BOI-1DA (March
2009) | Interview By: Yash Boi-1da is a promising producer from Canada who
has worked with artists such as Ludacris, Trey Songz, G-Unit just to name a few.
The Toronto native stopped by the Dubcnn office to sit down for a video interview.
He talks about the projects that he's recently been working on as well as future
plans.
As ever, you can read and listen to this exclusive interview and
we urge you to leave feedback on our forums or email them to yash@dubcnn.com.
Dubcnn: Dubcnn right
here with Boi-1da from Canada, we're here in Sweden.
Boi-1da:
Boi-1da from Toronto to Sweden, you know what I'm saying, sightseeing here with
Dubcnn, chillin.
Dubcnn: So what's up man? Can you tell the viewers
what you are doing out here?
Boi-1da: I'm working on some collabos
with Rebstar and Emilio, I just did a collabo with Emillio and Bobby V and im
working on a follow up single with Rebstar.
Dubcnn: For those that
dont know your track record, go ahead and give them some info.
Boi-1da:
I've done tracks for Ludacris, Kardinal Offishall, The-Dream, T-Pain, Drake, Lil
Wayne, G-unit and the list goes on.
Dubcnn: If you're a young producer
out there and you wanna get in to the game, what kind of equipment do you need?
Boi-1da:
I started of when I was 16 years old and I started using Fruity Loops 3.56, then
I upgraded to Fruity Loops 7. My advice for any producer is try to get out there
in the game and stay consistent, focused, stay dedicated on the music and make
music your life.
Dubcnn: It isn't so much about equipment right?
It's more about talent..
Boi-1da: Exactly. For an exampel the first
Wu-Tang album. RZA uses pencils and pots and stuff on a two track, it's not even
about what you use, it's about how you set your mind and how comfortable you are
with what you use.
Dubcnn: When did you get your first break? When
was the first time you hooked up with a big artist out in the U.S.?
Boi-1da:
The first time I hooked up with a big artist was when I co-produced a track with
a guy named T Williams called "Replacement Girl", with Drake and Trey
Songs. I was out in Atlanta and we meet up with Trey and he layed down his verse
and the hook for the song. That was like my first major song as a video in Toronto
and it had over two million views on YouTube.
Dubcnn: Which Canadian
rappers do you work with? Do you work with Belly?
Boi-1da: I got a
track pending with Belly right now. We just recently hooked up after this period
of long time, after we didn't work together. I hooked up with Kardinal Offishall
out there, I got 4 tracks on the "Not For Sale" album. Drake, a new
artist on Interscope, he's from Toronto too, Socrates too. Pretty much I've worked
with everybody out in Toronto.
Dubcnn: I heard you're a visitor
on Dubcnn.com.
Boi-1da: Oh man frequently man...
Dubcnn:
Who are you feeling right now as far as new artists on the West?
Boi-1da:
The Game. I'm a fan of production, so it's like Battlecat. Battlecat does his
thing, he's a pioneer in West Coast production. And obviously Dre, Dre will always
be the man.
Dubcnn: Have you heard of any of the new cats like Bishop
and Glasses?
Boi-1da: Yeah, Bishop Lamont is dope, I peeped his mixtape
he got a crazy track with Joel Ortiz on there.
Dubcnn: Whats projects
are you working on now? What you got pending?
Boi-1da: Well right now
I'm working on Drake. His album is coming out in summer 09. It's called "Thank
Me Later". Right now that's like my main project that I'm working on back
at home in the laboratory.
Dubcnn: When you're in the studio, are
you working with the artist right there? Or do you send the beat, how does it
work?
Boi-1da: Sometimes.
I did stuff with Cry Baby, he was on the road most of the times, so I sent him
stuff back and forth. I send him the beat, and then he send me the track back,
or sometimes I just get him in the studio and custom make the beat for artists.
I've done that many times or the artist comes through and flips the beats through
and he takes what he wants too hear. So it's like all over the place, I'll do
whatever accommodates the situtation.
Dubcnn: As far as working
with big artists that you have been in the studio with... is it just a regular
situation like with upcoming artists? Or have you been like 'Oh shit, it's a trip
I'm working with this big cat right now'?
Boi-1da: Sometimes it's a
trip but you have to keep your composure, because you're like an artist too yourself,
like I'm on the come up too and I'm talking to a lot of these people on the phone
and then I meet them up, like Trey. But it was all just so cool, it was like a
nice vibe and then we chilled together after we did the track.
Dubcnn:
If people want to holler at you for beats and stuff, how should they get at you?
Boi-1da:
They should go on myspace.com/nofreebeats.
I'm just letting everybody know from the get go it ain't for free! (laughs)
Dubcnn:
Thanks a lot. Is there anything more you want too say?
Boi-1da: No
problem, I want to give a shout out to everyone. Shout out to Tina, ATF, the whole
family, Bigger Picture Entertaiment. That's what it is.