Haastattelussa Kalifornian Los Angelesista kotoisin oleva räppäri-tuottaja Westcoast Stone. Hän on tehnyt urallaan yhteistyötä muun muassa E-40:n, Black C:n, Dazzie Deen, Kokanen, Goldie Locin, Trick Trickin ja Redmanin kanssa.
- What’s up, Westcoast Stone? How are you today?
I’m well and blessed. Thankful for another day.
- Let’s start at the beginning. Where are you from and how was life growing up?
I’m from Los Angeles California. Life growing up as a kid was a struggle. One parent, which was my mother, in the home taking care of 3 kids, but we made it. She was a praying women.
- When did you first fall in love with music?
I fell in love with music when I was a baby. My mom used to say I got pots and pans trying to play drums with them, hahaha. I already had the ear I guess.
- What did you start doing first, producing or rapping?
i started picking up instruments first, then everything else came second.
- Who are some rappers/producers that have influenced your music throughout the years?
I always listened to old school music growing up. Old school rap like Eric B & Rakim, LL Cool J etc.
- What’s your writing method like?
I don’t write, I just get infront of the mic and go with what ever I’m feeling, then fix later. I never write on paper.
- What equipment did you use when you started making beats and what gear do you use now?
I first started making beats on Akai MPC60 and the ASR-10.
- What’s your recipe for making a great beat?
The bassline and drums have to bang!
- What inspired the creation of your most recent album ‘These Daze In Time’? It has some R&B and soul vibes with a gangsta flavor!
Me and Dah Dah (Snoop Dogg’s camera man) went in on the album. He did alot of writing on the album. I did some writing on the album also. We put it together and made it happen!
- What can you tell us about your upcoming album ‘Popping Muzik 2’?
My up coming new album ‘Popping Muzik’ is all about dancing and bringing the real essence of music back, and originality.
- What’s the message you’re trying to get across with this album?
We must keep the funk alive!
- How did you, Trick Trick and Redman end up collaborating on “Who Got It’?
My boy Trick Trick hit me up and said: “Man, I need a record with you and Redman”, so I produced the beat and sung the hook, after that I sent it over to Trick Trick. He loved it. Then Redman heard it and killed it!
- Who would you like to work with that you haven’t worked with?
Bruno Mars, we’re on the same planet so to speak.
- What does success look like for you in today’s music scene?
It’s about what you’re putting out. Positive energy in the music is a success everytime.
- What are some of the biggest changes you’ve noticed within yourself and the industry from the time you started up until now?
Well now you can be more independent, more free and do what you feel and put it out yourself. Social media has open the door to meet people, back then that wasn’t an option.
- Besides music are you interested in any other forms of art?
Just the art of music. I live and breathe this.
- What are some of your goals for the future?
My goal is to introduce the world to my music, so the work I’ve put in will live forever and ever.
- Any final words to our readers?
Go check out all my music! I have alot of different styles of music on all digital platforms worldwide. Also go download you a copy of the ‘Popping Muzik’ album which is dropping 2-20-2023!
Westcoast Stone:
https://www.instagram.com/westcoaststone/
https://officialwestcoaststone.com/
Haastattelu: J-P / Fileerausveitsi
