Features

Tech Sessions #18

Usual Suspects
Yeah I know it has been a second but I got a a blockbuster Tech Sessions this week with production superstars The Unusual Suspects. The pair of Big D and Jim Jonsin have held it down for a diverse group of acts ranging from Boys II Men to igniting the airwaves with the new Trick Daddy banger "Let's Go."

Their resume speaks for itself with recent contributions to both the Cee-Lo and Pitbull projects also coming to mind. Here's a few of the more intriguing Q&A swings.

I recently did a pair of back-to-back columns about the difference between a true producer and a beat maker because I feel that there is a huge difference between the two. How do ya'll feel about that?

BD: Yeah man, you right. We are real producers. We work with the artists on the whole song. A lot of times we have ideas before the artists even gets involved. The easiest way for me to put it is… it's like this. A beat-maker can start a song but he may not be able to finish it.

JJ: That's it right there. Definitely.

BD: But a real producer can hear a song before you really even put it together. Like the whole song. And he or they can execute it with the artist. A producer can see the song from start to finish. A beat-maker can't do that.

It's all about vision to me like just knowing where to go.

JJ: You right about that. We can do so much more because of that. It is a real good position to be in. You can get into these music industry and make a lot of money and God will bless you. But you have to respect it and really it comes down to knowing your craft.

Well, it seems to me like somewhere along the way things got dumbed down because maybe I'm crazy but it seems like a lot of us on the come up just are not trying as hard as producers used to.

BD: Nah, man you are not crazy. You know it's not really even they're fault because the industry is sending that message that you don't have to do a whole lot. You get some of them that just learn to program a little bit on their drum machines and they get a Triton and they think they set. And sometimes they are. Just the way that it is.

Well, what is your respective musical backgrounds/ where are ya'll coming from with that? Do you know theory or did you start in the church?

JJ: I come from a scratching background. Way back there I got started. I used to DJ and all of that so that's what I did and I got into engineering and mixing and I just worked my way into it from there. I tried a lot of things, I rapped, I did it all. It all really helped me grow in all ways. I know D started in the church and played in bands and all that.

BD: Yeah, music is a really big part of my family. I play five different instruments. I really like and respect real musician (ship) so with us we always come with something different and really use our experiences and what we think works best for a song to make it Unusual Suspects.

We can have a real booty bass song. But there's going to be all kinds of different elements in there. You are going to have that rock sound and everything else. It's not going to be just that typical booty bass. That's what we do.

I know ya'll must get a lot of demos what's the biggest mistake you hear on them?

JJ: Aww man, you know… I think people really need to work on their craft more. That's big right there. Save up your money and get in the studio and learn as much as you can. Just get in there and work. That's the big thing because a lot of times, you will hear something and it sounds really bad but maybe the idea was good or vice-versa and you need to really learn your craft and master it.

In looking for that one undiscovered MC to work with that's fire, I have met a lot of rappers that always ask us shit like "oh ya'll can fix it with what's that a uh…plug-in right?" And I'm like "no man."

BD: Well, if you are not ready to get in the booth then you should not be anywhere near the booth. That's plain and simple right there.

JJ: You have to have that delivery that sets you apart to get in the booth. Plug-ins and cutting up takes can't save you. Well… ok… sometimes a new mix can help you. It really can. Especially if it's the track. You can go back in but the vocal delivery has to be right.

That's another thing, the whole leave it to the engineer thing. Do you think producers should at least have a basic working knowledge of why frequencies clash and all that? We do and we learned but a lot of people seem to think you don't have to know. You don't have to go to Full Sail, you can read a few books and all that.

JJ: It's part of your job to learn that stuff. Absolutely, you have to be well rounded. I didn't go to Full Sail I just got into the studio and learned right there. We work with young producers all of the time and we love to do it. We feed our families off of this but we like to help young people as well because we feel as if more young people need to pick up musical instruments to express themselves.

Very good, ya'll it was a pleasure. I know we'll see you on the charts again very soon.

JJ: Thanks a lot.

BD: Appreciate it.

Glover is one half of the Atlanta, GA based production squad The Audio Assassins which are founding members of The Elements. You can find them both at Audioassassins.com and theelementsinc.com

Message The Unusual Suspects' Big D and Jim Jonsin and Glover tell him when you know a track is done!