Episode 362: RASHAD SMITH (Pt.1): "The Mystery Beatmaker for Rakim, Uptown Records & Busta Rhymes"

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down for Part 1 of an epic two-part conversation with legendary producer @Rashad_Ringo_Smith — the mastermind behind tracks for @TheNotoriousBIG, @BustaRhymes, @JayZ, @Beyonce, @TheGodRakim, and more. You may not know his name, but you definitely know his sound. Rashad kicks things off by reflecting on his early days as a DJ, his childhood nicknames, and the powerful influence his mother had on his musical journey (00:11). He shares his deep love for jazz and reveals how he flipped the same sample two different ways for Busta Rhymes’ “Woo Hah” and its remix featuring @OlDirtyBastardLegacy (08:55). He breaks down the art of crate digging with iconic producers, the origins of the “pause tape,” and how it became the foundation for early production before DAWs (18:01). Rashad dives deep into the making of “Woo Hah,” seeing the Hype Williams-directed video for the first time, and Spike Lee’s unexpected interest in using the track for Clockers (38:01). From crafting “Don’t Sweat the Technique” to the murky politics of credit in the industry (58:10), Rashad opens up about why he calls himself “The Muted Drum” — a nod to his role as one of the most “unknown, known” producers in hip-hop (1:11:04). He also shares stories from his time at Uptown Records, working with a young @Diddy, and the moment he invented the producer tag (1:31:01), before diving into the rise of Bad Boy Records and the complicated dynamics behind the scenes (1:55:01). The episode wraps with Rashad reflecting on the making of the classic Notorious B.I.G. track “One More Chance” (2:10:33). Don’t miss Part 2, where Rashad speaks on more of his iconic tracks and tells unforgettable stories.

This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!

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