
The NCAA says the number of black coaches in football and men’s basketball increased by about 76 percent over the past decade.
What it do peoples! Hey, your favorite home girl, Queen Princess, just got off the phone with up-n-coming, super producer Teflon. Who is he and what's his track record? Well, he's a young cat (26 to be exact) out the Bronx that got started in the music biz at the age of 18 under Ruff Ryder label. During his time, he was able to producer several tracks for DMX and Eve while working aside label mates Swizz Beats and RR Ceo, Darrin Dean. This experience led to a hit single by Eve called "Who's That Girl" produced by yours truly, Tef diggy. He went on to work with some big hitters from Tom Jones (yeah that's right) all the way to Donnell Jones. Currently, he's got projects in the works with 50 cent, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Gucci Mane, and alot more that I can't mention at this time. Anyways, now that you know a little by this playa's pedigree, now find out how he's livin now, in this new interview with him and our own, Queen Princess....
Queen Princess: Hey what’s good Teflon, how are you?
Teflon: I’m good
Queen Princess: Okay, let’s get into it. So how old were you when you discovered that you had it in you to become a producer?
Teflon: Umm, at age 16.
Queen Princess: And how did you discover your talent?
Teflon: My dad always had music around him so it kind of grabbed my attention. I always wanted to go to the studio and be involved with whatever they were doing, so that’s really how I got started.
Queen Princess: Oh okay, after you discovered your talent, how did you put yourself out there? In other words how did you make it so people began to notice you?
Teflon: Umm, one day after school I was talking to a friend of mine and he introduced me to the CEO of Ruff Ryders and the CEO believed in me so that’s where it all started.
Queen Princess: You eventually signed a deal with Ruff Ryders right?
Teflon: Yeah
Queen Princess: Okay, how old were you when that happened?
Teflon: I was 18. As soon as I turned 18, they signed me.
Queen Princess: Aight, that’s crazy. Did you feel pressured to put out the best that you had and were you able to be free with your production?
Teflon: I felt like I was under pressure because I had a lot of big people that I had to compete with and I was the youngest in the crew. It was like I had a lot to prove so I felt the brunt of the pressure.
Queen Princess: Who was the first big artist that you were able to work with?
Teflon: The first big artist was Eve. The title track was “Got it all” and it featured Jadakiss made for the Ruff Ryders part II compilation.
Queen Princess: Okay, that was the first big artist, but as of now, who’s the most recent artist that you’ve worked with?
Teflon: There’s a couple ummm, Jim Jones and LL Cool J.
Queen Princess: Alright. I know that many producers say that they always hear beats in their head. What’s your method of getting them out, do you have to hurry up and go to the studio?
Teflon: I just put myself in my own state of mind and let it be free. I just let it work through my ears. I pretty much just play what I want to hear on the keyboard. Once I’m in my studio I just catch a vibe and execute it like that.
Queen Princess: Are you usually with a bunch of people in the studio or do you work better by yourself?
Teflon: Sometimes I have a bunch, but sometimes I like to be by myself so I can get more done and concentrate more, but sometimes when I have a bunch of people with me I can vibe from them. I get different vibes so either way it works.
Queen Princess: How long does it usually take to lay down a beat?
Teflon: Depending on what it is……….R&B usually takes me a little bit longer because you know chords and a lot more music is involved. Hip-Hop could be anywhere from five minutes to an hour you know it depends on the mood that I’m in, but usually on average it takes me from five to fifteen minutes.
Queen Princess: Wow, can you explain the beat making process from start to finish?
Teflon: Usually I would start with the keys first. Then I’d get the melody in my head. Next I would go to the drum pattern.
Queen Princess: Then you just put it all together?
Teflon: Yeah, once the drum patterns are complete, I EQ and level out the sounds to get a feel of the overall sound.
Queen Princess: If you were ever to get stuck on a melody or any other part of the beat what would you do to keep it moving?
Teflon: Umm, sometimes I’ll sit down and probably watch a little TV. It depends……you know I may give it a break, because when you try to force something, it doesn’t come out naturally. So yeah, I’d probably take like a 45 minute break then jump back on it.
Queen Princess: Do you usually have a name and lyrics that go along with the beats, or is that up to the artists?
Teflon: Usually when I’m making a beat I already have the hook for the beat. I hear the words as I’m doing the melody.
Queen Princess: Okay, how do you develop different sounds for different artists, because most artists are very familiar and people know their sound, so is it hard to match the sound of a specific artist?
Teflon: If I’m doing a specific beat for a certain artist I usually know their style so I build what I’m doing around their style.
Queen Princess: When you’re finished producing, how do you know what artist to give it to?
Teflon: That’s more of an opinion. I may probably have somebody in mind; someone else in the room will probably think it’s for somebody else. Whatever I feel is my gut instinct, that’s what I usually run with.
Queen Princess: How much time do you spend in the studio on a daily basis?
Teflon: On average it could be anywhere from ten hours to twelve hours.
Queen Princess: Straight pumpin it out in the studio? That’s a long time.
Teflon: Yeah I usually go in the studio at 5pm and probably leave at 4am in the morning.
Queen Princess: Wow, has it changed at all since you where in the studio at 18 years old? Are you still in the studio for the same amount of time and do you do things the same way?
Teflon: Not really. My work ethic pretty much remained the same. I was always into my work and into the studio since the age of 18 so nothing’s changed. I mean the hours might get a little longer as work comes, but my work ethic remains the same.
Queen Princess: What is your relationship with Loud.com and how do you contribute to them?
Teflon: Just giving loud pieces of my music and being involved is like giving them my style. I’m pretty sure each producer that has involvement with loud adds something or brings something to the table in their own fluctuation so I just do what I do best.
Queen Princess: Right, can you explain a little bit what Loud.com is?
Teflon: Well to me Loud is probably a good way to bring your music and add that important element of hip-hop as far as producers and artists coming together at a competition level. It’s a fun and enjoyable way. The computer’s involved; the internet’s involved so everybody across the world can be involved. The music isn’t limited to one particular region.
Queen Princess: How has Loud.com helped your individual career?
Teflon: It definitely gives you a lot of exposure and it brings people together such as producers, artists as well as people trying to get into the entertainment/music business. It’s just a fun way of trying something different and new.
Queen Princess: That’s what’s up and that’s pretty much it for the interview. I want to thank you for your time.
Teflon: Okay, no problem and thank you.
Queen Princess: Take care.
We'd like to thank Teflon and his peoples for giving us this opportunity. Hey, if you want to know what's really good with him, hit him up on his official page at http://www.loud.com/teflon read more »
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