on 8/5/08. The Maestro produced “Zen” has been chosen as an iTunes EXCLUSIVE single! It will be available ONLY ON ITUNES July 29th, a full week before it hits stores! Yuk!!


Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang”, which will be released on August 5th, 2008. The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse’ platinum debut “Lord Willin’”, and is responsible for the celebrated “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. But “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang” is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from “We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3”.

Pusha T, one half of the Clipse, says “Everything happens for a reason. We put out the We Got it 4 Cheap series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album.”

The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, “Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves The Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang.”

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch’s single, “Fast Life,” which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, “Fast Life” is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet’s lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. “Fast Life” has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse’-flavored hit, “What Happened To That Boy.” Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of “We Got It 4 Cheap” have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project.

“The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang” arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse’ full-length album on Sony, due in November.

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!

The New Clipse Re-Up Gang is slated to drop on 8/5/08. The Maestro produced “Zen” has been chosen as an iTunes EXCLUSIVE single! It will be available ONLY ON ITUNES July 29th, a full week before it hits stores! Yuk!!


Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang”, which will be released on August 5th, 2008. The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse’ platinum debut “Lord Willin’”, and is responsible for the celebrated “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. But “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang” is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from “We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3”.

Pusha T, one half of the Clipse, says “Everything happens for a reason. We put out the We Got it 4 Cheap series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album.”

The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, “Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves The Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang.”

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch’s single, “Fast Life,” which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, “Fast Life” is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet’s lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. “Fast Life” has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse’-flavored hit, “What Happened To That Boy.” Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of “We Got It 4 Cheap” have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project.

“The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang” arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse’ full-length album on Sony, due in November.

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!

The New Clipse Re-Up Gang is slated to drop on 8/5/08. The Maestro produced “Zen” has been chosen as an iTunes EXCLUSIVE single! It will be available ONLY ON ITUNES July 29th, a full week before it hits stores! Yuk!!


Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang”, which will be released on August 5th, 2008. The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse’ platinum debut “Lord Willin’”, and is responsible for the celebrated “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. But “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang” is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from “We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3”.

Pusha T, one half of the Clipse, says “Everything happens for a reason. We put out the We Got it 4 Cheap series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album.”

The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, “Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves The Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang.”

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch’s single, “Fast Life,” which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, “Fast Life” is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet’s lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. “Fast Life” has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse’-flavored hit, “What Happened To That Boy.” Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of “We Got It 4 Cheap” have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project.

“The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang” arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse’ full-length album on Sony, due in November.

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!

The New Clipse Re-Up Gang is slated to drop on 8/5/08. The Maestro produced “Zen” has been chosen as an iTunes EXCLUSIVE single! It will be available ONLY ON ITUNES July 29th, a full week before it hits stores! Yuk!!


Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang”, which will be released on August 5th, 2008. The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse’ platinum debut “Lord Willin’”, and is responsible for the celebrated “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. But “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang” is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from “We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3”.

Pusha T, one half of the Clipse, says “Everything happens for a reason. We put out the We Got it 4 Cheap series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album.”

The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, “Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves The Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang.”

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch’s single, “Fast Life,” which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, “Fast Life” is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet’s lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. “Fast Life” has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse’-flavored hit, “What Happened To That Boy.” Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of “We Got It 4 Cheap” have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project.

“The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang” arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse’ full-length album on Sony, due in November.

Clipse presents Re-Up Gang 8/5/08…Yeah I’m On It!

The New Clipse Re-Up Gang is slated to drop on 8/5/08. The Maestro produced “Zen” has been chosen as an iTunes EXCLUSIVE single! It will be available ONLY ON ITUNES July 29th, a full week before it hits stores! Yuk!!


Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang”, which will be released on August 5th, 2008. The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse’ platinum debut “Lord Willin’”, and is responsible for the celebrated “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. But “The Clipse Present The Re-Up Gang” is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from “We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3”.

Pusha T, one half of the Clipse, says “Everything happens for a reason. We put out the We Got it 4 Cheap series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album.”

The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, “Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves The Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang.”

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch’s single, “Fast Life,” which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, “Fast Life” is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet’s lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. “Fast Life” has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse’-flavored hit, “What Happened To That Boy.” Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of “We Got It 4 Cheap” have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project.

“The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang” arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse’ full-length album on Sony, due in November.

Ice Cube Raw Footage Cover and Tracklist…Yeah, I’m On It!

Tracklist after the jump, but all that really matters is #4, ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It’ produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks and #2 by my homies J-Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness.
1. What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
2. Jack In the Box
3. It Takes a Nation
4. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
5. Hood Mentality
6. Why Me? (ft. Musiq Soulchild)
7. Cold Places
8. Do Ya Thang
9. Thank God
10. Here He Come
11. Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
12. Get Use To It (ft. The Game & WC)
13. Crack Baby
14. Tomorrow
15. Stand Tall
16. Take Me Away (ft. Butch Cassidy)

In stores August 19.

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #819_ _ _ _ is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The last 4 digits can be found here…

Ice Cube Raw Footage Cover and Tracklist…Yeah, I’m On It!

Tracklist after the jump, but all that really matters is #4, ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It’ produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks and #2 by my homies J-Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness.
1. What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
2. Jack In the Box
3. It Takes a Nation
4. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
5. Hood Mentality
6. Why Me? (ft. Musiq Soulchild)
7. Cold Places
8. Do Ya Thang
9. Thank God
10. Here He Come
11. Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
12. Get Use To It (ft. The Game & WC)
13. Crack Baby
14. Tomorrow
15. Stand Tall
16. Take Me Away (ft. Butch Cassidy)

In stores August 19.

