Haastattelussa hollantilaistuottaja Detag.
- What’s up, Detag? How you doing?
What’s good, JP! Yeah, I’m doing good, man, thanks.
- If I’m right, you grew up in Vänersborg, Sweden?
Well, actually, I grew up in the Netherlands in a city called Emmen. That was the place where I got into hip-hop back in 1994 and started my first hip-hop group in early ’96.
I came to Sweden in early 2016, and I see most cats around here are inspired by the New York sound; you don’t see anybody fucking with any West Coast or South-inspired hip-hop.
Except for the homie Ailton, who’s a rapper from Göteborg. We’ve worked on four projects this year, and some of the stuff I’ve been making for him is really West Coast-type flavor.
- Who were some of the rappers you were listening to as you were growing up, and how did they influence the kind of artist you are today?
As a teenager, I was mostly listening to West Coast hip-hop and underground West and South shit. Some of the first groups and artists that really inspired me back then were Cypress Hill, Dr. Dre, Ganksta N-I-P, Eazy-E, Dayton Family, 5th Ward Juvenilez, Ice Cube, Snoop, Paris, Tela, Scarface, Above the Law, Bloods & Crips (I, II, III), Three Six Mafia, Crime Boss, and House of Pain.
I always loved hip-hop that had great music behind the voices and music that had an edge to it, similar to what alternative music and metal used to have.
I think that feeling was really captured in the ’90s with the variety of styles and everybody trying to be unique in their own way. So all those groups and artists I listened to back in the day inspired me to do what I do right now.
- How did you begin your journey toward becoming a musician?
Well, it’s in the family, first of all. My dad is a singer/guitarist, and I went with him to see his shows since the age of four. I went from having my own drum set at the age of five to getting a guitar and learning to play it at the age of eleven. When I was around fourteen, I got into hip-hop, starting with a mixer, a cassette deck, two microphones, two turntables, and a stolen speaker.
- When did you start thinking about music more seriously?
Music has always been the only thing I knew I wanted to do. I never had any other career inspirations. But since I started producing for Ganxsta N-I-P in early 2016, that made me go in 101% and really put myself on the map globally.
- How would you describe Detag to someone who has never heard your music before?
That’s a good question, though. To put it in a box, you can say it’s a mix of golden era West Coast hip-hop, horrorcore, funk, and alternative rock.
- Do you feel you’ve mastered your craft, or do you have more to learn?
I feel there are too many out there who don’t even try to master their craft and just put out trash music. That’s what made me come back to the hip-hop scene in the first place.
I felt I could possibly do a better job at making hip-hop music than some of the stuff I was hearing at that time.
But absolutely, there’s always more to learn every day, and I’m the type of person who’s eager to learn and keep up with the technology.
- How did you link up with Ganxsta N-I-P from South Park Coalition?
Well, that’s easy. I had just released my comeback album/demo, “Decades of Magic,” in 2015, and I wanted to start producing for other artists again. So I made this YouTube video with five snippets of new beats I had made and sent it to Ganxsta N-I-P (because I’ve always been a great fan of his music and style), and he got back to me within a day or so, saying he liked four out of five tracks in that video. After about two weeks of working with him, he wanted me to produce the whole Brother N-I-P – Souljaz Only album.
- Are you influenced by artists in other music genres?
Oh, hell yeah, man. I have much love for rock and metal music, as well as funk and blues. For example, I really love bands/artists like Alice in Chains, Megadeth, Pantera, Body Count, Godsmack, Nikka Costa, Chris Cornell, Freddie King, Blues Brothers, Prince, STP, Ozzy, and many, many more.
- Which artists are you currently listening to? And is there anyone among these that you’d like to collaborate with?
To be honest with you, I pretty much only listen to other people’s music in the car or on YouTube right now, just because I’m working on tracks and mixes in the studio every day. I think I might have had two days in the last year when I wasn’t working on music in the studio.
If I can pick just anybody I’d like to work with, it would be Everlast and also Ice-T.
- When you aren’t producing, what are you doing?
Sleeping? Haha… nah, besides producing music, I also do graphic design and edit video clips. Those things I really love to do as well. Other than that, I enjoy watching a good horror or psychological thriller movie or a music DVD.
- What has been the biggest moment of your career so far?
I think that is yet to come. I feel that right now I’m still building up my name and label, and bigger things may or may not happen; we’ll see.
- What’s next for you in your career?
Expanding the studio, having my own label, and worldwide distribution. Those are things I’m working on.
- Is there anything you’d like to add to this interview or something you’d like to say to our readers?
Yeah, I do actually. In this day and age, all you producers and artists need to really keep focus on what you love doing, rather than going for the quick buck all the time. Be unique and be yourself!
And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just put on track number seven, “Question and Answer,” from Ice-T’s “Home Invasion” album, and you’ll get it!!
- Thanks for your time!
Appreciate it, brother!
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
