iStandard Member i.D.

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5 Star General March 2010 iStandard Member i.D

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Interview by: Gerald Kong

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 5 Star Generals – http://www.istandardproducers.com/members/2076/

When did you start making beats?

We started making beats in 2002.  It started off as an hobby with FL Studio 2 the demo version lol. No sounds at all. As we progressed as producers our gear progressed also

Who are your musical influences?

We don’t even know where to start i like to say a little bit of everything Hi-Tek Dilla Dre Timbo Neptunes Nottz toomp to many to name.

Describe your style?

Our style is the mix of the best, always trying to give you something new. we have tracks that would create their own genre. So our style is universal and new

What are you using to make your tracks?

We use the mv-8800 Reasons 4.0 , Hypersonic 2  loads of vst’s  just always trying to stay inspired

If you could work with one artist, who would it be and why?

Well from a hip hop perspective It would have to be Jay-z he really maxes out the potential in each in every track and thats what really  separates him from other rappers.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

we see ourselves working with the best of the best in every genre just making it so that the 5 star generals brand of sound is known worldwide and its household name

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Da 5ifelement February 2010 iStandard Member i.D

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

 

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 Da 5ifelement – http://www.istandardproducers.com/members/737/

When did you start making beats? 

I actually started making beats back in 92′(kinda tellin my age a bit..lol) but yeah, It was in 92 when Pete Rock & CL Smooth dropped ‘Mecca & The Soul Brother’.  Soon as I heard that I was like “That’s what I wanna do, I wanna make beats”. 

Who are your musical influences? 

#1 influence(musically) is Pete Rock, Itz cuz of him why I decided to start doin production instead of Rappin…then Dr.Dre, Jus Blaze, Kanye, Jimi Kendrix & some of my fellow up & comers like my dude Versatile (http://tinyurl.com/yds44zd) & Leck1. 

Describe your style? 

I don’t really have a style..cuz none of my music sounds da same as da last one I did, because of ALL the sounds I hear in my head..lol, but if I had to describe it, I would say dat itz definitely Outta Da Box!! Not what u ALWAYZ hear when u turn on da radio…i,e two different songs, by two different Artist, Produced by two different Producers, but both sounding the same..lol, nah that’s not me.. 

What are you using to make your tracks? 

I have been using the Mpk49, Reason4 & Recycle along with my turntable & like 500 recordz for a minute…but I just cop’d Cubase 5(I already had LE & SX3) and man that joint is a MONSTER!!..just picture having Cubase, FL, Ableton & Celemony Melodyne all wrap’d up into one DAW…yeah itz a beast & I have been using that for like a month now. 

If you could work with one artist, who would it be and why? 

Susan Boyle…she’s blowing da charts up right now huh?lol, but nah… If I had to work with one Artist it would have to be my dude Ludacris, why? because ever since I seen him on that Redman & Method Man show “Stung”, and they had him come down to the studio to spit to this wack ass trakk they did…it was mad off beat, had a frog in it & everything…and once Meth gave dude the flow…Luda went into the booth & KILLED it…even Meth was like, “Yo he’s actually killin dis ish”..lol, so ever since I seen him do that I was like I would love to work with him cuz that showed me that he got raw talent & can flip it to ANY trakk and make it hot. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Although GOD is truly the only one that knows that question… I can only hope that within 5yrs of this interview I am in a position where I can be doing this full-time & making timeless music(HipHop & RnB), I have been positioning myself to reach that goal, as I am working on a few projectz right now…I gotta record coming out on Jimmie Reign’s Debut Solo Album entitled ‘Pretty Girl’ drop’n May 25th, some other projects I can’t let outta the bag jus yet..lol, but I can say I got one coming up with PUSH! Montana which is gonna be Crazzzyyy, so stay tuned for that. But all in all I just wanna be able to provide a good life for my family. 

GOD BLESS

-5if

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Ceasar February 2010 iStandard Member i.D.

Monday, February 1st, 2010

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 Ceasar – www.istandardproducers.com/Ceasar

When did you start making beats?

It’s been 5 years or so.  I started when I was like 16 but I didn’t really know what I was doing back then…  By the time I was 23-24 music had become my main occupation.

Who are your musical influences?

As far as Hip Hop, Just Blaze is my favorite producer ever. I just love his versatility, the way he can work with the grimiest street artist and the sexiest RnB female while still keeping his own sound. It’s just amazing to me.
Being from Italy, I don’t really have a strong hip hop background or affiliation and I think that’s been my biggest luck.  I grew up with the NY golden age sound but at the same time I was listening to literally everything else, from 2Pac to the Luniz, from Black Moon to the Pharcyde, in addition to rock, soul, house… you name it.

