Raw Roots - Rap News, Interviews & Reviews

Vee Nyce

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Written by Stu

First up let everybody know who you are and where you’re representin'
Yo, wassup, this is Vee Nyce representin Yonkers, New York, but currently I reside in Florida. I made the move for a less hectic scene, and a change in scenery. I lived in New York for 17 years, and then moved to Florida 3 years ago.

You got into music at an early age, can you tell us how you started?
Yeah,no doubt. I started playing piano when I was like 5 years old, my moms used to always push me to play, and to go to private lessons. Like any other little kid, I had rather be playing outside and shit. And growing up playing piano, I pretty much was forced to like music. But as far back as I could remember, I was always listening to something on the radio, or watching music videos. While playing the piano, I was in recitals and shit all the time, winning contests and things of that nature, but still, it was still kinda like corny to me. I think I was over my cousin’s house when I first heard like a real sampled track that I like fell in love, it was ummm Junior M.A.F.I.A- Get Money.

Before making the move into production you DJ'd, how did this go for you and what was the feedback like from locals?
Yeah, like most producers DJing was like my first true love, my first ever contribution to this game, period. I used to DJ all the local high school parties, and school functions with a friend of mine. The local people loved every minute of it, we were in demand at the time, we were both different kinds of dj’s into different kinds of hip hop, so it was like the best of both worlds. Being able to rock the party, control peoples vibes and all that just by the change of needle was crazzzzzzzyy to me. But except at that time, vinyl was on its way out, and CD was on its way in. We used to use two Gemini CD-J 1800x, and I still have one. I loved DJing, I still wish I could do it, but it’s a very expensive hobby, and music production really became my main focus.

Moving from that! How did you make the transition to production?
Well basically, DJing was just a side thing, and packing and unpacking every night was a hassle and a half. And in like 2003 I moved to Florida, and that’s where I met a kid from Hackensack, New Jersey. I played on the bball team, and so did he. He made beats with software bought from Target. (I know, Target) But anyways, the beats were better than anything I have ever heard from anyone. Of course, he sampled all his beats, but he could do way more. I asked him to teach me how to use the program, he did. I still use the program till this day. (Different version though)

What was the major factor in you wanting to produce?
Ummmm, I was always into new things, I always wanted to try something new. When I met the dude from Jersey, I didn’t even want to know how to make beats. I saw what he did, the songs he created, and I was like, I need to know how to do this.

What and when was the first track you produced and how have you matured as a producer since this?
Hahahaa. With the software I had at the time, the first beat I ever produced was actually a techno beat. I used all the default functions within the software, used all the synthesizers, all the vocal fx in the world, and just piled them into a 120 BPM track. Yeaaaah, it was a disaster. All my first couple of beats was original compilations. I didn’t start sampling till like a month after I was taught to use the software. The first song I ever sampled was Creative Source - I'd Find You Anywhere. That was a success though!

You grew up in Yonkers what was the scene like there for Hip Hop?
Growing up in Yonkers was perfect for hip-hop. Even though we aren’t really a borough, that only made us strive harder to get our own image. Like right around the late 90s, DMX and the Ruff Ryders took over hip-hop hands down, and they came from right there in my own backyard! It was a beautiful thing. Mary J. Blige is from Yonkers too, and she was out before them, but she wasn’t really screaming Y.O. like the Ruff Ryders was.

Did you get involved with any artists on the Yonkers scene?
Yeah, I initially starting making beats for a classmate I grew up with. I’m the reason he got what little buzz he ever got, and now he’s done, I don’t mess with him no more. God bless him though, I wish him much success in his career, and its always bout gettin’ money, haha. And besides that I linked up with a couple artists through my older brother, but nothing really came of it. They wanted free beats, and that’s a language I don’t speak. Hahaha.

You later moved onto Miami, was this a major culture change for you, or more of the same?
Nah b, I didn’t move to Miami. I moved to Central Florida, like 1 hour north of Orlando. Florida in itself was a culture shock to me. Of course the pace is much slower, but that’s what I already expected. The people are completely different, the chicks, the weather, EVERYTHING!
(EDITORS NOTE:: I have no idea why Miami popped in to my head)

Has moving to Miami benefited you in making more connections within the industry?
Yeah, in the 3 years I been in Florida, I just been to Miami for the first time like a month ago. Haha. Miami is like a 4 hour drive from me, and it was more of a New York vibe for me. The weather is crazy, the fashion is crazy, and the opportunity is definitely there. Even though I’m in Florida, most of my music connections are either in New York, or California. I don’t really make too much “crunk” music, so I haven’t really linked with too many artists out here.

