2011 Meuwlfest Photos (better late than never!)

REMINDER - Meuwlfest 2011 Dates & Lineups

Here's a classic video to wet your whistles for the 2011 Meuwlfest aka St. Meuwl's Shitfest shows

May 14, The Empty Glass, Charleston WV www.emptyglass.com
Dinosaur Burps w/ L-NO
Smokestack and The Foothill Fury
The Yetti
Teddy Faley
The Concept
BOO
Qiet

May 21, 123 Pleasant St , Morgantown WV www.123pleasantst.com

Dinosaur Burps w/ L-NO
The Renfields
Brain Trauma
Soundvision

Q&A With Lip Beats

Of all the new producers coming out of West Virginia, the one that has really stood out in my opinion is none other than Lip Beats. After breaking out with the 6’6 240 track “Welcome to Huggstown,” Lip has gone on to work with Paycheck Game and R.O.B amongst others. He’s putting in major work this year, and I had a chance to holler at him this week to give The Dub a sneak peek at what he’s up to…

L-NO: First off, I know you play a lot of instruments live on your beats. How long have you been a musician; what instruments did you start with, and when did you start incorporating that into hip hop production?

Lip Beats: I got my first guitar when I was about 13-14 years old. So it’s getting close to 17-18yrs now. I jammed with different guys I went to school with here and there; high school talent show crap but never really got into an actual band and gigged until I was around 20. I really enjoyed playing back then but never really loved “being in a band.” No one seemed to have the same work ethic. There would be plans to meet at 7:00, and everyone would roll in at 7:30-7:45. When I was already there, tuned up, ready to go 15 minutes early. I’m also more of a loner then a social butterfly. That’s what got me into trying to produce my own drum work and using sequencers. It was failed attempt to make a rock/blues album on my own, that lead to a 10 year stretch of making hip-hop music. Once I got into the synth and strings and piano tones, the guitar started to take more of a back seat, and became more of a tool for song composition, rather than composing for the sake of playing guitar if that makes any sense. I didn’t really get back to trying to add more live guitar and bass until probably 2 yrs ago.

L-NO: What instrument do you think you’re the strongest with?

Lip Beats: I would have to say guitar because of all the years of experience with it, although I’ve been getting more compliments about my basslines lately than anything. But I personally think I need another year before I really start calling myself a ‘bass player’.

L-NO: Did you ever play in any local rock bands or anything prior to doing the hip hop thing?

Lip Beats: Yeah, I played guitar in a shitty R&B boy band for awhile when I lived in Canton, Ohio. It was funny stuff. 3 singers, with their dance moves, the whole 9 yards. But we gigged a lot and I think it was a good overall experience. Only band I was ever with that played in front of a few hundred people. I had another friend while I lived in OH named Matt Francis, and we played a lot of blues music together. Going to a few different bars and jamming with the local blues players. Then I did a bit of studio work in Akron for a few groups here and there as a sit-in guitar player. I had one short lived attempt while here in Charleston about maybe 4-5 yrs ago but we only played 1 gig at the Blue Parrot before it just fizzled.

L-NO: Who are some of the producers that inspired you to start making beats?

Lip Beats: Well, no one really at first, because I was trying to make blues and rock music. I kinda fell into making beats because a friend of mine came over to my apartment around 1999-2000 and heard some of my music and just started rapping over it. So even though I was making what most would consider ‘hip-hop music’ it wasn’t really the initial intention. But some of the first hip-hop I really remember that I was like ‘wow what is that?’ was probably the Beastie Boys” License to Ill” album and Dre’s “The Chronic” album. For years I didn’t play with samples, but when I got a copy of Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek’s “Reflection Eterna”l I started looking more into samples. That’s when I started to later respect people like DJ-Hi-Tek, J-Dilla, DJ Premier and 9^th wonder.

L-NO: You’ve worked with both some of The Dub’s most respected artists (ex -Paycheck Game) and also with some new up and coming artists (ex- R.O.B.) How did you get hooked up with some of the artists you’ve been producing for?

