Interview with a Digger: Gensu Dean April 29, 2017

This is an interview I did with Gensu Dean a few years ago. He has currently teamed up with Wise Intelligent (or PRT) for the album, "Game of Death," available right here.


Itunes : Get It Here
Sound Cloud : Here
Dean on Twitter: Here

It's time to build with the older gods. Just based on this brotha's crates, beatmaking style and unyielding loyalty to the EMU SP-1200, Gensu Dean has lots of knowledge to drop. Check the perspective of a pre-internet digger.

Peace, God. First off, how long have you been digging and what got you started?

Peace! Wow if I answer that truthfully it will reveal my age (lol). Well, i've been diggin real real strong since 92'. As a kid I would buy records from time to time but 92' was the year I started to really go in. Wanting to own my own records as a kid is what got me stated, by parents playing records and jamming out always had me open. But once i got a hold of Hip hop and beats its was OVER!

What was the first record you ever bought?

"Walk this Way" Run Dmc 45' picture cover from a Kmart in Tennessee! 

I remember the days when K Mart sold records!

I just heard that Fat Beats in NYC (and all other stores) was closing for good. Have you ever dug there? And it kills me when I hear that vinyl records are making a comeback, but huge stores are closing. Will you ever give up vinyl?

Yes i have dug, at FB (in) NY. I support a lot of indy hip hop and copped mad release the last time I was uptop (NY). My man DJ Spinna took me to Fatbeats and i spent a grip$$$$$$. NO, NO, No, NO I will NEVER give up vinyl or any of the fundamental principles of true hip hop culture. I don't know anything else. Simple.

Is it something about vinyl that you love? As a child of the 80’s, I probably had more cassettes than records at one point.

Me too. With vinyl there its more of an experience by having the album art work, liner notes, and just the overall feel of the vinyl is GREAT. dropping the needle as oppose to clicking a mouse just does not compare. 

I agree totally.

I know you’re a producer because of the “Gone Digging” 45 you produced for Oxygen which is ill by the way, but does your daily existence revolve around music? In other words, do you make music for a living?

Thank you kind sir, all praise is HIS! My daily existence revolves around music however; I currently do not make a living off of it....YET! 

Speaking of that record, it’s amazing how you captured that classic boom-bap hip hop with that loop. What break is that? (LOL)

no comment (((insert cricket & outside noise here))) 

ha ha..classic answer. Never reveal a break! I know which one it is cause I used it on a beat I did recently....but no worries...I'll never tell. 

Just looking at some of your Facebook pics, I see you got crazy heat and history in the digging game. You gotta tell me the story on how you got those Stark Reality joints!

Word. I copped my first copy for $1.00, in one of my spots in Mississippi - which has since closed :-( I had no idea what it was at the time. I knew The Beatnuts had looped a children's record for a joint so i was like kool, I'm going to keep my eye out for some kids records. well, I dug out the Joe Quarterman because that had kids crayon drawings on the from (I wasn't hip to that at the time either) and then I saw Stark! All for $1.00 each. Imagine my face when I got to the crib and played Stark and heard "Conrad"!!!!!! Stark may be my favorite record in my collection. some how I ended up with (3) copies, but two were missing a record (its a double lp).

Wow. good finds! Truthfully, I never even heard of it until Stones Throw reissued it. Even then, and still now, I'm not really impressed with it musically. I sounds like a slightly better than typical jazz-rock-fusion record (with a silly album name). I had it on a burned cd from years ago and really just got around to listening to it with a critical ear. And, on ebay, I haven't seen this record go for less than 600$ Insane. I'm going to upload this rip I have of it soon. I want to know what people really think of it.

How did you evolve as a digger? Like, what lesson would you give a dude who just starting hitting the thrift stores to make beats?

I evolved just by A LOT of trial and error. I did not have a portable, there were not websites, or blogs, or even youtube to look for breaks. I spent tons of cream $$$ buying wack records. Over time your knowledge base grows. Lessons I would give is to not get trapped in years or genres. This is something I learned from the honorable Dilla and the masterful DJ Premier! Also, don't buy records because XXX sampled it. That's wack unless there is something else on the rec you can flip. Try to DO YOU! 

Very good advice.

Are the so-called classic breaks necessary for beat makers nowadays? I think every producer should chop the “Funky Drummer” sample at least once!

