First and foremost, it’s a privilege to be interviewed by a fellow beat maker, content creator. This is dope. So who am I? Well I go by Derek in my day to day, but if you watch my youtube channel (old content) You would know me as D-Recka! But Dude, I’m just a simple guy, who started making music in the late 90’s. I’m from all over..Pops was in the military so we traveled a lot. But I finished my high school years in San Antonio Texas, so I claim Texas as my home. Shortly after I graduated, I to decided to join the Air Force. I’m currently the Superintendent of Aircrew Flight Equipment at Hill Force Base.
2.Now D-RecKa, that's an Ill name,. Kinda is reminiscent of terminator x in a small sense. What is the science behind the name? Where did it come from? What's the meaning behind it?
D-Recka is a play off my actual name Derek. Back in the day (waaay back) I used to rap. In one of my early songs, I had a line that sort of went like “Its ya boy D-Rek, I’m a mic wrecka”…some friends heard the line and started calling me D-Recka, then it stuck. Now I (humbly of course) wreck these beats.
3.What is your local music scene like and does the local scene affect what and how you create?
So I travel a lot, which it has its benefits. The local scene changes for me every few years. I started rapping when I was living in Maryland, so by default I catered to the east coast lyrical miracle flow and beats. Then I moved to Texas and completely fell in love with Chop and Screw (Swisha House). I stopped rapping and started making beats. So my foundation is boom bap but I feel most comfortable making organic south type beats.
4.Who are some of your influences and what jewelz did you learn from them? And how did you apply them into your own signature sound?
When it comes to influences man I have a few. Timbaland is the GOAT for me. He had a sound/bounce that none of us heard before. I think the biggest jewel or gem I picked up from him was, try everything, do you and operate outside the box and build a hefty sound library. I know Tim pulls sounds from all over the world. So I try to use that approach when creating. No sound, region, genre is off the table for me. Next would be The Alchemist and 9th Wonder. These two are walking examples of what happens when you actually take time to master the tools that are in front of you. For the longest, I always wanted to have the top-notch equipment. Therefore I delayed my entry into making beats until I had enough funds to cop the Roland MV-8800 (which I used in my very first youtube video). I learned very quick that you can have the most expensive gear/setup and still produce some GARBAGE. Practice and master what you have. I think 9th was making some slaps only using Fruity Loops. So when it comes to my sound, I don’t think I have one. I really don’t want one, I just want to make music based off raw feelings and fun.
5.What is your stance on the digital audio workstation vs analogue hardware
production equipment debate?
I love hardware. Something about twisting the knobs and pressing pads sort of certifies the beat making process for me. I used to think having hardware also shows everyone else that you’re invested/serious about your craft, you’re not a tourist. But with time comes change and accessibility and convenience. These days you can throw a rock and hit someone who makes beats using a laptop and few VST’s. To be honest, majority of their beats actually slap. Personally, I feel like you lose the creativity piece when working exclusively with DAW’s. With the abundance of beat packs, expansions that’s on the market and for 9.99 a novice “beatmaker” can sound like Pharell Williams, Timbaland, Marco Polo, Zay Toven in minutes.
6.What is your stance on the physical crate digging vs e-digging debate? And which do you prefer most?
Man this is tough, because I have recently begun building my e-library. I currently have 957 vinyl records, out of that…Maybe 200ish actually got some dope samples on them. So there’s definitely a benefit to e-digging. If you know what you’re looking for, you can easily search online, set up your audio interface and sample until you pass out, all while drinking coffee in a holey wife-beater and flip flops. (I meant muscle shirt, hopefully I don’t get cancelled).
7.What is your earliest recollection of hearing music and how did it make you feel?
Bruh! I remember driving with my Dad and he had a box of cassette tapes, he would ask me to hand the box over. While at a stop light he would dig through the box of tapes and I would PRAY….like hands folded looking up, whispering to God …that he didn’t pull this one tape. My prayer would go unanswered. In his hand was a clear cassette tape with white letters…Al Green. Dude I hated Al Green with a passion! I mean he passed up Bel Biv Devoe, MC Hammer, Salt and Pepper for Love and Happiness? As soon as the infamous rift would play to love and happiness, I immediately hated everything about that car ride. Around 12-13yrs of age, I realized Mr Green was not for the play play, dude is cemented in my top 10.
