BlapChat

Finally caught up with my boy Murda for a conversation about his come up. This is the first BLAPCHAT episode since the "quarantine". Raw, 1 on 1 chat about Murda's up bringing, grinding on type beats, believing in yourself, getting your brand out there, being consistent and so many more PURE GEMS. Load this episode up and take notes!

What happens when you get your first major label placement as a music producer with a big artist? How do you handle the contract? Where can you find a lawyer? Do you need a manager? If a big artist asks for STEMS on a beat, do you send them and give up your only leverage? Or do you prioritize the opportunity and hope for the best? Is it ok for labels to take advantage of artists/producers by presenting unfair contracts? Or is business just business? We brought in special guest Karl Fowlkes, an entertainment lawyer who has experience playing both sides. Let's clear the air on this once and for all!

RIP KOBE. RIP NIPSEY. There is so much we can learn from these 2 legendary human beings. Their legacies left a mark that will be remembered forever. So what are some of the practices we can apply to our own lives? Spread love. Be thankful. Reflect. Prioritize ownership. This is a very in-depth conversation about the hustle and bustle.

The music industry is the wild wild west. If you're a music producer or an artist, it's easy to fall victim to industry scams. Not all of them are bad, but a lot of them are. How do you recognize what opportunities to take and which ones to ignore? Do they even work? Are there true shortcuts and "pay to play" services that are legit? Let's dive in!

Most aspiring music creators have a 9 to 5 job, or some sort of "side gig" to generate income to live. The age old million dollar question is always "when and how should I quit my job to pursue my passion full time?". There is no right or wrong answer because every human being is dealt a different set of circumstances at any point in his/her life. I do think there are some important things to think about, so Perfection and Myself did a deep dive. Lots of "end of year" gems here. What a perfect way to go into 2020!

As an up-coming music producer in 2019 (going into 2020) there are an overwhelming amount of resources, options and routes to choose from. Do I go the beat leasing route? Maybe I should try click funnels. Should I only sell exclusively? Should I just focus on developing artists? I can try to sell drum kits and sample packs but how do I go about doing that? Maybe I should try to become a Youtube influencer? Or maybe I should try all of the above? The possibilities are endless, but also very overwhelming. This is something I've been thinking about for a while and I wanted to dive into an effective way to approach this. My good friend and Grammy Award Winning producer Symbolyc One joined me for a call-in conversation. So many gems in this one.

Meet Gabe. He generated over $1,258,367 in online beat selling without a ton of subscribers or followers. You're probably wondering how he did it (yes that's over a Million dollars lol). Well, we spoke to the man himself about how you can too. This episode was exciting because it really put into perspective how powerful his methods are to start making some REAL $ online as a music producer. The method we're talking about is called a "sales funnel". You've probably been hearing about it here and there recently in the music production community. We dove into the pros (and cons) and what it takes to work up to that level selling beats online using "sales funnels". Really powerful stuff! If you want to get started on creating your own sales funnel, just click this link after you listen to the episode: http://www.legionbeats.com/blap

In this episode we continue the conversation about how to overcome the EARLY struggles of being an up-coming music producer. The #1 issue most people deal with in the beginning could be summed up in one word: MONEY. So the question is, how do we generate some in the beginning while pursuing a career? What are some ways to generate income quickly to eventually quit that 9-5 job? Is beat leasing, kit selling, youtube hustle a good idea? Does that make it harder to become an "industry producer"? Lot's of questions answered in a nice stream of consciousness. This is a must listen.

The title "sample maker" has become more and more popular these past few years in the music production world. So we spoke to one of my personal FAVORITES and in my opinion one of the BEST Mario Luciano. I personally have some placements with him coming up, but recently he just earned a production credit with Cardo Got Wings, HER and YG. We talk about the process of "creating original sample loops", the advantages of using analog gear, doing a ton of research, trial and error and being authentic. We also discussed the controversy of being a "producer influencer" teaching people how to be "successful" without actually being successful yourself. You might have a nice following, but what type of baggage does that come with and does that stereotype you into a "box"? To a certain extent, it does. If you take offense by what I'm saying, maybe you're one of them. Either way, this was insightful asf!

