Video summary
The video centers on a candid conversation between J Prince and Scarface, recounting the early days of their collaboration and the specific circumstances surrounding their first studio sessions. The narrative begins with J Prince recalling an incident where he was surprised by Scarface's arrival at a location on Pine Month, an event that marked a significant turning point in his career trajectory. Following this encounter, J Prince was invited to a studio the next day, leading to a series of recordings that solidified their partnership. The dialogue captures the raw, unfiltered nature of their interactions, including moments of tension and eventual resolution, highlighting how these early experiences shaped their professional relationship and artistic direction.
As the story progresses, the focus shifts to J Prince's journey toward becoming a self-sufficient producer and artist who no longer relies on external studios or engineers. He describes working late nights at Mike Dean's house, where he would record songs until dawn before heading home to Cullman, Alabama. This intense period of creativity eventually led him to invest in his own equipment, specifically purchasing his own gear so he could work independently without needing to rely on others' facilities. This decision was pivotal, as it allowed him to maintain full creative control over his music and avoid the limitations imposed by shared studio environments. The transcript emphasizes how this shift empowered him to engineer his own tracks, mix them according to his specific vision, and critique his work without external interference.
J Prince also delves into his technical education, explaining how he learned the intricacies of music production through a combination of formal guidance and hands-on experience. He credits his aunt for providing him with a keyboard, which gave him access to individual tracks and sequencing tools that were essential for understanding the basics of production. His foundation in music theory was further strengthened by lessons from his father regarding notes and scales, as well as his early experiences singing in church and on the radio. By observing other producers like Icy Hot and Rockish, he mastered the operation of mixing boards and synthesizers, eventually reaching a point where he could confidently use high-end equipment without needing extensive instruction. This self-taught approach allowed him to develop a unique sound that reflects his personal style and artistic identity.
In conclusion, the discussion underscores the importance of equipment and autonomy in the modern music industry, with J Prince asserting that while gear matters, the ability to engineer one's own sound is even more critical. He notes that many artists pay significant sums for different services, but he prefers to handle everything himself, from recording to mixing, ensuring that his final product aligns perfectly with his vision. By building his own studio setup and mastering the technology, he eliminated the need to seek out other producers or engineers, granting him the freedom to create music on his own terms. The conversation ends on a note of empowerment, celebrating the journey from relying on others to becoming a complete artist who controls every aspect of his craft.
Read the full video transcript
I ain't even know what the name of this
[ __ ] was on pine month where I went down
these [ __ ] with
>> Scarface.
[music]
>> Scarface pulled up. I was like, "Damn,
this [ __ ] Scarface really in this
bitch."
>> Smash [music] on [ __ ] Cut the gas on
and put your mask on.
>> Yeah, we boss talk.
You know what I mean? Got my own [ __ ]
now cuz like
when it first started going down, when
Jay came to come find me at this pool
hall, he found me at and he was like,
"Yeah, go to this studio tomorrow." So,
I went to this studio. I ain't even know
what the name of this [ __ ] was on Pine
Mon where I went these [ __ ] with
Scarface
forgot that I was thinking [ __ ]
>> Scarface pulled up. I was like, "Damn,
this [ __ ] Scarface really in this
[ __ ]
>> Put the smash on [music] [ __ ] Cut the
gas on and put your mask on [ __ ]
>> like just 03. I like damn. And uh and we
was cool. So then I did these [ __ ] and
I'm leaving. I'm like yeah then [ __ ]
was like yeah you're not uh I can't give
you a dub with this [ __ ] I'm come
again. Say what? [laughter]
>> No [ __ ] Come on with it [ __ ]
>> I can't have no dub. Well you know Jay
don't like to I'm like oh yeah well no I
don't I'm not coming here no more.
That's real.
>> So, uh, then we go to Mike Dean house.
Mike Dean will sneak me. He like, "Man,
just don't kick off with this."