8. Not to show age, but how long have you been producing? When did you start producing?
My first beat I ever made/recorded was in 1996 with a ping pong ball and me beat boxing for about 5 minutes straight. I had a boombox that had fixed mic on it. So I would press record and beat box for about 5 minutes, then…this is sad…but to mimic a hit hat, I would bounce the ping pong in front of the mic for another 5 minutes. Then a bootleg copy of Fruity Loops fell into my lap around 04-05 shortly after another bootleg copy fell into my lap, it was program called Reason. That’s when I realized I had a true passion to create music.
9. What does your lab set up consist of? And how has it changed over the years? Not to give away any sector 7 secrets though.
Currently I have a pair of KRK 6 inch, a pair of KRK 8inch G4’s, midi controller, focusrite audio interface, MV-8800, M-Box Pro 2 and a MPC-X, USB Turntable and Reason 12 (mainly as a sound module). My setup hasn’t really changed over the years I had Yamaha DJX back in the day along with a Roland BR-1600 (when I considered myself a rapper).
10.What is your production process like in da lab? I produce as well but still enjoy watching or hearing about the creation process of other producers and artists?
Depends what I’m doing. Let’s assume I’m in a boom bap mood. First I’m crate digging, I’ll normally pull about 3-5 records. Then I’ll listen to the beginning, middle and end of each song. I can normally play each section for about 3-5 seconds to make a decision (to sample or not to sample, that is the question). While crate digging, I’ll have MPC playing a generic 4 bar drum loop playing in the background to assist with selecting a song to sample.
11.What was the situation, that you realized you had a talent for music?
When I was rapping, I would make my own beats. Then I would upload them to certain websites like acidplanet, soundcloud, myspace etc…folks would be like “who makes your beats?”…not the reaction I was looking for at that time…lol. I was waiting for comments like “dude that 16 goes hard” or “you the next Jay Z”…Nope just inquiries on who made the beats and what software/equipment do I use.
12. When did you decide that you wanted to pursue music?
When local artist started requesting I make beats for them, after hearing some of my old music.
13. If you were locked in the studio for 3 weeks, to complete a project with an artist, Who would that artist be?
Jay Electronica, School Boy Q, Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown.
14.What are some jewelz you learned along your journey in music , that you would pass along to aspiring producers and artists?
Finish your beats! Or at least structure them out (intro, hook, verse). Some beats are not for everybody, and somebody will hate your music. Don’t let the sway your drive. Seek feedback whether good or bad. Your worse beat is the one that you don’t post/upload to your streaming platform. So post everything.
15.What we're some of you best moments or accolades...that you said to yourself..I can do really do this music thing?
When I heard a local Texas rapper rap on my beat and DESTROYED it. I had a few mixtape placements throughout the years, again just local artist. I would say my youtube traffic and analytics gave me a huge boost in confidence. Til this day I still have folks hitting me up, asking when will I drop another beat video. Jay Electronica actually liked a few of my beats on Instagram which was cool, hopefully they were intentional, if not I’m still claiming a Jay Elec nod. lol
16.Do you having any routines ..was gonna rituals...far as certain things you do in order to prepare your self to create? Like 9th wonder takes of his left shoe and walks around and his roster can tell that means he's ready to work.
Coffee puts me in the that creative vibe, and I dim the lights, for some reason I feel more locked in when the lights are dim. Besides that, I try to stick to my policy/challenge of 1 beat a day. At minimum I try to press a pad or twist a Q-link at least one time a day.
17. Do you have any special shout outs or special thanks? Feel free to do so here.
First and Foremost, shout out and a special thank you to you, Nate OG Detroit! Awesome platform! Shout to all the beat creators on IG and Youtube. Special shout out my wife and kids, and sorry for shaking the house.
18.Do you have any current projects available and where may we find them to support?
Not at the moment. I’m really trying to master the art of sound design to include drum design. Once I get better at EQ’ing, mastering my projects, I’ll drop a beat tape.
19. Do you have any projects in the works or future projects that you are working on? And which ones are you looking forward to most?
Nope, I’m part of a few producer groups, we are just building relationships at the moment. We shared a few samples, and kits with each other but that’s it. I just finished a telephone interview with another blogger, I wonder if this is a sign.
