Producer Spotlight: Nottz

It’s been a long time since we’ve done a Producer Spotlight, let alone one on a popular hip hop producer.  I’ve been wanting to do a spotlight on Nottz for a while, but wanted it to be perfect.  so I reached out to my man J Master who hooked me up with an exclusive interview with the producer from Norfolk, VA.  Major props to J for making this happen.  In addition to the interview, we have a compilation of our Top 25 Nottz Productions!

Nottz is one of hip hop’s most under rated producers with a signature low end peircing moogs bassline and heavy driven drums sound that had earned him Gold and Platinum success. The low key Norfolk, Virginia native has developed an extensive catelog over the last decade and has managed to supply production for some of hip hop’s most notable emcees from Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Scarface. The track that he produced for Kanye West’s Graduation album, “Barry Bonds”, earned Nottz his 1st hip hop producer award at the 50th Annual Grammys. Nottz is not you average beatmaker and with all the industry trends and new faces on the scene, he has managed to stay consistent in this ever-changing game called hip hop.

With Nottz holding spots on some of hip hop’s latest releases, such as albums from The Game, Termanology, and Rapper Big Pooh; it was only necessary that we site down and talk to the man.

Kevin:  What’s up Nottz? Thanks for taking time out to chat with us. It’s much appreciated. How’s your year been so far?

Nottz: It’s been a really good year so far…  Lots of work and placements!

Kevin:  You’ve worked with so many great artists over the years, but last year you got to work with Kanye and Lil’Wayne on “Barry Bonds”. It’s rare for Kanye to be able to step out from behind the boards and let someone else take over. How did that hook up happen?

Nottz:  Well, Ye was almost finished with the LP, but he needed a street record.  My name came up and my manager sent over two or three tracks.  One of them caught his ear and he and Lil’ Wayne wrote to it.

Kevin:  Simple enough… lol.  It was a pretty bold move for you to sample the Lenny Williams track for Scarface’s “Girl You Know”, since Kanye had done such a great take on it with Twista’s “Overnight Celebrity”. Job well-done though; you flipped the hell out of it. What made you want to sample such a well known track? How did that song come about?

Nottz:  I’ve been wantin’ to fuck wit the sample, but didn’t know how to do it!  So one day I decided to work my magic and it came out the way it did.

Kevin:  According to your production credits, you’ve got joints going all the way back to 1998, where you did a few tracks for Busta’s ELE album. Was that one of your first gigs? How did you get started in the game?

Nottz:  Yep, that was one of my first big placements.  It was that placement that got me known all over the place.  I got started on a lil’ seven second sampling keyboard back in middle school, snatching everybody else’s tracks that I grew up listening to.  I wa rappin’ first and I needed beats to rap to.  No one would give em to me so I made my own!  All three of my older brothers and my manager, Darryl, made beats.  My pops was a DJ back in the day (RIP to my Papa Bear); my bothers used all his old records to sample.  They got out of it; I stayed in it… and here I am!

Kevin:  What’s your thought process behind making beats? Do you gear your beats towards an artist’s particular style or do you just come up with beats and say, here’s what I’ve got?

Nottz:  I just come up wit em as I go!  It’s all on how I’m feeling that day.  No set way of doing things with me besides making sure shit knocks.  If it don’t knock, it’s not a keeper!

Kevin:  Out of everyone you’ve worked with, who has been the most inspiring?  Who has brought out the best of Nottz?

Nottz: Dilla.  He told me don’t change for nobody; keep doin’ ya shit and everything will be fine.

Kevin:  Who did you listen to growing up?

Nottz:  Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Diamond D. and the whole DITC, N.W.A.. Rakim, BDP…. real music!  I feel we don’t have that anymore.  Well not we…. THEM!

Kevin:  What other producers do you respect and keep you on top of your game?

Nottz:  Dr. Dre, J Dilla, Pete Rock, Kanye…. man the list goes on!  There’s sooooooo many from back in the day to now.

Kevin:  What track/beat are you most proud of? And has there ever been a song by another artist that you just sat back and said, “damn, I wish I would have produced that.”?

Nottz:  “That’s That Shit” by Snoop.  Dogg took a chance with me on that one!  That song got me a lot of work.  A LOT of work!  I wish I could have done “Maybach Musick”…. love that record!

Kevin:  What other emcees would you like to collaborate with?

Nottz:  LOL… real ones who aren’t on that bullshit!!  Any and everyone that’s grindin’ to the fullest… and know the meaning of grindin!

Kevin:  What’s on your plate right now? Any new projects coming out?

Nottz:  A lot of new stuff, but it’s time for me to work on my own shit… so get ready people!!

Kevin:  You’re stranded on a deserted island. What’s the one hip hop album you gotta have with you?

Nottz:  Illmatic!

Kevin:  Any words of advice for our young, rising producers?

Nottz:  Don’t listen to the next man.  Stay humble and keep focused…. grind to the fullest and go get it!  It’s not gonna be handed to you!  Keep doin’ whatcha doin and everything will be fine.  Stay focused and grounded to ya own.  block out all the useless shit and grind to the fullest!  Oh, and read those books… learn this business!

Kevin:  Yo man, it has definitely been a pleasure. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors. Any closing words?

Nottz:  I’m not goin’ anywhere people, so get used to me!  This is only the beginning!

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Top 25 Nottz Productions

1. Snoop Dogg – That’s That (feat R. Kelly)
2. Kanye West – Barry Bonds (feat Lil’ Wayne)
3. Little Brother – Two Step Blues (feat Darien Brockington)
4. AZ – Fire
5. Jay Electronica – Somethin To Hold On To
6. Ghostface Killah – Be This Way
7. Kool G Rap – Lengendary Street Team (feat M.O.P.)
8. Busta Rhymes – Get Out!!
9. Rapper Big Pooh – Rapper’s Delight (feat Chaundon)
10. Royce Da 5′9 – Blow Dat…
11. Scarface – Girl You Know
12. Rah Digga – Straight Spittin’ (Part II)
13. WC – Jack and the Bean Stalk
14. G-Unit – Footprints
15. Little Brother – Life Of the Party
16. Skillz – Imagine
17. Cassidy – Real Talk
18. The Notorious B.I.G. – Dangerous MC’s (feat Mark Curry, Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes)
19. M.O.P. – Home Sweet Home
20. Rah Digga – What’s Up Wit That
21. Lord Have Mercy – Wicked Ways
22. Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event (The Song Of Salvation)
23. The Game – Ya Heard (feat Ludacris)
24. Swizz Beatz – Big Munny
25. DJ Drama – Talk ‘Bout Me (feat Young Buck, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo)

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• Nottz on MySpace

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