Describe your style?

I like to define myself as a “mainstream backpacker”.  I love the soulful sound of samples but at the same time I can make dance and club beats. I like to be as versatile as I can. As a producer you should be able to work with every type of artist. Recently “Ceasar Productions” has become a duo (Ceasar + PStarr), we leverage each other’s backgrounds and ideas to broaden our musical range. RnB, street, club, whatever, we got you covered!

What are you using to make your tracks?

I have an Access Virus, an MPC 2000XL, a bunch of VST’s and a Roland Juno (thanks iStandard Beast of the Beats!).  That’s really it.  I believe the “weapons” are becoming increasingly irrelevant – nowadays everybody has access to everything.  It all boils down to your ideas and raw talent.

If you could work with one artist, who would it be and why?

Jay-Z. Why?  Money!  Just kidding… I would like to work with the legends… Hov, Nas, Scarface. As far as the new artists, I love what Drake’s doing.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully still making music. I just don’t need the fame or the money.  I just want to live off music, that’s it.  I made 2 tracks on B.G.’s latest album “Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood” released in December – check it out!  Also gearing up for 2010, working on a big project… can’t reveal much at the moment but you will definitely hear about it.

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Maja 7th aka Maestro December 2009 iStandard Member i.D.

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Maja7th_162


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 Maja 7th – http://www.istandardproducers.com/members/241/

When did you start making beats?

I used to mess around with beats when I was sophomore in high school but didn’t really take it serious. I started getting serious around 02-03.

Who are your musical influences?

Man my all time favorite producer is The Rza. He changed the way I looked at production. But other huge influences are Pete Rock,9th Wonder, J Dilla, Dj Premier, Dr Dre, Hi-Tek, DJ Quick, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Timbaland and Mannie Fresh.

Describe your style?

My sound is…me! I pride myself on being a versatile producer. I think its important to draw inspiration from the greats (like the ones I just mentioned) but equally as important to do me in the process. I grew up in the Mid West so my sound is everywhere because I grew up listening to everything. You might here 808’s, you might hear classical strings, you might hear a west coast Synth or you might hear a soul sample. It’s a melting pot…
What are you using to make your tracks?

Abelton Live, Reason, Recycle and Fruity Loops and tons of VST’s

If you could work with one artist, who would it be and why?

Common! He’s my favorite rapper. I think we would make some dope music. He embodies (in my humble opinion) what it means to have passion for your music and caring about the culture! Honestly I’ll work with anybody that truly loves Hip-Hop…but you did ask if I could pick 1 HAHA!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Working as a producer full time, building the brand of our LLC Bettye-Lee Music and hopefully making timeless music in the industry.

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THE Alliance December 2009 iStandard Member i.D.

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009


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 Alliance – http://www.istandardproducers.com/TheAlliance

When did you start making beats?

It’s three of us, so we all started at different times, but for the most part we all kind of grew up in hip-hop around producers learning the equipment and software. But 2003 is when we all had our official start. But 2008 is when the 3 of us came together for ‘The Alliance’

Who are your musical influences?

There’s so many of them! But some of the greats such as Dr. Dre, Swizz Beats, Timbaland, Danja, Scott Storch, The Runnas, Drumma Boy, Kanye Beats…man, we could go on for days. Haha!

Describe your style?

We all have our own unique styles. R5 has a real southern feel to his instrumentation. There’s lots of 808s, heavy bass, synths and horns, as well as a lot of snare rolls and crisp claps.  Cain has a more classical twist with a lot of color, and layers in his instrumentation and heavy drums, and really good R&B. Tu has a dirtier hip-hop feel, with a lot of funk, live drums, and crazy sample flips, but is still able to get nasty on the keys. Overall, each of us has our own styles, but are each able to show versatility.

What are you using to make your tracks?

We use FL studio for a midi sequencer, but we also use an mpc 2500, 3000, we have a Roland fantom Xr, a motif xs6, a triton tr-66, pro-tools, Logic Pro and a list of vsts that’s too long to name.

If you could work with one artist, who would it be and why?

Honestly, we’re on a more humble tip and we’re happy to work with any of the front line artists who’re happy to work with us

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully, Lord willing, as one of the more premiere producers in the industry who’ll have a lasting mark on hip-hop.

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