Smurkz | Music producer & Mixer.

beother

THE PERCUSSION AT THE END OF THIS IS AMAZING!

Pharrell and Chad Hugo have consistently been out the box with their production. 

(Source: youtube.com)

Dr. Dre - the message instrumental

Idris Elba is too inspiring…. some Americans may not know but he came from Hackney, East London… to recently being nominated for the Golden Globes for the second year running.

Was generally saddened by this mans loss to liver cancer. May he R.I.P.

The word legend is overused almost to the extent that it has kind of lost it’s meaning, but Frazier is without doubt a true true legend. Had one of the best left hooks in history and contributed immensely to the sport in a generation that had the best bunch of heavyweights.

Smokin Joe, you will NEVER be forgotten.

This is without a shadow of a doubt, one of (if not) the best assist ever, weaker foot, cross-field…. I’m lost for words.

This is what you call V.I.S.I.O.N

Ronaldo is king!

Watching this video I get Kanye… he said on ‘Power’ “My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly.. being crowded by these grown thoughts” baring in mind he made this track during his year-long break from the music industry, I know everyone wanted/expected him to return and act in a more mature, media-friendly way. Not saying he didn’t grow as a person, I’m sure the break done him a world of good and he doesn’t regret having that break - besides, it lead to the masterpiece that is MBDTF. However he was never going to water it down and change himself for the sake of being more liked.

You may link his album [My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] cover to the runaway video, with the whole phoenix thing but for me it was like a slap in the face of the mainstream scene. After everything that happened, Kanye was back and wasn’t going to compromise not 1% and this album cover was proof of that.

As an upcoming producer I always look to the producers I’m inspired by, I watch their interviews to listen out for hints and take their advice on board. Unfortunately for me, there aren’t any interviews (I’ve caught) of Ye speaking on his production. Listening through his 6 albums - 99% of his beats have left me in awe (from ‘Last Call’, to ‘Diamonds From Sierra Leone’, ‘I Wonder’ and more recently ‘All of the lights’). What I’ve learnt from Ye and why his work is genius is that he: runs wild with his imagination, keeps that inner-child, and is definitely fearless.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up” Pablo Picasso.

I’m only 17 and having dropped out of college to do music production, I can’t count on both hands the amount of times people have looked at me funny when I informed them of my decision. I’ve noticed that as we get older there is definitely less room for being yourself, society forces many to have a set way of living their lives. Going against this takes real guts and if you dare go against the norm… prepare for a lot of people persuading you not to. Yes dropping out is risky, but no route in life is guaranteed… uni fees are tripling, and the amount of people with degrees yet unemployed are rising all the time.

I first saw this video for Heard ‘em say a long while ago (there’s two videos for this song by the way) and didn’t really understand it, but having heard MBDTF and looking back on this video, I certainly get it!  The kids running wild in a store, late at night, having the time of their lives - is something we would’ve all loved to do as kids.

Thing is, it’s sort of metaphorical for Kanye (and his music); and would’ve been more so had the video showed the kids being stopped from having the time of their lives and being told to calm down and not be free.

Everyone makes mistakes but to tell Ye to grow up, be mature etc… wouldn’t work, people need to realise it’s how he makes these incredible albums. Fearless in his approach, and doesn’t play by the rules, much like we all are when younger; until we grow up and are told you have to do things and think in a certain way (which can suppress one’s creativity) - with Mr West always looking to make outstanding albums, he can’t afford to. And when I say rules, I’m not on about whats right and wrong, I’m on about guidelines on how one should do something.

I mean you only have to look at the runaway video… a rap song with ballet dancers? No-one would’ve ever saw that coming.

Anyways I began my production course today, and besides the usual advice, be you, find your own sound, practise hard (all very correct advice) - one massive thing I’ve learnt from Kanye is to be FEARLESS with your art and never be afraid to experiment.