What Up Kenny B, can you tell the readers where you're from?
Wadup world!!! I was born and raised in Nashville, out south to be exact but really I lived in every part of the city. I moved to (MBT)Murfreesboro my second semester of my 8th grade year. At the time, I got accepted to a magnet school for the arts, but my parents wanted me to move to Murfreesboro so I could get a different perspective other than the city life. After I graduated high school I moved back though.
How did you get started in Music Production? How long ago?
Really, I’ve always been into music and I’m heavily influenced by it on both my mom and pops side of the fam. My pops played trumpet at TSU, and literally everybody on my moms side of the family either plays an instrument or sings, rap, etc. During middle school, I played xylophone, snare, and bass drum in the band at Rose Park. I got into producing music during my freshman year in high school when I met another producer from the boro, Hoodbeatz a.k.a. Seth Hood. Since then I’ve been doing it for 8 years strong.
Who are some of your musical influences? What Producers inspired you?
Growing up, my moms would play me and my brother a wide variety of music. I’m heavily influenced by the Funkadelics-Parliament, Dr. Dre when the Chronic came out, Pac, Snoop, 8 Ball & MJG, Hypnotize Minds. I could go on and on, but these were the cats that I grew up to during the 90’s. As far as producers, DJ Toomp, Shawty Redd, Dr. Dre, Bangladesh, just to name a few. These cats have they own sound and I somewhat follow what they do in order to develop my own sound but at the same time be diverse. It’s nothing like producing a track and watching people’s faces when they find out that you’re the one that made that track, because people already have a preset in their head of what your material may sound like.
What is your opinion on software (reason,Fruity) vs hardwares (MPC,Keyboards,etc)? Which do you prefer?
If you can blend both, that’ll be the best move. What I will say is that hardware has a more robust sound than software because software runs off the CPU of a computer vs. hardware has its own memory and CPU made specifically for it. And unless you have the right audio interface to make software sound good, you’re pretty much settling for less. Like me for example, before I got into production I use to do art and knew how to develop websites by code back when the internet was sort of new. So I’ve always had an in-depth understanding about computer technology. When I started producing, I knew how to blend software and hardware to get that unique sound. Me personally, my arsenal of tools is Reason, Roland Fantom, Yamaha Motif, & Pro Tools to blend all of those together. I’ve always wanted an MPC, but I found out how to make my music groove and sequence as if I was on one through Pro Tools. When I first started, I was using Fruity Tracks which is the predecessor to FruityLoops, a blend of samples I had on one of my external HDD, and a MIDI hookup. Then I went to Cubase & Nuendo and then to the set-up I’m on now.
Do you play any instruments?
I don’t play any fluently like I use to back in middle school (xylophone, snare, and bass drum), but I can play anything by ear. I can still read music (although I need a little practice) and I know the notes.
What's your creative process like? How long does it take you to create a beat?
When I make a track, I’m trying to portray a story and to get you to SEE the music. Usually I’ll already have an idea in my head and have the track made in my head before I record it. I strategically put certain instruments in certain parts of the track to catch people’s ears so they could single out any instrument out of the whole mix if they were listening to the music critically. Depending on the mood I’m in and how in-depth I want to go into making a track, it may take me 15 minutes to nearly 3 hours.
Do you normally work with the artists or make beats and let them choose?
Really I just go in the studio and do me. I may take heed to what type of track a person may want but ultimately, if I conform solely to what an artist wants it kills my mood. I’d rather have a HDD full of tracks done so the artist can pick so I can have an idea of the sound an artist is looking for from me than work with an artist, unless me and the artist creatively are vibing. Now I can say that in some situations, I may have to work with several artist at one time in which that calls for me to make a track on the spot.
What sets you apart from other producers?
What sets me apart is more or less my sound and how I mix my tracks and my business sense. A lot of producers use the same equipment just in a different way. I take it a step further by having as much creative input and mixing my own music. Another thing is sound selection. I try to make tracks that touch you in a way that’ll make you move or at least have you wondering, “Who made that track?” Another thing is the business sense, because I’m not too much concerned with up-front money unless we’re doing an exclusive deal. I’d rather let the music speak for itself.
Do you have a crew or production company?
Currently, me and my brother Chris G. own a music publishing company called KBCG Music Publishing. I’ve been in talks with my old partner Hoodbeatz to start another publishing company named Trak Motivataz which was our former name during the time when we was doing a lot of projects for Block 2 Block and Bloccwork Ent. As you know, I had produced 5 songs on Roach Killa’s DJ Dutty Laundry mixtape including the one with Webbie called Blockwork. I also did a lot of tracks for Dirty Boy Tony on his K.O.M.B. mixtape as well as the compilation CD which featured all tracks produced by me. Also I had 4 tracks on V.O.’s Ridin High Sittin High mixtape as well. Like I said that was during the time we went under the alias Trak Motivataz.
