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Meet
the Producers Time to get thee to a studio. But before you do, you gotta hook up a solid producer for your project. If you're down, you could ask your man Pharell from the Neptunes. According to his partner Chad Hugo, however, they may not be the easiest to get for your record. He says, “Sometimes we'll hear an artist that just says something. Or we'll hear someone that just stands out. Those are the ones that get chosen. But most of the time it's record companies, and artists already signed.“ The role of a producer is to help create your sound, your signature. At the same time, he or she is a combination of parent, friend, and baby sitter. “Sometimes you have to orchestrate the artist,“ says producer Megahertz, who's worked with P. Diddy and others. “A large percentage of artists have it together, but there are times when they'll ask, ŚWhat do you think I should do for the hook?' and it's up to you as the producer to make the best decision for the artist.“
Take Your Time. Listen to a few different samples of their work. If everything sounds the same or like two years ago, get out. “We'll play 15, 20, 30 tracks for an artist,“ says producer Megahertz. “A lot of times, if you can't find something out of the 30 tracks, maybe you're messing with the wrong producer.“ Get Feedback. Bring your demos along with you for your meeting, and ask them what they would do with the track. This will give you an idea of how they work. “I always encourage new artists.“ says Ruff Ryders producer Swizz Beatz, “I'll say, ŚWhy you put drums on that, and then come back with it? It's not the sound right now. Update that, make the bass line heavier with quality. People wanna hear that in the clubs.'“ Who's Your Friend? Studio time can be hella pain when you're with a person you can't stand. Go for someone you respect, and someone you like. “Elektra sent a song to me from Roy Hamilton, and I liked it. I got his vibe, and he was a nice guy,“ says Keith Sweat. “He wasn't cocky or arrogant. He was just somebody trying to do his thing. Those are the people I like to work with.“ Switch It Up. Flexibility is also key in a good producer. “As a producer, you have the ability to switch around different styles, it's kind of like being a movie director, “says Neptunes' Chad Hugo. “Of course, you have one distinct style that you want everyone to know you for, but I think it's also a goal for every producer to be versatile.“ Work Style. Are they laid back or anal retentive? Do they prefer to work alone, or with you around 24/7? Do they allow weed to be smoked in the sessions? Find out ahead of time how they choose to work. “I'm up 7 o'clock in the morning like it's a regular job,“ says Megahertz. “I just jump on the machine, and whatever comes out, comes out.“ Or maybe you'll work with a team like the Neptunes. “It's mostly Pharell who comes up with the hooks and ideas. He writes the lyrics. He comes up with the foundation, and I do the orchestration, and arranging, and making sure it feels good in the end.“
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