Thursday, August 26, 2010
Interview: AUTOMatic is Everlasting
The Milwaukee emcee / producer duo A.P.R.I.M.E. and Trellmatic, known as AUTOMatic, deliver on their latest project, Transistor.
The album is sort of a homage to the days of good music, laced with soulful beats, dope rhymes and classic interludes.
When I heard their first leak, "Brown Leather," a few months back I knew they were cooking up an amazing project. When I finally received the full album, I worked my way through their 19 tracks and at the end I wanted to listen again. That's rare with much of today's music, where many projects are often over sized. Every track and every interlude make sense on the album. Ultimately, Transistor keeps you interested.
Their sound takes you back to a time when everything about Hip-Hop was dope. When it was less gimmick and more music. When the radio had variety and music channels played ... well, music.
What Prime and Trell do on Transistor is prove contrary to popular belief, quality Hip-Hop is alive and well.
I reached out to the duo for a Q&A just ahead of their August 28th release of Transistor. Check it.
The Mad Bloggers: There are a lot of producer / emcee duos. What makes your partnership successful?
Trellmatic: Its kinda hard to explain but I think we just have that natural chemistry that flows well.
TMB: Trellmatic, how is it working with A.P.R.I.M.E.? What's something you've learned from your partnership?
T: Well, it’s rather easy working with Prime. I can make a gang of beats and know exactly which ones he’d like before he even hears them. 9 times out of 10 I’m correct.
TMB: A.P.R.I.M.E., how is it working with Trellmatic? What's something you've learned from your partnership?
A.P.R.I.M.E.: We vibe so well that Trell knows the direction I’m going without me having to tell him.
TMB: Transistor is the second project. How is it different from the first project? What have you both learned from the previous project that you applied to Transistor?
T: The one thing I definitely notice was growth and maturity, both production wise and lyrically. What I applied production wise was more so broadening the soundcape without taking away from any of the original elements that’s found in our music.
A: We learned how to trust each other. The first album was more so an experiment that turned out well. The one thing that I learned and applied to this album is that you can do the impossible twice.
On the first album, we kinda played it safe. Choosing joints that we thought people would dig, considering that we had so many detractors from the moment we announced that we were forming a group. So, it was a lot of beats with soul samples and that went over well. This time around, I feel, we were more in-sync. We both were heavily into jazz, suffered from the HB's and were determined to make a project completely different from the last. Trell helped me with song topics and I assisted him with sample selection. I think that we were successful with that mission. The one thing that I learned and applied to this album is that same ol' dope beats/dope rhymes philosophy can do wonders.
TMB: Tracks like "Everlasting" and "Once Again", among others, more or less reminisce on what Hip-Hop use to be. How do we get back to producing quality projects and get away from the gimmicks that seem to have over-saturated Hip-Hop music today?
A: Turn off the radio and break out the cassettes and just take in that vibe.
T: I would say turn off the radio and the flat screen, and break out the vinyl and open your ears and mind.
TMB: What's the dopest track lyrically on the project?
T: “Gauntlet”
A: I'm a self-depreciating emcee, so asking me about my dopest song could get a bit messy. However,“Teenage Love” is my favorite. I think because of my detailed account of that relationship, it makes it relatable to an array of people.
TMB: What's the dopest track production wise on the project?
T: “Do you want it” is the dopest. I love the way that I freaked the baseline over that sample. And those drums...bananas.
A: “Nobody" is my favorite. Trell played that beat for me a week before I went to NY and I kept hearing it in my head while I was there. When I got back, I asked him for the beat and he hated that track. Fortunately, he trusted that I would make it hot and now he loves it.
TMB: It seems like the House of M crew have an uncanny ability to put together some amazing interludes and skits. Where do the ideas come from?
A: I went to a comedy college that I found on the back of a bottle of Swag-glo.
As the resident comedian of House of Mutants, my inspiration comes from everywhere. For example, "White Girl Chicken" was inspired by my friend making an ignorant comment about my other friend's white wife, making fried chicken better than black people. Other than that, most ideas come from me clowning between takes in the booth.
TMB: What's the one thing you'd like people to take away from Transistor after listening?
T: That the music we make is honest and comes from the heart.
A: Hopefully you’ll walk away with the feeling that “Damn, Automatic makes some fiiine mediocre music”.
www.houseofmutants.com
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Labels:
A.P.R.I.M.E.,
AUTOMatic,
Hip-Hop,
Interviews,
Trellmatic
What EMS Is Watching ... Remy Shand - "Take A Message"
It's as if Remy Shand fell off the face of the Earth, but let's not forget how dope he is. This song popped into my head earlier, and I wanted to share. Enjoy.
