11th Hour: Q & A with producer 11 (6.23.09)

Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tags: 11 the producer

If you can at least empathise with super producer’s 11’s past, then you will root for him to stay on top. Having his door kicked in when he was young and being taken from his apartment while becoming a product of the foster system, you would think he would feel defeated but instead, he would view that as a blessing. I got to talk to him about that part of his life as well as his upcoming projects and also what he has lined up with the one and only Dana Dane. He also shares his opinion on Red and Meth.

Badnews: What does your name mean?
Eleven: I find it to be unique because the letter K is the 11th letter in the alphabet and the letter K is the first letter in my government.

Badnews: How did you get started in the bizz?
Eleven: I was always rapping when I went to JR high school, I was always doing battles. Then I connected with certain people. But the production part started when I was a freshman in high school. I was DJ’ing, going to studio and learned how to sample. Then I started networking and I was the start from there.

Badnews: You had a tough life growing up. Did you use music to cope with your situation?
Eleven: I just want to start off by saying I don’t hate my parents. In reality if it wasn’t for them leaving, I wouldn’t have met the people who helped me get started. Music was a heavy thing for me, if I wasn’t successful with it, I would still be ok. I moved to Harlem to hustle; I didn’t even know I was (hustling). But music kept me out of things. It was always about the music. I always kept hip hop first even when I was going through my tough situations, but I still kept music first, whather I was rapping or producing. I wasn’t thinking like a grown up and I didn’t know what child support or welfare was, so it was hard for me to move. I had to learn form other people… old people they would help me but overall hip hop definitely helped me

Badnews: When would you say things started to turn around for you? what was your big break?
Eleven: I think when I started doing the Zulu Nation anniversary album. I’m not with them but I’m cool with them– shout out to Yoda. But I just started building relationships with everyone and was put in a different category.  I put out 2 songs on Music Choice,  3 songs on the NBA Rasta, and the 07‘ Columbia University Battle.

Badnews: Who do you listen to?
Eleven: I have to say my favorite rapper is Biggie and then Luda (cris). It’s a tough question to answer because I’m not really a fan of too many people. But my top picks are Biggie, Common, Luda, Kanye, Jay-Z, Nas, Big Daddy Kane, Dana Dane and Da Brat not all in order. Kid Cudi, Drake and Lil’ Wayne are cool too.

Badnews: How do you feel about hip hop production now? Should there be more original music or are you ok with the sampling?
Eleven: I just seen this joint on Swaggreport.com that Method Man and Redman didn’t want The Roots to back them up on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Live bands are cool though. Tech beats has more to it than live music out of respect of hip hop, its just a form of creation.

Badnews: Do you feel there should be more bands like the roots that get into the industry?
Eleven: Of course. Hip Hop has been on earth for years, but it came in diffrent forms. If you hear different genres over the years, their just rapping. I think that bands are timekeepers. Meth just disrespected The Roots, I mean it was a slap in the face. Not to shit on Meth and Red, but they’ve backed up bigger artists than them. I agree with Questlove. I bet if The Roots or another band was backing, it would be another thing. But Red and Meth are two MCs. They should had let The Roots back them.

Badnews: What do you have lined up for 2009?
Eleven: I got the book out on Dana Dane called Numbers. I’m also producing for Nefu the Don; its called ‘Listen to your Heart’, produced for Wiz Khalifa. I’m also working with Marc John Jefferies; Doug E. Fresh’s sons have group I’m also working with them.  A new mixtape with my partner Gee, Miss Cash and others which will feature Rock songs from the 80’s & Rap songs from the 90’s remakes. Cash and I are putting a video called “Out Of Time” starring Grizz & Dot Com (NBC 30 Rock) and DJ WONDER (Sirius Radio). It will be a project where we are mixing in 80s rocks with early 90’s rap songs like “Watching Me” by Rockwell and such.  Also, I’m working on a new track called ‘On the Radio’ by Reggie Reg with the remix of this song featuring Raekwon. On another tip, I’m the creator and host of the ”She Got Next” brand.  It will be a platform for Females in the industry.  Lastly right now, it will doing a DVD called “Signed and Unsigned“.  Email me at shegotnext@yahoo.com for more info.

Badnews: You sound like a busy man (laughs). Where can we learn more and hear more from you?
Eleven: You can check me out on the internet radio rapdreamsradio.com. I’m also on twitter now; twitter.com/eleven950, myspace.com/elevenegocrusher. Shout out to Ashley the Intern, Swagreport.com, rapdreamsradio, Dana Dane, Zulunation and Michelle Travis.  I’m the creator and host of “She Got Next” Brand its a Platform for Females in the industry,right now im doing the DVD signed and unsigned.email me at shegotnext@yahoo.com

Badnews: Thats what’s up ,thank you for taking time out with me. Good luck on your career.

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