Lip Beats: I asked, and said “pretty please with sugar on top.” A hot beat helps as well. Really, I owe a lot to DJ Monstalung. He heard some of the first tracks I released on WVRAPSCENE.COM, trying to find some artists to work with and immediately asked if I would start sending some to him for use with some artists on the SoundVision label. But I think the big one that got me noticed a bit was the sample flip I did of the WVU marching band that ended up being “Welcome to Huggstown.” That lead to being asked to submit tracks for 6’6 240’s new album (still due to be released). While doing those tracks I started making some that didn’t really fit the mold what SV was trying to achieve for 6’6’s new album, so the good ones I sent and asked if Paycheck would like them.

As far as R.O.B., he downloaded a few tracks off my website that I had on there for free and I absolutely loved what he did with them. Wasn’t the normal, ‘hey I’m a gangster’ flow and I could tell he really had the writing skills and a good tone of voice for it. So I started sending him tracks soon after that. He is sitting on some bangers right now that no one has heard, and I can’t wait to hear what happens.

L-NO: I think you recorded the most lopsided victory in MonstaLung’s latest series of beat battles. How do you feel about beat battles in general?

Lip Beats: I have a love/hate relationship with beat battles. I’m old school ‘music shouldn’t be a competition’ kinda guy, but at the same time when you would really love to get paid to make beats, you have to step outside your comfort zone a bit to make a name for yourself. Sometimes a YouTube channel and a website isn’t enough for people to take notice, and when Monstalung hosts anything you’re going to get a bit more exposure to people you might not have been able to reach. I’m more of a fan of ‘beat cyphers’ where a group of producers flip the same sample. This way, if people want to debate who was better then who, then they can, but you also get to learn something. You get to hear what part someone took verse what part you sampled and how they used it. It’s a different way to peak into the mind of another producer, and much more effective for actually learning something rather than “you post 5 hot beats and ill post 5 hot beats and we will see what everyone happens to like today.” I could do 5 really super hot slow, groovy jams and get my ass handed to me because my competitor did 5 “ok” club bangers. So I don’t pay attention to the results maybe as much as some others may, but it’s still fun.

L-NO: How would you describe your production style to those who haven’t heard it?

Lip Beats: Random. Most people have heard my sample flip skills, but I think as the year progresses they will start to see a lot more diversity in my production. Non-sampled bangers, pop jams…I have a guy right now that wants to pay me to do a few techno/dub step tracks.

L-NO: What makes a good sample to you, and where do you find most of your samples?

Lip Beats: I get almost all of my records from Budget Tapes and Records in Kanawha City. And probably 90% of my samples come off of vinyl that I bought there, although I will snatch some off YouTube from time to time. When I’m listening for samples I’m usually looking for 3 main things. 1. Tone. Do I think the overall feel of the combined instruments sound good? 2. Chord or note changes. The more the better cause it gives you more freedom to really screw with the sample naturally instead of pitch shifting it to get more options. 3. I like it when it’s not so busy. Any fast songs with lots and lots of busy hi-hats and percussion I usually stay away from.

L-NO: We’ve talked about this a bit before, but for the other production geeks out there, tell us about your setup.

Lip Beats: I have a cheap ass Casio keyboard that is used only as a midi controller. I’ve had this for over 10 years and its probably getting replaced this year with a M-Audio 88 key controller. I have an M-Audio Trigger Finger and a Novation Remote Zero. It’s mostly for the transport control features. Much easier to use if then the P.C. keyboard when you have a guitar of bass in your hands. I have a Stanton turntable with a Numark mixer for getting my samples off vinyl. Everything runs into an MBox2 running ProTools 7 LE.
Reason 3 and FL Studio 9 are the backbone of all the beats. And I chop my samples in Recycle 2. Then there is a huge list of plug-ins for effects and VST instruments. My latest big purchase was Native Instruments Komplete 7. Another important feature is Guinness beer and Johnny Walker black label scotch, both of which I fully endorse.

L-NO: Before we wrap it up here, what projects do you have in the works for 2011?

