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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…)

This has little to do with mixtapes directly, but if this technology works as well as is shown in this video, it will change the face of sampling, mixing and remixing as we know it. It was supposed to be released in Fall 2008, but hasn’t appeared as of yet. Watch the video for the complete breakdown of the possibilities.

Don Cannon - Photo by Hannibal Matthews Photography

WORDS: Rob Haney

from Issue 8

It isn’t easy to get in touch with Don Cannon, even when his assistant sets up the time for you. But then again, this is a guy who has produced records for the cream of today’s rap crop, so it’s probably safe to say he isn’t big timing me, he’s just a busy dude.

When we do get to speak on the phone, it’s after an extended taping at BET and then a delayed flight back down south that circled the destination city for hours before finally landing. Cannon comes through loud and clear with his ideas about production, though. This humble dude who speaks through his music today has come a long way since his early DJing days in West Philly.

He is respectful of those who came before him, citing his favorite producers as Dr. Dre, Pete Rock and DJ Premier. “My whole life is patterned after Pete Rock and Premier, that’s how I learned how to chop samples,” he says. He’s been DJing since age 5, so you would think the transition from vinyl spinner to sample chopper would be pretty natural.

He had to learn the hard way, though. He wasn’t one of the kids whose parents bought him the latest production station, so he’s had his hands on pretty much every piece of gear out there, and had to learn in stages. (more…)