What inspires you as a producer?
Music, Music and Music!!! I just love the sounds, the bass, the snares, the kicks, and hats, all of it. If it has to do with the composition of music, I’m inspired. I listen to everything from reggae, to rock, so that’s why most of my music isn’t really constrained to one certain kind of genre; it could be labeled as whatever you want it be!

How would you describe your sound / style?
I don’t really like to compare, or label my style, nor anyone else’s style. I do me, let’s say that. Ummmm take a dash of 70s soul, a pinch of mid 90s hip-hop, a squeeze of early 80s pop/rock, and then you can have my style!! Of course every track I start to make is inspired by another beat. My style is my style, it cannot be duplicated, haha, I can’t even make some of the beats I’ve made before, over again.

Away from music for a second, you seem to be a big fan of Sneakers, where did this stem from, how many do you own and whats your favourite pair of all time?
Big sneaker fan? Nahhhh b, HUGEEEEEEEEEEE sneaker fan! Haha. Yeah, I’ve always loved sneakers, but before I could buy them for myself, I used to only get 1 pair per year from my moms. Yeah, so like around 2001, in 9th grade, I met a kid from Harlem, he was huge into Jordans, he showed me the ropes. We started a website, selling sneakers, and it was like the 3rd most visited sneaker site in 2001, but that’s a whole different story. Up until 2004, I owned about roughly 100 pairs. Most of the sneakers were made up of Jordans. As soon as this new fake Jordan movement came in, I sold all of mine, which reduced my current collection to about like 45 pairs. Still though, my all time favorite pair of sneakers are the Cool Grey Jordan XI.

Back to your production, who would you name as influences in what you do?
My parents and myself. My mother is a hustler, she’s always had 2 or 3 jobs, and my dad has always had multiple jobs, they were always hustling. And I always push myself so that I can one day provide for them, so that they can never work again.

Who are your top 5 producers and artists of all time?
In no particular order, Green Lantern, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and The Alchemist.

You have your own label Bugged Out Entertainment, how did it start and who is involved with that?
I started the label when I started producing; it was just something to do. Its nothing serious at all, it’s just a name I copyrighted and registered. I am open to any new artists who want to be apart of it, but I am currently working on getting myself in a better position in the music industry.

What are your current plans production wise, are you working on anything currently and what does the future hold?
Currently, I am working on A LOT of things. I am working with a lot of different artists, different styles, and different backgrounds. I am working on making a compilation mash up album of many of my favorite 80s and 90s pop/rock songs with some music from today. A lot of my music is still featured on a couple mainstream mixtapes here and there, but I want more, I’m trying to do bigger things than that; but you gotta crawl before you walk right? Ultimately I just want to be able to do production as a career, and help put artists all over in the places they need to be.

What equipment do you use to make your beats? Right now, I really don’t even have that hardware! I use Magix Music Maker, and an Ensoniq ASR-10 88-key. I currently stopped manually digging for samples, and stepped it up to internet sample digging, you just gotta know where to look, or know what youre looking for! It’s not about how many tools you have, but about how you use the tools you have.

Is there any advice you would give to any bedroom producers who may be reading this interview?
Yeah, everyone starts somewhere. If you feel comfortable doing what you do, don’t step out your comfort zone for ANYONE. If you make beats on Fruity Loops, and use computer speakers to check your levels, and sounds, then so be it. If what you make is hot, why change? I myself don’t use the most expensive things, but I’ve learned to use items that I have become very comfortable with. I don’t think I could go up to Baseline and even make a decent beat. Haha.

Is there anything you want to add, anyone you want to shout out?
Be sure to visit myspace.com/buggedoutentertainment, add me, check the music. Shout out to The Black Diamond Exchange, Black Diamond Radio coming soon. That’s all and that’s it, and good looks for this interview Stu. And always remember, QUIT WORK! MAKE BEATS, its ANOTHER VEE NYCE BANGER!!!

Thanks for taking the time out with rawroots

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