Presto Exclusive Interview w/ Mr.Shadeed (Indie Planet TV)

[Mumbo Sauce]

Indie Planet Television lined up an exclusive interview with the Concrete Grooves chief rocka Presto. From earlier releases such as Impressions on Concrete to Inflight Instrumentals and Next Impressions, Presto has come full circle with his latest release State of The Art which features Sadat X, O.C., Large Pro, and CL Smooth.

While influenced by the Golden Era of hip-hop, Presto's sound and approach advances the movement instead of serving as a time capsule. Mr. Shadeed had the opportunity to sit down with Presto to find out more about the method behind the music.

Mr.Sha: Many artists state that each album released marks a moment in time. What were your most memorable experiences in creating this album project?


Presto: This album was a long process. It took about 2 years to complete. Originally I was planning on just doing an EP. The first track I finished was Conquer Mentally. It took a while to finish that beat because the sample was really hard to chop. Once I finished the beat then I had DJ Mino lay the scratches on the hook parts. Sadat finished the first verse, then O.C. At that point I was looking for someone to do the 3rd verse. I did a gig with Large Pro in Brooklyn at my friend Moe Choi's event. I played the beat for Large Pro and he said he was down to do the 3rd verse and also a remix. After that song was done, I just kept finishing songs and I decided to turn it into an album instead of a EP. Some of these artists I grew up listening to, so for me this album definitely leaves a mark in time.

Mr.Sha: Your sound is reminiscent of the golden era, but I feel its definitely pushing the game forward and sounds fresh and new, when you're in the lab creating production are you looking for a certain sound or do you allow inspiration take you in the direction that lead to the current release you're putting out??

Presto: I'm always inspired by the golden era because that is the stuff I grew up to. When I first started DJing in high school I was playing Tribe Called Quest, Pete and CL, Pharcyde, De La Soul, and other stuff from that time. I absorbed that vibe, so naturally when I started making beats in 1996 I was on that vibe but with my own sound. When I'm making a beat, sometimes I have a certain sound I'm looking for and I'll go through my records. A lot of times i'll come up with a sample groove and play some keys or something over it to change it up and add some feel. I usually like to start with the hi hat and build the groove, then the bass and drums. After I come up with the hook, then I can remove some of the sounds to make the verse parts. With State of the Art, I was definitely going for an all vocal album. I always liked hearing albums like Soul Survivor where it would be different vocalists over the same producer’s beats on one album. On State Of The Art, I used a lot of synths with the ASR-10 keyboard so it gave me a little bit of a different sound than my albums Magic LP and Inflight Instrumentals.

Mr.Sha: With the release of State of the Art, what artistic statement do you wish to make?

Presto I want to give listeners an option of other hip hop they can hear other than a lot of the same sounds that are out now. Hip Hop used to have a lot of different styles out. There's good music out now but there’s also a lot of garbage. It sounds like some producers aren’t putting that much of their soul into it anymore.

Mr.Sha: Your style of hip-hop traditionally is not the type to sell 10 million copies but as a label owner obviously the goal is to have each project be as successful as possible - How do you balance each role successfully so that the finished product isn't compromised?

Presto: It's hard to balance the business side and the artist side. When I'm in business mode, I cant make beats. It's just too much too handle when you only have so much energy in each day. But I have found a way to separate both. I started this label so I could put my own music out, but I would like to eventually do more of the artist side and less of the label side.

Mr.Sha: With many producer-released albums, the beats tend to be laid down first, and then artists are brought in to compliment the tracks. Did you have a specific idea of who you wanted to work with on this album or did artists stop by the studio, hear the tracks and start writing?

Presto: I would basically pitch some skeleton beats to artists. They would pick the one they like and I would work on it some more. By the time they finished writing I would have the beat finished. Since some of the artists are in other states, I would mail the Pro Tools session to them and they would record the vocals at their studio then send it back to me. I did have a specific idea of who I wanted to work with on this album. The album is basically a combination of known names and some unknown, but I feel all of the artists fit on the same record.

Mr.Sha: As a producer, what are some of your proven methods to getting the best result lyrically from an artist that you work with?

Presto: There isn't one way or method of doing that for me. Every artist is different. I usually try to tell the artist what kind of topic to write for the song but not always. It just depends. Sometimes I'll put a phrase for the hook and I end up taking the phrase sample out because the artist wrote a better hook.

Mr.Sha: Take our readers into the concept for the video "Conquer mentally" Did you present the directors Jake and Marcos with a concept and expect them to deliver, did you view treatments, or was it a collaborative effort?

Presto: Jake York and Marcos Ponce came up with all the ideas for the video. They had a vision for the video at the beginning and it came together exactly like they described it.

Mr.Sha: How has the internet and the rise of digital technology altered or affected the way you market, promote, and release State of the Art?

Presto: It is hard right now in the music industry. People dont support the artist that much anymore so everyone is trying to move more into licensing now. There will be more of a decrease in artists and labels and it will eventually be a huge problem. No one on this planet can live without hearing new music. I have built up a following over time with the label and my music so we'll see what happens. I will have the album available as a digital release, a CD/DVD digipack, and 12" EP. We used to mail out promo 12" 's and CD's but now most of that is done with mp3's via email. We still mail physical CD's to press and radio though.

Mr.Sha: What is your vision behind Concrete Grooves and what additional moves can your fans watch for in the near and distant future?

Presto: After this album, I am looking more into doing tracks on other artists albums instead of putting out my own full length albums. The Concrete Grooves catalog will always be available on iTunes and other download sites though. I might do a series of instrumental digital only releases. Also look out for this EP I did with Mhax Montes called Genre Jazz, dropping in June on
Groovia Intl. That will be available as a digital EP and a limited 12" EP. I'm also working on a Wayward Saints album. Wayward Saints is a group me and my friend Avatar started. It's a hip hop fusion band with all live instruments. I also have a limited edition instrumental CD floating around right now called Lost And Found so look out for that.

Mr.Sha: When it's all said and done, what skills or projects do you want to be remembered for in the hip-hop game in terms of legacy?

Presto: I would like to be remembered in anything I do. I put my soul into everything I put out, so I definitely feel that I've made my mark as a producer.