This is by far one of my favorite episodes. We went a little left field on this one and spoke about some real stuff: where did humans come from? Do aliens exist? Are we reptiles? I know. Interesting lol! This all in some weird way ties in to the realities of being human and how our roles coincide with living on earth as musicians and aspiring artists. We also spoke to amazing producer "My Best Friend Jacob" who recently produced & scored Travis Scott's Netflix documentary. Lots of insight on sound design, TV/Film licensing and how you can get into the business, what to look out for and how to get your foot in the door. Also, Jacob was nice enough to share his personal custom ANALOG BANK PRESET LIBRARY for free download. Here it is: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pdft6xw3rrhvl0n/Analog%20Lab%203_Bank_Look%20Mom%20I%20Can%20Fly_20190904_22h01.labx?dl=0

Ok guys. This is one of my favorite and most crucial episodes we've done, to date. Our guest is my brother (my actual brother) Les-Paul (yeah, my dad named him after the inventor of the electric guitar!). He plays piano (better than me), but above else, he's got 15+ years experience as an accountant and is a director at a huge accounting firm. We spoke on one of the most important subjects that people don't really talk about: financial literacy. How do I grow my money? How much should I be saving? When and where should I invest my money? What happens if I sell $20,000 worth of beats online? How much taxes do I have to pay? Man, we've all made financial mistakes in the past. This episode contains useful information to get you going in the right direction. Also, we spoke on my early days (mom's basement, making beats on Playstation (yup that was real!) and so much more). Enjoy!

What happens when you're invited to a big studio for the first time? Maybe it's with a superstar? Or maybe it's with a local artist. As a music creator, what is your role and how can you maximize your time in the studio to be as productive as possible. Every situation is unique, but there are some "in studio hacks" that you can apply to help you along your creative journey. In this episode Illmind & Perfection (who managed one of the most premiere recording studios in NYC for years) speak on some tips to help you in the studio, whether you're a music producer, engineer or artist. So much value in this episode so don't sleep!

I know the title of this episode sounds deep, but hear me out. What I love about my podcast is the fact that we like to get DEEP into the root of things and not be so "on the surface". To cut right to the chase we must ask ourselves this question: "How do we achieve our goals?". Now, of course this is the million dollar question and a topic of discussion that is very complex. I think it doesn't have to be complex. We reach our goals by taking "action". "Action" is taken based on our decision making. Our decision making is based on our emotions. So when you peel back all of these layers, "emotion" seems to be the root of everything. So, how do we control and manage our emotions to help us make the right decisions? We went in pretty deep on this one. Enjoy!

This discussion was important! We touched on the challenges of generating income in the beginning of the grind as a music producer or engineer, ways to overcome the hardships to get to your first WIN and why it's important to never quit until you reach that first WIN! Our amazing guests BREGMA (a production trio) who produced Logic & Eminem's "Homicide" record (which was their first major placement by the way) spoke about the early grind, how they got their track to Logic, being broke for years but sticking with the grind and so much more.

What does "success" mean to you? For some it's money. For others it's happiness and the freedom to do what you want, when you want. For most, it's a combination of all the above. How does one answer this question in the MUSIC INDUSTRY? What does a successful music producer with Grammys and platinum plaques look like? And how do you get there? In this episode, Illmind + his co-hosts Atlas and Perfection go into a deep dive of some of the psychological, spiritual and routine habits of the successful. So many gems in this one.

