24: The Diaz Brothers have
had a very instrumental hand in helping Pitbull’s rise to internationally known
superstar. What comes to mind when you look at how far he’s come to where he is
now?

I
fuckin’ love it man! That’s my little brother. It’s amazing to us, especially
to me and Lu. We talk about it all the time. When we see him on TV like on
George Lopez or Ellen, we’re like “wow! Look at this guy” because we
saw the vision a long time ago and to see it actually develop to where it’s at
now, this is why we do what we do. It’s not the money, I mean, the money is
nice but the main motivation is to see it become something. To me, I couldn’t
be prouder of Pitbull. That’s my little brother.

 

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

I’m
definitely both. For the people that don’t know, a producer doesn’t have to
make a beat. A producer makes records, in other words, let’s say you made a
beat and I produced the record with the artist; meaning I tell the artist “that
content isn’t right for the record” or “do it more like this”.
He might be coming too hard on it or too soft on it. That’s what production is.
Knowing the elements to put together a hit record. A beat maker just makes
beats. That is the difference but I am both.

 

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

The
majority of the time when I make beats, I usually get a drum pattern going
first. Like, I’ll walk around humming tunes all day if it’s in my head then
I’ll be like “I already got the beat” and they’ll ask me “what
are you going to do?” and I’ll be like “don’t worry about it” so
I may lay down the music first and do some bullshit drums but normally I do
start with drums. I’m very particular about picking my drum sound. Even if I
don’t hear nothing in my head, I’ll kick some drums around then all of a
sudden, the vibe starts so yea I do start with drums first.

 

24: What producer in the
game at the moment that when you hear a beat they did, makes you want to step
up your production?

Timbaland
first of all, Dr. Dre of course, The Runners, Nasty Beatmakers, that pretty
much covers it (laughs).

 

24: Who are some other
artists you would like to work with that you haven’t in the past?

Ludacris
of course, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Lil Boosie, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Game.
Everybody really (laughs).

 

24: What are some records
out now that you wish you would’ve been a part of or had a hand in creating?

Not
really man. I’m a fan too so it’s not when something comes out I’m like “damn,
I should’ve been a part of that”. I’m a fan first so I enjoy when someone
drops a hot ass record. It makes me work harder but as far as me wanting to be
a part of something I wasn’t a part of, fuck that. I’m definitely a fan of
hip-hop and music itself. I don’t even approach it like that.

 

24: Is there any possible plans
of starting a label later on in the future and groom more artist or do you just
want to keep focusing on production?

See
the thing is, me and Lu [The Diaz Bros] we started a label just to sign Pitbull
because I was producing and he was engineering and we’re brothers in the same
industry. For us to sign Pit, we couldn’t sign him as an artist unless we
started a label so we started Diaz Bros Records. So then we signed Pitbull, and
you already know what happened with Pit so that’s how we started our label.
Then we ended up signing Casely, the R&B singer. Then I ended up starting
my own label and my brother started his own label outside of Diaz Bros Records
but we still have the Diaz Bros thing. Now I have Huge Music with my new crew
and my brother has his label with his team. I’ll always have a label because
I’m very into developing artists. I like to see an artist come from nothing and
make something. To me, I’m so creative, I can’t just make beats. I’m not
satisfied with just that. I guess I’m a control freak in a weird way (laughs).
I just like to have my hands in everything.

 

24: Who are some upcoming
artists out of the Miami area you feel have potential to blow?

Dirty
Redd first of all, Broward County general, that’s my dawg. Murph definitely.
He’s got a nice flow. There’s a couple cats out there. It’s hard to think of
everyone of the top of the head but those are my main dudes right there that I
really believe in.

 

24: Is there any other latin
artist that you feel have potential to go mainstream like Pitbull?

I
don’t know man, that’s a tough question. People always assume that me and Lu
are going to do another Pitbull but I’m like “naw, it’s already been done”.
To be honest, I really don’t listen to latin artists, not because I block it
out but because I’m so involved in the American market so I really wouldn’t be
able to give you a name because I really don’t know what’s going on in the
latin market (laughs).

 

24: What are some up-and-coming
moves you’re making in the near future that everyone should look out for?

I
can’t tell you that man! (laughs) Next question!

 

24: How can fans go about
getting in contact wih you?

www.twitter.com/hugodiazbros or www.myspace.com/diazbrother2

 

24: Do you have any last
words?

I
just want to let everybody know that I appreciate the fact that they enjoy what
I do. It’s funny because I never made a conscious decision to do what I do for
a living. I just one day wound up in a studio and turned around and I was
already three albums deep so I was like “I guess I’m a producer”. I
never made a conscious decision to be a producer or run a label so I just
appreciate everybody’s love because it keeps me alive and in the future, I
promise to keep doing the best I can. I got a lot of new shit coming out. It’s
been a long road, like 25+ years in the game so now I think I’m really ready to
flex my wings in a major way. I got a lot of big things coming, I’m not going to
say what but stay tuned man. Huge Music is coming hard this year!