Words by: Chase
Belief is a producer who thinks music is progressive. He uses it as a means to infiltrate and inspire the public consciousness around the world. For him, his name “evokes nothing but good things” and, when coupled with faith, is a force to be reckoned with. While that’s still open to interpretation, it’s exactly how he meant it to be.
What type of album is “Let It Breathe?”
Think of it as a mix album. It’s an album in mixtape format, all original music, and the feel of a dj set.
How do you decide when the album was done?
After I’ve gone too far. I did really in depth tedious editing, remixing, rerecording and rearranging. Finally, I decided to take all of the vocals off. I thought it would be a more “pure” expression of me. That was boring, I put them back and it sat for 6 weeks. When I came back to it I was happy.
Do you feel that hip-hop is dying or in transition?
Transition. There are natural progressions to music, and art in general. I am certainly not trying to stand in the way. I’m into seeing art evolve. Hip-hop is being influenced by genres like indie rock and electro. I’ve always felt these genres have a lot to offer. It’s also a good time for artists to take more control of the business, its not like the way it’s been working has worked that well for us. That’s part of the reason I’m releasing this album for free. I feel like it’s hard to ask people that listen to my music for money. They all have the technology to find it for free. I haven’t paid for music in years. We should be paid by major corporations and giving the music out for free. I call it the Robinhood model.
What’s one thing you would change about hip-hop?
I wish rappers would show up on time.
Tell me more about your Lone Wolf release?
Lone Wolf is a collaboration album with Sumkid Majere. It’s a blues/hiphop album: very organic and melancholy, sounds like a dirt road. It drops early 2009.
What else do you have in the works?
I’m conceptualizing another project along the lines of “Let It Breathe”. But maybe more focused this time. I’m producing an album for Kosha Dillz, just did a song for Beenie Man, a remix for El-P, a R&B album for Jeanine Smith on Quannum, and lots of music for television.
Do you still see yourself producing 20-30 years from now?
I do. There’s an infinite amount of things to learn. I could do this forever. I have a lot of goals for just beat making. Working with other genres and scoring films are just some of the other things I’m looking forward to.
What’s one piece of equipment that you can’t live without?
I could do without any of it. Gimme a tuba and I’ll get something funky out of it.
