BlapChat

Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppepin, Timbaland, The Rolling Stones, Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Jay X, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Sean Paul, All Green. What do these names have in common? Jimmy Douglass. 30+ years as an engineer/producer/musician/problem solver. We spoke about that one time Timbaland first brought Missy to the studio in Rochester, NY, his experience working for Atlantic records in the early days, and where the game is headed. Oh, and did we mention that he knows how to use basically every single DAW out there? More JEWELS for ya head top. So much knowledge in this episode.

The Heatmakerz are undoubtedly one of the most legendary music production crews in hip-hop. From the early Camron days, to the Dipset movement and sound in the early 2000's, these guys were running the sound of the streets for almost a decade. We spoke to founding member RSONIST about the beginning stages of his career, how he is able to survive for so many years in this climate, and some really helpful pointers for up and coming producers.

Another episode chock-full of JEWELS and information. How do you build value for yourself? Well, there are multiple things you can do. We spoke about the concept of starting to build value and stock for your brand, why that's important, and how that can impact your interactions when meeting various people in the industry. We talk about networking all the time, but what are some key techniques you can execute to help build a stronger network? All of these questions are answered during EPISODE 31, along with a nice handful of other topics of discussion relating to "value" and "brand". I love this episode. Oh, and we called random people on the phone and answered their questions (via !llmind's Instagram Live account). That was super fun. Go listen now!

Michael Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupree, Teddy Riley. What do these names have in common? This man right here; Bryan Michael Cox. Not only has he worked with some of the greatest in music to ever live, but he is the first music producer to have appeared on the most TOP BILLBOARD hits consistently for years. We spoke about that time he was in the studio with Usher, and Michael Jackson literally called the studio to "check up on what they were doing". We had an amazing conversation about MUSIC PUBLISHING, and the various pros and cons of signing one (amongst many other topics of discussion). What an honor to have such an amazing talent bless us for Episode 30. You're doing yourself a disservice by not listening to this one! Oh, and the conversation was SO epic, we didn't even have time for "Blap or Crap"! Sheesh!

With a discography of songs produced ranging from Beyonce & The Weeknd to Kodak Black and French Montana, Ben Billions is a true force to be reckoned with in the music production community. Starting as an engineer for DJ Khalid, Ben was able to forge important relationships with industry players and megastars to get to where he is today. The scary part is that he's only getting started! From crashing on couches for years on end, to buying a house & supporting his family, we explore his incredible journey and how he managed to solidify his spot in today's over saturated culture. What an inspiration.

In this episode the Blapchat crew breaks down a few key differences between the people who succeed and those who stay stagnant. The concepts of learning to network with people who you want to work with and how to keep those relationships alive. The music industry is a "people" industry. How and when we interact with them is vital to success. There's some major cheat codes here!

Imagine a scenario where you're pursuing a career in music production for years, hit a wall, and then coincidently move into an apartment downstairs from one of Shaggy's (yes, THE Shaggy) dancers. Then you meet Shaggy (at the height of his career) and your life changes. That's exactly what happened to Ill Wayno. This particular episode is inspiring because what Ill Wayno has been able to do with his career since then is pretty remarkable. This is one of my favorite episodes to date.

Another amazing producer from Toronto, Canada. Sevn Thomas has one hell of a story, from his early days as an actual artist signed to a major label, to re-kindling his relationship with Boi-1da at a beat battle showdown with WondaGurl. He connected with the right people and the timing couldn't be more perfect. From "Pop Style" for Drake to co-production on "Real Friends" for Kanye, then "Work" for Rihanna, Sevn's life changed forever. Another must listen with plenty of producer jewels!

After a complete hard drive crash and losing all of his beats, Syksense decided to go harder, and boy did it pay off. After quitting his dead end job, he met Boi-1da at a beat battle in Nashville and everything changed. From Bryson Tiller, to "Know Yourself" for Drake, and most recently being heavily involved with Khalid (the youngest new star signed to RCA) we spoke about how his success strengthened his drive. What an inspiring conversation.

One thing we all strive for as music producers and creators is to become successful doing what we love. That's a fact. To connect with likeminded people, live life in abundance and inspire people through the music we create is a dream we are all after. One factor we so often neglect during our journey is health. I'm talking about mental, physical and biological wellness. The food we eat directly affects our ability to create music and live life. So why do we torture ourselves by eating fast food and sodas high in sugar, all while getting no sleep. We think we need to "grind hard", yet we are torturing ourselves in the process, which ends up being counter-productive. In this episode we spoke to a professional about the truths regarding the matter. She's a Registered Dietition & Health Coach, running her own company called "All Great Nutrition" (she is also !llmind's fiance' *blush*). Her name is Tamar Samuels. We spoke about why the food we eat directly affects our ability to be creative and productive, and discussed simple solutions and lifestyle changes to help be our best selves. I guarantee you'll feel energized after listening to this episode. Enjoy and make sure you check out her company http://www.allgreatnutrition.com.