What
does it take to make a bumping track? Well along with
a MC who can rip up the mike, a D.J who can spin the
records it also comes down to the Producer who can mix
the beats. Stealth has been their since the beggining
days of gangster rap working right along the side of
N.W.A. So here is the exclusive interview with the one
and only legendary Stealth.
P.W:
tell me Stealth about your background how did your start
your career as a producer?
Stealth:
I originally started in LA as a DJ for house parties,
clubs but I got tired of that scene and started learning
about working the sound board. I had a friend Cocaine
who brought me into the Ruthless family originally as
a soundman. But once they learned I could play keyboard
I started playing live with Above the Law, I also worked
with Easy-E. I was right there in the West Coast gangster
rap scene learning from the big-boys.
P.W: What was it like working with
Easy-E?
Stealth:
Easy-E gave opportunity where their was none available.
I really liked doing business with him because he straight
out told you how it was going to be. He wasn’t
like some prissy-ass guy in a suit who straight out
lie to you in your face. Easy-E was not like that and
you always knew what you were getting into, straight
up it’s probably because he was from the streets.
I learned a lot from Easy-E about the business and I
think some of the major gangster rap players today definitely
have gotten a lot of help from what Easy-E had done.
Easy-E was a smart business man and for example, since
he had a jerry curl and the gangster persona and maybe
would not have been taken seriously from industry types
he would have his lawyer go in and facilitate the deal.
He was really down to earth he wasn’t your typical
Hollywood type he was always on the real.
P.W:
What can you say to the up and coming artists about
the business?
Stealth:
In an industry that everyone wants to be in you are
going to have to start at the bottom, its just the nature
of the business. Just remember all the big hip-hop artists
today usually have to start on the bottom and learn
the steps it takes to work their way to the top.
P.W:
Tell me what you are working on now?
Stealth:
Right now I am working on the new Above The Law album,
which is their 8th record. Were looking to facilitate
a deal with BMD, but right now we are mainly concentrating
on putting out our own record, under are own label Westworld.
We have put out three records on the label “Westworld”
and very time we come out with a new record we sell
150,000 – 250,000 albums without any promotion.
We are also trying to learn from the example Eazy-E
taught us on how to run a label and the ins and outs
of the music business. We are glad that people still
have been supporting Above The Law, all these years
without any major distribution or radio play.
P.W: Look at Eminem, he’s
following the footsteps of Dr. Dre and now introducing
a new rapper .50 Cent to the scene, what do you think
of what’s happening in the West Coast hip-hop
music scene today?
Stealth:
I like seeing what’s happening in the Westcoast
hip-hop scene people helping each other rather than
putting others down and hurting the other rappers. Dr.
Dre produced our first record so Above The Law actually
has been working with him for a long time.
P.W: What do you enjoy most about
producing?
Stealth:
I like the creative freedom it gives me, meeting the
artists and learning the business first hand. It also
is a great guiding stone to starting my own label.
P.W: Did you gravitate more towards
rapping or being a DJ and producing when you first started
in the music business?
Stealth:
I really would rather speak by playing the music than
the spouting the rap lyrics. Really being a DJ you learn
how to produce beats, so naturally you may gravitate
towards producing. To me producing musical beats are
more than just sampling certain beats but really being
creative by using live instruments on my tracks.
P.W:
What musical instruments does it take to produce a selling
hip-hop record?
Stealth:
Many of the beats are from the drum and bass guitar.
I not only play keyboard but also play the bass guitar.
It doesn’t just take the beats but marketing the
song correctly by matching up the right rappers with
the right beats. In fact having Dr. Dre Produce the
beats probably helped Eminem become so successful.
P.W:
what are three things every producer should do to be
successful?
Stealth:
First off you need to have a reality check and learn
what it takes to play the game of the music business
and how to place your beats so they will be produced.
Second, to compete your going to want to produce beats
that are better than whats currently on the radio. To
compete with the A list players you need something that
sounds better than what’s currently out in the
market. The third is to charge someone lower price’s
for your beats, than anyone else’s. One record
could change your life so don’t worry if you feel
like you undersell your product. Also remember to check
your ego at the door. Realize that the way to be successful
is not to believe the hype to take criticism from other
producers, and stay humble.
P.W:
What do you look for in a producer or a rapper you might
want to work with?
Stealth:
I look for producers that have new fresh sound and that
is down to earth. For rappers I am only going to look
for someone who I think really has some talent. Right
now I am working with some up and coming rappers on
Above The Law’s album. Above The Law was one of
the first to put Tupac on their record, also Snoop Dogg
was in the studio all the time. I believe in giving
people chances who are new in the business, as long
as they keep their head straight and don’t go
completely Hollywood. If you are a bad-ass producer
or rapper you don’t have to front and put on some
image, that’s just hype, that’s not keeping
it real.
P.W:
when you’re not producing how do you spend your
free-time?
Stealth:
Really I just like to get away from it all, get away
from everyone involved in the music business. I enjoy
fishing, going off-roading getting out enjoying nature.
P.W: Who’s one of your favorite
musicians of all time?
Stealth:
Stevie Wonder he sings a writes and a real cool cat.
He also both writes and produces his own music and doesn’t
just create beats.
P.W:
Are you strictly into producing hip-hop or do you also
produce other types of music?
Stealth:
Although I really mainly produce hip-hop music, if it’s
under the urban umbrella and I feel it than I will produce
it. I am really feeling Reggae right now, so I would
like to produce some reggae beats.
P.W:
What’s one city everyone has to visit?
Stealth:
I really enjoy L.A. The weather is good, you’ve
got the ladies, the best clubs it’s all here.
P.W:
what projects do you have coming up?
Stealth:
The new single “Sex, Money and Music”, by
Above The Law is out and the new album will be dropping
second quarter 2003. Check out the seven other Above
The Law albums.
P.W:
what do you think of those crazy journalists at Publicity
Whore?
Stealth: Publicity Whore comes straight
from the hip and on the real. Many other publications
focus more on promotion and marketing than good-old
fashioned entertainment, and Publicity Whore also is
one of the only unbiased publications out in the market
and really gets down to the nitty-gritty on what the
artist really thinks. Also Publicity Whore doesn’t
just talk about the scene but is out there like the
artists they promote and are living it.
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