Kickdrums Interview from Issue #9
Interview from Issue #9 of Foundation Magazine.
Studio Science: Kickdrums
Alex Fitts and Matt Penttila are standout producers in a genre full of soundalikes. These two collectively comprise the production team that carries the name Kickdrums, and even if that doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve definitely heard their work before. They landed a beat with 50 Cent in 2004 (”When Death Becomes You”, from the Get Rich or Die Trying soundtrack), doing what many other producers can only dream of, and they did it by virtue of their own hard work and dedication. From the local rappers on Cleveland scene (which serves as homebase to them), to major artists, they’re well connected, and it is no surprise to learn that they have surprising musical depth and production knowledge.
The day that I get in touch with them is shortly after the release of their newest mixtape, Things Don’t Change, and by all appearances, it seems like a little bit of a left turn for them. Electronica-influenced patterns, thumping straight-ahead kicks and distorted synth sounds chase each other around, interspersed by cosigns from MCs you wouldn’t think would cosign something like this…but they do. (more…)