In this episode, Illmind, GLAM and Atlas chop it up with special guest June James about his music, history and influences. "We're here to talk about anything and everything music, business, music production." (00:02:50)"I have a couple special things for Spotify." (00:03:42) "I want to announce a couple things... my Throne Loops contest is ongoing." (00:05:09) "I just got back from Miami. I did a 3 city little tour run for Pass the Aux." (00:06:48)"On this podcast we talk a lot about building with your peers and collaborating with each other." (00:07:53) "Go to IllmindProducer.com for tickets to Pass the Aux" (00:09:00) "Atlas, what do you have going on right now?" (00:09:23) "GLAM, what have you been working on? How's the music?" (00:11:20) "We're all really nothing without memories." (00:15:00) "I like the campaign idea about artists that have a 9 to 5 and then talk about the 5 to 9." (00:17:10) "What are some of the things your learning along the way in terms of the 5 to 9 hustle and balancing that with the 9 to 5?"(00:17:45)"That's a key word that you're using - coexisting." (00:22:50) "Everyone has bad days. Everyone has stuff they go through whether it's financial, personal or a relationship... We have the power to give power to certain things."(00:25:30)"If I was doing these Pass the Auxs' for free, not only would I be losing money, but imagine the type of clientele I would be attracting." (00:34:50) "We're here with a very special guest." (00:37:50)"What got you into production?" (00:39:50) "It's all about building direct relationships, but with people that aren't necessarily big yet." (00:47:00) "What's the priority right now?" (00:51:55) + so much more!!

100th episode is here!!!

On this episode, Illmind talks solo about coming up on the 100th episode, the power of the mind and the effect it has on success

On this episode Illmind, Perfection and Atlas discuss the importance of relationships, positive energy output, meaningful collaborations and other tools that get you that ring!!!

On this episode the Blap crew goes over the importance of initiative and a "problem solving" approach to the industry and your career. Illmind is back in the studio with Perfection, Atlas, and GLAM 1..2..3.... BLAPCHAT!!!

On this episode, we welcome back Perfection and get to know our listeners with an Instagram live Q & A. IG and FB 24 hr blackout

On this episode, we talk about the journey through the industry and finding a passion for the hustle (00:04:50), future Pass the Aux events (00:8:00), ATLAS is our other host today, he fills us in on Cruz's "Respect the Engineer" workshops (00:13:40), "if you're a creator you should think about what you can do to nurture and provide your fans (00:29:53),"the long term route is the shortcut"(00:35:12), !ll explains "points" on an album and how they pertain to producers (00:48:14) Are you the 5% that apply themselves?(01:00:00), Blap or Crap segment (01:31:08) + so much more with !llmind and ATLAS.

On this episode, we talk about my experience going to the GRAMMYs and winning my first award (00:04:17), future Pass the Aux events (00:12:25), GLAM talks about her placement with Apple (00:13:33), being persistent with one thing and then pivoting into a new direction (00:16:49), the idea of doing music because you love it even if you're broke (00:21:55), what's more important - marketing or networking? (00:26:42), should you focus on only one thing even if you can do it all yourself? (00:28:55), the difference between mentor vs. a hero (00:31:15), advice for upcoming artists (00:37:44), Blap or Crap segment (00:53:01) + so much more with !llmind, GLAM and Perfection.

On this episode, we have special guest PAPAMITROU BOI aka NICK PAPZ joining us to discuss the definition of type beats (00:10:50), if it's possible to transition from a type beat producer to a successful, household name (00:20:15), both positive and negative "Scarlett Letters" that type beat producers carry (00:29:36), what drove Nick to get started in music (00:38:12), how he found success making type beats (00:39:47), his transition from type beats to working with MEEK MILL (00:41:57), Nick's advice on how young producers should prepare for a first time session with a superstar artist (00:50:00), some of Nick's favorite VST's, plugins and how he likes to start a beat (00:53:38), what's next for Nick (00:59:40) and he joins us for our Blap Or Crap segment (01:05:05) + so much more with Illmind, Atlas, Perfection.

On this episode, we have special guest REAZY RENEGADE and we discuss focusing only on the people that support you (00:17:30), !llmind's experience at the Dreamville sessions in Atlanta (00:27:30), early days of how Reazy got started (00:51:15), taking the approach of working for free with local artists before the come up (00:54:36), building with We The Best, Maybach Music, YMCMB (00:57:58), switching career paths from dental school to music producer (00:58:42), encouragement to learn instruments at a young age (01:01:10), going solo and producing outside of the production duo, The Renegades (01:05:03), building your team and growing with the people you work with (01:08:10), what to expect in a session with a big artist (01:09:00), learning from DJ Khaled (01:14:45), Reazy's process of making a beat (01:16:44), what he has going on now and who he wants to work with in the future (01:21:00) and our Blap Or Crap segment (01:26:03).