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #819_ _ _ _ is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The last 4 digits can be found here…

Ice Cube Raw Footage Cover and Tracklist…Yeah, I’m On It!

Tracklist after the jump, but all that really matters is #4, ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It’ produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks and #2 by my homies J-Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness.
1. What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
2. Jack In the Box
3. It Takes a Nation
4. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
5. Hood Mentality
6. Why Me? (ft. Musiq Soulchild)
7. Cold Places
8. Do Ya Thang
9. Thank God
10. Here He Come
11. Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
12. Get Use To It (ft. The Game & WC)
13. Crack Baby
14. Tomorrow
15. Stand Tall
16. Take Me Away (ft. Butch Cassidy)

In stores August 19.

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #819_ _ _ _ is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The last 4 digits can be found here…

Ice Cube Raw Footage Cover and Tracklist…Yeah, I’m On It!

Tracklist after the jump, but all that really matters is #4, ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It’ produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks and #2 by my homies J-Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness.
1. What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
2. Jack In the Box
3. It Takes a Nation
4. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
5. Hood Mentality
6. Why Me? (ft. Musiq Soulchild)
7. Cold Places
8. Do Ya Thang
9. Thank God
10. Here He Come
11. Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
12. Get Use To It (ft. The Game & WC)
13. Crack Baby
14. Tomorrow
15. Stand Tall
16. Take Me Away (ft. Butch Cassidy)

In stores August 19.

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #819_ _ _ _ is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The last 4 digits can be found here…

Ice Cube Raw Footage Cover and Tracklist…Yeah, I’m On It!

Tracklist after the jump, but all that really matters is #4, ‘Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It’ produced by Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks and #2 by my homies J-Hen and Dow Jones from Tha Bizness.
1. What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
2. Jack In the Box
3. It Takes a Nation
4. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
5. Hood Mentality
6. Why Me? (ft. Musiq Soulchild)
7. Cold Places
8. Do Ya Thang
9. Thank God
10. Here He Come
11. Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
12. Get Use To It (ft. The Game & WC)
13. Crack Baby
14. Tomorrow
15. Stand Tall
16. Take Me Away (ft. Butch Cassidy)

In stores August 19.

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #819_ _ _ _ is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The last 4 digits can be found here…

Maestro Featured in HipHopDX Producer’s Corner!

Click Pic to read the interview…
Shout out to Will Ketchum and HipHopDx for featuring me…
Be sure to comment here and there!

Maestro’s latest gem is the opening track to the most anticipated album of the year—“3 Peat” on Lil Wayne’s platinum-certified Tha Carter III—but the Atlanta producer has been putting in work for years. Building much of his catalog by crafting hits for Dem Franchize Boyz, he’s also responsible for co-producing much of David Banner’s 2005 album Certified. This year seems to be Maestro’s key year to shine, with both the aforementioned Weezy track and Ice Cube’s return single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” (with its subsequent remix featuring Nas and Scarface) both making waves.

In an interview with HipHopDX’s Producer’s Corner, Maestro talks about Lil Wayne, playing the side role with David Banner, and why helping the competition won’t impede on his hustle.

HipHopDX: Well first off, how and when did you get started doing music?
Maestro: I started doing music professionally full time around 2003, but my experiences with music go back much further. I’m a classically trained pianist and took lessons from the age of seven. I played piano at my church and was the accompanist for all of the music groups at my junior high and high school. I got into the production aspect in high school through a course at my school called Electronic Music; it was there that I learned a majority of the skills that have helped me go pro.

DX: How would you say being classically trained enhances your music? Do you think it gives you an advantage over other producers?
Maestro: I think that being classically trained enhances my music by allowing me access to a larger musical pallet. I feel like it gives me an edge, but being able to play by ear also helps out a great deal. Overall, I think that any producer who can play an instrument or who has access to musicians puts himself at an advantage but that’s not all that this business is about. You can have great music but if you lack a good attitude and good contacts, all the classical training in the world won’t get you on an album. [Laughs]

DX: Well you seem to have done a good job of getting with the right artists. How did you first start working with Wayne?
Maestro: My first song with Weezy was a feature on a cut by Parlae of [Dem] Franchize Boyz; I had done a ton of work on their first album, and my brother Chico was their manager, so I had an open lane. “I Whip Yae” was the product of that initial link. My official placements with Wayne arose from work I had done with a songwriter named Shanell. She was doing a deal and cutting songs with him at the time, and I was able to submit a lot of material. I ended up cutting songs for Wayne [click to read], Curren$y, Baby [click to read], and Bad Ass Grasshoppers off the strength of her relationship.

DX: Have you gotten to record with him in the studio? Or has he just taken your beats and done his thing from there?
Maestro: I’ve been at the studio while he was recording, but never to any of my songs. Wayne does a lot of recording on the road, so it would be difficult to get in with him every time a track of mine moves him to record. Even when I can’t be a part of the recording process, I still make sure I produce all of my records. I get the sessions once the songs are laid and enhance the production and arrangement of the tracks to make the songs a good showcase of our collaboration.

DX: How is working with Wayne different from working with other artists, just as far as working with his vocals, etc.?
Maestro: I think Wayne is a unique artist in a lot of senses. What really differentiates him from most is that he is a prolific recorder. He’ll record anywhere and anytime because he is always coming up with concepts, laying down a song, jumping on a remix, or working on new material. Since his home is on the road, all of that creativity might come out when the conditions are less than perfect. The average artist works at the same studio with the same engineer in the same room all the time so there is a sense of uniformity to their vocal tone. Wayne’s stuff may sound really expertly recorded on some tracks and be less than perfect on others. It comes with the territory, but I leave that for the engineer to deal with. [Laughs]

DX: I read on your blog that your sample for “Kush” was the first sample you made a beat with?
Maestro: That’s right. I made “Kush” when all I had was an MPC 2000 and Pro Tools LE on a Mac G4. I was always intimidated by sampling records because I didn’t know the “mystic arts” of chopping. I ended up importing the song into a Pro Tools session, cutting it up, and sliding the pieces around on the grid. It was crude at the time, and probably hard to understand for newer producers who use intuitive sample editors like Recycle, but it got the job done!