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What I'm Watching ... The Cranberry Show "Kick Push" freestyle
The Cranberry Show is dropping a project next week and I'm working on a feature with them as we speak. In the meantime, enjoy this freestyle over the Lupe Fiasco "Kick Push" beat.
Spotted this over at beanpiepromotions.com
twitter.com/cranberryshow
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Spotted this over at beanpiepromotions.com
twitter.com/cranberryshow
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TMB's Track of the Week 8/26/10: "Wake Up" Sol
The dude Sol is pretty dope. I caught his video for "Dear Friends" via DJ Hyphen out in Seattle a few days ago. That led me to download and check out his full project,"Dear Friends, Vol. II." I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it a lot actually. Check "Wake Up" featuring J.Pinder and Dice, our track of the week.
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Check It ... Duece Bug - "The Secret Meeting"
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NV81s9nCdCM/THarkOfglWI/AAAAAAAABHw/rstBUPko_Lo/s400/Duece+Bug.jpg)
Duece Bug - "The Secret Meeting" produced by Kenny Ca$h and Duece Bug, off the album 'Fuck Duece Bug" featuring Cory Gunz, Cappadonna, and Ethan Isaac of Edisun.
fairtilizer.com/users/duecebug
www.myspace.com/duecebugalot
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Check It ... Spliff The General "Adversity"
This 19-year-old emcee out of Windsor, ON actually has something interesting to say. Most rappers his age are talking about other things (i.e. materials, girls and creating some dance) but Spliff The General's content is a little deeper. Check it!
www.twitter.com/spliffonline
www.reverbnation.com/spliffthegeneral
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What I'm Watching ... ¡MAYDAY! - "Pass The 45"
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NV81s9nCdCM/THad3NBIK8I/AAAAAAAABHg/5-zbb8-nDjo/s400/Mayday.png)
Here's the official video for "Pass The 45" - from ¡MAYDAY!'s upcoming album Stuck On An Island.
http://maydayonline.com/maydayblog/?p=579
Video by: Artex Productions
directed by: Tim Warren,
producer: Aldo Mendivil
dp and editor: Ricardo Manavello
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What I'm Watching ... "Can't Win Em All" 8thw1 ft. P.SO and Fresh Daily (Prod. by 2 Hungry Bros)
Nicolas Heller videos are hilarious. Another dope joint this time featuring music by 8thw1 ft. P.SO and Fresh Daily (Produced by 2 Hungry Bros) off the "No Room For Dessert" album. The video features Nick Perez, Deep, Shankar, P.SO, 8thw1, Fresh Daily and Alicia. Stand up and applaud another Ricky Shabazz and the Boom Bap Boys production! Enjoy!
Can't Win 'Em All (2 Hungry Bros ft. 8thw1, P.SO & Fresh Daily) from Nicolas Heller on Vimeo.
twitter.com/Nicolasheller
twitter.com/freshdotdaily
twitter.com/2hungrybros
twitter.com/itsPSOnow
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Can't Win 'Em All (2 Hungry Bros ft. 8thw1, P.SO & Fresh Daily) from Nicolas Heller on Vimeo.
twitter.com/Nicolasheller
twitter.com/freshdotdaily
twitter.com/2hungrybros
twitter.com/itsPSOnow
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Labels:
2 Hungry Bros,
Fresh Daily,
Hip-Hop,
Nicolas Heller,
P.SO,
What I'm Watching
What I'm Watching ... @TheRealJayMills "Watch It"
Early this morning I posted The Real Jay Mills' mixtape, Summer Madness. Now I have some visuals from her "Watch It" track! Yeah, it's dope. Enjoy!
WWW.THEREALJAYMILLS.COM
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WWW.THEREALJAYMILLS.COM
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Check It ... @NikkiLynette "Give 'Em Hell" (DJBooth.net Freestyle)
Back in May Nikki Lynette put out Roses N' Guns. It was well received. It was a very interesting project. Now ahead of her August 31st drop of The Strong Survive EP, Nikki is taking to the road for a month long tour AND she stepped into the DJ Booth for the latest freestyle in their freestyle series. Check out Nikki Lynette's "Give 'Em Hell" freestyle, produced by The Madman. Enjoy!
www.nikkilynette.com
twitter.com/NikkiLynette
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What I'm Watching ... @PoePicasso "Inspiration"
Pretty fresh track and video from Poe Picasso off his Exhibit B: Manifest Destiny project. I'm feeling the track and visuals. Enjoy.
twitter.com/poepicasso
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Download ... @TheRealJayMills "Summer Madness"
I had this joint a few weeks ago. I thought it was dope then. I think it's dope now. The Real Jay Mills does her thing on the mixtape, with a gang of features. 15 solid joints. Enjoy the latest offering from the DMV emcee. Chea!
www.therealjaymills.com
www.twitter.com/therealjaymills
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