It seems like there are almost more producers than MCs in this day of age. Hell, if I had any talent in my body, I'd much rather make beats than rhyme any day. Maybe that's why if I have heard one producer shopping beats, I've heard at least 500 just this year alone. Every now and then, one catches my ear and I have to dig deeper to figure out who they are and what else they have done. That was the case earlier this year, when I heard "Watch How It Go Down", by producer Tecknowledgy and featured Beat Garden affiliated 2ew Gun Cinz, Justus League affiliated Chaundon and Web. I've heard him on other projects, such as a Nico The Beast track, which will be showing up on a WYDU project in the not to far future.
Needless to say, I didn't know much about the cat Tecknowledgy, so what better way to learn about him than to do a feature of him on a New Artist Spotlight.....
I'm Your Man Tonight
http://www.box.net/shared/81u111ekqn
The Storm
http://www.box.net/shared/rmah02y34t
WYDU: What's good man, it's about time we got done to business. Why don't you drop the 411 for those that don't know...
Tecknowledgy: Yessir, The names Tecknowledgy a.k.a Your producers favorite producer a.k.a Teckzilla. Producer/Engineer/Song writer/ Radio production manager (90.7 WXIN FM) out of Providence, Rhode Island.
W: I'm going to be honest, I don't know a lot about you and there isn't a lot about you out there, but you always seem to be working with dope people. From Chaundon, to WYDU favs, Clean Guns and everyone else in between. What's your secret to laying low, yet still getting the big projects?
T: Man to be honest, I have been making music heavily since about 02, but it has mostly been on a very small local following. I used to make beats for Spiritz Records, small label a few friends and I started. After a while I left that venture, and moved on to start producing on the low, saving up the chances for approaching artists. I hit up Chaundon back in like 07, late 08 and sent a whole bunch of beats. We finally got the chance to do a track when I sent him the beat for “That’s how it goes down,” and we took it from there.
Currently I landed 2 spots on a mixtape for jacquesmorel.com and I am currently working on my solo venture featuring D Julien, Chaundon, XV, Zilla Rocca, Donny Goines, Fresh Daily and a few more acts I have yet to name! Honestly how I have managed to stay so low key for this long surprises me. I thank Twitter!!(http://www.twitter.com/tecknowledgy) Pretty much it is just about having the right beat for the right artist at the right time.
W: Your production sound (that I've heard) is one of power and strength, meaning it's usually a beat someone like Nico the Beast, can get on and just come with a lot of energy. Is that something you shoot for?
T: Ha, its funny you ask that. My production style varies a great deal from what people normally hear from me. A lot of my production on the Nico project was dark and the first song I leaked off “Modern Tecknowledgy” is very dark as well. But to be honest, I have always been a soul producer. I look up to 9th Wonder and Khrysis a lot, as well as Kanye and Premier. I make a LOT of R&B as well. A lot of people are going to be surprised with the overall vision of my project.
W: Coming out of Providence, RI, it's a city that I've featured numerous artists and groups from in the past, how would you describe the scene itself? Is it something that folks should be on the look out for in the future?
T: The Rhode Island music scene is kind of large actually. There are a lot would be rappers out here and a few that are actually doing something with it. Such acts such as Jon Hope, Mista Mista and Theo have paved the way for underground MC’s in Rhode Island and have mainstream MTV play. To be from Rhode Island and make it there is an accomplishment in itself. I think a lot of people underestimate Rhode Island and the music scene and should honestly look a little closer. From what I have heard, a lot of people are surprised with the music they hear coming out of this state!
W: What is your approach to making a beat? Do you sit down with a particular artist in mind? Do you start with a drum beat first, or a bassline or does it matter?
T: Usually I go digging first. I do a lot of E-Digging so I spend a majority of my time just listening to soul songs or old jazz records. After I hear the particular part of the sample I want to flip, I just chop it up, search through my thousands of drums and sounds and poof, masterpiece. Then I just shop them around to artists that I believe can destroy them!
W: Of course everyone wants to know what kind of tools of the trade that you use....
T: Hahaha its terrible to admit it. I use FL Studio 7. I know its easy to say that now since every new producer is going out and using software, but I was taught on FL and that’s how I will know. Until someone puts an MPC2500 in front of me, I'm good!!!
