Wiz Khalifa's Deal or No Deal was released on November 24th and reached the top of the iTunes store hip hop chart. It also landed in the top ten in iTunes in the overall charts for its opening week. The way he could do this without being on 106 & Park weekly and having his own reality show baffles me as much it did you as you read it. Don't lie to me. It baffled you. But the reason why he is in his position is called grind, commitment, dedication, devotion. There was also a few people that helped him along the way and I had the pleasure to speak to one of them and formulate an interview. Click read more to read an exclusive interview from E. Dan as we talked about producing, Wiz Khalifa, home improvement and the Steelers. Yeah, we touched all bases.


1. What is your favorite track you produced so far in your career?

It is hard to say really. I tend to always love the last thing I did the most, so I wanna say 'This Plane' off of 'Deal Or No Deal'. But definitely all the stuff I've done with Wiz, discovering him, producing and mixing his albums, has been the highlight of my career thus far.

2. Are you happy with what you have accomplished in your career so far or do you think you should be farther in your career?

I love where I'm at as long as I continue to make a living. For sure I'd like to get a Grammy or two, or even just be involved with a huge song, but I do well for my relatively unknown status in the game and I'm blessed to be able to make music for a living.

3. How did you pick up the art of producing? Did you go to school for it or did you have a mentor to help you along the way?

I never went to school for music. I didn't really have any significant mentors either. There has been alot of people that I've learned from, but no one person in particular really showed me the ropes or anything. I believe you can learn things about your craft from anybody if your careful to pay attention. I try to pick up things from everyone around me and by listening to music I like and enjoy. I read alot too. Books, manuals, audio forums, all that.


4. That's amazing that you didn't have any mentor or schooling on producing. So how long did it take before you produce a sufficient beat that you were proud of?

I was started producing when I was about 19-20. I think it took me a good few years before I had a real handle on it. But I'm always refining my workflow and technique so it's a constant learning process for me and I feel like I get better with every track I make and song I mix.

5. How does a typical day go for you?

My typical day starts with getting my 2 kids up and eating breakfast. I make my way to the studio around 10a or so. Handle phone calls, emails, etc. Then I sit down and get to work on whatever is on my plate. Usually a mix for somebody or a track I'm working on. Take off for the crib around 7p or so and hang out with my kids a bit before I put them to bed. Then its a little more work on my laptop, sum TV and off to the sack.

6. Do you think Fruity Loops, the online production tool, has more than likely help or hurt the music industry?



6. I think technology in general is what has really changed the game. When I came up, you didn't have the access to equipment and sounds the way you do now. There really wasn't any useable software for music so you had to save your pennies and buy an ASR-10, an MPC, or an SP-1200. At least one turntable, a mixer, sum speakers, etc. Now you can just download some cracked software, a million drum kits and go to town. But I think its great really. There is alot of talented people out there without the funds to own a full fledged production rig. For a few hundred bucks or less, they have pretty much the same capabilities any producer in the world has and we get to hear the great music they make. The downside of course, is there is just so much stuff out there, that as listeners, we tend to get a bit desensitized to whats actually good.



7. Do you ever offer suggestions to the artist you are working with such as "I got a tight line that would go right here" or do you leave that up to the artist?

I really try to work hand in hand with artists I'm directly involved with or who's music I genuinely enjoy. More often that not, that means making sure the focus and the vibe of the track are right, and occasionally if I know a line that will fit better or help them get their message across clearer, I'll certainly suggest it to them.

8. How did you link up the artist Wiz Khalifa?

Wiz came to ID Labs when he was 16, to do a mixtape with two of his homies from high school. After a session or two, I realized his level of charisma and overall delivery where just off the charts. I called him up one day and asked him if he wanted to work at the studio in exchange for me making an album with him free of charge. So we started working on songs together and ended up making the demo that eventually got him signed to Rostrom Records and the rest is history.


9. So you indulge in that green stuff called marijuana also? Don't worry the police don't read our blog.

9. I find it just slows me down these days. Maybe a few times a year when the vibe's right, I'll indulge.

10. What is the last item you brought to help you become a better producer?

Last thing I bought was FL Studio 9, lol. I'm running it on my MacBook Pro under Boot Camp (a program that lets you run Windows on a Mac). I got it so I could have a small but powerful setup that I could take with me anywhere. I buy plug-ins and software like there's no tomorrow though. I've bought, Pro Tools 8, Ableton Live 8, Motu BPM, and a few others all in the last 6 months. I'm a nerd like that. I like learning new ways to do what I do and different platforms to do it on. Keeps it fresh and interesting for me. I buy alot of outboard gear too. So far this year I've bought a Manley Reference Cardioid (great mic), an Avalon 747, and few other things. I'm a gear head in case you was wondering.

11. Who else have you worked with?

I've worked with tons of talented as yet unknown guys from around the country but as far as well known artist's, I've worked with Jazmine Sullivan, Sonny Cheeba from Camp Lo, Cheif Kamachi from the Jedi Mind Tricks, Lil' Scrappy, Project Pat, Gucci Mane, Sean Price, Rocko. Bunch of others I'm forgetting right now.


12. On another note, how are the Steelers going to turn out this year?

I don't know what's going on with the Steelers man. Too many injuries, special teams are suckin'. But we'll pull some kinda rabbit out our ass I hope!


13. So are you saying that the Steelers will be repeat Super Bowl champions?

Man....I don't know if its gonna happen this year, but I think we have a great team and a great coach. Just been too many injuries this year.


14. What do you like to do when you are not making music? Are you a gamer? A movie buff?


I like to spend time with my family when I'm not working. I get my Tim the Toolman on at home too. Always remodeling something or fixing something. I def like to stay busy.

15. You get your remodeling tips from HGTV from shows such as Design on a Dime and The Unsellables?

I ask people that know what they're doing and read stuff if I get stuck. Ain't much hard about alot of stuff. As long as you have the tools and the ability to learn the right way to do something and the motivation to get it done. Hardest thing I've done so far has been my bathroom, but I'm about to tackle this basement right after the holidays :-)

16. Do you have any final thoughts or anything else you want the cyber world to know?

Please check out www.idlabsbeats.com to hear all the tracks we've been working on lately. Maybe they'll inspire you! But for real, this game is all about maintaining relationships, having a great work ethic, and having a good sense for the aesthetics of what your trying to achieve musically.