In 2007 Boy Better Know's JME started up a small competition, offering up-and-coming producers the chance to remix one of his tunes with the winner gaining opportunity to appear on his Tropical EP the following month.

A young J Beatz entered the competition with ambition, and despite only reaching runner-up status, the 18-year-old producer from North London went on to bigger and better things.

Following on from a onslaught of free promo and digital releases, J Beatz has worked with the likes of Big H, Devlin, Revolver, Syer Barz and many more in just a few years.

Formerly of the Behave Yourself movement, he's got plenty of releases lined-up for the year including vinyl on the well established label No Hats No Hoods. Here's what he had to say...

You've had one digital release and an array of free downloads, what's in store next?
I've got the Broken Amp EP coming out on Earth 616, I've got a currently untitled EP coming out on No Hats No Hoods and there's some big collabs to look out for in the future as well.

You've been doing this for a while now, how would you describe the transition from being noticed in remix competitions to working with the scene's top rated?
A long journey but well worth it, it was bound to happen. It's all about progression over the years, consistent networking and building links.

Grime artists are opening up and embracing other genres allowing new sounds to amalgamate together, do these sort of hybrids appeal to you as a producer?
Yeah, you know what, I do that unconsciously when I make beats. I gather influences from different music, you'll hear influences from funky, dubstep, garage and reggae in my beats and I fuse them with grime. You lot will see what I mean when my EPs are out!

The Crown Jules EP contained some heavy beats that were mainly percussion based, but on the other hand you've put out beats that are straight funky. What's the basis of a good J Beatz beat?
A lot has changed since The Crown Jules EP, nowadays I start with my drums and get the vibe going, then add some percussion to get the beat moving and try lay a bassline down, then think of ideas for melodies to put in the beat.

During the process do you often try and think what one certain MC would sound like on it, or do you ever base an entire beat around someone's flow?
A bit of both, I listen to the beat for a while and try to think who would suit the beat the most. I even spit some of their bars to see if their style would compliment the style as well.

You've made quite a name for yourself on the back of various remixes, is that an aspect of producing you prefer? Or are you more a fan of the originality factor?
I prefer making an original beat nowadays, I find remixes long unless I have an idea for it to start with. I was actually asked to do a remix of Terror Danjah's Air Bubble but after many failed attempts I quit. Making original beats is quicker as well.

Grime has so many different people involved from MCs to DJs to promoters and the like. To what significance is the role of a producer? It's more than just giving someone an instrumental, right?
The producer is right at the top of the hierarchy 'cos the MCs spit on the grime beats and DJs play the finished result. Without producers grime music would be non-existent really!

You've said previously you take inspiration from the likes of Rapid, Maniac, Nocturnal and more, would it be a fair to say you're on the same levels as some of them now?
No way! They've been producing for much longer than me and I've only been producing for four years and I've got so much more in me and for me to say I'm on the same level as them would be lying to be honest.

When can we expect the EPs to hit stores/digital outlets?
Hopefully within the next month or two...


For more information on J Beatz check out www.facebook.com/Jbeatzproducer, www.twitter.com/jbeatzproducer or listen to material on www.youtube.com/jbeatzmusic.

 

J Beatz has thrown in a free instrumental for you to download, it's entitled Petrol Bomb and is insane, to say the least.

J Beatz Petrol Bomb by knowledge

 

 

• J Beatz

Related Links:

• Review: J Beatz - 1 Dutty EP
• Central Beatz DJ Competition
• New Once Upon A Grime Merchandise
• New Release From Smashed Beatz
• Jay Kast's Grime Wayz

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