W: I always seem to ask this of any producer I talk to, what is your take on the hardware vs Software issue?
T: Its not the tools of the trade that make the man, it’s the man himself. A lot of people ask me, how do you get that sound out of your computer that makes it sound like its from an MP. At the same time, I want to know how people get the MP sound. So honestly, if no one can tell, who cares? ha
W: You have seem to be doing a lot of work with the Beat Garden/Clean Guns cats, how did that partnership occur?
T: Well one of my best friends Dave (shouts to Dave!!!) is Nico’s cousin. When I started making beats, Dave always wanted to hear what Nico and Zilla sounded like on my beats. So when they came here to Rhode Island, we messed around a bit (pause) and got down to business. I did the one Zilla joint and the three Nico joints right there that night and it was history every since. You can kinda sort of say I'm the unofficial member of Beat Garden’s production team.
W: I read that you working on an album, what and who can we expect on that project?
T: Man Trav, I have been working on Modern Tecknowledgy since AT LEAST 2003. I had so many visions of how I wanted it to sound, who I wanted on it. So basically when I hear a beat I make, I want it on the album BADLY haha. So far, I have Chaundon, 2ew Gunn Ciz, Web, Young Scolla, D Julien, XV, Fresh Daily, Convinced, El Prez, Donny Goines, Hi Clas, Zilla Rocca, Chachi, Marvwon, Kel Spencer, Mista Mista, Fame, and my artist Mike Fonz. I am trying to build up a good cast to create this masterpiece and get it everywhere so people can be like, “This dudes a nut!!!” There are also a few surprise guests that I can not reveal yet, but best believe it is going to be monumental. What you can expect, well, you can expect hip-hop. Hip-hop in its pure and most provocative form. BANG!!
W: What should people know about you before we finish this little talk?
T: What you should know is that I am a force to be reckoned with. There are a lot of things that are in the works for me right now, and basically if you aren’t on the train, then you are not getting on! I am working on a R&B venture also, but that’s really on the down low, and I am working on a few more mixtapes with a few blogs and such, but we will address that when the time comes.
W: Any last words for the potential haters and fans?
T: Yea, shouts to all the people who have been supporting my music over the years. Shouts to all the assholes out there, because one day you'll get yours. Look out for my production team I.D.e.A, we have a project with Web due out very soon, its in the “lets go get features” stage right now, so be on the look out. Modern Tecknowledgy drops the week of my birthday, August 10th, so be on the lookout!!! Shouts to all the artists I mentioned above, shouts to Figga Da Deal, shouts to Urban Jones, shouts to Jacques and shouts to you Trav for holding me down on the early notice!! haha
W: Aight man, thanks!
T: Hey man appreciate the love and support. Stay UP!!!(VIAGRA!!!)
5/30/2009
New Artist Spotlight: Tecknowledgy
2/12/2009
Trav's Spins and Plays
February sucks. There I said it. There is only NBA as far as sports, music is still in a fourth quarter hangover, and the weather blows. Then you toss in Valentines Day, and February could quite possibly be the worst month of the year. Oh well, fuck it.
If you suffer from the Winter doldrums, then maybe a little comedy is in your need. What better way to get some of that than from an old WYDU friend, Mike Dikk. Some of you long time readers will remember Dumpin.net, in which Mike and several fellas would basically talk shit about everything from music, sports and popular culture and was always good for a few laughs. Over the last half year or so, the site has kinda gotten quieter and quieter. But alas, fans of the Dumpin sense of humor can rejoice as Mike returns (or actually has already been doing) with his own podcast of humor and what not, in Buncocky. What is Buncocky? Well, it's kinda like an audio version of Dumpin...sorta...kinda.... It's Mike and Jay talking about all sorts of shit...such as Episode 15, in which they discuss the art of Male, Male, Female threesomes. Only people with a sense of humor need apply, cause I'm sure this can and would offend the faint of heart.