On this episode, we discuss the topic of fear and how it's the one thing that stops us from what we truly want to do (00:04:00), Perfection's insight on fear of failure and success (00:06:09), Atlas' moments of fear and how he overcame it and learned from the process (00:08:25), Illmind's perspective on how we should view failure (00:13:00), the importance of work ethic and not looking for shortcuts (00:35:52), keeping true to yourself and providing value of something different (00:40:51), create something for yourself to the point where people will want to work with you (01:09:42), first Blap Or Crap of 2019 (01:14:43) and so much more gems in between.

On this episode, we talk with special guest Cruz, Meek Mill's engineer, about celebrating your wins and giving yourself credit for the hard work you put in (00:18:44), how he started to work with Meek Mill and details on his recording process (00:21:46), his favorite plugins and gear (00:36:31), advice for aspiring engineers (00:49:24), what's the next for himself (00:57:19), how to submit beats to major labels (01:02:50) and so much more.

On this episode, Illmind and Glam talk about how to balance a 9-5 job vs. pursuing a passion (17:30), IG Live Q&A (38:30), how to keep yourself motivated everyday (49:40), selling beats online(59:30) and a Blap or Crap/ beat critique segment (1:05:30). Plus a recap of our BlapChat Live episode with Just Blaze (03:00), Pass the Aux 2019 announcement(10:55) and Glam's experience on tour with Duckwrth (14:37). A lot of great advice in here for all up and coming creatives looking to make the big jump from turning their art into a career.

BlapChat Live was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who came out and rocked with us and all our special guests (Just Blaze, Rance1500 to name a couple) We talked to a lot of you who followed the advice from all of my content and how that led to a big change in your lives, placements and so much more. I encourage you to try something new, embrace your failures, learn from your mistakes and grow within the process. Just Blaze also talks about how he came up and his story of failures/successes. So many times, we think our plan is going to work out but it ends up taking you on a whole other journey. Just and I both have a list of placements that weren't supposed to be where it ended up. But the music will be end up where it needs to be and trust that everything will be okay. A lot of gems in this one.

Most aspiring music producers' goals are to get placements on a major label. But there are so many different avenues of income and success. Special guest APOLLO BROWN speaks on touring the world playing his music and how he created a demand for it. Instead of having his beats sitting on a hard drive, he decided to put them out as albums and branded himself as a producer. He speaks on his come up in the beat battle scene to now, still in the game as a respected and successful music producer for the past 20+ years. He has a new album out with JOELL ORTIZ called MONA LISA. Lots of great advice and a new perspective on what it means to be a music producer in this episode.

Here's what we did. I went on IG Live and asked the viewers to drop their phone numbers in the comments. Atlas and I called them to answer their questions and give advice on so many different topics. The beginning of your journey has to start with believing in yourself. That creates the confidence to go out and network, find up and coming artists to collaborate with, not waiting for the perfect time to release music. There is no such thing as the perfect time and everything, especially in the music business, is RANDOM. Some people can handle that uncertainty while others simply can't and give up. It all starts with believing.

Special guest TRILOGY speaks on producing the viral hit, "Get The Strap" with Uncle Murda, 50 Cent, 6ix9ine & Casanova and getting it featured on the show Power. There's no such thing as an overnight success. Trilogy started producing in 2006, grinding and building relationships that's paid off in recent times. The producer community, and the music industry in general, has changed so much since then. He speaks on how he's adapted to it over the years and now more than ever, embracing collaborations. He touches on the importance of having an attorney, understanding the artist you're working with and keeping the music simple plus so much more. A lot of great advice you don't want to miss.

Welcome back our special guest SEVN THOMAS for a second episode with us! Appreciate him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chop it up. We discuss his recent successes with Rihanna, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne and more. He gives great advice on how to manifest and execute your goals and how that mentality got him to where he is today. He also gives a stamp of approval for young producers to grind, sell beats and do whatever you gotta do because he's surprised at how many major artists reach out to these guys off of YouTube/Instagram beats. Also on this episode, my co-hosts and I talk about how to network effectively and genuinely build relationships rather than forcing a situation. A lot of helpful tips that can really change your outlook and trajectory. You don't wanna miss this one!

