Every producer wants to find his or her own sound and niche. For producer Double 0 one have of Kidz in the Hall there are so many different sounds for him to hear you very rarely will hear the same type of beat in the same vein twice. Double 0 claims that he has yet to find his lane he just attempts to make a hit everytime. For that reason the Kidz in the Hall and Double 0 as a producer should be around for a very long time.

Scheme: What was the first piece of equipment you purchased and or used?

Double O: Optimus keyboard from Radio Shack, a Dr.550 Drum machine and Cubase.

Scheme: Do you remember your first beat and when you made it?

Double O: Yeah, it was probably September 1998. The day I bought it said keyboard my man Paully and I interpolated the Beverly Hills Cop theme and I recorded it into Cubase added drums and some other synths and BAM! Beat numero uno.

Scheme: When did you find your own lane when it came to making beats?

Doule O: I don’t think I have found my lane yet. I make sh*t I like and I try to make it a hit everytime. So I guess that’s my lane.(laughs)

Scheme: What’s the hardest and easiest part about working with an emcee?

Double O: As with any partnership it’s knowing the artists work and really what their limitations are. That makes it easy to figure out where you want to go. Probably the hardest thing is not knowing anything about an artist and not having time to figure it out before you make the record.

Scheme: What have you learned (most) about yourself while working with Naledge when it comes to beat making?

Double O: Just learning how to think like a rapper. I don’t rap so sometimes you make a beat and think it’s crazy but it’s almost overproduced and there is nowhere for a voice to fit. So I’ve definitely become more conscious of that. I’ve learned to treat vocals like and instrument.

Scheme: Who were the producers that inspired you to go back in the studio after you heard what they did?

Double O: Always happens. There are a lot of talented people in this game. The last person to do that was probably Bink Dog. Both he and I are on Freeway’s new album and during my mix session they played some of his records and I was like ‘daamnn!!

Scheme: Who and what inspires you today?

Double O: Life and the people in it.

Scheme: Is it easier in this industry for the producer or the emcee when it comes to getting on?

Double O: Getting in the game is hard period, producer or emcee. It’s easier to exploit a producer which sometimes makes it easier to get people to listen but to get in, it’s hard either way you slice it.

Scheme: When did you get introduced and meet hip hop music and culture, was it a song, group, parents?

Double O: I’m old, my parents didn’t listen to this sh*t (laughs). I would have to say it was just New York period. When I grew up in the 80’s there were two things popping, crack and hip hop. So they were both everywhere. From Video Music Box to DJ Red Alert on WBLS.

Scheme: How do you feel about the technology do you feel its diluting or enhancing the music?

Double O: Technology and music, especially Hip Hop, go hand in hand. Without turntables, samplers and drum machines there is no hip hop beat and no hip hop producer. So as the technology evolves so does the artist who utilizes it.

Scheme: Were you trained academically in the music field or was this something you learned and crafted with much practice?

Double O: The only thing academically that I can kind of utilized in my production practice is thorough knowledge of computers. Everything else has come from practice and God given talent I assume.

Scheme: What’s your process when it comes to making beats i.e. where do you start and when do you decide when a beat is done?

Double O: A beat is done when the song is done. I’m always tweaking little things even after the vocalist is done. Beats start usually with a melody line or sample chop. From there I add drums and then fill everything else in.

Scheme: What equipment and technology are you using currently?

Double O: Computer… Reason, Ableton and Pro-Tools… some yams and maybe an apple here and there.

Scheme: What are the plans for 2008 and did you accomplish everything you meant to in 07?

Double O: I mean I’m semi-famous so hell yeah!! Internet Celebrity status boy (laughs)! I mean I’m just winging it at this point. As long as we make dope music and people get to hear it i’ve accomplished my goal.

Scheme: What do you think your weaknesses and strengths are as a producer/beatmaker?

Double O: I’d like to be able to play piano better and maybe guitar. My strengths are that somehow I throw sh*t together and it sounds good.

Scheme: What irritates you the most about production today and what do you love about it?

Double O: That people don’t take enough time. 808’s and claps equal a beat. That’s wack. Even if your beat is minimal the nuances within the “nothingness” make it dope. Everybody loves to bite the Neptunes but that’s what they mastered. Filling in space with melodies and sounds that make it full even though it’s sparse.