Hayes: Timbaland & Dr. Dre's New Artist Protégé DubCNN Interview

Dubcnn: When did your love for music first begin?

Hayes: From the first time I ever heard music, I was hooked. It goes back as long as I can remember. As soon as I heard music, I felt it in my blood and knew it was a part of me.

Dubcnn: So then, you knew from pretty much early on that music was your destiny?

Hayes: Hell YEAH!

Dubcnn: Coming out of Detroit, Michigan, whose sound(s) did you grow up listening to?

Hayes: Whoever I grew up around, who I looked up to, and whatever was going on around my (way), was my influences. I got my style from what was going on around me in my life, and what was going on in Detroit.

Dubcnn: Define what exactly it is that you do when you pick up a microphone?

Hayes: I just say it’s good, interesting, and I hope you all like it. I don’t know how to explain it more than that, but I really hope you like it!

Dubcnn: How did you actually manage to get two of the best producers in the biz, Dr. Dre and Timbaland, to take notice, and ultimately jointly sign you to both of their respective imprints; Aftermath Entertainment and Mosley Music Group, through Interscope Records?

Hayes: I've known Tim and Dre for a long time. Me and Dre was on Detox, and one day we was just chilling, we was sitting on the couch -- I don’t know if we was watching a football game or a basketball game -- and Dre was like, “Yo, I was thinking ‘bout signing you, you want a record deal?” I said, “Yeah, my nigga, YES I do!” And then, me and him was out shooting dice one night at Jimmy’s club, and Tim came in and asked us, “Hey, what the fuck are you guys doing?” And Dre said, "We were about to do an album together." And Tim said, ‘I’ll fuck with Hayes. Let’s do it together, we’ll make it huge, Dre!’ And after that, we started working, and it’s been going on ever since. I couldn’t believe it was happening.

Dubcnn: Damn, that's amazing! Now, as a precursor of sorts to your “official” solo offering, you just dropped your 3rd street-tape, The First 48. For someone who has not heard it yet, what would you say can be expected from it?

Hayes: I would say get you a copy, check it out, and let me know what you think of it. It’s available for free download on my website, www.iamhayes.com

Dubcnn: Oh, okay. So, have you titled your highly anticipated, forthcoming Aftermath Entertainment/Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records' debut yet?

Hayes: I haven’t titled it yet. It’s a work in progress.

Dubcnn: Will Dre and Tim be handling/sharing all of the album’s production?

Hayes: Dr. Dre will be doing half the production, and Timbaland will be doing the second half.

Dubcnn: Nice! Well, what has it been like working in the lab with these two studio geniuses/living legends?

Hayes: It’s been beautiful. They are both brilliant. They both have their own style, and they both come up with the craziest, most original material. It’s amazing.

Dubcnn: I bet! So, describe a typical studio session when working with Dre and Tim? Are they both very different when it comes to crafting in the lab?

Hayes: Great is great. You spell it the same way every night. There is no difference between great and great. They both do things that you wouldn’t hear or see. It’s always unpredictable. Exciting and unpredictable, always a pleasure.

Dubcnn: Are there any special cameo appearances to look out for?

Hayes: I love so many artists that I’m gonna take it how it comes. I know Dre and Tim got their own vision. I have a wish list, but it’s too long. I just love everybody that’s talented, and there are so many great artists I’m going to let it fall into place.

Dubcnn: What has been the key to your success so far?

Hayes: God. I don’t never make any choices on my own, I trust the eyes of faith. When you do that, it can go anyway. God is stronger than me, to take me where I’m going. I just sit back and let the Powers that Be lead me to where they want me to go. And then, everything always works out right.

Dubcnn: That definitely seems to be working in your favor! With that being said, what is your 5 to 10 year plan in entertainment?

Hayes: I’ll probably be doing whatever I love. And this is the crazy thing about doing what you love: If you ask the average person what they want to be doing in 5 to 10 years, they will probably tell you they want to do something they not doing. Why wait 5 to 10 years to do what you want to do now? You can do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. I love music, and I love being creative. So, I’ll be doing something creative, and something I love, 5 to 10 years from now.

