Q & A | Hass Almahdi
Q&A Deme D
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in San Diego, California, but lived in New Haven, Connecticut most of my life.
Q: When would you say you got on the scene year wise?
A: Honestly, 2 years ago, I had taken my music career seriously. I started branding my image on Instagram by creating beat videos. Once I got in the algorithm, it caught the attention of Doe Pesci, Vinny Idol, JR Swiftz, Marvwon, Musalini just to name a few. Thinking about bringing back the beat videos for sure, it was a fun time.
Q: What equipment did you start making beats with?
A: Damn, I’ve been making beats for 10 years. I started with a Roland Fantom X8, dabbled with a lot of DAWs like music creator pro, Cubase, Adobe Audition to now between Logic Pro X and Fl Studio.
Q: What led you to producing?
A: My uncle was a DJ, had carts of records from all genres like jazz, Hiphop, disco and funk. He would show me the credits of all the records from the musicians to the engineers. In addition, my pops is a hardcore hip hop head, his favorite producer is DJ Premier. He used to blast Gangstarr albums in the house, from Rakim, Krs-1, Mc Lyte to name a few. He bought me a Roland keyboard. The more I studied his craft, I fell in love with the process from start to finish. I knew that was my calling.
Q: How did you gage when you were getting better?
A: I was invited to IStandard beat battle in New York, every time I played my track, the crowd was rocking and the judges fucked with it heavy. Illmind, K-quick, Willie B were the judges, gave me a lot of gems about music production and was told I have a talent for it. I did a couple other beat battles in New York and won, it was a great opportunity for sure.
Q: Was music always a part of your life?
A: Music is my life literally. It got me through a lot of ups and downs. It gave me a source of income, gained great relationships with successful artists, producers and it speaks volumes to what I am today.
Q: What was your first placement? How'd it come about?
A: My first was with Benny the Butcher and his team, The Black Soprano Family record, “Saint Maurice”. Besides me being a record producer, I am also a sample maker. I make my own compositions and shop it around to established producers. I sent a pack to JR Swiftz, he produced on several Westside Gunn and all Griselda Records artists projects. He fucked with it, threw his drums on it, in about 4-5 months, he dm me, saying we got a record with Benny. Shout out to JR on the play.
Q: How was that feeling placing your first beat?
A: It was dope, it was my first single, video was made to it and a remix that Tommy Wright III spit on. That opportunity opened several doors for me to work with major artists.
Q: Do you think you have a particular sound or you go by the artist you're working with?
A: I honestly don’t have a particular sound, I have range from trap to R&B to Reggaeton. I have a lot of records in the pipeline with major artists that are in those genres. I cater to what the artists are seeking on their projects. I feel like being a one trick pony as a producer really limits your potential and that narrative needs to change.
Q: Have you produced an entire project for an artist? If not, is that something you're looking forward to doing?
A: No I have not, but it would dope. I can envision a full project with H.E.R., Jae Skeese, Skyzoo, Ab-Soul, Myke Towers, MoneyBagg Yo and Summer Walker.
Q: Do you have some artists out now that you listen to heavy?
A: For sure… Reason, Symba, Blxst, Conway the Machine, SiR and BLK ODYSSY.
Q: You've worked on Lloyd Banks recent projects "The Course of the Inevitable III: Pieces of My Pain" & "Halloween Havoc IV: The 72nd Hr " how'd that come about?
A: Doe Pesci dm me on Instagram. Basically he seen my beat videos and felt my style of beats would be perfect for Lloyd Banks. He sent me his email, then I sent him my hardest beat pack. In a couple days, Pesci sent a screenshot of Lloyd Banks saying these beats are crazy! Within the same week, Banks followed me on IG, sent me a message about working on the upcoming COTI 3, sent me his phone number and the rest is history. Shout out to Doe Pesci, he’s a real one. For HH4, he texted me about him continuing the series and the direction on what type of beats he wanted. I studied and researched the older series, and put my own spin on it. I cooked up a pack of 30 beats and sent it to him. Once I get the text, “send the stems”, that’s the confirmation I landed another placement. It’s a blessing that he trust my sound and it’s an honor to work with a legend on building my catalog as a record producer, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Q: Who are some of the other artists you'd like to mention?
A: I have my artist, KYD. An upcoming rapper from Connecticut, he’s dope. We are finishing up our project releasing next year.
Q: What are some of the upcoming projects you'd like to mention?
A: I have placements in the pipeline with a few Top Dawg Entertainment artists and two R&B artists that I can’t really mention. I am also releasing a beat tape in 2024.