Hip Hop Producer

My dude, and Big Tune Seattle partner in crime, recently re-launched his website, KDCutz.com.

Check out the video and follow me and KDCutz on Twitter if you want to stay updated on when our next Ustream beatmaking video is.

KDCutz’s Twitter
Marcus D’s Twitter

Without further ado, KDCutz’s “We’re Back” Beatmaking Video…this dude samples himself at the end!

We’re Back from Kyle D on Vimeo.

SWREVERB: Welcome to yr weekly twitterview! we’re chatting today with @marcusd206, local producer and winner of the 2009 big tune beat battle, where..
…he competed against 11 other local producers in front of a live audience. He’ll be going to Atlanta to represent Seattle in October.
@marcusd206 so congrats on that. i’m interested in what you focus on as a producer to prepare for battles: what’s key for a winning beat?

Marcus D: @swreverb making beat battle beats is an art itself..some ppl are better at making tracks that would sound best on an album/mixtape…it’s all about the feel really. but to answer your question, i think it’s key to focus on keeping the audiences attention…i told my friend the other day, makin a beat battle beat is like talkin to a girl you’re feelin..you want minimum awkward silence. every second theres not something interesting goin on in your beat is a second that ur losing the connection with the crowd (girl).

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 hahaha, alright. will you be making new tunes for the competition in atlanta or sticking to what you got?

Marcus D: @swreverb i’ll be making new tracks for ATL if i’m inspired, just like any other time i make a beat…but i don’t want to force anything just because im “goin to ATL” u know?

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 fair. on the flip, what is it that inspires you to create your own projects? do you tailor your music to emcees? whose work…and art are you most inspired by?

Marcus D: for the most part, i make music that i like listening to. personally, im into easy listening/hip-hop stuff…i enjoy eastern sounds & a lot of jazz too. as far as emcees go, the only people I really tailor my beats for are Justis (QA)…@substizzle…but our chemistry is so good (pause) that i pretty much do what i do and we just build from there. im inspired by @substizzle (incredible work-ethic), everybody in seattle that’s doin their thing…and a lot of producers in japan whose music i grew up on.

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 tell us more about the beat battle you’ll be judging on the 31st.

Marcus D: @swreverb basically @KDCutz & I will be judging the Beat Battle portion of the Ground Zero MC/Beat Battle…put on by my dude Justis…there’s going to be a lot of new blood in the beat battle that night and i think it’ll be a good chance for MCs to acquainted…with some dope producers from the town that maybe don’t get a lot of shine at the moment.

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 what i like abt this event is that it’s young pple producing it as this town is really structured around 21+. how difficult is…..it as a “minor” to both get exposure and also to get out and meet/network with other musicians?

Marcus D: @swreverb it’s extremely difficult. at Big Tune, @KDCutz & I both had to have personal bodyguards escort us in and out of the war room in between battles…I understand why, but it doesn’t make it any easier for youngins to feel like they’re a part of the scene…or even involved…and God knows we need the youth to be more involved in the scene. you start early, you learn early.

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 you mentioned that you follow producers in japan, obviously a hot spot for hip-hop. who should @swreverb listeners know abt?

Marcus D: @swreverb Definitely, I have a few now but @substizzle & I will be touring in Japan(hopefully 2010). Ill be able to drop more knowledge then…@swreverb u can type any of these in on google…Nujabes, DJ Deckstream, Uyama Hiroto, Nomak, Shin-Ski, DJ Mitsu the Beats DJ Honda DJ Krush.

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 what’s your all-time favorite rap beef?

Marcus D: @swreverb all time favorite rap beef: hmm…I always liked the Detroit beefs. Em & Benzino was funny as hell. Royce killed D-12 on wax too..

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 if you could raise one artist from the dead and do a full-length project with them, who would it be?

Marcus D: @swreverb good question…not good question as in “hmm i dunno” but good question as in “i’ll have to think about that and take two pages…to answer it…I know it’s generic, but Pac. He was the first rap I listened to. not the best role model for an 11 year old…but a legend regardless. his music moved then and moves me still.

SWREVERB: @marcusd206 west coast all day! finally, what projects should we be on the lookout for?

Marcus D: @swreverb Indeed. My debut album (Feb 2008) Revival of the Fittest is being re-released in Japan…8 new tracks, new art, import only…@substizzle & I have a collab album coming out in Japan as well…import only…but guaranteed to be loved by America equally…My sophomore album in America featuring many town-folk…and my sophomore album in Japan. All in all…get that Yen rdy…and hit me up if you want to make beautiful music.

SWREVERB: thanks so much for talking w us, @marcusd206! check him at the beat battle on the 31st at studio 7. best of luck in ATL!

Marcus D: @swreverb thanks for the opportunity. i appreciate it.

Check out the profile on the Seattle Weekly blog…

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2009/08/twitterviewing_marcus_d.php