I believe they should at least hunt for them. It would be fun and serve as a boot camp type exercise! but good luck finding some of them lollololol. 

What was digging like back in the day? It seems like you had to unearth new shit to have the illest beats. I mean, you really had to dig! How is it different from today?

You are correct, obscure "un-used" breaks were mega important. It would define who you were as a producer, and authenticate your existence as a Hip hop producer. Today, no one cares if you have an original copy, sample vinyl or mp3. Or even if you took it straight from youtube!!!! so wack man...just plain wack. 

What’s the most you’ve paid for a record?

$90 out of my pocket and into the sellers hand. (I hope my wife doesn't read this, or I'm gonna be in trouble lmao!) 

Well, I just copped a sealed copy of "Organ Grinder" by William St Clair, "Ain't No Ambulances For No Nigguhs Tonight" by Stanley Crouch, "Free Huey" by Stokley Carmichael, "The Wisdom of Malcolm X" (3lp with the booklet), "You Gotta Wash Yo Ass" by Redd Foxx, a Spiderman record, two other Black Forum records (which I had no idea was owned by Motown!) for like 100$. All this with my wife waiting outside of Atomic Records in North Hollywood, CA. I hope she ain't reading this! 

How many records do you own? Any 45’s?

6,000+ Lp's / 300+ 45's 

Is there one genre that you collect the most of? What’s your favorite artist in that genre?

No favorite one, I collect jazz/soul/funk/pop/rock/psych/prog/fusion i check for it all man, word.

What do you think about those comps that give you the classic breaks and samples, like Ultimate Beats and Breaks, Dusty Fingers, Super Disco Brake’s, etc.?

Well, good for the veteran diggers who have stripes from years of diggin and may need cleaner copies or just doubles. But no no for these new jacks! ctually, i wish we could get rid of them all together. 

What’s your production setup? I know you use the Emu SP-1200. I have a Asr-10,Mpc1G, a MicroKorg and Proteus 2000 and the Sp-1200. You just stick to the SP-1200?

EMU Sampling Percussion 1200 / technique 1210 / records 

How do you get around the 10 seconds of sample time on the SP? Or does that limitation sharpen the skills of producers? Personally, I don’t see how yall do it!

The 10 second limited sample time heightens my creativity, and prevents me from becoming "sample lazy". also it represents a almost forgotten era and shaped the sound of hip hop in general.

It's a love-hate relationship with the SP for me. Serious...when I first got my ASR, I was pissed off that it had only like 30 seconds of sample time!

What’s the better Label, Stax or CTI?

Wow, I'm bias to Stax. Both are great in their own right, hard to compare especially since they release two different genres of music.

CTI never fails to surprise me. 

When you go into a record store, what do you hit first, wall joints, new arrivals or the dollar bin?

New arrivals, dollar bins last (but probably check the wall first) :-) 

I always check the wall first. Always. 

Are you a traditionalist when it comes to digging or do you have e-crates? What’s your opinion on the way music is disseminated? Does one help or hurt the other? Do you dig on ebay?

Yes I'm a traditionalist, but to a point. I recognize this/times have changed. e-crates are kool however; I'm not going to sample from that source. I have to keep to what i know & understand to be true and foundational. It hurts the game because now any clown with a computer can have the same rare joint i have dug up and loop it. Or chop it with these software programs. There was a time diggin, sampling, beatmaking as a whole was special and now everyone does/and can do it. Its sad. Yes I do ebay. So many people on the diggin fad that it makes it difficult for me to go out and dig (get outta the way...uuuggghhh!) lol

I just hope these new kids develop a love for the music they sample and are inspired to go out digging.

You have any weird or interesting digging stories?

8 million stories in the naked city! 

Ha. I love that song.

Peace to the God, Gensu Dean

Interview with a Digger: Loopwhole March 25, 2017

(this is an interview I did with Loop years ago)

 

This time I decided to chop it up with Loopwhole from SP1200.com. Like Gensu Dean, a loyalist to the classic EMU sampler, he’s also a digger witta attitude. Stern in his opinion on Hip Hop standards as well as a student of the Golden Era school of Hip Hop production, Loopwhole will inevitably destroy you all!

BTB: Peace, Loop- What was the first record you ever bought and when did you buy it?

