14KT

When you think Michigan Hip-Hop you think Slum Village, D-12, and MC Breed. Michigan’s music history is deep and rich with talent. Everyone knows the History of Motown. The sound of Motown was often copied but never successful you can’t copy an rich and organic sound like that. The same goes for the Hip-Hop from there. Take J-Dilla sloppy off beat stutter like drum patterns and varies different styles of beats. A Producers producer is what he s referred to as. Just a little west of Detroit is Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor home of 14KT and his crew of Athletic Mic League. Armed with dusty records a computer and a ear of Mad Man. Take a listen to his Music and you will hear some of the freshest beats with neck breaking groove.



When about did you start making beats?


14k: I started making beats in like 96'. I was part of the unspoken era of cats that made beats using the pause/play/record method with cassette tapes. I mastered that...haha! I would sample records on to tapes, then chop & loop'em on tape. Never had a beat machine so I used whatever I could to record karaoke machines, answering machines. whatever. Then my family got a computer in the house with one of those simple sound recorder programs on it. Then I started using that...rest was history...

What is your current setup?KT: Basically the same setup I’ve had since 96'. PC computer with the Adobe Audition on it....turntables...motif and mad records.

How much music theory do you have?KT: I got a little music theory. I used to play piano, violin, and bass. I'm also an official Recording Engineer for 6 years.


What time do you make your best music?KT: The freaks come out at night.haha. The nighttime is the right time man. That's when the music comes out the best. No Phone ringing, no interruptions, quiet, more creative atmosphere for me...


What are some of the things that inspire you?KT: Beautiful women, sunshine, snow, pain, love, kids, family, learning, black people, death, Jesus, Parents, faith, hope, Dilla, Michigan artists, Athletic Mic League, Sky Children, Church, the Bible, smiles..etc.everything basically


Would you say that the off beat drums are a Motor City style rather than a Dilla bite?KT: Me personally, I learned the off beat drums from Dilla. I’m pretty mostly every producer in Michigan that incorporates off beat drums got that from Dilla. However, since Michigan artists have embraced that style, it birthed the unique style of Michigan music that separates us from other style of production...thank you Dilla!

How do you balance your personal life and your music? Such as women, family and a job?KT: Balance is hard man...I’ve been blessed to be in a position where I'm a full-time artist so I just balance my life based on my priorities. God, family, and then Music. As long as God is first, I stay organized, and manage my time right then its all good...

Respect is that something you value from your peers?KT: Yeah. It's a great feeling when cats respect you. It was a great feeling when I started to get respect from Detroit cats. That meant a lot to me, cause even though I’m from Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor; it was for me and my crew Athletic Mic League to get respect from cats in our own home state because of the style of music we were known for making. Respect is something I value, however hopefully I can turn that respect into them being attached to my music and what I’m doing in life.
Money motivates people to do this music. Do you see that as a good or bad thing?KT: Definitely a bad thing. Money should never be the motivation for a talent that God has given you. God should be the motivation you continue to do it, whether money is in the picture or not. However, if you make music solely for the business side of it, the entertainment, the fame, and etc.it would still be a bad thing, but hey that's where people's mindstates are.
You recently went on tour how was that and what exactly were you doing on tour?KT: Tour was crazy!! On this tour, I was DJing for my man Buff 1 of Athletic Mic League promoting his album "Pure". We did some tour dates with Phat Kat and Slum Village in Europe. I also did a US tour called the Elevation Tour with Now On, Othello of Lightheaded,DJ Manwell, and of course my brother Buff 1.


Michigan's hip hop has only recently started to get props why do you think is?

KT: Tell you the truth, I don't know. Michigan been putting out good music for a long minute. I will say that the passing of Dilla and Proof, the heart and soul of Michigan music, definitely made cats turn their heads towards Michigan Music. Also, I feel like Michigan makes that real music that people want to hear now. The West Coast had they time, East Coast had theirs, The South been running the game for a minute, so now it’s the Midwest and it's Michigan’s turn.
What song in the last 10 years do you wish you produced?
14KT: It’s a tie between "B.O.B" by Outkast and "Prototype" by Andre 3000...yeah Outkast is favorite group.haha.

What are some of your favorite records to listen to give you inspiration to make a beat?KT: Aww man...My favorite records change a lot. There's only a few that I find myself listening to a lot cause it's whatever I feel for the day or night. I would have to say mostly ANYTHING from Dilla, My Crew Athletic Mic League, Now On, Stereolab, Outkast, and Dexter Wansel to name a few.Have you ever thought about quitting?KT: There's a saying from Paul in the bible in I Corinthians where he says, "I die daily". That's exactly how I feel about music man. There's been many times I wanted to quit. My first album, "The Golden Hour", was basically inspired by feeling like quitting.
When will music stop playing in your head?KT: Never. Even when I die, I'll still be making music.
How do you want to be remembered when it’s all said and done?KT: I want to be remembered for my heart man. That I put it all out there and didn't hold back and if people listen to my music and get to know me and find God was my inspiration and reason for my work, then my job is done.

