Interview: Granite State Producer Fee the Evolutionist Discusses His Collaborative Release "Beast Over Beats"
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“The hip hop scene in New Hampshire is currently growing and being cultivated. It’s becoming more diverse and inclusive. My affiliates and I are part of this movement and the art form is respected now more than ever.”
Big salute to you on the release of your new collaboration “Beast Over Beats”, and its animated video. Tell us about the song itself; how did you go about deciding which artists would be featured on the track?
My inspiration for “Beast Over Beats” was to bring together the hip hop community in my area. I was inspired by the classic boom bap tracks from the golden era of hip hop. The theme is that each mc picked an animal that they identified with to metaphorically represent on the track.
I reached out to artists dedicated to their craft from New England who represent their regions. I wanted a mix of Hip Hop veterans and new talent. Cody Pope, Quo and myself are from the Nashua area. DJ Myth represents Manchester. Alunar Landing is from Maine. Pro & D-Tension are from Lowell aka Mill City where I was born. It’s a dope mix.
From a production perspective, what was your creative process for the instrumental and what software/hardware do you use? Also, do you sell your beats?
I play drums and percussion so my creative process usually starts with the drums then I’ll add a bass line. This is how I created “Beast Over Beats”.
I really like working in Reason which I used to make the beat then mixed down in Pro Tools. My nephew Matty at GCS Studios in Nashua actually engineered and mixed the song.
Another cool fact about the track is that the beat in the song changes every 8 bars so that each mc has their own unique section to rhyme over.
As far as selling my beats I’m definitely open to licensing opportunities and collaborations.
What can you tell us about the hip hop music scene in New Hampshire? Is it difficult for homegrown talent to grow a fan base and get exposure for their music?
The hip hop scene in New Hampshire is currently growing and being cultivated. It’s becoming more diverse and inclusive. My affiliates and I are part of this movement and the art form is respected now more than ever.
I believe it can be difficult for any artist to grow a fan base but if they love their craft and stay persistent, progress is inevitable. My advice is to be engaging and include people from your community. It takes time but if you love the craft then your fanbase will grow organically.
Once you feel like you’ve got a hot track don’t be afraid to set aside a budget for promotion. Just make sure that the people you team up with have respect for the culture.
How did you get started as a producer? Who were some innovators that inspired you musically?
What first got me interested in producing was curiosity and a love for the music. I wanted to learn as much as possible about the all the elements of hip hop culture.
Ski, who produced Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents”, was an inspiration as far as beat making and production. I remember sitting in his living room on 110 Street in Harlem and watching him bring old vinyl samples to life. It was magic to me. I’ve witnessed him flip deep soul samples into bangers, some of which went gold.
With “Beast Over Beats” now released, what’s next for you musically heading into 2022?
This Christmas I’ll be dropping a joint called “Back in the Dayz” produced by Ski Beatz. The track features Pro Lyrical and is a tribute to our old crew X-Cal. It definitely has a classic Hip Hop/R&B feel. Then, in early February I’ll be releasing “Ain’t No Love”, which is a social commentary on the current state of the world. Proceeds from the song will benefit needy families in Southern New Hampshire.
In closing I would encourage anyone who is interested in collaborations to get at me. Lastly I would like to thank Dopecausewesaid for the interview.
Peace party people ha ha see ya later!
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