Peace Brother. Man,.... The first record I ever bought was Nas "The World Is Yours" 12" and the Group Home "Supa Star" 12". I bought them in 1995 I believe. I copped them from a thrift store in Racine, Wisconsin. .. I didn't even own a turntable. I was just a big Group Home and Nas fan...also a dude from around my way had some turntables and a lil Dj setup, so i figured id bring them over to his house to see what was good with them....I still own those 2 records to this day! The Group Home 12" is beat to hell, and now autographed by lil' dap. the Nas in equally bad shape...I replaced them with some newer copies that I still listen to quite often.


BTB: What made you start collecting records? Was is solely for sample material or you just a collector? Do you DJ perhaps?

I don't DJ. When I first started collecting records I didn't know what the fuck I wanted to do. I thought I did actually want to DJ. So I copped some turntables and a mixer and hooked that shit up to my wack ass sharp mini stereo system and played the records all day, practicing scratches and shit, just making my neighbors mad, playing with them day in day out..so I quickly stacked up a bunch of records to try to play and make some mixes, I guess. That didn't work out so well and I lost interest real fast. It wasn't until later on that I started getting into records to sample. Now when I buy records its either to listen to or most likely to sample.


BTB: Back in the day, It seemed you had to pay top dollar to find that gem that nobody had to flip, but nowadays, technology has made it so you can turn any ol’ record into a dope ass beat. Do you think it’s still necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on records? Or is is just talent?

Yeah...well to me I only bought rap records for expensive prices. And that was because I really wanted them. I usually pay next to nothing for my records that I sample, and stick to the dollar bins and thrift stores. I hit up the spots in Chicago that all the cats frequent, and its all good, but I'm a dollar digger for life! My neck of the woods is just hot with so called " Rare records" I've been blessed to pull some very rare joints outta the bins. As far as digital digging, nah that's no my stelo. Mostly because it takes a whole bunch of software that I don't know how to use to manipulate the samples off the computer into the old samplers. Nah it ain't necessary to spend like that in my opinion.

I feel you...I've pulled some rare records from thrift stores...always a good feeling. But, I gotta admit that I still spend top dollar on records if it's a rare joint that I been wanting for a while.

BTB: What’s the most you’ve spent on a record and what was it?

I paid like 60 bones for a Kool Keith record that I lost on the train on the way back from Chicago...guess that was a sign that I shouldn't be buying expensive records!

Damn..I dropped like 30 on that Stanley Crouch record, and another 30 on "Kites are Fun" by The Free Design in one day!

BTB: Nowadays, “looping” has got a bad reputation. These new kids think that just sampling an ill loop is not creative enough, and it needs to be “chopped” up. What’s your opinion on that? I mean, T.R.O.Y., one of the greatest Hip Hop songs ever recorded, was a loop.

Yeah I agree that T.R.O.Y. is a timeless classic. Possibly the best beat ever put down. Looping is the essence. That to me is where it all started. That's what made you get that feeling. It adds so much. Its what really got me into hip hop. BEATS! some cats play the shit outta loops, and the shit don't line up or whateva.

BTB: Do you buy records online? Ebay? What’s your opinion on so-called “e-digging?”

I copped a few off ebay, but only rap records. Just little things that I don't find a lot of in the bins around my way. Also a bit of 90s R&B. only reason I buy it is because is scarce around my way.


BTB: What advice would you give to the cats nowadays that ONLY dig online? Is it important to get out in the field or does it really matter anymore?

Shit...I'd tell do what they do. Cause most likely them cats that are just Internet digging, are probably not gonna be making beats like that. Mafuckas gonna get bored and go do some other shit. It just ain't that fun. I cant imagine just digging online..to each his own i guess tho right.

BTB: How long have you been digging?

Ive been seriously digging for about 8 years

How did you evolve as a digger? Like, what lesson would you give a dude who just starting hitting the thrift stores to find shit to make beats?

Hmmm..that's tough. Thrift stores are so fickle. Some are gold mines untapped, and others are full of the run of the mill Andy Williams, Barbara Streisand joints! I started out buying everything that looked clean so I could sample it. Then I ended up throwing out so many records latter on...thinking why would I every buy this junk?? But that's just it, my advice would be to stick with it and find what type of joints you like to flip.

Word up..