DX: You’ve done several beats for Wayne: “3 Peat,” “Kush,” “Prostitute,” etc. What would you say is your favorite one?
Maestro: I’m attached to all of them because each one represents a milestone in my career, but “3 Peat” would have to be my favorite. The track is mature and really represents what I do best. Its super musical with sprinklings of classical elements, smart sound choice, a moving melody, and it bangs tremendously! The song as a whole is crazy and really hypes you up for the rest of the album. Did you know Pat Riley trademarked the term ‘three peat’ for the ‘89 championship? The Lakers didn’t get the ring that year, but Weezy definitely got that shit on his third time around!

DX: I read about this other joint you did for Curren$y, where Wayne plays guitar on the song?
Maestro: That song is called “Staring at the World” and features Wayne singing on the hook and playing the guitar on the outro. It was supposed to be the first single off [Curren$y’s album] Music to Fly To, but nothing in this business is guaranteed. The song is dope, I’m sure it’ll turn up sooner or later.

DX: You also co-produced a lot of songs on David Banner’s last album, Certified. Being such a producer yourself, what is it like to co-produce with another beatmaker? Do you bump heads a lot?
Maestro: Yes, I did a lot of work on David Banner’s [click to read] album and I learned a lot in the process. Working with another producer can be a great creative approach when each person comes to the table with a different set of skills. I was working as more of a keyboardist and musical assistant for DB at the time. I have no problem acknowledging that I was playing a supporting role on the David Banner show. It wasn’t my time to shine yet. But please believe that when he recorded to “Westside,” which I produced solely by myself, I went in! It was my time to shine, we went into that session as equals and we both had our respective jobs to do. By the next session, however, I was back to playing my position. [Laughs] Banner runs his company the way most producers should, and I recognized that my employment with his company didn’t have bumping heads in the job description. I was there to perform a service and get paid [quite well] to do it.

DX: What other producers do you look up to?
Maestro: I look up to a lot of the veterans in the game like Battlecat, [Dr.] Dre, Puff, [DJ] Quik, and Premo, but I learned from a young age that when you look up for a long time you get cramps in your neck. [Laughs] I like to look forward, so I’ve come to really respect the producers who are just a few steps (and a few hit records) ahead of me. Guys like B Cox, Polow [Da Don], Don Vito, Shondrae, Needlz [click to read]. Those are all guys who have been putting in work but only rose to the top of their game in recent years. I can still catch those guys and run through the doors that they open. Why try to pattern myself after Dr. Dre or Puff? There will never be another ‘Pac, B.I.G. or Snoop, I won’t ever be in the new N.W.A., and I don’t plan to dance in anybody’s video. [Laughs] I’m following a blueprint that I’ve seen build successful careers right before my eyes!

DX: What else are you working on?
Maestro: I’m working on a little bit of everything. I always stay in the lab with Franchize Boyz [click to read], I’m doing some work on a Clipse Re-Up Gang [click to read] album, and I’m getting some tracks together to get in with Gorilla Zoe [click to read]. Besides that, I send tracks to anyone that will listen to them. I’m hopeful that the Ice Cube [click to read] single will lead to a fruitful relationship with Cube’s film endeavors, so I’m just keeping myself open to whatever comes my way.

DX: What was it like to landing the Cube joint?
Maestro: Producing a single for Cube was a huge accomplishment for me. Getting the opportunity to work with a legend who effortlessly remains current was really dope. Three fourths of the artists releasing material today will never have the impact on the genre that Cube has had.

DX: On your blog, you have producer kits and sample packs for sale. What all is in those, and why you have them up?
Maestro: The kits I sell on my site are just a public service from your friendly neighborhood Maestro. [Laughs] Actually, I put those up there to help new producers advance at their craft and also as a way of expanding the way that people appreciate my music and my brand. A person who hears “Prostitute” may like it, but will eventually casually dismiss what he heard. A person who purchased the construction kit for the song is going to appreciate it more because he knows exactly what went into its production. Furthermore, he’s also going to keep checking for Maestro’s beats because he has the exact sounds and feels like he’s part of the movement. I did it with the philosophy that every dude I’ve ever met with a pair of Jordan’s on was a real Jordan fan.

DX: Isn’t that giving the competition too much ammo?
Maestro: [Laughs] Maybe so, but I’ve never seen a dude who saved his allowance and rushed to buy Jordans on a Saturday, walk up to MJ and dunk in his face!

Maestro Featured in HipHopDX Producer’s Corner!

Click Pic to read the interview…
Shout out to Will Ketchum and HipHopDx for featuring me…
Be sure to comment here and there!

Maestro’s latest gem is the opening track to the most anticipated album of the year—“3 Peat” on Lil Wayne’s platinum-certified Tha Carter III—but the Atlanta producer has been putting in work for years. Building much of his catalog by crafting hits for Dem Franchize Boyz, he’s also responsible for co-producing much of David Banner’s 2005 album Certified. This year seems to be Maestro’s key year to shine, with both the aforementioned Weezy track and Ice Cube’s return single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” (with its subsequent remix featuring Nas and Scarface) both making waves.

In an interview with HipHopDX’s Producer’s Corner, Maestro talks about Lil Wayne, playing the side role with David Banner, and why helping the competition won’t impede on his hustle.