Lip Beats: Well, we’re still waiting on 6’6 240’s album to drop which should be this year sometime. R.O.B. probably has almost enough beats to make another album. White Mic has a couple he is sitting on. I did one for Brain Trauma, and a lot of beats for D. Alliff, Ray-P and others that should see the light of day sometime this year. Also working hard on some beats for Paycheck Game, and I recently got back in touch with and old Detroit connection which may lead to work with groups in various other states. Also have a few random people from YouTube that are looking for beats from Indiana and NY. So I have a lot on my plate for this year.

State of the State with L-NO! 2011 edition

What's good Dub V? It's officially 2011, so I figured it was time for a little "State of the State" action. I wrapped up 2010 with a week long trip back to Chuck City for Turkey Day and got a few things accomplished while I was there. First thing on the agenda was to finally hook up my Funk Monster tat (see above), which I did courtesy of fellow Blunt Bro Ozker at Bent Shraeder Tattoos in South Charleston. If you're in the Chuck and looking for ink, look no further than OZ. He's hands down one of the best in the area...look for a possible article/interview with him about Graffiti and Tattooing sometime soon. Also while I was in town I had a chance to make the trek to Fayettenam with Mr. B. Rude to pay a visit to The Yetti and check out some of the new album. All I will tell you is that its BONKERS...no bullshit. Those guys are really onto something special, and I'm positive the album will exceed the hype surrounding it. We also rocked a show at The Empty Glass with The Concept amongst other guests, and from what I'm hearing, Dinosaur Burps killed the X-Mas eve bash there as well. Judging from the photos I've seen, the Glass has never looked more full (no pun intended!)

In other news, Paycheck Game finally released his street album entitled "Steet Value" to such rave reviews that "Street Value 2" is already in the works! We're still waiting on "Autobiography of the Guillotine," and from what I'm hearing it will be well worth the wait. I talked to Check on the phone the other day and he also confirmed that he will be returning to Dub V in the next few months to do a final round of shows in the city where it all started (Morgantown, if you're a noob or otherwise out of the loop)...keep your eyes peeled to Live From The Dub for more updates once everything is confirmed!

Also happening in The Dub..DJ Coutz just dropped his latest "Secret Stash" mixtape, you can find a download link for here both here and on our friends at wvrapscene.com as well. You can also find new tracks every week on wvrapscene.com from the likes of Beckley's own Hand of God aka Daniel Aliff, White Mic, TRG and others, as well as other entertaining message board shenanigans.

Finally....if you haven't checked out Huntington's R.O.B's debut effort "Headphone Music", do so immediately! It's definitely one of the strongest WV debut's in quite some time and features production from Lip Beats, 95 and more! Speaking of Lip Beats, check back VERY soon for an interview with one of the hottest new producers in WV. Also, go cop Redshift/Blueshift from Profit Money if you haven't already, or he may yell at me, haha!

Stay tuned to Live From The Dub for all the latest breaking news, music, videos and more from the best in WV...we're going to be doing big things in 2011!

Yoller at your boy,

L-NO!

Charleston's Gotta Problem - The White Mic Interview

Charleston’s White Mic hit the scene around 2008 with a big debut video, Charleston’s Gotta Problem. Since then, he’s been dropping lots of new material, getting in beefs, squashing beefs, forming new groups and more. It’s safe to say he’s one of the Charleston Hip-Hop scene’s hardest workers, and he hopes to illustrate that fact with a slew of new projects in 2010-11. I had a chat with Mic this week and here’s how it went--

L-NO: It seems like you’re grinding pretty hard right now. Can you tell us a little about White Mic Wednesdays on wvrapscene.com? Have you been getting much feedback from dropping a track a week?

White Mic: Bro to be honest with you I’m ADHD like a motherfucker, so I just picked up a lil side hustle to feed my fans and supporters. Some rappers in this state; remember I said SOME, drop mixtapes every 3 to 6 months at best. So I drop mixtapes, freestyles, weekly exclusives and a group mixtape in that same time. Fans fuck with you for that shit. You wouldn’t believe the people I’ve met that have heard of me through these WVrapscene YouTubes. If you grind the people will see and in return show respect.

