Producers on “Watch The Thrown” Revealed

Since Jay-Z and Kanye leaked H.A.M. off of their upcoming album Watch The Throne, the internet has been going crazy waiting for it to drop.  While details have been scarce, we were treated to the album cover, the tracklisting, and then the release date.  Now we know who the producers are and to no surprise Kanye has his hands in most of the production.  Kanye has definitely been growing and evolving with his production style so we can expect some beats the push the limit.  Other notable producers include: No ID who has produced the current banger “Ghetto Dreams” by Common featuring Nas; Pete Rock is on there for the already leaked “Joy” which we now know that beat was made back in 1996; Swizz Beats shows up for a couple tracks; the RZA os such a solid producer that his track should be crazy; Q-tip is on a couple tracks; the Neptunes lend a beat as well as 88-keys; and of course Lex Luger is on there for ridiculously dope H.A.M.

Of particular note is a couple tracks specifically call out the artist who played out a specific instrument, such as the Cello or the Keyboards.  Though full sampling has been a staple for producers in hiphop, we are now seeing more and more producers using the composite approach by combining sampling with the keyboard approach by actually playing the sounds they want to add to a track (either through live instruments or virtual instruments) as opposed to sampling. Our guess is we will see more and more of this in the future of hiphop.  In the meantime, if you need to pick up some beats that don’t include any samples and ones in which the producers used original instrumentation check us out at Rhudeisland Records.

No Church in the Wild” feat. Frank Ocean
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and 88-Keys for Keys Open Doors, LLC

“Lift Off” feat. Beyonce
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978, Jeff Bhasker, and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional Production by Q Tip and Don Jazzy

“Niggas in Paris”
Produced by Hit-Boy for Hit-Boy Music Inc./Very Good Beats and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Co-Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional Production by Anthony Kilhoffer

“Otis” feat. Otis Redding
Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978

“Gotta Have It”
Produced by The Neptunes
Co-Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978

“New Day”
Produced by The RZA, Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional production by Ken Lewis

“That’s My Bitch”
Produced by Q-Tip and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Jeff Bhasker

“Who Gon Stop Me”
Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions

“Murder to Excellence”
Produced by Swizz Beatz and S1 for Soul Kontrollaz Productions/Very Good Beats

“Welcome to the Jungle”
Produced by Swizz Beatz for Swizz Beatz Productions
Co-Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Additional production by Ken Lewis

“Made in America” feat. Frank Ocean
Produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions

“Why I Love You” feat. Mr Hudson
Produced by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Cello: Chris “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean

“Illest Motherfucker Alive”
Produced by Southside for Mizay Entertainment, Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978 and Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Cello: Chris “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean

“H•A•M”
(K. West, S. Carter, L. Lewis, M. Dean)
Produced by Lexus “Lex Luger” Lewis for Mizay Entertainment, Inc.
Co-Produced by Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions
Cello: Christopher “Hitchcock” Chorney
Cello arranged by Mike Dean

“Primetime”
Produced by NO ID for Rich Daily Since ‘71

“The Joy” feat. Curtis Mayfield
Produced by Pete Rock for Soul Brother #1 Productions and Kanye West for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop since 1978
Additional Production by Mike Dean for Dean’s List Productions and Jeff Bhasker
Keyboards, Bass: Mike Dean

RZA Speaks On Liquid Swords 2, Beats for Nas, & More

Though not in the music scene so much as movie business now, RZA still makes time to stay connected to the music. He sat down with MTV to give the latest updates on music and movies.

Me and GZA talked about doing Liquid Swords part 2, a sequel. We talked about it for a while,” RZA said about the follow-up to GZA’s 1995 classic Liquid Swords. “We actually started a little bit and then we pulled back based on scheduling, based on my movie.

How dope would a Liquid Swords 2 be?

Most of RZAs recent career has been much more movie focused with roles in Due Date, American Gangster, Kill Bill, Funny People and now most recently RZA has been cast in the G.I. Joe Sequel. That’s quite a bit considering he has also been directing The Man With The Iron Fist.

Though heave in the movie industry, the man who defined the Wu-Tang sound has not abandoned the music.

The movie has taken me out of the loop of music. But what I have been doing, I’ve been going to studios and inviting people to my studio. So I went to the studio with Luda and I emptied beats from my beat machine for him. Whether he use it or not is up to him, but I just been emptying out my beat machines,” RZA said before revealing more of his collaborative hopefuls. “I emptied out some beats on Busta, I emptied out some beats on Nas, emptied out some beats for [Ghostface Killah] and for Wu-Tang Clan — just sent them 20 beats a few weeks ago.

RZA also has never heard before Old Dirty Bastard tracks that, unfortunately, we may not hear anytime soon:

That’s a very tricky situation, because ODB has passed and he has an estate,” he said. “When you got an estate, it’s so much paperwork and red tape and legal stuff you gotta deal with. I tried to put out a song last year called ‘Dirt’s the Boogie,’ and they threatened me with an injunction and I wrote the lyrics to the song. Made the beat, wrote the lyrics and Dirty just performed it.”

Check out the full article and video at MTV.

Cole

DJ Quik Interview with FADER TV

Dj Quik touching on variety of topics from his new album, new artists, how he started rhyming, and the type of music he is producing:

I’m trying to stay fun and still virtuoso style with the music, but at the same time, ya know, stay in the mainstream. I’m not trying to do alternative hip hop, alternative gangsta rap it just doesn’t work.

if you haven’t already, check out his latest album The Book of David – DJ Quik

Cole

Jim Jonsin Makes a Beat for Young Jeezy

Jim Jonsin may not be the most well known producer by name, but has delivered plenty of stand up tracks for artists such as Beyonce and T.I. to Lil Wayne and Kanye. Here he is whipping up a beat looking for Jeezy to tear it down.

Cole

Beats, Rhymes, Life (clip)

Ali Shaheed Muhamad recalls his first encounter with DJs.

Cole