HipHopDX: Well first off, how and when did you get started doing music?
Maestro: I started doing music professionally full time around 2003, but my experiences with music go back much further. I’m a classically trained pianist and took lessons from the age of seven. I played piano at my church and was the accompanist for all of the music groups at my junior high and high school. I got into the production aspect in high school through a course at my school called Electronic Music; it was there that I learned a majority of the skills that have helped me go pro.

DX: How would you say being classically trained enhances your music? Do you think it gives you an advantage over other producers?
Maestro: I think that being classically trained enhances my music by allowing me access to a larger musical pallet. I feel like it gives me an edge, but being able to play by ear also helps out a great deal. Overall, I think that any producer who can play an instrument or who has access to musicians puts himself at an advantage but that’s not all that this business is about. You can have great music but if you lack a good attitude and good contacts, all the classical training in the world won’t get you on an album. [Laughs]

DX: Well you seem to have done a good job of getting with the right artists. How did you first start working with Wayne?
Maestro: My first song with Weezy was a feature on a cut by Parlae of [Dem] Franchize Boyz; I had done a ton of work on their first album, and my brother Chico was their manager, so I had an open lane. “I Whip Yae” was the product of that initial link. My official placements with Wayne arose from work I had done with a songwriter named Shanell. She was doing a deal and cutting songs with him at the time, and I was able to submit a lot of material. I ended up cutting songs for Wayne [click to read], Curren$y, Baby [click to read], and Bad Ass Grasshoppers off the strength of her relationship.

DX: Have you gotten to record with him in the studio? Or has he just taken your beats and done his thing from there?
Maestro: I’ve been at the studio while he was recording, but never to any of my songs. Wayne does a lot of recording on the road, so it would be difficult to get in with him every time a track of mine moves him to record. Even when I can’t be a part of the recording process, I still make sure I produce all of my records. I get the sessions once the songs are laid and enhance the production and arrangement of the tracks to make the songs a good showcase of our collaboration.

DX: How is working with Wayne different from working with other artists, just as far as working with his vocals, etc.?
Maestro: I think Wayne is a unique artist in a lot of senses. What really differentiates him from most is that he is a prolific recorder. He’ll record anywhere and anytime because he is always coming up with concepts, laying down a song, jumping on a remix, or working on new material. Since his home is on the road, all of that creativity might come out when the conditions are less than perfect. The average artist works at the same studio with the same engineer in the same room all the time so there is a sense of uniformity to their vocal tone. Wayne’s stuff may sound really expertly recorded on some tracks and be less than perfect on others. It comes with the territory, but I leave that for the engineer to deal with. [Laughs]

DX: I read on your blog that your sample for “Kush” was the first sample you made a beat with?
Maestro: That’s right. I made “Kush” when all I had was an MPC 2000 and Pro Tools LE on a Mac G4. I was always intimidated by sampling records because I didn’t know the “mystic arts” of chopping. I ended up importing the song into a Pro Tools session, cutting it up, and sliding the pieces around on the grid. It was crude at the time, and probably hard to understand for newer producers who use intuitive sample editors like Recycle, but it got the job done!

DX: You’ve done several beats for Wayne: “3 Peat,” “Kush,” “Prostitute,” etc. What would you say is your favorite one?
Maestro: I’m attached to all of them because each one represents a milestone in my career, but “3 Peat” would have to be my favorite. The track is mature and really represents what I do best. Its super musical with sprinklings of classical elements, smart sound choice, a moving melody, and it bangs tremendously! The song as a whole is crazy and really hypes you up for the rest of the album. Did you know Pat Riley trademarked the term ‘three peat’ for the ‘89 championship? The Lakers didn’t get the ring that year, but Weezy definitely got that shit on his third time around!

DX: I read about this other joint you did for Curren$y, where Wayne plays guitar on the song?
Maestro: That song is called “Staring at the World” and features Wayne singing on the hook and playing the guitar on the outro. It was supposed to be the first single off [Curren$y’s album] Music to Fly To, but nothing in this business is guaranteed. The song is dope, I’m sure it’ll turn up sooner or later.

DX: You also co-produced a lot of songs on David Banner’s last album, Certified. Being such a producer yourself, what is it like to co-produce with another beatmaker? Do you bump heads a lot?
Maestro: Yes, I did a lot of work on David Banner’s [click to read] album and I learned a lot in the process. Working with another producer can be a great creative approach when each person comes to the table with a different set of skills. I was working as more of a keyboardist and musical assistant for DB at the time. I have no problem acknowledging that I was playing a supporting role on the David Banner show. It wasn’t my time to shine yet. But please believe that when he recorded to “Westside,” which I produced solely by myself, I went in! It was my time to shine, we went into that session as equals and we both had our respective jobs to do. By the next session, however, I was back to playing my position. [Laughs] Banner runs his company the way most producers should, and I recognized that my employment with his company didn’t have bumping heads in the job description. I was there to perform a service and get paid [quite well] to do it.

DX: What other producers do you look up to?
Maestro: I look up to a lot of the veterans in the game like Battlecat, [Dr.] Dre, Puff, [DJ] Quik, and Premo, but I learned from a young age that when you look up for a long time you get cramps in your neck. [Laughs] I like to look forward, so I’ve come to really respect the producers who are just a few steps (and a few hit records) ahead of me. Guys like B Cox, Polow [Da Don], Don Vito, Shondrae, Needlz [click to read]. Those are all guys who have been putting in work but only rose to the top of their game in recent years. I can still catch those guys and run through the doors that they open. Why try to pattern myself after Dr. Dre or Puff? There will never be another ‘Pac, B.I.G. or Snoop, I won’t ever be in the new N.W.A., and I don’t plan to dance in anybody’s video. [Laughs] I’m following a blueprint that I’ve seen build successful careers right before my eyes!

