I would describe myself as a hard worker, very humble and focused on whatever it is that I put my mind to.
When I first starting making beats, I didn't know samples were being used in any beats. I had no idea where producers were getting the real string sounds or the voices on their tracks. I knew nothing about loops or sampling off of records. So, by me knowing nothing about this it made me concentrate on my chords on the keyboard.
The only reason I started using samples was because people talked about me not sounding like Kanye or The Heatmakers.
I just look up to anyone who made music back then because you really had to be a musician. There were no samples or drum machines. Those people back in the day paved the way for people like me.
I like so many different genres of music that I guess it would be hard for me to pick one person who inspires me when so many people inspire me to make good music.
I don't have to be as big as Dre, Kanye or Pharrell. Nobody even has to know my face. As long as I'm getting placements and I'm making good music and able to support myself - I'm good.
I feel like my purpose on earth is to help other people and give good advice about some of the same things I have gone through.
Half of the reason why people aren't able to succeed in life is because they hypnotize themselves into believing that they can't accomplish their goals, it's a mind game they play with themselves.
I have always been the type of person to want to reach a goal no matter how far-fetched it was.
You have the rap industry trying to stay above water by giving the people what they want, but then you have the people who are partaking in it and seeing it and they want what they think these artist have.
Young kids out here see what's on TV and feel like they can start rapping. They think rappers are rich and really have their own jets and Bentleys, but in lot of cases that stuff is rented.
I think at the end of the day you can do both: make money and stay true to yourself. But a lot of young people look for that fame that some of these huge artists that they see on TV have, not knowing they can do what some of these underground artist are doing which is not selling their souls for a buck.
It's a beautiful thing to build your own fan base and pay the bills knowing that you're staying true to your music at the end of the day. I look at life like this, the sky's the limit!
Albums aren't even selling anymore and there's a reason for that. Record companies are just signing single and ring tone deals and it doesn't seem like they're focusing on albums.
I have no problem with thinking small. Sometimes you have to think small first in order to think big.
Everybody is looking for a hit single but what the artists really need is an executive producer to help put better albums out.
I want to sell tracks but at the same time I want to stay true to the music I like. This is why I love the underground scene because they can stay true to what they want to do.
My music should evoke a feeling; whether it's a feeling in your stomach, goosebumps, whatever. When you don't get a feeling then there's a problem.
When I'm in the studio I just try to zone out and not think of whatever is in the industry, if it sounds too much like someone else, I have a tendency to erase it.
I'm really just concentrating on making good music, whether it's using a sample or doing an original track.
I think I lot of young people feel like they have no purpose, so I try to enlighten them with my life and show them you can do whatever you put your mind to.
As far as my inspirations, I just like anyone who is making good music - period.
I grew up listening to Commission, Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker. If I was found listening to any rap, my pops would throw them out, or crush the CDs and tapes - literally.
I grew up in the church not being able to listen to anything but gospel. So, while [other] people grew up with their parents listening to Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, I never knew they existed until I was able to listen to what I wanted to.
God is my spiritual guide. Half the music I come up with I really don't know where it comes from.
