Daniel Anassi (MadeFellaDA)

Daniel Anassi (MadeFellaDA), a member of the Houston based rap group MadeFellaz, began his musical career as a hobby, while playing sports in school. Music became therapeutic for MadeFellaDA while recovering from a career ending injury sustained while playing football in high school. The youngest of the group, he was inspired by his brother (MadeFellaDrew) and two cousins (MadeFellaJojo, MadeFellaCoop) and learned different styles and flow patterns as a result. As a group, MadeFellaz, has released six (6) studio albums. MadeFellaDA recently wrapped up his first solo project, (The Leap On Faith). This album is a mini visual short film, which features true events that have transpired throughout his life. As a creative and intellectual artist, MadeFellaDA uses his visuals to bring the lyrics that he writes to life. Life experiences and mishaps can often shape us into the person that we become, because they help to build our character. With that in mind, the magnitude of this project was something that he had never experienced before. It began with true-life events that occurred in his life, which fueled life altering emotions that he memorialized in writing. Each chapter traces his journey to the person that he is today by capturing all his victories and triumphs. Every single lyric chronicles MadeFellaDA in his own words; no alternative facts or fake news, just real-life experiences.

Beat Talk: Interview with SOUNDZ GRATE

The Beat Yard speaks with rising singer SOUNDZ GRATE about his music, the types of beats that bring out the best in him and more!  Get more updates on Soundz Grate at http://www.SoundzGrate.blogspot.com

The Beat Yard:  How are you Soundz Grate?

Soundz Grate:  I'm well, these days I've been overly anxious. I have inspiration hitting me every day, and I can't seem to find the time to capture it all.

The Beat Yard:  What have you been working on lately?

Soundz Grate:  I've been working on my studio, I believe every artist needs an at home studio. I've been building on it and remodeling for about a year now. There's nothing like creating something magical from scratch. Aside from that I've been remastering singles, and looking to actually place on the charts just to see where it goes. I'm pretty curious about that. Lastly finishing my LP Orchid. The fans have been asking to buy it, but it's not ready yet. I want to drop a couple of videos first. 

The Beat Yard:  What types of beats bring out the best in what you do?

Soundz Grate:  When it comes to bringing the best out, I'd have to say a chill-hop or a mellow-groove. Jazzy mixes with an air of soul and pain. All of my songs so far with the exception of "The day before I lost It all", came from me just feeling the mood of the instrumental. I hardly write my songs. I feel it takes some of the passion out of what the artist means to truly express.

The Beat Yard:  Who are some of the producers you've worked with?

Soundz Grate:  The list of producers I've worked with is very short. The Augusta, GA legend Bizzo Beats was the very first producer I was able to work with. I fell in love with the process of making a recorded song after leaving Pulse Studios. The second producer is an underground favorite here in Augusta and goes by the name of Wavvy Pluto. Extremely talented brotha. Last but not least Lil Virgil, I was blessed when I was able to link up with such a humble person. All my tracks have a hidden flare because of him. There are a few others, yet they are more so composers than producers.  

The Beat Yard:  Who are some of the producers you would like to work with in the future?

Soundz Grate:  Oh that is an easy one hands down! I'd like to work with Rodnae Da Boss. Crazy talent at what he does, an ear for music is an understatement. Now I would be lying if I said I didn't want to work with Timbaland, Dr Dre, Dark Child, or Chuckii Booker. I can go on listing them but I think this is a good range. What do you think?

The Beat Yard:  Do you buy beats?

Soundz Grate:  I try to purchase symphonies, but yes. One would have to be mad not to. The instrumental is their form of the art. I'm simply the enthusiastic painter ready to spray my graffitti on it. 

The Beat Yard:   In your own words, what separates a beatmaker from a producer?

Soundz Grate:  The answer is truly in the question its self. The beatmaker or composer arranges a series of sounds together, usually consisting of snares for the count, bass, strings, sound effects, etc to make up the "composition"/beat/instrumental. Yet that's where it stops.

The producer on the other hand works with the artist who would lay vocals over the composition. In some cases the producer is also the composer. The producer will fit the artist to the composition, coach them through the track, and work hand in hand with the sound engineer to get the best everything from the artist. From the start of the song to the end of the song a producer is there. 

This is the difference.

The Beat Yard:  What is your process for selecting tracks and putting together a song?

Soundz Grate:  Generally speaking for every artist, unless I'm building a beat from scratch with an all around producer. I play a ton of beats until I find one that speaks to me, then I simply proceed in a 3 minute conversation. As far as how I put my songs together I like to try and switch up the order in which I do things. Kind of like Kanye. 

The Beat Yard:  Is there anything else you would like to mention in this interview?

Soundz Grate:  I want to be very forward in saying that I want to do this "thing" in a way that no one has ever done. I want to do this "thing" a different way, and be overly successful at it. Simply because I can, now with that being said I'm working on a Reggae EP, Country EP , and Rock EP. I love music in its entirety.

Download the "WeOnRadio" App in the Android store, and thank you so much for supporting me!!

BEAT TALK: Interview with Younga B. of Blazed Up Records

The Beat Yard sits down and chops it up with rising Hartford, CT based emcee and battle rapper YOUNGA B. about the types of beats that suit his needs and bring out the best in him as a lyricist.  Read all about what he has to say in this in-depth one on one interview.  

The Beat Yard:  What's up Younga B.?  Could you tell the readers a little something about you?

Younga B:  Whats shakin?  I'm from Hartford CT North end. I'm not just a rapper, I'm a musical genius.

The Beat Yard:  What type of beats bring out the best in what you do?

Younga B:  I like the grimy old school boom bap.  That brings out the neanderthug in me.  Something about that vibe brings the grit outta me which makes me come up wit the best bars.  On the flip side I like speedy trap beats heavy on the bass sharp snare.  That brings out my melodic side.

The Beat Yard: How would you describe the beats on your most recent projects?

Younga B:  On my most recent project the beats are a mix of soul trap with a slight classic hip hop feel.

The Beat Yard:  Who are some of the beatmakers / producers you work with?

Younga B:  I work with the greatest set of producers in the world. You got Marti Mcflii, Gainbandz Kgod, Chuckles Beatz, Blinky blank, Twizzie808.  They are the main and maybe the only producers I work with.

The Beat Yard:  Who are some of the producers / beatmakers that you would like to work with 

in the future?

Younga B:  I would like to do some work with Chill Shump he got a cool sound. On a larger scale id like to work with No I.D., Kanye West, Timbaland, or sounwave.

The Beat Yard:  What type of sounds or instruments do you like in beats?

Younga B:  I like all real instruments for starters but my favorite thing to hear in beats is the bassline.  It gotta be funky, the snare, It gotta shock the soul, and the keys gotta take em to chuuuuch!

The Beat Yard:  Do you buy beats?

Younga B:  Fuck no

The Beat Yard:  Why is that?

Younga B:  Because I have a team of producers as well as myself and we can make anything I need. 

The Beat Yard:  Do you like to work on a track with a producer, or do you prefer a producer just send you a track and you work on it on your own time?

Younga B:  To be honest with you either or works for me it doesn't take a difference.

The Beat Yard:  In your own words, what's the difference between a producer and a beatmaker?

Younga B:  A beatmaker just makes beats for anybody and sells then.  A producer crafts specific styles for certain artists. As well as build the beat in a way that guides the artists content on the song.

Follow Younga B. on Instagram at @younga_hoe