Louis Den Beat Cypher 03 Spotlight - Jon Phonics

In the run up to the beat cypher I figure it'd be cool to get you guys hip to the producers we are going to showcase; you may not be plugged into the production world so this will serve as an attempt to get you better aquainted with the line up and let you hear some treats from the guys we've got on the bill.

So over the next few days I'll be droppin a Producer Spotlight blog with some short interview questions and a free download to hold you down till Thursday 12th!, kicking it off we've got West Londons finest, JON PHONICS.

Louis Den BeatCypher 03 Spotlight "Jon Phonics"

Hey!!, please introduce yourself to everybody; let us know who you are what you do and how long you've been doing it!.
Hello, I'm Jon Phonics aka Ill Smith, fresh sniff of the girls wear or you get shift so beware. I make beats with samples, drums, synths, and the occasional traditional instrument. Ive been doing it about four years, and im just starting to get good thanks to louis den school for gifted beat geeks.

Was there a defining moment (event / hearing a record etc) that led you into making beats / becoming a producer?.
I began seriously getting into production when i saw a track from my first beat cd materialize into the track 'Rep Dat' by Mr Drastick & Doc Brown, Sarah Love was playing it and they made a video which was on the telly (dap c) so i thought 'you know what, let me try this thing properly...'and bought an MPC2000xl.

What was your first piece of equipment and what were those beats like?, any interesting stories about things were doing to begin with / finding your feet?
Before the 2000XL i used Reason, my reason beats sounded like a mix between mobb deep and nightmares on wax (in the worst possible way). When i got the 2000xl, everything started to make a bit more sense, but the beats still jus sounded like a poor man's havoc. I just used to 16 level everything.

Whats the one bit of advice youd give to anyone starting out today?
Man I don't know im still starting out myself...haha.

What can heads expect from you at LOUIS DEN BEAT CYPHER?
Some ol grimey london shit, brown frequency bass, lol. Just some good ol Johnblaze that I hope people can get jiggy with!

Finally any plugs or shout outs..
Urm, look out for the exciting new installment of my free download ish, coming next month feat. Kosyne, Triple Darkness, Jehst, Jyager, Kyza, Verb T, Kashmere, Stylah, Skandal, Grimlok and more. Also look out for the new Verb T album later this year, and also a new YNR productions compilation featuring an exclusive track from myself and Jyager plus a ton more of other exclusive new shit on there, which is all very exciting. You know louisdensquad, takeover in this and alls that. biggidybloaw. we killin elephants in the backyard.


FREE DOWNLOAD
Jon Phonics - Half Past Calm [2008]

1. State Of Hip Hop - M9 & Prophet
2. Remember - T-Bear, Sir Smurf Lil' & Raggo Zulu Rebel
3. Nothing Wrong - Mr Drastick & Luc Skyz
4. The Lions Den - Cyrus Malachi
5. Black Tragedy (Half Past Calm Mix) - Phoenix Da Icefire,Iverse & Prophet
6. More Forward (Ill Rhythmikz Remix) - T-Bear
7. Alternate Take - Verb T & Fliptrix
8. Lost Planet - M9
9. In The Ends - Sir Smurf LIl'
10. Forbidden Chamber - Nine Planets
11. Jealousy's A Bitch - Mr Drastick & Verb T
12. Celebrate - T-Bear
13. More Forward - T-Bear

LINK: megaupload | zshare
Jon Phonics Myspace