Do you feel there's a difference between producers and beatmakers?
There’s a difference. A producer is creatively involved with the whole process as well as involved with the promotion & business aspect of it. Not only that, but a producer should be able to record, mix, & master. A beatmaker more or less just makes the beat and its on to the next one.
Who are some of the artist you have worked with? On what projects can we hear you?
Roach Killa DJ Dutty Laundry Hood Classic Vol.1- “Fuck Being Broke”, “The Original Hold Up”, “What It Is What It Ain’t”, “Sittin On Chrome”, “Blockwork ft. Webbie”
Dirty Boy Tony K.O.M.B.- “Stacks On Deck”, “Watcha Talkn Bout”, “She Choosin”
Dirty Boy Tony Singles- “Hold Da Crown”, “Young Gunna”, “Lookn Good”, “Bitch Nigga”
V.O. Ridin High Sittin High- “You Don’t Want None ft. CP Da Don”, “You Thuggn ft. Gutta Boy Gotti”, “Started Wit A Gram ft. Hi-C”, and another one with Gutta Boy Gotti feat on it but I can’t remember the name of the song.
Trak Motivataz Compilation/Block 2 Block- All tracks (20 to 21 tracks)
Chris G. Good Music Pt.1- All Tracks (12 Tracks)
Z-Class (formerly Zilla Da Felon) King Of Da F-Lane- All Tracks (15-16 Total)
Z-Class Hello World Mixtape- “Hello World”, “Deep In Da South”, “Bust Her Berry”, “I Apologize”, “When Ya Rich”, “Freak”, “Don’t Get It Confused”, basically all the tracks that aren’t mixtape instrumentals
Z-Class- “Momma RIP”, “Blood Money”
Axtion Year Of The Underdog- “Pull Up”
Playa C Welcome To Stuntland- “99 Problems”
Dough Good Welcome 2 Tennessee- “Blame It On The Paper”, “Wat U Need”, “Lil Mama (Stacks)”
Felonious Records Presents It’s Bizzness And It’s Personal- Young Hogg & KC feat. Big Booom- “You Can Get Served”
MoneyMakers the Movie Soundtrack- Young Hogg & KC “Getcha Gwop Up”
Lil Stunt- “Play 2 Win”
I have more across other states but I can’t necessarily name all of em. I’ll have to get back to you on the other ones.
What has been your biggest moment in your career so far?
Really anytime an artist that I’ve worked with releases a project that I’m involved in is basically a big moment. One would be when Webbie was featured on my track because I was a Sophomore in High School when that happened. The biggest one so far though is the track I done for Felonious Records’ Young Hogg & KC feat. Big Booom- “You Can Get Served”. That track was picked up on a lot of radio markets.
What artists would you love to work with, do you have any dream collabos?
I really don’t have any dream collabos. I just love working. Maybe Jeezy or Dr. Dre.
What is your opinion on the current Rap Music that's out?
It’s not exclusive like it use to be and I think that’s what’s needed or otherwise the industry will turn the Rap industry into a Pop industry. I think cats need to stop releasing so much material and get back to making it exclusive so people can have something to look forward to when they go to the limited stores out here and buy CDs. Another thing too is that these projects that cats are coming out with aren’t getting the reception that the labels planned, because a person can’t just buy a CD and ride to the whole CD no more because of the quality of music cats is putting out. More and more albums are starting to sound like mixtapes or commercial music. I think the rap industry seriously needs to get back to putting out music that people can look forward to, not these Pop records.
Name a few artists you think are the next to blow
Any artist that sticks to it. I can’t name specifically because many end up quitting before getting started. So any artist that sticks to it through the rough times and the good in my book are the ones that are going to make it.
Where would you like to be career-wise in 5 years?
I want to make music for movies as well as get as many placements on Clearchannel & Viacom. In 5 years I should be up for a Grammy and have multi-platinum records that I’ve produced. I also want to do a lot of work in the hood and put cats in impoverished areas up on the corporate game so that instead of these cats being on the street, these cats will be in downtown corporate buildings with suits on talking to investment bankers. That’s the tip I’m on. In 5 years I’ll be Global.
Thanks Man, Any shoutouts you want to give?
Appreciate you. Shout-out to Ca$hville my home town. Shout-out to MBT my home away from home. And shout-out to all the cats that I’ve worked with and continue to work with as well as all those out there that are pursuing your dreams. Never quit and always give back to those that helped get you in the position of success. And LEARN THIS INDUSTRY if you want to be a part of it.
How can people get more info on you?
Tell em hit me on facebook/kenmybarnes, call me 6156680975, send me an email to killamusiq@gmail.com, look me up on CoreDJRadio website, twitter coming soon, and of course myspace/blockwork06