L-NO: What’s going on with the Click Clack Boyz? Do you guys have any new material on the way?

White Mic: Mack and I work together 6 days a week. No lie, so the chemistry is something special that we can drop a dope song while jus chillin doin our everyday thing. Right now Franchise Hustlers Vol. 1 is doing very good. It being Mack’s first mixtape release, I think he nailed it and we found something you can’t stop from happening. That’s actually how we came up with the group’s name Click Clack Boyz. All Ima say is early 2011 will solidify our spot with the elite of West Virginia.

L-NO: How about solo projects? Can we expect a full length White Mic album coming anytime soon?

White Mic: You already know brah! “I’m So Industry” just leaked for free download on Livefromthedub.com. That's the mixtape series Ima do from now on all industry beats that were hot in that 6 month period, along with original mixtapes and Click Clack mixtapes. I really don’t believe in what people call “albums” these days I just call it all “material,” haha.

L-NO: Your buzz really started generating when you dropped the “Charleston’s Gotta Problem” video. Are you making any videos now or planning to?

White Mic: Touchy subject haha. Nah, I recorded a video awhile back with “what’s his name” and I’m still sitting on it. I wanna disconnect myself from the old me completely and I say old me meaning circa August 2010. I’ve also talked to DHGW he’s doing some really good editing right now, probably the best so you might be seeing something soon from us.

L-NO: I’ve noticed in a few places you’ve bragged a bit about the quality of your gear/style. What’s your favorite sneaker and do you put more emphasis on one aspect of an outfit or the look as a whole?

White Mic: What can I say bro Ima fuckin stylist haha! To tell the truth since I was young I’ve had a thing for fashion. I remember getting voted best dressed in elementary wayyyy back haha! As far as kicks, I’m really obsessed with the Jordan’s I had as a kid. I have around 20 Jordan 1’s. Other than them, I just grab the most exclusive J’s. I go as far as prepaying for shoes, because they won’t even hit the selves. Most recently (as an example), “the cool grays” are very rare! But yeah, my style is all about head to toe. Head toe is what I like to call complete. When you wake up in the morning you have to start the process; gyms, tan, shave, shower. Clothes have to be ironed, shoes have to be clean everything has to match…complete. Anything less is half assed.

L-NO: Are you affiliated with a label/crew right now? I felt I saw you mention something about Holla Boy being no more?

White Mic: White Mic is affiliated with everybody! I got nothing but love for everybody; it’s like a bad break up with a chick. I’m really happy I’m single again haha! I have sides that know where I stand, and know what I bring to the table. I got good people in my corner right now. Ima leave it at that.

L-NO: You’ve never been one to shy away from beef. Are you beefing with anyone right now, or chilling on the diss tracks at the moment?

White Mic: As my ol lady likes to put it, I have no filter with my words. I feel it’s a good thing if I feel any sort of way you will know it, so don’t ever worry bout what’s on my mind or actually how I feel haha! But for the moment, I have no beef believe it or not. I’ve made good with most my enemies, although I’d like to smack Huey Mack if anybody gives fuck.

L-NO: Are you doing shows at all or just staying in the studio?

White Mic: I haven’t been doing as many shows as I’d like, but I’ve been through some ups and downs over these past couple months in this rap shit. So I’ve been playin’ chess instead of checkers and figuring out my next move. So yeah in the mean time I’ve been recording A LOT.

L-NO: Who would you say are your favorite fellow WV MC’s or producers? Who would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t gotten a chance to?

White Mic: Everybody knows the late great Meuwl was/is the best; and with that he taught my 2^nd favorite, my brother D-Why!, Mack Menace is my dude, 6’6, Ray-P,T Bates, my people Stupyd Fresh, Mtp, Dman and them. Tygas nice, Cookie Head, hold ya head up brah, A Breezy. I like Breezy’s voice brah I think we could make good music together. I don’t know man there’s a lot too many to name really!

