Here’s a little tasty grape from the Hip-Hop Grapevine. DJ Beats did a mix project this weekend with mix master Adam Long, crazy dude with great ears who has worked with everybody in town, and who sat in with my editors Bill Beene and Chris King and DJ Bishop when they reviewed Chingy’s sophomore joint, Powerballin’, which has some tracks by DJ Beats. You might remember, if you got a good head, that Adam wasn’t too taken with the quality of the beats Chingy rapped to on that record, he didn’t like the shapes of the sounds or the power of the low end.
Well, tell ya what, DJ Beats remembers! Adam said Beats had obviously read our critique of the Chingy record, because Beats grilled dude about his criticism of the sounds. Not in a nasty or defensive way, just as a pro who wants an honest and deep critique of his craft. Of course, Adam, a pro himself, gave him the same honest response that went into the American, that their production hadn’t given life to some important details. Beats agreed! I guess success is humbling, when you do it right, and Beats is enjoying success way beyond his involvement with Chingy.
Adam said Beats’ input amped up the mix they worked on this week, and for a proud dude like that to give a thumbs up to collaboration on a mix is a big deal. So I’m shouting out to all these hard-grinding pros who put ego and fragile feelings behind the sincere desire to improve what they do. And thanks to Beats for seeing why the Grapevine is here – we’re trying to help make things happen, and happen better, not shoot brothers or sisters down, or praise everything that enters our ears.