Dubcnn: Makes sense! Well, you've been on the road quite a bit lately with Timbaland, so what’s the live show element actually like?

Hayes: It’s like praying not to get booed! It’s like a constant prayer to not get booed off stage. *Hayes chuckles* I like performing. I’ll probably be an artist that performs with just a mic attached to me. I like to take the accessories away, so I feel like I’m really interacting with the people.

Dubcnn: I hear you’ve been writing and assisting with Dr. Dre on his long overdue, anxiously awaited DETOX LP. How much involvement do you have? What can you divulge or reveal about this top secret, years-in-the-making opus?

Hayes: I work with Dre everyday, that’s my man, so I don’t have nothing to reveal at all.

Dubcnn: Damn, more secrets! Well, are there any other mixtapes or cameos on others works to look out for from you in the meantime?

Hayes: No, me and Dre finishing the first single from my album. Be on the look-out for that in the next couple weeks.

Dubcnn: Do you have any closing thoughts?

Hayes: Yeah, Life is all about living. And, Life is short. So, do what you love and LIVE now! (source)

Timbaland: Shock Value II Tour Live In Toronto Concert Recap

As reported by Jason Macneil at the Toronto Sun

As part of his current Shock Value Tour, producer extraordinaire Timbaland has brought along Justin Timberlake, members of Jet, Katy Perry and Drake among others to bring his collaborative club grooves to the masses.

Unfortunately though, a strong album with so many guest stars can result in a lackluster effort when it’s brought to the stage without them.

And for most of the evening, it was this hit and miss feel that made Timbaland’s gig Friday evening (January 22) at Toronto’s Sound Academy very uneven.

Backed by a full band and with a video screen to his left which would show Drake, Perry, Timberlake and others performing, Timbaland began the night rolling a very high quality wave with Timothy Where Have You Been off the new album Timbaland Presents Shock Value II.

Wearing huge silver headphones and a rather conservative amount of bling for his producing prowess, Timbaland had the audience filling half the venue singing “I love Toronto” back to him during the lengthy, rambling opener.

When not creating beats off the floor, the artist was content to perform most of his new material such as Say Something (featuring Drake) which Timbaland delivered with Auto Tune perfection and the electro-dance feel to The Way I Are which was definitely an early party-starter. This was despite the fact there were occasions when all he could do was bounce and wait for the guest artist’s pre-packaged vocal portions to conclude.

From there, Timbaland perfected that dance club vibe with Morning After Dark as a brief snippet of Twilight – a film which partly inspired the new record – was shown on the video screen before Katy Perry appeared onscreen.

The first 45 minutes of the show was red hot, but a forerunner of what would ensue came during Oh Timbaland. Here Timbaland gave each of his band members their own miniature solo before reining things in again. It was a slight lull but would seem like pure bliss compared to the next half-hour.

Following another strong dance-friendly nugget entitled Can You Feel It (and featuring vocals by Canadian singer Esthero), Timbaland plowed into If We Meet Again with purpose, something that couldn’t be said for Ease Off The Liquor.

Breaking the tune down and then basically filling time, Timbaland started asking fans in the crowd how they were feeling and if they’d like to have drinks with him. He also spent this time telling some 19-year-olds how he couldn’t let them drink and would buy them Kool-Aid, unaware of the legal age north of the 49th.

After this filler, Timbaland then left the stage for another 15 to 20 minutes while a deejay played snippets of various Timbaland-related hits. The rather inane absence had more heading to the exits before he finally reemerged with Carry Off featuring Justin Timberlake.

The show definitely had its moments, both terrific and terribly tedious.

PHOTOS:
Getty Images

Timbaland Shock Value II Tour dates:

1/26 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
1/28 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
1/29 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
2/02 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
2/03 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues

(video courtesy of jDiggz TV & Hailey248ilyjb)

Aaliyah's Birthday, We'll Always Remember

Clipse Live In Norfolk, VA On The Timbaland Shock Value II Tour

Clipse performing live at The Norva as surprise guests on the Timbaland Shock Value II tour in Norfolk, VA Friday January 15.

