Nasty Beatmakers

Nasty Beatmakers
With a Grammy Under His Belt and Some of the Hottest Artists Over His Beats, DJ Nasty is Ready to Add to His Resumé.

When we caught up with DJ Nasty, the force behind the powerful production team, Nasty Beatmakers, he was in the studio doing what he does best – creating a feast for the ears on the wheels of steel in the studio.  Donning a black tee with ‘DJ Nasty’ around the collar, and the bold statement ‘Deeper Than Rap’ across his chest, Nasty was a clear representation of the type of music he produces.
As an added bonus, DJ Nasty’s brother and the other half of Nasty Beatmakers, LB, showed up to the studio and decided to join in on the interview.

“…to work with as many people as we have, being based out of Orlando means…you don’t have to be in a big city to make a name for yourself.”

When did you first fall in love with hip hop?
Nasty: Probably when I heard Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight.
LB: I’m in love with music, period.  So you can throw hip hop into the mix, but I’m in love with all music.

How does it feel to be named Orlando’s hottest producers?
Nasty: It feels real good. I mean, we’ve been putting it down for a minute, and just to work with as many people as we have, being based out of Orlando means that there’s no limit to where you start from.  You don’t have to be in a big city to make a name for yourself.

What’s the connection between Nasty Beatmakers and The Runners?
Nasty: I guess you could say that I discovered them.  They were signed to a production deal with me, then we moved on and now Khaled and I manage them.

What business ventures are next?
Nasty: Hopefully, starting a label.  That’s probably the biggest thing for us.  Taking the management thing to another level.  We have producers, now we want to manage artists.  No limits – R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, whatever it is, we’re down to do it.

Do you want to talk about your new producers?
Nasty: I just signed some new producers to me and my brother’s company, Nasty Beatmakers, called The Incredibles, out of VA.  They’re amazing.  They’re really amazing.  When I look for talent, it has to be something that’s out of this world, like The Runners.  These guys are the future as well.  The Incredibles, Moe and Lee.

What are some of your influences and how have they influenced your music?
LB:  Well my main talent is guitar, so you have to go to Van Halen, Jimmy Hendrix, Cameo, all the guitar-playing bands.
Nasty: Dr. Dre, Quincy Jones – he’s a music mogul, Pete Rock, DJ Premiere.  I was more into the music thing.  I’m all about beats, so my influences are always the ones that inspire me to do what I do.
Does anything that you’ve learned from your influences show through as you’re on your journey now?
Nasty: Definitely.  Like, when I say a name like Dr. Dre as an influence, when I make my beats, I have to make sure that snare rings hard, or make sure that the kick is real punchy and it’s just cracking the speakers when I’m making it.  And he takes so much time and has so much passion when he’s making his music, and that’s the way I feel when I make my music.

Why did Hitmen Productions dissolve?
Nasty: Aww, man…Hitmen Productions…oh, wow [laughs]…I wouldn’t say we dissolved.  Caesar is still carrying it right now, we’re all still family.  I would probably use a different word.  I’d probably say we evolved, you know, spread our wings.  Khaled decided to move to New Orleans, and Caesar decided to join the Air Force.  Music was always our passion, we just spread apart.  But big shout outs to DJ Caesar, DJ Khaled.  It is what it is.

What’s next for NB, aside from business ventures?
Nasty: Right now we’re working with Rick Ross on his new album, Juelz Santana, we’re working with Weezy on his album, The Carter IV, Fat Joe.  And you know, the next DJ Khaled album!  We’re already starting.  You know him!  He doesn’t stop!  He comes to us like, “Yo, Nasty, I need some new beats!” and we’re like, “For what?”  and Khaled’s like “The next DJ Khaled album!”  We’re thinking, “Man, your other album just dropped last week!”  [laughs] But that’s my brother, though.  I love him.  He drives me.

After producing songs like ‘#1 Fan’,’ I’m Me’, and ‘Grew Up a Screw Up’, how do you know you have a hit on your hands?
Nasty: Oh, man…you can just feel it. When we make these songs, like ‘Grew Up a Screw Up’, there’s just certain songs that you know are smashes, because you love them more.  You want to hold them back and, you just want to make sure that the right person gets it, you know?  And when we came up with it, it was like, “Man, I hear Luda on this album!”
LB: And with the songs you just mentioned, we usually work on a beat, stop, and go back to it in a couple of days, but it’s funny you mentioned those three because those we worked on and completed those in one day.  When they don’t take long to come together, you know it’s a hit.

Of all the upcoming projects you have, do you feel that any of them will bring in a Grammy?
[Rick] Ross is so raw and he’s changing the game, just the way he makes his music.  I think his will be one of the projects that will.  I mean, I hope to God it is.  But something about working with him – I love the vibe he gives us.

Florida is putting out a lot of hot music right now.  Will Orlando be on the map with other cities like Miami, Chicago and Atlanta?
I hope so.  A lot of people don’t understand that Orlando’s been a certain key in the success of Miami. But MIA’s a big city so people forget. The Runners made songs like ‘I’m So hood’, ‘Go Getter’, everyone thinks they’re from Mia, but they’re really from Orlando.
Between the two of you, what are the 5 greatest songs/artists from FL of all time?
LB: 95 South
Nasty: Yeah! Wow…95 South and CC Lemonhead – definitely pioneers from Trick Daddy, you have to mention Trick Daddy, hands down.  He broke barriers.  Definitely have to mention Luke, he’s the original Dun Dada, for real.  Pretty Tony Butler.  A lot of people don’t know him, but if you go Google and research that name, he’s the one that put a lot of the Miami early sound together.  Songs like ‘Look Out Weekend’ and a lot of his other songs are being sampled a lot now.  Will.i.am is getting a lot of influence from his stuff now.  And, new generation – Rick Ross.
What about athletes?
LB: Well, my favorite football player is Emmitt Smith.  You’ve got Warren Sapp…
Nasty: Roy Jones, Jr., Antonio Tarver, and…
LB: Johnny Damon!
Nasty: Oh yeah, definitely Johnny Damon!

Is there anything that you guys want to put out there?  Promote?
Nasty: Hell, yeah!  I mean, me and Khaled are the best and we’re looking for the best.