On the verge of dropping a new album, talented rapper Mr. Smith gave an exclusive interview to Raptology:
Why did you name the EP Classic Cuts?
Originally I intended on using a combination of old and new songs from several producers with sampled beats that have a boom bap sound. Over time, I began to think instead of using old and newly recorded music, it would be best to use all new songs I recorded which happen to be 6 tracks produced by Conz.
The main dilemma I contemplated was many of the older songs I initially intended for Classic Cuts were recorded in an in house studio a few years ago and I knew the quality could be better. I did not want spend an plethora of money and re-record old music. So I decided to use the 6 tracks Conz produced because the sound quality is superb and I wanted the EP to have one sound from one producer.
How has J Dilla influenced you as a person and your music as an artist?
J Dilla has positively influenced me as a person in a variety ways. Before learning a lot of background information about J Dilla, I would constantly listen to many of his instrumentals in college while studying and when driving. In 2017, I was able to meet J Dilla’s uncle Herman Hayes and from that point, I was able to build a positive relationship with Uncle Herm and Dilla Delights establishment in downtown Detroit.
After building a cordial relationship with Uncle Herm, Herman believed in my vision of educating, informing, and entertaining as an artist and granted me permission to shoot a video within Dilla Delights for a song titled “Sick” off Music of Motivation Vol. 2. The Sick beat was inspired by J Dilla’s Brand New Shit Wit The Blend instrumental remade by Golden Eye 95.
Classic Cuts opening song titled The Boom Bap is inspired by J Dilla as you hear J Dilla on the hook discussing beats he made for Q-Tip and being inspired to work. Also, the first verse of The Boom Bap was written to J Dilla’s Oh Oh instrumental while the second verse was written to J Dilla’s Love It Here instrumental.
I also remade two songs J Dilla produced that I intend on releasing in February of 2020 which consist of Eryka Badu’s Didn’t You Know and Slum Village’s Get This Money.
Why did you choose Conz to produce Classic Cuts?
I kept buying beats from Conz periodically so choosing Conz to produce Classic Cuts just happened. After recording Old Soul with November Williams, Patrick a friend of Conz suggested at Conz Goat album release party I should have Conz produce an entire album for me. Over time, as I kept buying beats and recording songs with Conz he produced I ended up with 6 total songs so it was only right from my perspective to release an Ep with one sound opposed to several producers.
How did you devise the concept for each song on Classic Cuts?
Each song on Classic Cuts has its own organic story. For example, Old Soul was a beat I heard on Conz Beatstars.com profile that was actually called Old Soul. I used the concept of Old Soul to write to and after composing two verses I consulted Conz on a female artist to sing the hook. That is when November Williams comes in to bring the song to life.
I reached out to Nove and informed her I needed a hook for Old Soul. I sent her the beat with the verses recorded then she wrote the hook and the rest was history. The way in which Adversity was created was completely different. I had two verses I wrote to a beat that I did not own therefore I could not use.
A-MINUS and I had been in communication about collaborating on a song. I let him hear several beats from several producers of mine and Old Soul stuck out to him most because of the soul in the beat and I do not mean the title of the song.
To me Conz has a style in my opinion similar to a 9th Wonder or J Dilla combined with his own style/sound. I reached out to Conz and he told me he could create a beat for the song from scratch. One day I went to the studio and Conz made the beat from scratch with no problem. I was impressed because he already had samples ready to go and it did not take him much time to make the beat for Adversity. Lastly, I reached out to NuNu and her mother, a 11 year old all around artist and she added the final touches by harmonizing the hook on Adversity.
What is your favorite beat, lyrics, and song off Classic Cuts?
My favorite beat is I Know That’s Right. I cannot explain why that beat is my favorite but it is the one instrumental out of the other 5 songs that I listen to most frequently. I recall when I bought the beat, I knew I had better purchase it immediately or else someone else would. Lyrically, I think each song is dope lyrically but I would say Fly Away because I am discussing elevating to your higher spiritual self if you listen closely. I do not have a favorite song off Classic Cuts because I believe they all are fire but I would say I Know That’s Right because I created it in memory of my recent cousin who passed away Roland Earl Peters who would always say “I know that’s right”.
What advice would you give new aspiring artists based off your experience as an artist?
Advice I would give to newly aspiring artists would be to be yourself when creating music and network with as many people as you can with a common vision. I believe for some artists it can be hard to not “dumb” music down to conform to the masses and what we hear on the radio often times. My music is heart felt and from the soul similar to J Dilla and if I feel the music I create first, then I am confident fans/supporters will also feel it as well.
What other music can fans/supporters expect from you in 2020?
On J Dilla’s birthday (2/7) I intend on releasing Music ft Charlie Smarts of Kooley High & VRonic of Berlin produced by Golden Eye 95. On my birthday (2/13) I intend on releasing another J Dilla remake called Get Dis Money ft Dub I.Z. of Saint Louis produced by Golden Eye 95. On Biggie’s death date (3/9) I intend on releasing What Happened to Bars produced by Dj Joe Lewis out of Saint Louis.
In April I will release a song titled Shame ft J.i. produced by J.i. In May I will release a song titled Ball I intend on performing in Florida in a contest for $50,000 produced by Golden Eye. In June I will release a single titled Pay Dues produced by Joe Mill ft Theycallmecas.