My Life With Hip-Hop #2 (DJ Mickey Knox)

So after about 2 days of emailing back and forth, tonite is the nite that Sumner Projects representative, Illa Ghee comes through to the studio to record with us. Illa is a very cool brother, I’ve been playing his records for the last 4 years and when I was on Sirius he was up at my show a number of times, very dope. Before Illa arrives, me and RKitech go through the thousands of beats he has and the hundreds of songs he’s already started with hooks and verses on them. It takes us about an hour till we finally pick a song with a hook on it, sorry I can’t remember what it sounded like because what Illa ended up doing was way better, but I digress. So Illa drives out from BK to Long Island, its not a bad drive at all, a lot of rappers give us shit abot the distance so I’m glad Illa came through. Its also a good look to have the rappers come to the studio to pick the beats they want rather than emailing them something they don’t like which would delay this whole process, and wouldn’t make for an interesting journal. Illa arrives around 10pm and we play him what me and RKitech picked out for him. After a few listens he tells us the track isn’t him, which is cool and proves my point why rappers should come to the studio. So we start diggin into the archives again and after 20 mins Illa picks out a beat that I haven’t heard, seems like RKitech keeps a secret stash. The beat is straight hardcore grimeyness, real street shit, the chorus even has gunshots in it just to reinforce its street cred. So Illa listens to the beat on a loop for half hour or so until he’s ready to record. Illa steps up to the mic, headphones on, and records the first verse. After 2 takes, the first verse is laid, he then does his doubles, adlibs, and does something I think is really dope, he lays the verse again in a low speaking tone with more bass than he usually speaks with. Its like his verse has a 2 part harmony to it, very dope. After all that, Illa takes his time listening to the beat, and records the 2nd verse. The 2nd verse is better than the 1st, and the 3rd verse is better than the 2nd, not to mention that that hook he laid was funky fresh. After all verses, dubs, adlibs, and anything else is done we listen to the whole song a few times while me and RKitech smoke up and drink our beers. After the third time of listening to the freshly recorded joint Illa speaks up and says “Ima name this record, Fire Drill”. I immediatley love it and confirm the title of this dope record. Illa leaves around 2:30am and we call it a nite, that’s 3 in the bag. Well I have another rapper ready to come through and record this weekend so soon as that’s done ill get back up with you asap.

Peace,
Mickey