DX: What else are you working on?
Maestro: I’m working on a little bit of everything. I always stay in the lab with Franchize Boyz [click to read], I’m doing some work on a Clipse Re-Up Gang [click to read] album, and I’m getting some tracks together to get in with Gorilla Zoe [click to read]. Besides that, I send tracks to anyone that will listen to them. I’m hopeful that the Ice Cube [click to read] single will lead to a fruitful relationship with Cube’s film endeavors, so I’m just keeping myself open to whatever comes my way.

DX: What was it like to landing the Cube joint?
Maestro: Producing a single for Cube was a huge accomplishment for me. Getting the opportunity to work with a legend who effortlessly remains current was really dope. Three fourths of the artists releasing material today will never have the impact on the genre that Cube has had.

DX: On your blog, you have producer kits and sample packs for sale. What all is in those, and why you have them up?
Maestro: The kits I sell on my site are just a public service from your friendly neighborhood Maestro. [Laughs] Actually, I put those up there to help new producers advance at their craft and also as a way of expanding the way that people appreciate my music and my brand. A person who hears “Prostitute” may like it, but will eventually casually dismiss what he heard. A person who purchased the construction kit for the song is going to appreciate it more because he knows exactly what went into its production. Furthermore, he’s also going to keep checking for Maestro’s beats because he has the exact sounds and feels like he’s part of the movement. I did it with the philosophy that every dude I’ve ever met with a pair of Jordan’s on was a real Jordan fan.

DX: Isn’t that giving the competition too much ammo?
Maestro: [Laughs] Maybe so, but I’ve never seen a dude who saved his allowance and rushed to buy Jordans on a Saturday, walk up to MJ and dunk in his face!

Maestro Featured in HipHopDX Producer’s Corner!

Click Pic to read the interview…
Shout out to Will Ketchum and HipHopDx for featuring me…
Be sure to comment here and there!

Maestro’s latest gem is the opening track to the most anticipated album of the year—“3 Peat” on Lil Wayne’s platinum-certified Tha Carter III—but the Atlanta producer has been putting in work for years. Building much of his catalog by crafting hits for Dem Franchize Boyz, he’s also responsible for co-producing much of David Banner’s 2005 album Certified. This year seems to be Maestro’s key year to shine, with both the aforementioned Weezy track and Ice Cube’s return single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” (with its subsequent remix featuring Nas and Scarface) both making waves.

In an interview with HipHopDX’s Producer’s Corner, Maestro talks about Lil Wayne, playing the side role with David Banner, and why helping the competition won’t impede on his hustle.

HipHopDX: Well first off, how and when did you get started doing music?
Maestro: I started doing music professionally full time around 2003, but my experiences with music go back much further. I’m a classically trained pianist and took lessons from the age of seven. I played piano at my church and was the accompanist for all of the music groups at my junior high and high school. I got into the production aspect in high school through a course at my school called Electronic Music; it was there that I learned a majority of the skills that have helped me go pro.

DX: How would you say being classically trained enhances your music? Do you think it gives you an advantage over other producers?
Maestro: I think that being classically trained enhances my music by allowing me access to a larger musical pallet. I feel like it gives me an edge, but being able to play by ear also helps out a great deal. Overall, I think that any producer who can play an instrument or who has access to musicians puts himself at an advantage but that’s not all that this business is about. You can have great music but if you lack a good attitude and good contacts, all the classical training in the world won’t get you on an album. [Laughs]

DX: Well you seem to have done a good job of getting with the right artists. How did you first start working with Wayne?
Maestro: My first song with Weezy was a feature on a cut by Parlae of [Dem] Franchize Boyz; I had done a ton of work on their first album, and my brother Chico was their manager, so I had an open lane. “I Whip Yae” was the product of that initial link. My official placements with Wayne arose from work I had done with a songwriter named Shanell. She was doing a deal and cutting songs with him at the time, and I was able to submit a lot of material. I ended up cutting songs for Wayne [click to read], Curren$y, Baby [click to read], and Bad Ass Grasshoppers off the strength of her relationship.

DX: Have you gotten to record with him in the studio? Or has he just taken your beats and done his thing from there?
Maestro: I’ve been at the studio while he was recording, but never to any of my songs. Wayne does a lot of recording on the road, so it would be difficult to get in with him every time a track of mine moves him to record. Even when I can’t be a part of the recording process, I still make sure I produce all of my records. I get the sessions once the songs are laid and enhance the production and arrangement of the tracks to make the songs a good showcase of our collaboration.

DX: How is working with Wayne different from working with other artists, just as far as working with his vocals, etc.?
Maestro: I think Wayne is a unique artist in a lot of senses. What really differentiates him from most is that he is a prolific recorder. He’ll record anywhere and anytime because he is always coming up with concepts, laying down a song, jumping on a remix, or working on new material. Since his home is on the road, all of that creativity might come out when the conditions are less than perfect. The average artist works at the same studio with the same engineer in the same room all the time so there is a sense of uniformity to their vocal tone. Wayne’s stuff may sound really expertly recorded on some tracks and be less than perfect on others. It comes with the territory, but I leave that for the engineer to deal with. [Laughs]

DX: I read on your blog that your sample for “Kush” was the first sample you made a beat with?
Maestro: That’s right. I made “Kush” when all I had was an MPC 2000 and Pro Tools LE on a Mac G4. I was always intimidated by sampling records because I didn’t know the “mystic arts” of chopping. I ended up importing the song into a Pro Tools session, cutting it up, and sliding the pieces around on the grid. It was crude at the time, and probably hard to understand for newer producers who use intuitive sample editors like Recycle, but it got the job done!

