[rock the dub Interview]: Genr8

Stateside Drum & Bass, sadly, seems to be a term that Internets users like to frown upon, as if the tracks coming from American soul are, for lack of a better term, crap. With a crop of producers who, over the last few years, have been stepping up with some sick releases, it's good to dig in and chat with some homegrown talent. Genr8 is one of these producers; reppin' both coasts, Genr8 has gone from a guy who is just "fucking around with equipment" and seeing what happens to being acknowledged by veterans like the EZ Rollers, Maldini & Vegas, and a host of others, and is part of the new breed of American producers. I got to fling some questions at him, and he vollyed with precision...

khal: EZ Genr8, thanks for taking the time out to chat. Can you first introduce yourself: give us your affiliations, where you’re from and all of that?

Genr8: Whatup man, thanks for having me. Well, I started out in Miami Fl. DJing and eventually got into making tracks. I’ve worked with labels like Intercom, Bad Company Presents, Cartel, Incite, Human/System, Nemesis, Evol Intent and most currently with Project 51.

khal: How did you first get into Drum & Bass? Do you remember the first tape/CD/vinyl DnB release that you bought, and why?

Genr8: I used to go to raves to listen to breaks mostly; Drum & Bass started becoming the "other" room where shit was popping even harder than on the main floor. The first mixtape that strongly influenced me was from LP of the Soul Providers. From that same lot I later picked up on DJ Element's mixtapes, as well as events. Then I herd the infamous A.W.O.L. Live CD. That was the first time I heard a “massive”; it blew my mind. As far as production, some early names that pop to mind are Kenny Ken, DJ Rap, Mickey Finn & Aphrodite, Metalheadz, Hype & Zinc, Trace, Ed Rush & Nico, Ray Keith, Roni Size, Dillinja and Shy FX.

khal: I know you’ve been billed as being from Orlando, but your MySpace has you listed as being out in Los Angeles. In terms of DnB scenes, how similar/different is the Orlando scene from L.A.? Do you prefer one to the other?

Genr8: I've been setting up fort in L.A. the last few months. I've only been able to make it out to a handful of parties. The few that I have been to have been very cool, some serious junglists out here. Orlando was more of a small, intimate core of friends that just happened to also be die hard DnB lovers. I do miss Orlando sometimes, but I am very exited about my future here in LA and abroad.

khal: When did you start getting into producing? What is your setup like these days?

Genr8: I started off taking basic MIDI classes in college; then I got an MPC2000 and started fucking around with that. Eventually sorted a PC, updating to faster processors and better software. It has pretty much been the same until now. I recently had to sell most of my setup cause it was gonna be too much to ship it cross country so I am just starting to build it all back now. I work mainly in Nuendo on a PC. Before I sold everything I had Mackie 624 and JBL LSR43 monitors, Soundcraft FX16 Console and a PC. Some of the programs I’ve used in the past to produce Drum & Bass include Protools, Cubase and Reason.

khal: Many first heard your output from the work you did with Alliance and The Chosen. How did those crews come together, and what did you pick up from them?

Genr8: Both were incredible growing experiences as well as strong bonds with some unique individuals. Alliance was born out of a chance encounter at a local music gear shop where I went in to purchase my first serious studio setup. Ivan, who became my Alliance partner later, was the guy that was there to sell me the rig. Long story short, we decided to link up to fuck around with some beats and about 12 tunes came from that =). The Chosen happened a few years after when I took up a job in Orlando instructing audio at Fullsail. I met Darren SST and a few other DnB heads there. We very quickly gravitated into a group of four very motivated operators. These projects gave me the chance to experiment with other sides of DnB. Although we’ve hit rough patches, for the most part it was really fun and fulfilling. I would not hesitate to work with
any of these guys again in the future.

khal: You got some of your first good looks, release wise, from the EZ Rollers remix you completed as part of Alliance. How did it feel to tie for the top prize in that contest a few years back?

Genr8: It was a great opportunity to showcase not only our talent but many others that I’m sure went on to make quality music. It was an awesome confidence boost for us to know that we had just been singled out from countless others around the world. It was also very cool to know that we where selected by the people instead of just a few judges. Up until then we where just amateurs fucking around with beats to play at parties.

khal: Now, what’s ill about you is that you went from being virtually unheard of to collaborating on tracks with the likes of Craze, Infiltrata and Counterstrike. How does it feel to make that leap, having tracks out on labels like Evol Intent, Cartel and Bad Company Presents?

Genr8: Well, I had already been rolling the ball strong under Alliance so it was easy to work with these cats from there. With the help of AIM, it was pretty simple to directly hit up the people that I was interested in working with, as well as have people hit me up to collab or sign a tune. I've also been lucky to have a small but influential group of people that dug my music and wanted to see me succeed. People like Mr. Mendez, Jae Kennedy, Vegas, Craze, Infiltrata, Suga-B, Influx Datum and most recently Peer Pressure. I’m very grateful to you all.

khal: What do you have on the horizon in terms of releases? You working on any EPs, albums or any special remixes?

Genr8: It’s been a bit tricky to stay in the game with the big move to the west and having to get rid of all my gear, but I managed to get some studio time in with my laptop and make a few things happen. I got in the studio with the Koldfront trio (Jae Kennedy, Karl K, & Kaos) and will be putting out a 12” early next year on their own Saints & Sinners imprint. I also just finished a tune titled "Counter Culture" for Gridlok's P.51 label, for which I am also putting together an EP for. From The Chosen lot we got our long awaited "Faith of the Fallen" coming out on Ohm Resistance this fall. On the remix tip, I’m looking forward to working on a
“Vice” remix for the Koldfront guys and an undisclosed remix for the forthcoming Bad Taste Remixes EP.

khal: Do you have any favorite tunes that you’ve created?

Genr8: "Thru My Eyes" from Alliance and "Faith of The Fallen" from The Chosen are the two that stand out in my mind.

khal: You’ve recently mixed the latest DnBTV podcast. Can you tell us a bit about this mix – was there any running theme? Is this an accurate example of your DJing in the club?

Genr8: Basically some of the tunes that I am digging at the moment combined with some of the work I've done this year. There's a little bit of each tip that I am interested in developing at the moment. The mix has its progression from start to finish with a few ups and downs throughout. As far as comparing it to the live experience, I would have to say yea, its pretty much what you would hear from me for the exception that in the club it would be more based on the immediate feedback I receive from the crowd and perhaps more top secret shit that I am not allowed to post online ;]

khal: Do you have a current top 10 for June?

Genr8:

Gridlok - The Media Is a Joke
Atlantic Connection - "Soul Musiq"
Alliance - "Jive" (GENR8 VIP)
State Of Mind & Concord Dawn - "The Deviants"
Quadrant & Cease - "Blood On Our Hands"
Gridlok - "Lab Rat"
Genr8 - "Invaders"
Koldfront & Genr8 - "Broka"
Origin - "Nonsense"
Jade & Matt U - "Cracks In the Ceiling"

khal: Before we wrap this up, do you have any shout outs or words of advice for the massive?

Genr8: Yea, keep focused on your goals but don’t determine your ultimate happiness on them. Thanks to every one that has supported what I do over the years. Hold tight for the next phase ;)


For more info on Genr8, including audio and further info on his budding carrer, hit up his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/djgenr8. Shouts to Matt PPR for the hookup, and one love to all DnBTV crew (Grayfox, I see you)!

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