Buncocky episodes can be caught here: http://www.buncocky.com/
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=275706009
The first month of the year is a rather dead one in the music industry in general. No different in the hip hop world either, which means the amount of new material is limited to some of the rather unknowns trying to get heard in this laxed time. Personally, I take time to reflect back on the past year and to revisit some of the older material in my digital crates. Around this time, things start to slowly appear, and since my man Eric already did his little post about some of the most recent songs, I figured it was time for me give some exposure of what's been getting play time on the ole iPod. I thought this would be somewhat tough, but the only thing tough was narrowing it down to 10 songs. Nothing really amazing, alright, I take that back, the number one and number two songs are pretty amazing and I expect to see again at the end of the year in a pretty high position, hell probably number three as well. So, without further ado, I present WYDU's top 10 for....well for the past couple weeks.
Top 10 Spins of Feb 1st - 10th
10. P.O.S. - Savion Glover
I'm admittedly not the biggest P.O.S. fan, although I did like the group album he did with Doomtree. His new album, Never Better, is full of the reasons I don't usually care for him, just weird ass shit. I usually like weird, but not this much. Despite that, while I while giving the album the courtesy listen, I ran across "Savion Glover", which did meet some of the reasons I like a particular cut. For one, the crazy scratching layered over a spastic drum track, make for a high energy track. P.O.S. is actually a good MC when given the chance and I'm not distract by audio garbage.
9. Ameer - Never Be Shits
Ameer dropped the The New Dream toward the end of 2007 and since then, I've been keeping my ear open for some new music and I finally got my wish. "Never Be Shits" is a soundtrack for all the underdogs out there. Over a sparse, but loud, drum pattern and a rolling piano sample, Ameer provides hope for those out there with the cards against them. It's nice to have meaning in a hip hop song, not nearly enough out there.
8. Inverse feat Deacon The Villain - So True
Phonte needs to take singing lessons from Deacon of Cunninlynguists. The cat has some true vocal chops that just drip soul. The title track from the EP, So True, is blessed by Deacon on the hook. That's not the only reason why I'm banging this joint daily since it's early January release. Tunji does his job on the mic, catching the listener and sucking him into piano stabs and strings. On the strength of their last couple projects, including their free EP , So True, I'm waiting for Inverse come correct with a full length release.
7. Tecknowledgy feat 2ew Gunn Ciz, Chaundon & Web - That's How It Go Down
I'm lost how I came into possession of this track, I'm guessing maybe Zilla Rocca due to his alliance with 2ew Gunn Ciz. Regardless, everyone involved brought the heat lyrically over a hard beat, reminds you of a Mobb Deep beat from years past. Sharp keys found on "That's How It Go Down", give that Alfred Hitchcock "Psycho" feeling of a slasher flick. It's good to hear Chaundon come correct after a somewhat disappointing album that dropped lost year. Nothing ground breaking here, but just a solid track.
6. Blacastan - Life of Tape
While I was familiar with the name, I couldn't tell you much about Blacastan. I was sent a couple tracks from his promotion company and must say I loved both. This particular track is great as far as originality and it's concept. "Life of a Tape" is about...well, the life of a tape. You youngins won't appreciate it as much as us old fogies, but tapes were a big thing to us back then. You had your home made ones, the ones you bought from the store, everything was on "tapes" back then if you didn't do vinyl. To top it all off, the beat is dope as fuck as well. A speed up vocal sample (done right) is used as an instrument of sorts as it's a true inspiring head nodder. This has to get you excited about future material coming from Blacastan.
5. Pugs Atomz feat Rashid Hadee & Theo - Blue Blazer
(Tie) Pugs Atomz - Roof Top
As my anticipation mounts for the upcoming Pugs Atomz LP, Roof Top, Pugs keeps dropping dope leaks. On "Blue Blazer", pugs brings a long fellow Chi-Town artist Rashid Hadee and Theo. After Detroit, Chicago might be my next favorite region/city to be doing it lately. On "Roof Top", DJ Vadim drops an infectious groove, as Pugs just rides the beat perfectly. If these two songs are indication what the album is going to sound like....Daaayum.
4. Raekwon feat Ghostface & Method Man - Wu Ohh
This is the most Wu sounding track I've heard in a minute. After turning my noise up at "Wu Ohh" originally, it was saved by the iPod shuffle. It's another track using the vocal sample as a major part of the song which gives it that Wu like flavor. It's great to hear Meth do his thing over the track, as he provides a nice hook. I can't recall if this was on the upcoming Cuban Linx II or not, but this shows some promise.