DX: You’ve done several beats for Wayne: “3 Peat,” “Kush,” “Prostitute,” etc. What would you say is your favorite one?
Maestro: I’m attached to all of them because each one represents a milestone in my career, but “3 Peat” would have to be my favorite. The track is mature and really represents what I do best. Its super musical with sprinklings of classical elements, smart sound choice, a moving melody, and it bangs tremendously! The song as a whole is crazy and really hypes you up for the rest of the album. Did you know Pat Riley trademarked the term ‘three peat’ for the ‘89 championship? The Lakers didn’t get the ring that year, but Weezy definitely got that shit on his third time around!

DX: I read about this other joint you did for Curren$y, where Wayne plays guitar on the song?
Maestro: That song is called “Staring at the World” and features Wayne singing on the hook and playing the guitar on the outro. It was supposed to be the first single off [Curren$y’s album] Music to Fly To, but nothing in this business is guaranteed. The song is dope, I’m sure it’ll turn up sooner or later.

DX: You also co-produced a lot of songs on David Banner’s last album, Certified. Being such a producer yourself, what is it like to co-produce with another beatmaker? Do you bump heads a lot?
Maestro: Yes, I did a lot of work on David Banner’s [click to read] album and I learned a lot in the process. Working with another producer can be a great creative approach when each person comes to the table with a different set of skills. I was working as more of a keyboardist and musical assistant for DB at the time. I have no problem acknowledging that I was playing a supporting role on the David Banner show. It wasn’t my time to shine yet. But please believe that when he recorded to “Westside,” which I produced solely by myself, I went in! It was my time to shine, we went into that session as equals and we both had our respective jobs to do. By the next session, however, I was back to playing my position. [Laughs] Banner runs his company the way most producers should, and I recognized that my employment with his company didn’t have bumping heads in the job description. I was there to perform a service and get paid [quite well] to do it.

DX: What other producers do you look up to?
Maestro: I look up to a lot of the veterans in the game like Battlecat, [Dr.] Dre, Puff, [DJ] Quik, and Premo, but I learned from a young age that when you look up for a long time you get cramps in your neck. [Laughs] I like to look forward, so I’ve come to really respect the producers who are just a few steps (and a few hit records) ahead of me. Guys like B Cox, Polow [Da Don], Don Vito, Shondrae, Needlz [click to read]. Those are all guys who have been putting in work but only rose to the top of their game in recent years. I can still catch those guys and run through the doors that they open. Why try to pattern myself after Dr. Dre or Puff? There will never be another ‘Pac, B.I.G. or Snoop, I won’t ever be in the new N.W.A., and I don’t plan to dance in anybody’s video. [Laughs] I’m following a blueprint that I’ve seen build successful careers right before my eyes!

DX: What else are you working on?
Maestro: I’m working on a little bit of everything. I always stay in the lab with Franchize Boyz [click to read], I’m doing some work on a Clipse Re-Up Gang [click to read] album, and I’m getting some tracks together to get in with Gorilla Zoe [click to read]. Besides that, I send tracks to anyone that will listen to them. I’m hopeful that the Ice Cube [click to read] single will lead to a fruitful relationship with Cube’s film endeavors, so I’m just keeping myself open to whatever comes my way.

DX: What was it like to landing the Cube joint?
Maestro: Producing a single for Cube was a huge accomplishment for me. Getting the opportunity to work with a legend who effortlessly remains current was really dope. Three fourths of the artists releasing material today will never have the impact on the genre that Cube has had.

DX: On your blog, you have producer kits and sample packs for sale. What all is in those, and why you have them up?
Maestro: The kits I sell on my site are just a public service from your friendly neighborhood Maestro. [Laughs] Actually, I put those up there to help new producers advance at their craft and also as a way of expanding the way that people appreciate my music and my brand. A person who hears “Prostitute” may like it, but will eventually casually dismiss what he heard. A person who purchased the construction kit for the song is going to appreciate it more because he knows exactly what went into its production. Furthermore, he’s also going to keep checking for Maestro’s beats because he has the exact sounds and feels like he’s part of the movement. I did it with the philosophy that every dude I’ve ever met with a pair of Jordan’s on was a real Jordan fan.

DX: Isn’t that giving the competition too much ammo?
Maestro: [Laughs] Maybe so, but I’ve never seen a dude who saved his allowance and rushed to buy Jordans on a Saturday, walk up to MJ and dunk in his face!

Maestro Featured in HipHopDX Producer’s Corner!

Click Pic to read the interview…
Shout out to Will Ketchum and HipHopDx for featuring me…
Be sure to comment here and there!

Kit Coupons Available Now!!

$5 Discount Coupons are now available for the new Lil Wayne 3 Peat Kit……but you guys are gonna have to work to get ‘em!
step 1…GO TO the the Label Cloud and select QnA
step 2…Starting with QnA #1, EXPAND the posts by selecting “CLICK HERE for the FULL STORY!!”
step 3…FIND each section of the code. Codes are in format [3PCC _ _ x x _ _ _], [3PCC _ _ _ _ _ x x], etc.
step 4…PROCEED to the NEXT QnA section to RETRIEVE the NEXT section of the code
step 5…LINE UP the numbers to reveal a 7 digit code
step 6…ENTER the complete 7 digit code in the coupon box and proceed to checkout!!

If this is too much work, dont trip, its only 5 bucks off, lol

Maestro 3Peat x Closer x 808 Sample Kit!!

This sample kit includes over 50+ high quality DRUM, PERCUSSION, and INSTRUMENT samples taken straight from C3’s 3 Peat and the Ne-yo Closer Remix! This exclusive collection features deep KICKS, crisp SNARES, lush PIANOS, monster 808s, and MUCH MORE!!