L-NO: I see you on wvrapscene.com hustling champagne, clothes, just about everything. Is there no end to your hustle?

White Mic: You see me out there bro! Haha I do what I do, I’m like them Pawn Stars guys. If it’s worth something, Ima cop it and make something back. And on that note, I have a size 9 and a size 10 in the cool grays 300 each haha just sayin’.

L-NO: Anyone you want to shout out?

White Mic: Everybody that I would shout out knows I got em’ and what it is! Fam

"Keeping it real with the awesomist" - L No catches up with B Rude... DayOne!

L No and B Rude performing together at the Meuwl Memorial Show in Morgantown...

Keeping it real with The Awesomist

This next interview is one that’s very near and dear to my heart kiddos. That would be of course, because today’s interview subject is none other than B. Rude (aka Skranton Wiles, The Awesomist, Gingerbread Wolfboy, Bruder, Dr. Brudoculous…ok you get the drift). I’ve known B and his brother Mic Rude since I was in the 6th grade, and young B was just the one of the younger brothers taking shit from the big brothers at any given backyard soccer match/skate sesh.
Since then, as many of you know, B. Rude has gone on to release 4 records both as a solo act and with the Rabble Rousers, Killer Affiliates and as Rude Brothers (plus others). He’s also dropped an entire novel of quotables over the years, both on and off the mic. Since fellow Rabble Rouser and Dayone Media founder Meuwl’s passing one year ago, B’s gone through a bit of a transition. He’s most recently been on tour with the new supergroup Dinosaur Burps (with DJ Squeezle, also of Rabble Rousers), and recording for a new album. Spread the awesome, y’all…

L-NO: How did it feel to finally take your live show to some new venues in new places? You’ve been killing it in WV for years now, but this is your first multi-state tour. How did it come about and what was it like?

B. Rude: Naturally, I was kind of nervous at first… but then I just blocked that out and said "fuck it, fuck 'em if they don’t feel it. I like me and what I do.” I came about getting on the tour by perusing Facebook and saw that my homeboy, Raymond Strife, who had been to WV several times on tour was talking about it and I pretty much invited myself.

L-NO: How did the tour go? What was your favorite show? Tell us a bit about it, and any other random tour shenanigans that may have come about.

B. Rude: The tour went really well. 7,000 Miles in a bitchin Corolla. There were some small snags here and there; nothing major though. Just along the lines of bad sound and not getting paid, but I could really care less about the money. I couldn’t really say which was my favorite show but Lansing is the shit. Played with a couple of good punk bands, had a b-boy breaking in Minneapolis, Wisconsin got a little crazy when we took over this dudes apartment after the show. There are some other shenanigans and debauchery that I can’t really talk about if ya know what I mean.

L-NO: What was the worst show?

B. Rude: There really weren’t any bad shows, everybody we met was really cool.

L-NO: Do you have any plans for future tours or local shows yet?

B. Rude: I do believe (there are shows) December 17th at The Blue Parrot, X-Mas at The Empty Glass, and New Years at The Blue Parrot . Tour plans are soon to be in the works for the spring. If anybody has any connects send them to me at b.rude94@gmail.com.

L-NO: How is the recording going for the new album? You’ve been working down in Fayetteville with The Yetti, has it been different recording with a band as opposed to just yourself and a producer?

B. Rude: Recording has been going really well, got some real ground breaking stuff going on. There’s really not a whole lot of difference, because not only are they playing live instruments they also do a lot of chopping and looping with random obscure samples. Benny C. and The Brad are madmen and very talented dudes in the studio.

L-NO: Do you have a title for it yet or are you still working on that? Who is featured on the album? (Either producers or guest MC’s)

B. Rude: The title is still up in the air but we have been thinking of "Mother Nature Wants You Dead", "Things You Can’t Unhear (Yetti Burps)", "Awesome Stuff We Did When No one Was Looking", “Gingerbread Wolfboy & The Chocodile”, and a few others. I got some people I would like to hopefully get on the album, but I’m not gonna drop any names since there’s been no confirmations as of yet. I’m hoping to get an L -NO verse for the album. Most of the production on this will be by The Yetti and the late great Meuwl.