BTB: You have any crazy digging stories?

Man just recently I took a trip up to Milwaukee, and I hit a thrift store that was either untouched or somebody who was definitely kicking beats had just dropped some shit in there. I pulled out so many "Rare" records...it was crazy. I made a lot of money off that dig, and acquired a lot of the original drum breaks that I had been using from break records. They were all in plastic too! 2 original Musicor S.0.U.L. What is it. One for ebay one for me. a lot of cats get sentimental over these rare joints, it ain't no thang to me..if I find a valuable record, I'll sample it then slang it and go get some other shit..to me no use hanging on to records with very high value...that's just me.

Wow...that's fucking awesome.

BTB: How many records do you own?

I just threw out 3000 today, so about 10-12,000

damn, 3,000? I been trimming my collection, but daaaamn, brah!

BTB: I know you make music, and you seem to be a patriot of the SP-1200..what else do you use to produce?

Yeah I fucks with the E-mu Sp1200. I also use almost any other vintage sampler i can get my hands on. In my current setup I'm using the Sp1200/s950, and SP12/e-mu emax 1, and I also have a mpc 3000 chilling on deck too. Ive had it all...ASR, MPC 60, EPS, Whole bunch of shit.

 

 

I was schooled on the ASR, but now I have a MPC1G, SP1200, and Proteus 2G.
BTB: Yo, I been trying to get this SP-12 Turbo off this dude, but he won’t seem to budge from 600$. What’s a good price for a used SP-12 Turbo?

SPs are funny. One day they are worth next to nothing and then somebody will politicize that they use the SP and the prices shoot up. SP12turbo, I've seen go between $400 and $850 dollars depending on condition and such.

I didn't get it...he ended up selling it elsewhere.

BTB: How do you get around the 10 seconds of sample time on the SP? Or does that limitation sharpen the skills of producers? Personally, I don’t see how yall do it! I mean, I have a SP-1200 and 10 seconds just ain’t enough for me!

10 seconds is tons of time! I just use that old running the record at a faster speed on the turntable and pitching it back to original speed on the SP technique. You can get much more time out of the unit in this way. Sounds crazy too. If you gonna make beats with the 1200, you gotta sit with that mafucka for months man...years. Just sit with with and run shit thru it. Eventually you'll find some shit! I'm still using the SP every day, but more likely for just dem hard ass drums and maybe a few accent samples. I'm using the 950 for my loops these days. I used to make beats strictly on the SP1200 and that's the shit! I like to throw some shit up there with the 950. That mafucka is amazing as well.

Yeah. I remember the SP/S950 combo from producers back it the day. I guess I'm spoiled because I started with the ASR in like 97'. My main reason was sample time...it had like 30 seconds when I bought and I got it expanded to like 120 seconds quick, fast, in a hurry! But now with software there is no limit...you can sample all you want!

BTB: With indie labels getting sued like crazy, and cats claiming that sampling is for dinosaurs, what is it about using samples that’s so intrinsic to Hip Hop music? Will sampling ever die?

It could die....I wouldn't know. I don't really listen to any new rap music, unless it's something that I'm involved with, or its some reference type shit from some homies. The cats that's doing it for real will never stop sampling. Sampling is crazy, it's some other shit. Fuck that drum machine cell phone ring tone bullshit. Shit's wack. These new jacks don't even know what it feels like to put down a raw beat....it's a shame really. Fuck 'em tho. There's plenty of real heads out there to pump tho. But yo..dinosaurs? sampling? hahaha yeah to each his own I guess. I guess people that say sampling is for dinosaurs, I'd say do ya thang...I'll do mine.

I agree...I'm with you. Sampling will never die. But every time I turn around some producer is claiming that sampling is dead and synths and live instruments are the new thing. It's all good.. I mean, look at RJD2 from the Deadringer album on. But people don't know..this is just history repeating itself because in the late 90's everybody started using synths and claimed sampling was obsolete. I think Kanye made it cool to sample again.

BTB: Top 3 producers?

1. Pete Rock
2. Lewis Parker
3. Large Professor


For me, Dj Muggs, Madlib and Hank Shocklee


BTB: Do you sell your beats? If so, what’s the process and what advice would you give other producers on selling tracks?