You want the platinum drums that set off the highest selling album of the year and made 3 PEAT an instant classic?? THEY’RE IN HERE! You want the futuristic synths that make the Maestro ‘Closer’ Remix a HIT?? THEY’RE IN HERE! You want the hi-quality 808 sounds that are dominating the charts?? THEY’RE IN HERE…BUY IT NOW!!

Don’t miss a chance to own sounds from two of Maestro’s HOTTEST productions of the year. These aren’t throwaway sounds, This shit right here is a comprehensive collection of pure heat!

All sounds are in hi-definition .wav format compatible with MPC 500, 1000, 2000, 2000 XL, 2500, 3000, 4000, ROLAND MV-8000, KORG TRITON, YAMAHA MOTIF, EXS24, MACHFIVE, KONTAKT, FRUITY LOOPS, REASON, HALION, PC, MAC and many more!

Click below to purchase the COMPLETE KIT including the 3PEAT percussion pack, AND the Neyo remix construction kit **BEST VALUE**

Click below to purchase ONLY the 3PEAT percussion pack **STRAIGHT CRACK**

…click here if you are having troubles downloading…

btw, I read somewhere that many casual blog readers don’t actually read “after the jump” and only pay attention to whats on the main page. I’d like to put that to the test….coupon code #_ _ _ 2008 is good for a $5 discount on the purchase price of the soon-to-be-released “Gangsta Rap Sample Pack” The first 3 digits can be found here…

New Interview on ILLROOTS.com!!

CLICK PIC TO READ IT!
Shout out to Illroots.com! They get the award for the ILLEST interview done on me EVER (second to toshi’s of course) Check it out, leave a comment there, leave a comment here, and add Illroots.com to your list of daily web stops!

Also, check out the interview they did on my boys J Hen and Dow Jones from the Tha Bizness…

Q&A pt.4…Headphones

Q. My parents are trippin on me and the volume of my system so I want some great headphones. I want some that are loud, sound good, and that will be good enough to help reference my mixes…

A. Great question, I always travel with headphones because they give me a frame of reference that I can rely on when I work in other places; the studios and their speakers can change, but my cans stay the same! My favorite joints are and will always be the Sony MDR-7506, they sound great, feel great, are fairly cheap ($100), and have a long cord (in case you record in a far closet or, like me, get hype off your beats and dance around, lol) My second favorite are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50. These have dope dope bass response, cup the head nicely (super nohomo), and are conveniently collapsible. These just might have been my favorites if I had them when I first started, but they are still a great choice and are available on ebay for less than the Sonys! (but cost more in the store, lol)

[3PCC _ _ _ _ _ _ 8]
Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks

Q&A pt.3…Paying for storage at the Studio

Q. Do u pay to have the studio keep a copy of your sessions or do u just get a copy on your HD/DVD and keep it all at home/storage? One studio I was recording at charges $50 per 20 GB, is that a good price?

A. Keep this on the hush…I have friends who own/manage studios and they make good money off stuff like this and I don’t want to be known as a hater, lol. My answer is “HELL TO THE NAWW!!!” The price per gig of hd/cd/dvd media is steadily declining, but as studios continue to take losses due to an increase in affordable home setups, they must still charge high rates for storage. If you are an artist or producer who is serious about your craft you should invest in a portable external hardrive. Also, go to the studio with your own spindle of cds and dvds and don’t allow ANYONE to get a cd burned unless THEY pay the studio for it! You’ll be surprised to see your bill after a week-long session and discover that you got charged 5 bucks a pop for EVERY cd that got burned!! Lacie makes some good drives and can be had for less than a dollar per gig. BTW, my favorite drives are the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Bus powered 7200rpm fw800 from macsales.com…they arent the cheapest drives on the market, but they have fast seek and write speeds, offer the connections I use most, don’t need a power supply, and they’re see-thru!!

UPDATES SOON!!!

My new HD system comes in today so new kits will be up by the end of the week! Its been murder trying to do any real precise audio editing in logic so itll be good to finally have my baby back I know you all expect the best and I’m gonna keep delivering it…stay tuned!

Resistance is Futile

FYI, the complete process of purchasing items and the subsequent delivery of products from this site has now become FULLY AUTOMATED… Highly sophisticated and specialized robotic technicians are now responsible for carrying out the extremely difficult skill that humans once did here at MAESTROBEATZ.COM! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!! THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!! LOL, Just kidding, on the real I implemented some cool software on the site that will help me keep up with the ever increasing demand as well as help prepare for all of the new products that I’ll be offering soon. So from now on nobody has to email me asking “where dem sounds at homie?” lol…Follow the on-screen prompts and your download will begin as soon as your payment is processed. As an added incentive to those of you who leave feedback once you’ve received your kits, I will be sending out coupons for discounts on the new batch of CRACK KITS that I’m cooking up as we speak!

Hot Shot Debut!!

Aside from having the BEST song on the #1 album on the Billboard 200, Top Internet Album, Top Digital Album, and damn near every other chart on Billboard, Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks also managed to win a personal victory…”3 Peat,” entered the Hot 100 charts at No. 66 as the week’s top debut! The gif says it all

J Dilla…Debt after Death :(

spotted @ the Kaos Effect & Hip Hop DX (from LAWEEKLY.COM)
Who’s Biting J Dilla’s Beats?…Hip-hop producer’s legend ascends posthumously; estate struggles to maintain control…By JEFF WEISS…Wednesday, June 18, 2008 – 12:00 pm

“No art form lionizes its fallen quite like hip-hop. Forget Biggie and 2Pac. Their reputations were sealed the moment the doctors zipped the body bags — though, to be fair, few can argue against their posthumous crowning in the pantheon. More telling is the postmortem red carpet rolled out for Big L and Big Pun, two prodigiously talented artists who released a mere single great album each, dying before they had a chance to ruin their reputations with the inevitable 2005 Houston bounce track. No, in hip-hop, molehills are turned into mountains, with even lesser talents like Dipset flunky Stacks Bundles earning a spate of po-faced eulogies and a prominent “R.I.P. Stack B, Ima keep you alive, kid” shout-out from Lupe Fiasco on last year’s The Cool.
J Dilla is a different case….CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING…

Q&A pt.4…Getting Ready For the Mix

(throwback joint of the day)
Q. Maestro would you care to elaborate on how you got your pre-mix ready?