L-NO: Are there plans to shoot any videos for the album?

B. Rude: Yes there are. I’m just more concerned with getting the recording done first.

L-NO: Do you have plans to do an online store or something similar for people to cop the new album when it’s done, or will you be doing strictly physical copies?

B. Rude: I would like to set something up on the interwebs , but I’m just not tech savvy and I’m lazy as shit!

L-NO: How do you feel your newest music represents the Dayone foundation that’s been built over the last several years?

B. Rude: I think it’s going to represent Dayone bad assidly. Shit just keeps getting better, minus the absence of Meuwl of course, but you know you just gotta keep stuff moving. That’s what he would have wanted.

L-NO: How do you plan on taking that foundation to the next level?

B. Rude: I try not to plan too much, I kind of just go with the flow and let stuff happen but I definitely want Dayone/Rawkid to be known nationwide… we'll start with that.

L-NO: Why haven’t you done a producer/MC tape with L-NO yet? Haha…

B. Rude: You can’t rush the awesome! When the time is right (it’ll happen), plus like I said I’m a lazy fat shit.

L-NO: Shout out your people son son

B. Rude: Shouts to beef jerky, cheap cigs and rotgut whiskey. Carpet, people that were willing to let us take over their homes and put up with our bullshit. Medicinal herbs, Newark trap houses, everyone on the tour(Ray Strife, Dinz, Mr. Faricker, Roebus One & everybody else),TJ Sigmon, beer, and all my Dayone Rawkid fam and the whole state of WV!

Make sure you download the first leaked single off of the album "Your Smart Phone Is Stupid" that we dropped first a while back...

B Rude - Your Smart Phone Is Stupid by LiveFromTheDub

L No catched up with Marcus D'Tray... do your homework!

I told you on Twitter (yes you need to follow us at www.Twitter.com/LiveFromTheDub) that when I got back from Arizona that we had some super huge updates for y'all! L No caught up with one of WV's top hip hop talents, Marcus D'Tray! Enjoy.....

For all you veterans and noobs out there, take notice. Marcus D’Tray has been establishing himself as one of the most renowned producers in WV history for over 10 years now. He’s had more major-label quality placements than anyone that I know of, and has produced a string of local bangers as well. Now repping Charlotte, NC, D-Tray is still in the lab perfecting the craft, and still landing placements left and right. D-Tray was kind enough to take some time out of his schedule to kick some facts with me, and open the curtain to give the Dub a peek into his life. Relax and take notes suckas!

L-NO: This has kind of become a token question, but I think it’s a good one for you. A lot of people newer to the scene might not know how you got your start. Tell us about how you got started producing locally and some of the people you worked with.

D’Tray: I started messing with music around 14, I actually met 6’6 around that time, and he had a whole notebook full of songs. I had a bootleg drum machine and a mic at my house we used to mess around on. When I was about 18 I got real serious with it and bought a bunch of real equipment and just tried to learn it all, I did my album, did a lot of songs for 6, Paycheck, the whole Reconz, Ace Beanz, anybody who was hot around that time in Morgantown.I didn’t start to try and sell tracks to Major artists till about 3-4 years ago

L-NO: I hear that you’re down in Charlotte these days? How did you choose Charlotte, and at what point did you feel the need to move away from WV to expand your opportunities?

D’Tray: I didn’t pick Charlotte so much for music; I got married and my wife had a job down here. Since I can work from anywhere, this is where we are right now. 80% of everything I’ve placed so far was done while I lived in Morgantown, so it’s possible to make progress from WV.

L-NO: Are you still working with anyone locally?

D’Tray: Most def, I’m working with Tiger, I try to get hooks from Wilz P every time I can. Dante records at my studio a lot, I’m really busy but I got tracks for whoever is serious.

L-NO: Who is your favorite MC in WV?

