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 | | Mr. Walt |
 Mr. Walt
Producer/DJ
Da Beatminerz
Brooklyn NY
How do you describe your music?
Brooklyn (laughs). Its heavy bass, popping snares. That's the best way I can describe it. Brooklyn.
I dibble and dabble in certain sounds. The majority of my songs have to have a little bit of crazy sounds in them. Mostly the snares and the heavy bass. And some of the obscure music that we use.
What did you do to be a working producer versus an aspiring producer?
When Black Moon came out, that's what really started everything for everybody. That started the Beatminerz even though a couple of friends of mine did an Ultramagnetic remix before the Black Moon release and they used the Beatminerz name. We were all one crew then. Now its just Evil Dee and I and we do all our tracks together. But Black Moon's Enta Da Stage opened the door for us to still be around today.
As far as things to do to get work, it's all about your hustle game. Get out there and get your music heard somehow, someway. If you have to cram it down their throats, cram it down their throats.
Is that what you did? Were people like, not Mr. Walt again?
Yeah. In the beginning, it's always like that. It's like that now. When you're not hot, the phone doesn't ring as much as when you were hot or when you become hot. If you don't have nothing to offer them, in their eyes, they won't bother you. But if you're hot, in their eyes, they'll call you everyday. They’re your best friend. But when you don't have anything, your phone doesn't ring, you get less whassups in the street, no invites to parties (laughs).
The game is like that. If it wasn't like that, the game would be something else.
I just continue to put out music.
You own all your publishing? Why didn't you do a co-publishing deal early in your career?
I own my publishing and Royalty Network administers it. I'm not gonna sit here and lie, we were trying to get a publishing deal and there were a few offers on the table, but the deals fell through. Ten years later, I'm happy with my situation now because I have a large catalog and I get money off every song that I've done. It all worked out in my favor. I don't have to go through a middle man. Of course Royalty Network gets their fee, but I get the majority of the money from my songs. Evil and I do this to make money. This is our 9 to 5, our jobs.
Another advantage, if someone is doing a score to a movie and they want to include my song, they just have to call me!
But every producer would love to get a publishing deal. After awhile, if you're doing it on your own, with no help from anyone, you get used to it. You don't need them.
Would you recommend new producers take a publishing deal?
It depends on your situation. What's attractive about a publishing deal is the beautiful advance money. Someone can give you a $3 million deal for your publishing. If the upfront money is sweet enough, you're gonna jump at it!
But the disadvantage is the criteria you have to meet. You have to deliver a certain number of songs a year with stipulations that these songs are singles and have to be this and have to be that. You don't really control that. That’s the bad side of it. I just make records to make records. All that other stuff is added pressure. I really don't need that because it cuts into my creativity.
How do you deal with the big egos in the music industry?
It's part of the 9 to 5 job. Just as long as you stay focused, knowing that this pays your bills, you will stay grounded. The big egos come with the job. You're gonna encounter them. No way around it. You just have to develop a thick skin. Some things may get to you but you have to grin, bear it, and move on.
Does DJing parties enhance your musical creativity?
For me, its a high. I was a DJ before a producer. I've been DJing since '77, I was 9 years old. And production is the next stage. When you're mixing, blending records together, you're producing, making your own creation. We just put that same music in the samplers and made one big loop out of it and we were done.
Do hip hop producers have to sample?
I sample. I will always sample. I'm not gonna sit here and lie. I have to sample, for me, because it just wouldn't sound right if I don't have a sample in that song. I don't knock any producer, how you do your thing is how you do your thing. It's really if you like it or not. I may not like it but who am I? For Beatminerz, me and Evil, we sample.
We know how to play. Our parents were keyboard players. They raised us on instruments. Evil played drums and I played drums and took keyboard classes in high school. To be a producer you have play music but I sample, and I'm gonna keep on sampling. To me, that's hip hop. Regardless of what type of music is eventually formed, I'm starting with hip hop. Whatever happens after that, just happens after that. But I have to have a sample in my music.
How important is an engineer in creating your music?
If it's an engineer that you're used to, or yourself, you know how you want your music to sound. Certain engineers you have a rapport with, you can walk out the room after you've laid down your music and he'll know what to do and how to do it because you've worked together for so long. You don't have to tell him to turn the bass up or the highs down, he knows that. Engineering is part of production. It's your music, your sound. You have to get your music to sound the way you want it to sound.
Do your children enjoy your music?
My son Terrell loves my stuff. I did a song on the Boot Camp album called "Think Back" and he loves that record. He has a little turntable and he plays it all the time. He likes a certain sound in the beginning and the groove. He loves hip hop in general.
Are you a role model?
I think so. People tell me that my stuff on Black Moon or Smif-N-Wesson's albums helped them get through college and that makes me really feel good. That makes me feel like I'm a role model.
And I acknowledge that responsibility. I have to, regardless if I want it or not. I chose to be in this game, in the limelight so I accept it. That's why I try to keep the same rapport with everybody. I just don't want to let anybody down. Everybody's gonna see you one way or the other. They might see you on your bad day but I try not to be like that. When I talk to someone that I don't know, or even someone that I do know but don't have a real relationship with, I try to keep everything cool. I don't want them to think I'm a jerk.
Mr. Walt is working on the next Black Moon album
Message Mr. Walt and tell him what you think | Ray Tamarra | | | The 2-Way | |
posted by: (The Janitor) aka Mr. Clean Up
@ 05/12/2003 01:34 AM
EST | | HEAT! now thats what I'm talking about right there. The Hot seat never looked this good. Keep up the good work. Mr Walt loved your answers man. It's good to know not everyone has a fucked up ego in this biz. All the best! |
posted by: Wally Knutz
@ 05/12/2003 08:29 AM
EST | | Yo. Hit me up Mr. Walt. I got the ill lyrics and i'm on my grind right now because i'm trying to get on. Holla. |
posted by: Monalisa
@ 05/12/2003 09:03 PM
EST | | Walt! my favorite brother in law ;) happy belated birthday & much love, always!! |
posted by: nappy head jenkins
@ 05/13/2003 06:38 AM
EST | | wow this guys dumb smart there should be forums for people like this to share there wisdom |
posted by: LarryLove
@ 05/13/2003 02:01 PM
EST | | Rock On, bruh. I'm apprecisating your interview. It was a very nice, intertsting and refreshing read...I'll be trying to look out for your tracks and see what of your's I have already. Peace. |
posted by: paazel
@ 05/13/2003 09:05 PM
EST | Mr. Walt:
Excellent interview. I have always loved your work. Do you do production for anyone other than BCC?.paz |
posted by: deka
@ 05/14/2003 11:30 AM
EST | | SALUTE! SALUTE! yo walt this is deka representing bed -stuy / brownsville to the fullest. your music means a lot to me. sound bwoy burial still gives me chills when I hear it. that song paints a visual representation of brooklyn at night time especially in brownsville. keep it coming bro. I'll always support your music. shoot me a email if you need any graphic design services |
posted by: da south
@ 05/15/2003 08:18 AM
EST | | look his interview (walt) to compare to (T.I ) interview???? what up with that, the question? |
posted by: Dr Wigglesworth
@ 05/16/2003 11:51 AM
EST | | TI's was garbage it shouldn't have run.:) |
posted by: DJ TEK
@ 05/16/2003 01:25 PM
EST | | Thanks for all the classics! The first Black Moon album will stand the test of time and be here forever. Peace! |
posted by: Dr Wigglesworth
@ 05/18/2003 02:01 PM
EST | | Appending to the first comment i made. We changed the format after the last inteview, I think this format gives people a bit more to think about. |
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