A. My new process of readying my pre-mix involves UNMIXING my protools multitrack. I remove all of the plug-ins like eq’s and compressors and only keep my gates, verbs, delays and effects that really change the sound. I’ve found that many engineers I’ve worked with lean too heavily on the effects that I use in the session and don’t really get in there and work the mix for fear of messing up “MY SOUND.” By delivering a multitrack with only the balance of the instruments in tact, the mix engineer now has to essentially start the mix from scratch to really make the mix shine. Another thing is to ‘print’ effects that drastically change a sound onto an empty track and mute the original. I even go so far as to take a snapshot of the plug-in settings used to achieve the sound and include it in the session folder. This way, the engineer isn’t left trying unsuccessfully to recreate some wild effect, and he can also see what I did and possibly recreate it with a higher end plug-in that I don’t own.

Q&A pt.3…Chopping Samples

Q. Can you tell us how you go about chopping drum breaks and samples?

A. In my opinion, the best sample is the one left untouched! BE ORIGINAL…JK, lol….I’ll sample the SHIT out of some fly obscure stuff or some new slaps. The key to chopping samples is being able to identify the attack transients. Simply stated, when you view the waveform of sampled audio you must pick out the peaks (the high parts) in the passage. Those locations are the perfect place to cut the waveform. The peaks generally show where the loudest kicks, snares, hits, or prominent instrumental sections begin. By chopping the wave at all of these PEAKS and assigning each of the resulting snippets to a key or pad on my sampler I can essentially re-manipulate the timing and melody of a music loop or extract the drums and sounds that I want from a break.

Check out this site for more in depth info…

And this as well, a dope interview with Alchemist explaining his creative process…

[3PCC _ _ _ _ 0 0 _]
Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks

Treats!!

CLICK HERE to Download SAMPLE CLEARANCE by AMG (what’s good Cannon) and Mixunit.com. This is a true gem! I found it over at The Smoking Section.com this afternoon. For the record, TSS is part of my daily surf list ever since they did THIS article on me back in the day. For everyone who was intrigued by my dilemma with KUSH on C3, this cd really exposes how many producers undoubtedly find themselves in similar situations on the regular! At the end of the day, I’d rather make a hit song that people love and not make a dime off it than make some wack shit and not make a dime off it!! LOL If you want to know what it is before you listen to it, its the sound of your favorite producer’s publishing checks being flushed down the toilet!

Q&A pt.2…Integrating Logic & Protools

Q. I was wondering if you could go a little heavier into the integration of logic and pro tools…

A. I use Logic for the majority of my sequencing. I use it similar to the way that I used my MPC2500, Motif XS and various other hardware. Generally, I convert the midi tracks to audio and import them into Pro Tools for further editing and mixing. Since I use two independent interfaces on my computer I’m able to run both programs simultaneously; sequence and arrange on one screen and edit and mix on the other. Lately I’ve start to feel that the whole double platform integration is a bit redundant. As a result, I’ve tried to further familiarize myself with the functionality and capability of Logic. But one thing is true, I am in the business of selling tracks, not learning software, so I still use Pro Tools for the things that it does best (ie. precise editing, mixing)
Although its not as inspiring as my hardware setup is, Logic is adequate for getting ideas out and doing preliminary preparation on tracks before I shop them to artists.

[3PCC _ _ 0 2 _ _ _]
Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks

Q&A pt.1…Starting a Production Company

Q. How did you get your production company started? How do I go about starting one of my own? What are the steps?

A. Starting a production company is no different from starting any other legal legitimate business. Its not necessary to have a lawyer do it as long as you follow the proper steps. The whole process actually costs less than $200 (in GA) but people offer the service at inflated rates for individuals who don’t want to go thru the process on their own. Go HERE for ALL of the information that you need to start the process. I dont think that the success you experience as the CEO of your production company is necessarily dependent on how well you complete the initial steps. The way you operate your business, the people that you put into position, and the actual product (the music and the relationships) are what really matter.

[3PCC 6 1 _ _ _ _ _]
Vaushaun ‘Maestro’ Brooks

Q&A pt.0

I get asked a lot of good questions from aspiring producers and artists and I want to start addressing them here on the blog in my new “Q&A pt.x” posts. I’m sure I’ll come up with a more clever name pretty soon, but until then leave any new questions in the comments section. I’ll tally up the questions and write responses to the ‘most asked’ ones….ENJOY

The Dollar is VERY STRONG!!

Who says you cant get anything good for a dub anymore? I picked up all these records (and more) at the flea market off Moreland Ave on the east side for 20 BUCKS!! I haven’t got a deal this good since my homey MG had that florescent green and orange BC kush still on the branch that could stink up the whole block! No let me take that back, the best deal I got for a Jackson was when my dude from Fla had 3 for 20 super clean double stack batmans that could keep you up for 2 days straight and not make your teeth chatter…those were the days! But I digress I haven’t got a chance to go thru all of this wax due to some studio renovations, but once I do, please believe the heat is comin! Can you say Vintage Vinyl Sample Pack Vol 3? hint hint

Its a Celebration…

U already know