With Nicki Minaj highly anticipated debut album “Pink Friday” landing at #2 on Billboards Top 200 Albums and moving more than 361,049 units in it’s first week powered by her two hit singles “Your Love” and “Right Thru Me“, Nicki is definitely music’s next big star. But being the music lover I am I wanted to go “Behind The Music” and actually sit down with the producer of Nicki‘s breakthrough single “Right Thru Me“, Drew Money. Managed by a mutual friend of mine Spliff of Spliffington Management I was able to set up this exclusive interview for the faithful 24HourHipHop.com readers with Drew Money to talk about everything from his production style, musical influences, up coming projects and of course how he linked up with Nicki Minaj and created “Right Thru Me“, enjoy!

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

Drew Money: I’m a more of a behind the scenes type of person. I’m not really out for fame or anything I just really want to make great music that people will enjoy. 

24: How would you describe your sound and production style? 

Drew Money: My sound is really a fusion of different genre’s. I listen to all types of music, from The Beatles to Dragonforce, so I like to use those elements in my own production. I like to take 808’s from Rap, guitars from Rock, synthesizers from Pop, and combine them all into one. I also write most of my songs in a major key which gives it a happier, royal feeling.

24: You recently produced the incredible Nicki Minaj single “Right Thru Me” off of her debut album “Pink Friday“so tell me how did that record come about and did you have Nicki in mind when you first made the beat?

Drew Money: I knew she was looking for music and I just sat down one day at Lake Oasis Studios and decided to make something specifically for her. I knew it would be hard for the average rapper to rap over the beat because it is in 3/4 time signature, but I also knew that would make it stand out if she really killed it. When I found out she wrote it as a love song to me I was kind of blown away(lol)just kidding.

24: Did you ever think that “Right Thru Me” would take off the way it did and become so huge?

Drew Money: Well, Nicki is a huge artist and she really put a lot of emotion into that song so I guess people really connected with it. Not everyone can relate to money, cars, or stuff like that, but everyone knows one person who can read them like a book, or see through their bullshit.

24: Outside of working with Nicki Minaj who are some of the other artists in the industry you have worked with so far in your career?

Drew Money: I have worked with artist such as Lil Wayne, Jay-Z,  The Game, E-40, Cam’Ron, Juelz Santana and Jim Jones to name a few.

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

Drew Money: Unless I have a specific drum beat in mind, I like to start with the melody or the chords first because they can dictate which way the drums go.

24: As far as producers goes who inspires you and makes you want to take your production to another level?

Drew Money: I like big time producers who bring the most out of the artist like Bob Rock, Mutt Lange, and Rick Rubin just to name a few.

24: With 2011 almost here tell me about some of the upcoming projects your working on right now that everyone should be on the look out for?

Drew Money: Cash Money/Young Money, The Game, Sean Kingston, Willow Smith, Missy Elliott, E-40, Too Short, Busta Rhymes, Red Cafe and a few others.

24: What’s the best way for the readers to keep up to date with everything your doing?

Drew Money:  www.twitter.com/ItsDrewMoney.

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