Every month, we will be posting a new article called the iStandard Member iD. This article will showcase one of our producers on the site’s homepage that is active within the iStandard community and most of all has bangin’ tracks! This month’s Member iD is THE HIT LEAGUE – http://www.istandardproducers.com/THE HIT LEAGUE
When did you start making beats?
Dabenchwarma: Well I started messing around with beats around 2003. I was playing drums real heavy at the time, and everybody that I played for just about wanted to use loops. So I had to learn how to program a MPC. But I started officially around 2005 making beats as a Producer. A friend of mine took me to meet my homie Eric Dawkins at the Underdogs spot in L.A. While we were there, Harvey Mason (formally apart of The Underdogs) was in the next room working with Ruben Studdard and that’s when my whole direction in life and music changed.
Drathoven: I’ve always loved making music being that I’ve been playing piano since I was a kid. But in 2000 is when I got my keyboard and MPC that I set up in my home closet. And a year later in 2001 I had the opportunity to work with Paul Wall & Chamillionaire on “Get Yo Mind Correct”. At the time I was just doing what I loved, and it got me paid. They came to the crib at times, but most of the times we were at Crazy’s House Recordings a.k.a Paid In Full Studios in Houston,Tx, which was dope cause I was able to be hands on with the artist. That album went on to sell over 100,000 albums independently which motivated me to pursue music professionally.
Who are your musical influences?
Dabenchwarma: My musical influences are of course the usuals Darkchild, Timbaland, Quincy Jones, The Underdogs, Dr.Dre, Prince, MJ, James Brown, my big bro Donnie Scantz (State of Emergency) Tricky Stewart, and our big homie Los Da Mystro whom which we just signed to. It’s just so many to be honest I’ll be here all day! From playing in church, to studying jazz, being a producer and songwriter, I listen to ALL kind of stuff.
Drathoven: My musical influences are Timbaland, Darkchild, Teddy Riley, Dr. Dre, Babyface, Diane Warren, Fred Hammond, Errol “E Poppi” McCalla, my mentor Simon “Crazy C” Cullins, and big homie Los Da Mystro who just signed us to the Urban Legendz family. There are plenty of people that have influenced me musically but my biggest influence would have to come from my mother who is a musician and songwriter herself.
Describe your style?
Versatility! (Laughs) We don’t even think that’s a word, but we came up with it because that’s what describes us. We’re versatile our style is whatever the particular session/artist/genre calls for. We try not to put ourselves in a box.
What are you using to make your tracks?
We use a little bit of everything from Pro Tools HD, Logic, Reason, DP, all sorts of software, and of course we like to pull the MPC from time to time which we call “Ole’ Faithful”.
If you could work with one artist who would it be and why?
We ask ourselves this question all the time. (laughs) It’s so difficult because we listen to a wide range of music. One minute we talking about Beyonce, the next minute we talking about Jay Z, then the next minute we talking about working with Rascal Flatts and Celine Dion. So that’s a difficult one.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
We see ourselves as Grammy Award winning producers! We want to be the 1st production duo to have a #1 record in every category on Billboard. Mama always said “son get your head out the clouds”, but she didn’t know I was up there trying to reach the stars. We shoot for the stars over here!