I’m always inspired by stories of people who were able to climb out of extreme low points to eventually reach success. When you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up. From extreme life difficulty only a few years ago, to now having produced Bodak Yellow and I Like It for Cardi B & so much more. He gives great advice on betting everything on what you believe in and the universe will pay you back. Listen to his full story on the risks he took and the decisions he made to be in the position he's in today. Also on this episode is Blap or Crap, where we listen to your beat submissions and give constructive criticism. To be featured on future segments, upload your music to beatthread.com

After the devastating news of Mac Miller’s passing, I talk about the importance of mental health and how social media has evolved to effect it. What was once a silly platform to post and share with your friends is now something that you can build an entire business around. For many of us creatives, we share with the world our most vulnerable work, our art. We guide you on how to navigate through the negative and hateful comments. And I encourage you to stop and think again before commenting something hurtful on someone else’s post. Our guest on the show J Reid ("Chun - Li" Nicki Minaj Producer) talks about what it was like to work with a superstar, what it took to get there, how it changed his career and what he has planned for the future. Gems you don’t want to miss!

What's the difference between working with a rapper and a singer? If I'm a music producer or an audio engineer, do I know the difference between the two? Chances are, you don't. Both worlds are completely different in their own way. If you've only worked with rappers in the studio, you've got a lot to learn when it comes to working with singers/songwriters. Some say working with rappers is easy because it's just verses and adlibs. With singers, you're stacking harmonies, coming up with melodies and lyrics, concepts, etc. How different or how similar are the two? What are some things we should keep in mind to play our roles in the studio as music producers and engineers? We brought in our good friend, singer/songwriter/producer FATHER DUDE to talk about the dynamics amongst singer, songwriter and producer. Also, our "BLAP OR CRAP" segment is back. You don't want to miss this one!

So this is what we did. We put a tweet out the day before recording this episode saying "meet us at the podcast studio". 62 people showed up. It was nuts. They asked questions and we answered. Someone even busted a freestyle over an unreleased Illmind beat. Lots and lots of gems here and lots of laughs. We also spoke about Travis Scott's "Astroworld" album and how it's likely to leave a long lasting impact. One of my favorite episodes to date.

The world of music production requires skills similar to any entrepreneur of today. The successful ones usually become their own boss. No one to report to (except the IRS lol). You get what you put in. We spoke about some basic philosophies to keep in mind during your journey as an aspiring musician. Whether you're a music producer, artist, engineer or all of the above, these are some of the fundamentals that will help guide you along the way. Oh, and BLAP OR CRAP is back of course!

This might be one of our most informative episodes to date. We talked about various ways to generate income when FIRST STARTING to make beats and become a music producer. How much $ should you charge for your beats? Should you work for free? Should you do both? When is a good time to start increasing your prices? Our special guest for this episode was Lamont Graves who specializes in consulting music producers on what MUSIC PUBLISHING is, some best practices and how music producers can properly get PAID for their work. He's consulted platinum and gold producers like Jahlil Beats, The Beat Bully and so many more. You're nuts if you don't listen to this episode!

I met Mike Kuz when I was working with Slaughterhouse (Royce da 5'9", Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz & Crooked I for those living under a rock) back in 2013. He was an assistant engineer at Just Blaze's old studio. I didn't know he produced music as well. I just thought he was a great engineer from my experience working with him during those sessions. I remember later being in the studio with Wale and he needed an engineer. I recommended Mike to Wale and they ended up working together. From there, Mike has grown to do many amazing things. I tell this story because it's an example of someone who work hard at their craft to prove themselves, to later be given certain opportunities of work based on their work ethic. We also dig into the whole "free intern" debacle and so much more. I love this episode. Enjoy!

There's so much I can say about Wayno. Some people know him as the official co-host of Complex's "Everyday Struggle". Some know him as the guy who helped kick start Dave East's career. Some knew him from the early Rocafella days, or his company "Triangle Offense" (artist + production management, amongst other things). Outspoken, honest and will always keep it 100. One of my favorite and most genuine people in the industry. Lots of gems here you don't want to miss.

