Major Producers
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 08:38 Last Updated on Friday, 18 December 2009 16:09
*Singer/songwriter/producer Angela Hunte tells Billboard she is still in shock over the success of "Empire State of Mind," the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys track she wrote and produced with writing partner Jane't "Jnay" Swewll-Ulepic about her Brooklyn hometown.
"I come from the same building where he [Jay-Z] lived, and we knew each other from Brooklyn, but we never worked together. Not in a million years did I think I'd make this hit for him," says Hunte, who actually grew up at "560 State Street," the street address Jay-Z mentions on the track. "I still have no words even for the World Series performance. You get your hopes up with artists but then things happen and the record doesn't make it for whatever reason. But Jay loved the song, it made the album and it sounds crazy."
Monday, 14 December 2009 17:31 Last Updated on Friday, 18 December 2009 16:09
First emerging and becoming heavily submerged into the music scene back around 1996, Timbaland has been known as the go-to guy when it came to having a producer on an album.
His track record speaks for itself as he has worked with artists such as Lil Kim, Jay-Z, the L.O.X., LL Cool and Xzibit, along with staying loyal to his own click with Missy Elliot and introducing the world to Bubba Sparxx.
Now feeling that the generation he came from has now left, Timbo has decided to pack his bags as well and leave Hip Hop in the past.
His past release, Shock Value I and the newly released sequel has shown him working extensively with acts outside of the rap regime and enlisting the help of Katy Perry, Daughtry and even Miley Cyrus to create a pulse for his beats.
While with MTV, the producer spoke on making the transition and how he realized that the consumer isn't really looking out for Hip Hop music anymore or willing to actually go out and make a purchase.