3. Souls of Mischief - Tour Stories
I posted this track up on WYDU toward the end of December to rave reviews. The Prince Paul produced track is a welcome back to a great producer and made one of the legendary Hiero crew members relevant again in the Souls of Mischief. The track is a classic hip hop in all it's glory as the boys sound like they haven't missed a step from '93 Til Infinity. The beat sounds tailor made for SOM, with that added Paul sound. If this is any indication what to expect from the all Prince Paul produced Souls album, then it could be a doozy.
2. Cunninlynguists - Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)
If you have followed this blog long enough, you know that Cunninglynguists are a favorite of mine. Their last two albums have been named in the top three on my year end list. So I was pretty excited to hear they had a new single out. I'm not sure if this is off a new album they have coming out, I haven't fully investigated yet, but they often like to throw out some collections before dropping albums (Sloppy Seconds anyone?) and this sounds more like a track that might be found on something like that. Regardless, Kno demonstrates why he is quite possibly my favorite producer going right now as he laces a soulful track as Deacon drops seemingly silly lyrics about pot brownies....or so it seems. As with a lot of Cunninlynguists tracks, I'm sure it goes much deeper than that. Looking forward to see what the dopest crew out of the south is going to bless with this year.
1. Blue Scholars - Coffee & Snow
This was a throw together track that came on a whim? Wow.....wow....Sabzi is one of the illest producers going at it right now. That is witnessed on the critically acclaimed (especially this critic) album Bayani from '07 and the Common Market album Tobacco Road that dropped last year, both of which Sabzi produced in entirety (or at least 99% of them). The story behind this track was they put it together after a winter storm came through the area (Seattle). The angelic keys are nothing short of amazing and Geologic does his thing lyrically. A truly impressive track that only makes me more hungry for more from the Scholars.
Mp3 courtesy of Musical Essence
Bonus "Tobacco and Snow Covered Roads" *Anyone got an mp3????
The Five Most Listened To Albums of the Period
1. Drumz & Llingo - Black Market 
This probably isn't on any one's radar as of yet, but this was slide over to me by DXArmy, who if you recall my year end list, I was highly on. On the strength of their recommendation, I gave their boys, Drumz & Llingo a listen and I wasn't disappointed. Their album, Black Market, is full of no gimmicks, quality NYC hip hop. The beats tasty treats of hard breaks, crisp snares and full bass lines. Lyrically, while nothing ground breaking, they are very complimentary of the beats. You'll be hearing more from these cats in the future, but this one of the better things that I've had passed to me in awhile.
2. Exile - Radio
I wasn't to sure what to think of Exile's Radio the first time I listened to it, nor the second or third time. But for something kept me listening. It's like that movie that you are not sure you liked or not but you want to watch it again. I've finally had it catch on in my subconscious. It's not exactly what I expected out of Exile, who has been making a name for himself on the strength of the album he did with Blu back in '07. But if you do go back to some of his Emanon material, then the experimental nature of the beats shouldn't be too much of a surprise. I wonder how the early leak is going to effect it, which is unfortunate. If you dig the album, be sure to cop it when it drops.
3. Platinum Pied Pipers - Abundance
You can't call this a hip hop album, nor could you really call it a soul album. I'm not sure what I'd label PPP's Abundance album, but I would call it good. If you can't stomach anything other than hip hop, you might want to move on. For those of you that can get down with other genres, then PPP is definitely something worth lending your ear to, as Wajeed and boys bring the buffett line of music to the masses.
4. ScholarMan - Gameshift: The Movement
The Maryland based ScholarMan is somewhat one of those cats that a lot of underground heads knows about and respect, but he has yet to gain the full notoriety that he deserves. Hopefully "Gameshift: The Movement" will help focus the spotlight on him a little more. I've had this album for awhile now, but I still give it listens, which is a sign of a good album with me. The beats are both soulful and hard, while you know what to expect from ScholarMan if you've heard his past albums, no nonsense, straight to the point lyrics that more than likely will give you something to think of.
5. Tha Connection - Trapeze
Although this album has been out for awhile, I still play this shit out of it. The NYC guys bring their own flavor of smokey roomed hip hop with plodding beats and deliberate rhymes. They definately got their own flavor and it's found all over Trapeze. If there was ever a "kick back and smoke an L" type of music, this is it.