As music producers, we strive to eventually get to that point where we feel like we have our own "signature sound". Like, The Neptunes. Like, Timbaland, Like, Dr. Dre. Like, Metro Boomin'. The list goes on. So what does one have to do to achieve a signature sound as a music creator? We also discuss the current landscape of music and how important of a role music producers play.

In this episode we each tell our own unique stories on several moments where we set a goal and went out to achieve that goal. Whether it was trying to land a placement on a major album, or wanting to meet someone we admire. Going out of your way to try new things can alter the pathway to your future. We also chose our current favorite VST or PLUG-IN and why we love using it. Of course the hilarity ensues throughout. This episode was lit!

We back baby (after a 3 week hiatus) and we had the honor to have a LEGEND join us! His name is Prince Paul. The guy who used to hang out with Rza and ODB in the 80's before Wu-Tang became world renowned. The guy who started as a DJ in Stetsasonic. The guy who produced on De La Soul's "3 Feet High And Rising" classic album. The guy who did "Handsome Boy Modeling School" with Dan The Automator (one of !llmind's favorite albums of all time). We can go on forever. Oh, and his son is Lil Uzi Vert's DJ too. The stories in this episode are unbelievable. And, for those asking, yes we spoke about the Drake/Pusha T stuff. It's lit.

Music producers need managers. Some don't need them early in their careers when they're first starting out. But eventually, you'll need an extra hand when things get too overwhelming. The real question is: When is it time to find a good manager? Also, where do I find a manager and how do I know if they're good or not? Will a manager help get me major label "placements"? We had an inspiring conversation about all of this. Illmind's friend (who works with Akon) surprised us with a phone call too. Many gems were dropped. This episode is a must listen.

In this episode we speak about a multitude of things - Knowing when to "shoot your shot", taking chances as a music producer, why sliding in the DM's could actually prove to be effective sometimes + we chose 2 fans at random to be our guests on the show. Both are up-coming music producers who listen to our show religiously + actually apply some of the stuff we say in real life, yielding some great results. They also brought empenadas, chocolate covered strawberries for Perfection and amazing gifts. We're so appreciative! This episode was hilariously awesome.

It's always so fascinating when you try to dissect that golden moment for an up-coming music producer when their life changes in an instant. This very moment just happened recently with producer Koncept P. Having produced "Kooda" & "Rondo" for Tekashi 69, things are now just starting to really roll. We spoke about the grind leading up to both life changing records, what life is like now and what's coming in the future.

What happens after you produce one of the biggest summer anthems of 2017? Life changes in an instant. That's what happened to production trio "1Mind" after they produced French Montana's hit "Unforgettable" featuring Swae Lee. We spoke to them about how that track came about, what the grind was like to reach that point & the sacrifices that were made.

From 90's classics that went platinum (Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah, etc), to modern classics that went platinum (Young M.A. "Ooh") we spoke to the genius behind the scenes - CEO & Co-Founder of Duck Down Records. Lots of jewels dropped, like how to maneuver in today's music industry climate, the importance of social media, creating a direct relationship with the artist to get more placements & so much more. With 20+ years in the game, there's so much perspective here that we can all learn from.

There's no formula to reaching success in the music industry, but there are certain common denominators that contribute to people who are successful. They know why they're doing it. They are in tune with themselves. They are in tune with their craft. Oh, and we also debate on if smoking too much weed can be a positive or a negative, and why. This was a special conversation. Illmind + Atlas The Plug + Perfection + GLAM talking their sh*t.

He goes by the name of Parks. He's an engineer for the stars (Slaughterhouse, Prhyme 1 & 2 (Royce Da 5'9" + Dj Premiere) & more) a music producer & part of the JOE BUDDEN PODCAST (yes, they actually film and record it at his crib). This was a fun episode. Lots of jokes. Lots of gems. Def want to listen to this if you're curious about audio engineering & how to go about approaching the business. This episode was heartfelt. Well, they're always heartfelt. You will cry tears of joy when you listen to this. Ok, now go listen! Wakanda forever!