Swiff D Beats

In today’s ever-changing world of Rap Music. Where trends are in and out like at the drop of hat or new dance. With the people going off the song with the catchy chorus. In the middle of all this uncreative music going on today. Somewhere in his studio sits Steve Thornton aka Swiff D producer. With Looks of Linebacker not a producer of Hip Hop music standing 6”5 and weighing 215 pounds. Doing all of his production work on Laptop loaded with Fruity Loops and a SSL Mixer, headphones, Midi Controller, an SSL board and nice Monitors. With production credits ranging from artist such as Snoop, Nas, Willie da Kid, Busta Rhymes, Hoodlum, Redman, Talib Kweli, Styles P, Diplomats (Juelz, Duke, Hell Rell, JR Writer), Bobby Valentino, Anthony Hamilton, Bobby Creekwater, Bella, Rick Ross, Dogg Pound, Steph Jones. He sold his first beat at 20 years old to Hip Hop veteran and fellow California native Jayo Felony. Born in Fontana, CA, but grew up in Pomona, CA. A man who I would describe as down to earth and humble and an easy going nice guy. This description is very over used especially in the Music Industry. Where egos and attitudes and shady business practices are more of the norm. Most people’s motivation in Music is money most of them probably have never been homeless sleeping at a different friends every night. Making beats on these friends computer and erasing the hard drive when finished and taking the floppy to the next spot. Down to a pair of boots one outfit and backpack full of floppies having to wash his clothes everyday to stay fresh. With these struggles having stood in the way the average person would gave up and Never been heard of but Not Swiff D.



So how did you get your start at production? I got my start in Science class. One of my friends passed me a CD with somemusic software on it, and I didn’t bother to open it upand see what it was about until after I graduated highschool...and the rest is history.
What was the software program?Fruity Loops 2.

What did your first beats sound like?
My first beat sounded likethe sound of 50 kids running to an ice cream truck.

Ha ok. Can you explain your setup now? How much of a difference is there between your first beat and your beats now?My set was a Desktop Cpu and some headphones. Now my set up is a laptop, headphones, Midi Controller, an SSL board and niceMonitors. A person that continues toperfect their music sounds poised after sometime. Mymusic can be best described as a 13yr old that’s now a29 yr old, very mature, poised, polished.

When did you think you could do this on a professional level?
I thought this when I got my first chance to walk into a studio and play music.From that day forward I knew I could be something special.

How intense is competition for jobs in your field?
Its all politics. The Music game is 10% skill and 90% discipline you can be the best in thegame, but if your business isn’t as good as your music you’d never sell anything. It’s also aboutdiscography...what you have done matters.



Do you think the politics get in the way of good music getting put out?
Yes it definitely does. 95% of the music you hear these days is all from relationships.So it all goes back into what was stated, good business always guarantees a spot.I see. So what do you love about your job? What is not to love about it?
I love the interaction between myself, fans, and people I’ve looked up to in musicI think appreciation all comes with the business, the harder you grind people realize it more.
What I hate is when you’re better than other industry mates, they tend to get jealous.

With three years in what is the range of income one can expect in your field?
Well honestly, the music industry is a gamble steady income is never guaranteed unless you have an office job.

So basically it varies? Roll of the dice kind of thing?
Exactly! Its all politics.

Do you think a person would need any special skills to succeed in your profession?
Just to be better than the average, and have your own sound.
So what are your next projects you are working on?
I am working on Snoops album,Nas, my group Pacific Division, Murs, Bobby Creekwater, BustaRhymes, and my own album and the list continues….


Anything you would like to say to a young producer wanting to get in the game?
Most importantly, Im only 23, so im a young producer as well.The saying "30's the new 20"really means something as a young producer youshould try harder to be more creative than the next because the days your thinking you've mastered your sound...someone is at home working to take your placements.

With that said you can check out my man Swiff D out @ www.myspace.com/swiffd

Lovers of the Sounds of Math

The Title of this blog comes from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.Gottfried Leibniz was a German mathematician who developed the present day notation for the differential and integral calculus though he never thought of the derivative as a limit. His philosophy is also important and he invented an early calculating machine.Music and math go hand and add simple math that. Counting intervals intervals adding and subtracting. Just as well as playing the keys.The purpose of this blog is to expose people to different and interesting people in all types of music known and unknown.Its only two types of music good and bad.