Hoover Interviews Psykobeats
This has been a long time coming. Initially we had planned to do this in the first quarter of 2016 but that didn’t go as planned. I kinda guess it was blessing in disguise when I look at it now because Psykobeats has gone on to further his star in the Rap game.
So welcome to Rapfornication space Psykobeats
Hoover: I usually have this thing where I ask rappers how they initially got into Hip Hop but you’re the first producer I’ve interviewed. So can you tell how you got into this and also why did choose to be the man that’s making the beats rather than being behind the microphone?
Psykobeats : Actually, I started off as an artist back then in high school, I would skip school to go record. It was tough to get our music out because there was no one in our camp that was making beats. Fast forward a few years later, I started making beats so I could rap to my stuff and before I knew it I fell in love with beat making.
Hoover: With that being said, how much harder is it being a producer, in terms of selling your product and what you do to people? Or is it the same type struggle as being a rapper?
Psykobeats : It’s difficult I won’t lie. Nowadays I spend less time in studio and more time travelling up and down networking. You need to be seen and build your brand for people to believe and buy into your product.
Hoover: Before we get into the Psykobeats that we see right now. I’d like to ask which producers did you idolize and look up to when you were on the come up?
Psykobeats : International it has to be Cardiak and T-minus. Locally there used to be a group called Producer’s Playground which consisted of four dope producers ( Street Carni, Co-Cayn beats, Tru hits & Mas beats) I used to look up to them a lot.
Hoover: Late the year if not early this year B3nchmarQ dropped “Bonang”. You produced that banger, how did it come about?
Psykobeats : Shout Out to Tweezy & B3nchmarq. I produced an unreleased song for YoungstaCPT. So before the beat got to Youngsta I had already sent that beat to a lot of people and everyone who heard it immediately wanted it. I didn’t know what to do so Youngsta was like, we can do a remix to it and get all those guys to jump on it. One day I was just chilling at the crib, bored on a late night Sunday and I decided to remix the beat, presented the beat to Youngsta & he wasn’t feeling it. After a few months the beat got to Tweezy via E-jay. Tweezy added his touch to it and boom! “Bonang” was birthed
Hoover: You’re based in Cape Town but you easily hooking up with Joburg cats and making music. How are these linkups or rather musical relationships coming about?
Psykobeats : Everyday I get up I ask myself the same question. I wish I knew the answer as well hey but one thing I know for sure is God got me. I’m also surrounded by a great team who inspire me to go and get it.
Hoover: And “Ayeye” by Vigi and Cassper, I heard you had a hand in that. How true is this?
Psykobeats : Hand in it?! I had that beat for more than a year. I worked on it for so long but I was never happy with it. I had already given up on the beat. I’ve been speaking to AirDee for a minute and we’ve been sending each other work back and forth. I sent him the “Ayeye” beat, the next day he sent it to me it was a complete beat. Ayeye was our second collaboration and we definitely got a lot more in the bag
Hoover: Earlier we had the #ProducersMustRise campaign. What are your views on it?
Psykobeats : Good initiative but wrong approach.
Hoover: You dropped a project. Is the plan to consolidate on that for 2016 or is there much more coming from you?
Psykobeats : I dropped a project last year in September & I will drop a new project very soon. Something different
Hoover: Lastly, for those who don’t know your work. Do you mind just sharing some of the songs that you’ve produced?
Psykobeats : I will mention the recent ones:
Dj Vigi featuring Cassper Nyovest & Carpo – “Ayeye”
E-Jay featuring YoungstaCpt & Tweezy – “Day Ones”
And there we have it. I had a dope time coming up with these questions, man. I regard this man as one of the dopest Hip Hop producers in the country. I wish him nothing but the best
If you’re looking to get in touch with Psykobeats or just tryna get a scope of his life – hit him up on these platforms:
www.twitter.com/psykobeats
www.instagram.com/psykobeats
www.soundcloud.com/iampsykobeats.