PHOTOS onstage & backstage here:
Wire Image - Clipse
Getty Images - Clipse

Petey Pablo Performs On Timbaland Shock Value II Tour In Norfolk, VA

It's been quite awhile since we last heard from Greenville, North Carolina native Petey Pablo, maybe since 2004's 'Freak A Leek.'

Seen here, Petey Pablo is back in true form with a little help from Timbaland's younger brother Sebastian as they performed on the 1st date of the Timbaland Shock Value II tour stop in Norfolk, VA Friday January 15.

PHOTOS here:
Wire Image - Petey Pablo

Solid State Logic Matrix Studio Integration Console Installs Grow Across Recording Industry

Matrix Console Featured at Winter NAMM 2010

ANAHEIM, CA – Introduced at last year’s NAMM, the Solid State Logic Matrix Studio integration console continues to enjoy brisk sales across all levels of the industry. Professional studios, including Timbaland’s touring bus, South Beach Studios and Larrabee Studios, join major educational placements, such as Full Sail University, and smaller private studios relying on Matrix. Engineers and artists alike have come to appreciate the flexibility, signature SuperAnalogue™ sound quality and comprehensive DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) control offered by Matrix. Matrix will be featured at the 2010 NAMM Show, Booth 6907, Hall A at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 14 to 17.

“We are very happy that so many major studios, stars and educational facilities have embraced Matrix,” says Piers Plaskitt, CEO of SSL, Inc.

When superstar performer, composer and producer Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley considered rebuilding his exclusive tour bus, the focus was on building a state-of-the-art facility within the space confines of the vehicle. Timbaland and his technical staff decided on an installation that included the new Solid State Logic Matrix console supported by seven fully loaded XLogic X-Rack systems with digital I/O to Pro Tools® through SSL Delta Link and Alpha Link AD/DA converters. This installation represents the first application of Matrix in a mobile environment.

Says Demo Castellon, head engineer for the Mosley Music Group record label, “The Matrix was the perfect choice for what we were trying to do with the bus. You have one of the most prominent hit makers of our time and you have the king of the console makers. When you have two powerhouse entities getting together, you can’t help but expect that something great will come out of it.”

Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL, has installed seven Solid State Logic Matrix consoles and Duende PCIe cards as the centerpiece gear for the newly enhanced “Recording and Mixing Consoles” lab program. The Matrix-based lab offers Full Sail the ergonomics and functionality of a larger analogue desk, while offering the on-console control of the lab’s Apple Logic Pro-based DAWs.

“When we decided to upgrade the program, all our research kept coming back to the Matrix as the console of choice,” says Dana Roun, director of audio programs for Full Sail University. “We are an educational facility and we need to teach our students about what they are likely to find in the real world. Our students will definitely see the Matrix out there in the industry.”

South Beach Studios, Miami, FL, installed Matrix along with four X-Rack’s to provide mic pre’s and processing in Studio B. The room is intended as a working base for reknowned mix engineer Andrew Coleman, who has a long standing relationship with Pharrell and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D and has partnered with mainstream artists such as Timbaland, Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey, Madonna and Justin Timberlake.

“When we looked at the needs of Studio B, Matrix became the obvious choice for our mission,” says Joe Galdo, co-founder of South Beach Studios. “We have had a long, positive relationship with SSL through our experience with the 4000 G Series Tom Lord Alge uses in Studio A,” relates Galdo. “SSL produces great sounding consoles that stand the test of time both for their sonic qualities and for reliability. The X-Rack supplies us with input options found on the SSL Duality and we could not be happier with Matrix.”

Larrabee Studios, in Universal City, CA, a facility that has defined the high-end commercial recording studio for decades is re-defining the meaning of full service by opening a production room centered on a Solid State Logic Matrix console. Responding to client interest, the Matrix production room allows artists and producers to have a smaller room available for composing, working on a part or experimenting with a sound.

