Insane Spotlight: Ay B – Canadian Producer

Scribbled by Lethal Illness @ 6:40 PM on October 20th, 2011.

Ay B is a 20 year old, Canadian hip hop producer born and raised out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ay B recently won a remix contest that my friends over at CrazyPellas hosted and I recently caught up with Ay B for an interview for winning.

Ay B

Interview

What’s up!? First off I want to congratulate you on winning the Remix Contest. What was your secret to beating some of the best DJ’s I know (DJ Shawn and DJ FunkDoc)?
DJ who? Just kidding, all the guys in the contest were great, especially those in the last couple rounds. My secret to success is that I know what sounds good, and I try as best I can to recreate that for everyone else to hear. I’m a real stickler for beat-matching; I never let a mix leave my computer until it sounds exactly how I want it to.

Where does your stage name come from? Did someone give it to you?
My stage name comes from my initials (A.B.) -a few people called me that back in high school.

As a producer where did you get your start into making beats? Was there anyone that helped you learn?
I started when I got my MacBook a few years ago, making beats on GarageBand, and it just took off from there.

You’re a producer by trade, so how did you get into DJing and making remixes?
I started “DJ-ing” as a way to show off the beats that I’d made. I basically just added acapellas to my instrumentals to show what could be done with them, and people really liked the result so I kept doing it.

What type of setup are you working with to make you’re remixes and beats, both hardware and software?
I’ve never owed or used any DJ equipment. When I do remixes, I use Djay 3 for Mac. For beats, however, I use Logic Pro 9 with a full size keyboard, bass guitar and electric guitar.

Sweet! Recording live music into beats is fun. Which brings me to the next point, are you primarily a sampler or composer? Which do you prefer to do?
I make about half my beats using samples, and half using only instruments. To me, starting a beat is the hardest part, and when I sample, it gives me a head start, and I can still be creative when deciding what needs to be added. I’ve found that both types are equally popular with rappers. I also use vocal samples on some of my hooks, these usually come from freestyles off DJ Screw mixtapes.

A lot of artists with different genres are looking for production, so what are your favorite and least favorite genres to work with?
My favorite genre is Texas rap. Most of the beats that I produce sound like they came from the south, because that’s the type of music that I’ve been influenced by. I also like Jazz, Funk and some Classic Rock. I won’t say that any genre of music is worse than others, but personally I don’t care for Country or Pop music.

You have to keep relevant and improving constantly to keep up in the music industry, but do you have any tricks to the trade?
I don’t really have any tricks, but I do try to make a variety of beats, both sampled and composed with instruments. I believe that a producer can still have a recognizable style without all of his beats sounding the same.

That’s a great point! Moving on, what is your biggest inspiration and influence? What truly drives you?
I’m driven by music. I hear a lot of songs that I love, and one day I want one of those songs to be my own. I just try to make songs that I would listen to, and hopefully other people want to listen to them as well. Getting good rappers on my beats is also another important part of making a great song, and I try to do that too.

As many artists feel they are their own biggest critic what do you like/dislike most about your own music?
I’m happy that I’ve gotten to the level where my beats sound like real music, they could be thrown in with a playlist of other professional songs and they wouldn’t stand out. Like anything, there’s always room for improvement. I hope one day to have the budget to hire session musicians to play some of my instrument parts, because I know that would take me to the next level.

Is music a hobby or a career path your pursuing? What are you trying to accomplish with music, is there a goal or a motive to do it?
Right now, I see producing as a hobby. When I make a beat, I’m not looking for a quick buck. I’m looking to be the instrumental half of a really jamming song. That usually means finding a good rapper that fits the beat. If money happens to come from it, then all the better.

Who have you worked with and who do you dream about working with on a musical level, famous or not?
Artists who have recorded or are in the process of recording on my beats include Mr. 3-2, ESG and Macc Grace of the Screwed Up Click, Kiotti, Lucky Luciano, Trails, Stunta, Sen, Underground Gangsta, Young Sensation, Yung Truth, Streets Gov, D. Tooson, and possibly Lil Flip and Big Pokey.

I’ve always wanted to produce a beat for Bun B. I really respect what he and Pimp C did musically, and it would be an honor to have him work with me.

Are you running with a camp or a team? Are you more of a solo DJ?
I’m currently an independent producer.

Do you have any upcoming projects you’re working on? If so, is it a solo or joint effort?
Right now, I’m working on a mixtape with Young Sensation called C.H.I.L.L. (Cool High Intellectual Loving Life) which will be released very soon. Follow him on twitter @youngsensation. He’s also doing an album with Yung Truth (@bigfacefiend) produced entirely by me. I will be releasing an all Ay B mixtape, and it will include songs by artists I mentioned earlier in the interview.

Aside from DJing do you have any other talents that most people wouldn’t expect?
Aside from producing/DJing, I am a decathlete for the University of Manitoba Bisons.

Closing this one out I want to thank you for taking the time so I can shine the spotlight on you. Do you have any shoutouts or final words?
I want to give a shoutout to TexasTakeover.com -”We Stay Screwed Up”, and SupaTight Graphix (@supaisthrowed) he passed my beats along to some dope artists and got me started in the game.

Plugs

Twitter
Email

Facts

Despite living in Winnipeg all his life, all the rappers Ay B has produced for have been from Texas.
Ay B’s producer tag is a recording of my brother blowing his nose, with added flanger effects.
The first rap song that got Ay B into rap was “Mind Playin Tricks On Me” by Geto Boys.  He heard it while watching David Blaine’s Street Magic.
Ay B’s favorite TV show is Seinfeld; he has seen every episode many, many times.
Ay B can hold his breath for 2 minutes and 45 seconds

Check out Ay B’s beat;

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