24: What made you want to produce compared to being an artist or singer, manager, etc?

Neenyo:  “I got it with the snip of the umbilical cord” to quote Charles Hamilton, but maybe I shouldn’t be quoting Charles Hamilton(lol). My brother was a DJ so I was messing around his 1200’s from an early age and digging through vinyl.  But the Casio Rapman was the first piece of “equipment” that I got my hands on and the first beat I learned to remake was Tupac “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” back in 1996.

24: Describe your production style?

Neenyo: My main concern when making a song is that I enjoy the process of creating it, because that energy carries over to the artist as well as the listener.  An I like to think you can identify one of my songs by it’s feeling, like if you listen to an Underdogz record there almost on that Quincy Jones shit, to the point where you know it’s them because of the quality of the song it can only be them.

24: Do you consider yourself a producer or a beat maker and explain why for your answer?

Neenyo:  I haven’t had the liberty to only be a beat maker. As soon as I got serious about my production career, I began working at a studio. Being able to create music with artists right in front of you, then jump into the booth and start recording really forced me to learn the importance of what a producer does. From there the next step was learning bit by bit about songwriting, which is an ongoing learning experience as well.

24: Go through your resume a little and let the readers know who you have worked with so far and who are some of the artist you would love to work with in the future?

Neenyo: What really started things off was when I produced Lloyd Bank’s “Gang Green Season” and “I’m Reloaded” for the Diplomats and a slew of mixtape releases which really helped me network within the music industry.  I later went on to produce for Jadakiss recent album The Last Kiss which debuted #1 on Billboard and is now certified gold. It’s a blessing, especially  for a rap album these days. Right now I’m focusing on working with rappers I listen too and inspire me as well. For example artist such as  Jadakiss, The Lox, Lupe, Drake, and Mickey Factz to name a few I’ve been recording with.  I’d love to get in the studio with Timbaland, Timberlake and James Fauntleroy for a week and just make music!  I’m making steps to make this happen.

24: How do you approach making a record, do you start with the drums first or a kick, melody, etc?

Neenyo:  It’s just about getting out all these beats in my head i think of throughout the day down so I don’t have to remember them(lol).  I already know what it’s going to sound like before I start, but I usually lay down the melody over a skeleton of the drums.

24: How is the industry treating you as far as being an up and coming producer trying to get into the game?

Neenyo:  The thing you got to realize that with every project,  I’m competing with some of the greatest minds in music. So if I’m working for a spot on a project that Timbaland is already on. I’ve learned that not only my music, but business has to be on part. To get there you got to study your influences and who influenced them to get to where they are now.

24: What producer or production team in the game at the moment makes you say damn! When you hear a beat they did and make you want to step up your production?

Neenyo:  Timbaland is amazing! He has an amazing amount of pressure to blow your mind with something you’ve never heard before. An the fact that he’s been able to do that for this long still amazes me. Outside of production, songwriter James Fauntleroy and Claude Kelly are making incredible music.  

24: Do you have any plans of starting a label later on and have artist or do you just want to keep focusing on being the best producer possible?

Neenyo: I love being a musician because it’s a never ending learning process. I’m always looking for artists, but they have to inspire me. I won’t have an rapper I don’t feel can’t hold their own on a track with Jay-Z or a singer that couldn’t compete with an artist like Rihanna.

24: What’s some up and coming moves your trying to make in the near future that everyone should look out for?

Neenyo: I’m really excited about the current state of music. The southern ringtone songs are getting annoying, the east coast doesn’t have a sound right now. So it’s forcing people to look for something new which is opening doors. I’m currently producing and writing for a number of top artists. I don’t want to let the cat out the bag but let’s just, stay tune for some exciting new records coming.

24: How can someone get in contact with you about some business or check out your production/songwriting?

Neenyo: I’m always looking for new sounds, artists, songwriters and producers to work with as you never know where inspiration may come. They can also follow my on Twitter at www.twitter.com/neenyo.