D’Tray: I mess with a lot of artists from WV so I can’t say MC wise, but my favorite album out of WV history is Grim Reaper Theme Music (Paycheck Game). There was something special about that one when it dropped.

L-NO: How has your production setup evolved over the years? What does your setup look like these days?

D’Tray: It’s changed from PC, to Mac and Logic now. I still use mostly keyboards instead of soft synths, I’m outta control with the keyboards, and I have about 7 in here right now, analog to virus, Moog, plus all the regular fantoms and stuff. I just started using to Maschine instead of my MPC and I’m lovin that right now.

L-NO: How would you describe your production style? What is your favorite method of getting new sounds/samples?

D’Tray: I guess I would call it a very heavy sound, there is always a lot going on; that’s just me, I can’t change that. I have bought sounds and downloaded all types of kits, I have live 50 gigs of just drums, but I always make about 20-30 kits and just stick with them. The trick is to resample them through something old and gritty that makes them knock. Keyboard wise, I just turn the knobs until it sounds good.

L-NO: Have you had any professional training as far as audio engineering goes or are you self-taught? Who helped you out the most as a new producer starting out?

D’Tray: Engineering wise some people tell me I’m good at that but, I’m not happy with a mix until I’m there with a real engineer in an SSL room and we have about 8 hours to work on a song. If I’m not there they may not mix the song the way I hear it, that happens a lot so far and I want to get it in the paper work that I need to be there for the mix, or the record will lose something that made it dope. Imagine a Timbaland track with everything going on in it, and an outside party trying to decide what should be the main focus of the track; it’s just as important as any step in the process.

I didn’t really have much help, and sometimes that’s a good thing. That way some of your mistakes end up being part of your sound. Everybody I knew had MPC's and I was still using sampling keyboards so they couldn’t really help me much.

L-NO: You’ve had the biggest beat placements of anyone in the state that I know of. What was the first beat you had placed with a major artist, and how did getting that first placement feel?

D’Tray: The “Keep Pushin” record was the first to ever come out nationally, that and the Maino ft Trey Songz. I had a few placements before that but they never came out.The first time Flex played “Keep Pushin” he dropped bombs on it and brought it back twice on Hot 97 in New York. That was a crazy feeling; it makes you want to go back in the studio right then. When my homie Tim called me and said “Hood Love” was on the Sirius Top 20 countdown, and it was playing every hour in New York that was crazy, Check called me and said he heard it on the radio. Those are the times that we work hard for. I can’t say I’m satisfied with that tough, I think everybody wants to be at the top of what they do. But it’s a great start, I feel blessed no doubt.

L-NO: What is your favorite collaboration that you’ve been involved with/what artist do you feel killed one of your beats the hardest?

D’Tray: Sheek always does his thing, there is this unreleased song I was a part of with Scarface, behind Pac he’s my favorite ever so that was nasty to hear.

L-NO: What are you working on right now? Do you have any new collaborations you can speak on?

D’Tray: I’m actually tryin to get some big R&B and pop records placed; I’ve got great writers so I feel good about getting top 40 national records out real soon. We have been sending them to Ciara, Sean Kingston, Willow....
I’m workin on a full album with Mike Smith, I think we can get him a deal, we’ve got a crazy sound together, and it just works. I know my manager said Yayo recorded one last month so hope that makes his album.

L-NO: What is the best lesson you’ve learned regarding the music industry at this point in your career?

D’Tray: I would say that it’s not who is best, it’s who has the most to offer. Relationships are the most important thing after you get nice with what you do. It’s not always the best stuff that makes it, just the best relationships.

L-NO: If you had any advice for the people back in WV trying to make it happen, what would it be?

D’Tray: You have to find what it is your best at and do that. Spend 8 hours a day on it if you can. Don’t approach people in the industry until you have about 20 bangers! A no today doesn’t mean a no tomorrow so keep hitting people with stuff every few months if it’s good.

You have to hear from Jesus for yourself, no one way will work for everyone, but with God all things are possible!

Just to remind you of the new single from Sheek Louch produced by D'Tray here it is again!