Yeah I slang beats. I've been slangin beats since day one. However it's just in the last 2 years become actually lucrative for me. You really gotta just keep paying dues, and the people will DEF let you know what's good. When your beats are ready to be sold, people will be at you for them.

If you got hot shit it will sell. A lot of cats go about shit the wrong way trying to pester cats and bother rappers. That's the wrong way to go about it in my opinion....I'd tell any up and coming producer to just stick with it...and never stop. Keep paying them dues. Talking to people...just payin dem dues...nah mean?

For me, consistency is a big factor in selling beats too. I get a lot of repeat custys....cause they know me and know that ill get them what they need. I've sold more beats like that than anything. Find good people....trust worthy people, stand up dudes. Keep the sharks out ya tank.

Good advice.

 

BTB: You made a statement on FB once about Dilla vs. Pete Rock in regards to production styles. What’s your opinion on the comparison between the two producers?I don't know man...for me, like Pete Rock is the illest...and since day one...of being a crazy fan of hip hop in the early 90s...that was the illest shit. When Dilla got popularity, it was like already some other shit. I don't feel that futuristic shit. Whatever it may be...I like that real golden era shit. Don't get me wrong J Dilla had mad shit and did some dope shit no doubt. But the thing with Dilla, is that he's every herbs fav beat maker. You see all these dudes with they Mpcs and Dilla t-shirts, kicking that bullshit style, robot laser beam bullshit.

ha ha ha!!

It's all good, but its kinda like 2pac to me...You ask any dude that don't know shit about rap who his favorite rapper is and hes gonna say "pac!"you ask a dude that dont know shit about beats who his fav beat maker is and hes gonna say "Dilla" Yo, it's cool that people have something like that to like....but its not real to me. I'd tell those people to dig deeper. It's tragic what happened to Dilla, and may he rest in peace. I think a lot of people wear the realness of his name out. Respect due. But it's just not my thang. The fans killed Dilla for me. ....and you asked the comparison of Pete rock vs. Dilla. I don't think there is one. I don't think there's much at all similar to these dudes other than their discographies both hold mad classic collabos.

BTB: Is there a particular genre that you dig the most of? What about artists? What do you look for when you dig for records?

I look for anything that looks weird. Not that i try to make bugged out beats or anything, I just look for stuff that cats probably wont be up on. I like a lot of different stuff really. I guess you just gotta have an open mind, if you go in with something in mind ya might miss a lot.

BTB: What do you hit first, the dollar bins, the wall joints or new arrivals?

New arrivals.

BTB: Lastly, what projects have coming up and how can people get at you?

I have a few projects in the works..been doing a lot of beats and a bit of rapping. I did a lot of production for the new Brainsick Mob/Jack the Ripper album, that should be dropping any day. I rapped on a few joints on there too. Some of the stuff we've done can be found on my website as well. I've been putting in work on a lot of small budget indy stuff.

I'm wrapping up 2 albums with my homie Tomismore, about to drop real soon. A lot of stuff. And in the mix of that I'm working on my solo rap album. I'm trying to not produce all of it. I got some dope cats on the production for real. It's gonna be a banger. I started working on it about a month ago, and I figure it'll be out by mid 2011. I'm trying to rap a joint up with Lewis Parker right now, and Sadat X will will be on my release. I stay busy. gotta keep it movin.
Anyone who wants to get at me:

WWW.SP1200BEATS.COM

Peace, Loop. Thanks.

My Dust Addiction March 25, 2017

 

"What is these animals?" Snoop Dogg

 

Throughout the postmodern garbage heap of most twenty-first century music, I found myself yearning for the old sound that serenaded my teenage years. So I put on my ebay-attained Nike Air Mags, strap those bitches on tight, click the ass end of 'em three times and drift off. As my beautiful eyes flutter open, I see that I found that sound that made me nod as a high schooler.

Everything from  neo-hippies bragging about cassette releases and samplers made to produce sound of unrefined 90's rap loops, this year's "underground" offerings look promising.

The first up of many to come, are The Dust Addicts: Dj Booman and Dj Kool Breez of Baltimore. This is the second installment of "In The Crates," where the samples are rare and the dust is addictive. If "Almost Insane" doesn't make your soul bounce, then "Take Names Off," will take yo' ass to Churrrrrch!

Peep the link and support.

guesswhoback. March 23, 2017

Meeeeeeeeeee!