“We are a commercial studio of the highest order servicing clients who want to work in a professional environment,” states Kevin Mills, the owner of Larrabee Studios. “The home or project studio working model is very popular across all levels of the industry offering artists the opportunity to work in an intimate environment for their creative flow. We wanted to provide a room that addresses this way of working within a commercial studio and Matrix was the console of choice for the project.”

Solid State Logic is the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. (source)

For more information about our award-winning products, please visit:
solid-state-logic.com

Timbaland: Inside Mobile Tour Bus With On Board Recording Studio

& the press release about the upcoming Timbaland Shock Value II tour

Multi-platinum producer, prolific hit-maker, and sonic pioneer Timbaland has announced details about his forthcoming North American tour in support of his current album Shock Value II, which was released by Mosley Music Group/Blackground Records/Interscope Records on December 8th.

In keeping with Timbaland's reputation as one of pop's most innovative mainstays, the Shock Value II Tour, which begins on January 15th in Virginia, will be a visual and sonic extravaganza, featuring Timbaland performing with a live band as well as surprise live guest appearances. Other special guests will appear via moving digital imagery that will be projected onto a full-size screen, creating an interactive performance experience between Timbaland and his guests, who include Drake, Katy Perry, and Brandy. In addition, New Jersey pop-rock band Honor Society will open several dates on the tour. Timbaland has also written several pieces of original music specifically for the tour and will be making live beats during the show.

"I'm so excited to come and give my fans an intimate, up-close and personal experience of my music," Timbaland says. "I want everyone to leave feeling like they never stopped dancing the entire time."

The set-list for the tour will feature songs from throughout Timbaland's illustrious career, including the Shock Value II singles "Morning After Dark" (featuring Nelly Furtado and French singer-songwriter SoShy), "Say Something" (featuring Drake), and the latest, "Carry Out" (featuring Justin Timberlake), as well as tracks from Timbaland's multi-platinum 2007 album Shock Value. The latter album spawned several No. 1 pop singles, including the Grammy-nominated "Give It To Me" (featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake) and "The Way I Are," (featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.).

Timbaland's Shock Value II Tour dates:

1/15 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
1/16 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
1/17 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
1/19 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
1/20 - New York, NY - The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
1/22 - Toronto, ON - The Sound Academy
1/23 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
1/24 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
1/26 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
1/28 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
1/29 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
2/02 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
2/03 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues

For More Info, visit:
Timbalandmusic.com

Gucci Mane Nips Chris Brown Heels In First Week Sales Charts

The final Nielsen/Soundscan sales and chart rankings for 12/8 releases:



Chris Brown - Graffiti (Jive/Zomba)
102,000 sold / Rank #7



Gucci Mane - The State Vs. Radric Davis (Asylum/So Icey Ent.)
90,000 sold / Rank #10



Snoop Dogg - Malice N Wonderland (Doggy Style/EMI/Priority)
59,000 sold / Rank #21



Timbaland - Shock Value 2 (Interscope/Mosley Music)
39,000 sold / Ranks #32



Clipse - Til The Casket Drops (Columbia/Re-Up Gang)
31,000 sold / Rank #41



B.G. - Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood (E1/Chopper City Records)
19,000 sold / Rank #65

Related:
Projected First Week Sales On Chris Brown, Gucci Mane, Clipse, Snoop, Timbaland & B.G.

Projected First Week Sales On Chris Brown, Gucci Mane, Clipse, Snoop, Timbaland & B.G.

According to Hits Daily Double, here are the projected first week sales for Super Tuesday 12/8 new releases.

Ranked as follows:



Chris Brown - Graffiti (Jive/Zomba)
95k-100k



Gucci Mane - The State Vs. Radric Davis (Asylum/So Icey Ent.)
85k-95k



Snoop Dogg - Malice N Wonderland (Doggy Style/EMI/Priority)
55k-65k



B.G. - Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood (E1/Chopper City Records)
40k-50k



Timbaland - Shock Value 2 (Interscope/Mosley Music)
35k-40k



Clipse - Til The Casket Drops (Columbia/Re-Up Gang)
30k-35k

The Hits Daily Double numbers will become more firmer a day prior (on Tuesday, December 15) to the Nielsen/Soundscan (the industry standard) numbers as we will see next Wednesday, December 16.