>> I'm saying it now. So, I don't think
[laughter]
20 years later. [laughter]
>> Yeah. I had I hate you, [ __ ]
>> I had I HATE YOU, [ __ ]
>> Going to hurt nobody. [laughter] I bunch
of that [ __ ]
>> But nobody knew.
>> Nah. And I used to sleep with that
[ __ ] CD in my pocket.
>> Oh, you had that out.
>> Yeah, that [ __ ] was going to happen.
>> They leaking.
>> But then I get to Mike Dean house and
then sometimes like this was during the
time when Julie was over there with UTP.
>> Yeah.
>> The UTP for rap too.
>> So you got everybody in Mike Dean crib
all day.
>> Then I'm coming over there like
10. This man been recording since 10.
He tied. So we knock out one song. I'm
like, "Yeah, [ __ ] Let's get to the next
one,
>> man. We got to pick up tomorrow." I'm
like, "Man, this [laughter] [ __ ] I
got to ride all the way back to
Cattails, [ __ ] like this." So now I
start going to Guitar Center, buying my
own [ __ ] so I ain't never go through
that [ __ ] again. So, ever since then, we
just going to say Christmas 04 when I
came home that what July 5th. [ __ ] I
started buying my [ __ ] then. I ain't
have to go into nobody's studio since
that moment, you know.
>> How hard was it to learn to do all of
that?
>> I mean, [ __ ] I've been looking at, like
I say, uh I met Icy Hot first out of
Street Military. So, uh he was working
off of I want to I want to say a EPS. He
was working off the EPS at the time. So
I sit there and I, you know, I mean, and
then also my aunt had got me a keyboard
of my own, so I understood
sequencing and [ __ ] as as I was learning
how to
>> play, you know. My old man had taught me
notes and [ __ ] Taught me the scale and
all that [ __ ] Them do me [ __ ] and all
that.
>> Uh, and I was singing and [ __ ] like in
church and [ __ ] like that. Then you
know, singing [ __ ] on the radio,
learning notes. But uh when I got my own
keyboard, I was looking at this [ __ ]
with the individual tracks. I learned
how to put the bass here, the strings
here. And once I got that basic
operation down, it wasn't nothing but
getting a new board and learning what
all this [ __ ] is on this board. So
watching Icy Hot, watching Clat,
and then uh just looking up with
producers. Uh I used to [ __ ] around with
with this [ __ ] I don't want to say his
name. [laughter]
>> Yeah. I used to [ __ ] around with this
[ __ ] Uh I'm going just say and um he
was he was a Mo City producer who was
pretty you know moderate.
>> Okay.
>> And you know he would show me [ __ ] and
uh then I met Rockish that did all of
the you know the first gorilla mob and
my whole look what you did to me. He did
have the beast. I did have the beast on
it. He would show me a lot of [ __ ] So,
I just got to the point to where when I
had my money up and I bought my own
[ __ ] I already knew how to use all that
[ __ ]
>> Wow.
>> Does it depend on, you know, just like
you're talking about some people charge
5,000, some people charge 500 for
different things and stuff. Does it
matter the equipment that you that you
use to do this?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. To me, yeah,
definitely. I mean, especially your
microphone. I mean, I in my [ __ ] I
don't really have to worry about mixing
too much because I'm not going to mix.
>> Oh, so you don't want to do the mixing,
too? I mean, I could, but I mean, I got
people that do that, and they already
have a have a awesome uh template.
>> Mhm.
>> For how I want myself to sound.
>> Okay.
>> So, all I have to worry about is getting
my idea out, and I do all that [ __ ] at
my crib. Wow.
>> You know what I'm saying? I engineer
myself. I do my [ __ ] myself. You know, I
don't need nobody to hit my buttons.
>> You know, I do a little mix for myself
to ride around and listen to and
critique my word, play with. But, I
mean,
>> I'm not f to do this [ __ ] and put
nothing out like that.
Yeah, we on Boss Talk 101.