INTERVIEW BY J HATCH

What’s going on Senator Skid, for the record, what’s your official title at Bad Boy Records?
I am the A&R coordinator/post production manager

The job description of the A&R has obviously changed drastically over the years, on any given day what are some of the responsibilities that coincide with your duties at Bad Boy?
Booking sessions for all Bad Boy artists, go thru demos, contact/find producers/writers, facilitating where mp3’s go and what’s received. Keeping track of all pro-tools sessions/do various song edits.

With the state of the industry today, do you feel pressured to deliver a hit more now then say 3-5 years ago?
Definitely, because it’s not just about the producers name, it’s about who delivers what’s needed for the project

Many people know, especially in the industry, that Puff is a very demanding CEO that sets a high bar on quality and consistency, how do you communicate the urgencies you feel as an A&R to impact the brand musically?
He is a great teacher and expresses what he wants clearly. It is my job to help him continue to create lasting music and execute decisions, we don’t really try to do what other labels do, he is always open to new things musically and values his A&R teams opinions, we more or less strive for new energy every album, working with people who understand what we are about.

In 2008 there are several major projects on your labels plate, you guys had the highly anticipated sophomore album from Danity Kane and the male group that you put together from making of the band 4 that went back to back #1 on billboard, you have Donnie Klang, Nelson, then follow ups to Young Joc, Boyz in the Hood and the princess, Cassie. In cases like this, who is the priority and how do the processes of each of the projects get managed accurately?
Everyone is priority, we multi-task and keep our ears open to everything we get, we work as a small tight knit team and get it done, at BadBoy we learn how to wear different hats and wear them well, respectively we prioritize due to release dates

Let’s look at the whole scope from a production standpoint, Puff has been rebuilding The Hitmen, it’s evident he struck gold (almost platinum) with his involvement in “American Gangster” for Jay-Z. When starting all these projects, where do you begin when it comes to production, getting songs and putting together the mold of what is supposed to someday be an album?
It all starts with a vision mostly the music tells you where to go and then you start molding, generally at the beginning of a project, we reach out to the people who don’t have established records to provide opportunities to the new jacks and towards the mid to end we reach out to the “names” for homeruns. It is a process of compiling massive amounts of tracks and ideas and then combing thru it for the gems.

You also support the underground side of things, your constantly at the unsigned shows, either judging or observing, what inspires you to attend these shows and what experiences or observations do you make?
I feel music is about a feeling you get or provide, these shows are a great way to see who is trying to reach their dreams and who’s hungry it’s not always the hottest producers I like, sometimes you hear a certain style but you might not love the artist/producer but you want to hear more, I like to try and find the needle in the haystack but some producers get offended when you don’t find it, I say, “If it wasn’t in the 50 you played, play 50 more, you’re a creator, so create.”

When it comes to new producers, what would you say their biggest mistakes made are?
Not sending beats to the A&Rs, and you shouldn’t put your music on free sites, in this 2000 era meeting’s come after mp3’s unless a relationship is established, don’t be afraid to try new sounds and give when reputable people ask, I can’t afford to steal an idea, I want to be respected by all.

Any new producers or songwriters catch your ear lately?
Plenty, some I just haven’t been able to reach yet.

Any track or producer that has crossed your path that you may have heard later after their big hit and got mad for not dealing with them?
No, I believe everything is for a reason, I am glad when people get placements, it is hard these days

What advice can you give a new producer or songwriter when it comes to perfecting their craft and getting music heard and hopefully placed some day?
Listen to people who can help you and fix what they say and send it back /follow up is the name of the game

What’s next on your plate Skid?
Cassie, Marina Chello, Aasim, Ness, Janelle Monae

Any shout outs or plugs?
Shout to Conrad Dimanche, Steve Dent, Hughes, Harve Pierre, the boss ”Puff Daddy”, Daddyshouse, the whole BadBoy/Atlantic staff and my family for supporting me.