Timbaland 'Shock Value 2' Tracklist Posted Online

01. Intro ft. DJ Felli Fell
02. Carry Out ft. Justin Timberlake
03. Loosing Control ft. JoJo
04. Meet In The Middle ft. Brand'Nu
05. Say Something ft. Drake
06. Tomorrow In A Bottle
ft. Chad Kroeger (of Nickelback) & Sebastian
07. We Belong To The Music ft. Miley Cyrus
08. Morning After Dark ft. Nelly Furtado & SoShy
09. If We Meet Again ft. Katy Perry
10. Can You Feel It ft Sebastian
11. Ease Off The Liquor
12. Undertow ft. The Fray & Esthero
13. Timothy ft. Jet
14. Long Way Down ft. Daughtry
15. Marching On ft. OneRepublic
16. The One I Love ft. Keri Hilson, Chris Brown & D.O.E.
17. Symphony ft. Attitude & Bran’Nu

Timbaland Presents 'Shock Value II' on Mosley Music/Interscope in-stores December 8.

Nate "Danja" Hills Interview With DJ Swerve On KISS Radio UK

DJ Swerve interviews Nate "Danja" Hills (along side his engineer Marcella Araica) on KISS Radio UK Thursday, October 22.

spotted on This Is R n B

Related:
Grammy Award winning Producer Nate "Danja" Hills to particapate in the 5th Annual Grammy Camp

Timbaland 'Shock Value 2' Gets A Release Date

After 2007's 'Timbaland Presents: Shock Value,' it will be a hard one to top. I'm sure with both Interscope President Jimmy Iovine and Timbaland's quality control plus a bevy of A-class music superstars, it should be another classic just in time for the Holidays.

Timbaland 'Shock Value 2' tentatively set for November 24 on Interscope/Mosley Music.

Timbaland Talks Beaterator For Sony PSP And Apple iPhone

Billboard interviews Timbaland about the upcoming "Beaterator" for Sony PSP September 29.

BB: Why did you want to get involved in creating Beaterator?

Timbaland: At first there were no music games out there. Next thing you know, "Guitar Hero" came out, and the world responded to it. It was the biggest thing going. So people want to know where music comes from. Guitar Hero teaches the history of certain old groups, but mine is more like what people hear on the radio --Timbaland, Timbaland, Timbaland. Timbaland is known for beats and music. So if Timbaland is known for beats and music, why not make a beats and music game? Why not make my own version of what I think Guitar Hero should be for Timbaland? The world of Timbo.

BB: Beaterator seems less of a game as a way to teach people how to make music.

Timbaland: "It's a game, and you can challenge people on who can make the best beats. It's almost like you can use it at a party, like how people use Serato. You can use it as your drum machine. I probably missed a few corners, but thats what going back in and fixing things will do once I hear what fans want and say I didn't do. That's why it takes almost four years to make the game.

Read more here:
Billboard - Timbaland Talks Up His Beaterator Music Game

Coming Soon "Beaterator" for your iPhone:
read press release:

Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce that Rockstar Games and Timbaland present Beaterator will be coming to the iPhone™ and iPod® touch this fall. Developed by Rockstar Leeds, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Beaterator is a portable music-making application that allows people of all musical backgrounds and ability to create world-class beats and songs.

"The simple, pick-up-and-play nature of Beaterator lends itself so well to the Apple platforms," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "We are happy to deliver an application that allows for such unprecedented sharing and ease-of-use."

Previously announced for the PlayStation®Portable system, Beaterator features thousands of loops and sounds made by both Timbaland and Rockstar, and puts the power to make professional-level music at your fingertips in a format that's portable, accessible and fun.

Timbaland And Rockstar Games 'Beaterator' To Roll Out In Time For Christmas

Now Joe and Josephine Public can make a Beat and become a Music Producer, and you too!

In stores September 29, 2009 with a suggested retail price of $39.99.