http://www.korg.com/sbytes/article.asp?ArtistID=364

Multi-Platinum producer and new member of Bad Boy Management’s “Hitmen” production team, Amadeus has produced for artists such as 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Marques Houston, Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Trey Songz, Jim Jones, Mike Jones, Cee-Lo Green, Mya, Lil Mo, Talib Kweli, Papoose, Remy Ma, Freeway, ESPN, Cam’ron, Pimp C, and Slim Thug, just to name a few.

Amadeus’s first break came when he produced NY rapper Foxy Brown for the “Cradle 2 the Grave” soundtrack that gave him his first Gold Award. The success of the soundtrack was followed quickly by Foxy Brown’s single “Get Off Me,” which dealt with her relationship with rapper Eve. Amadeus hasn’t stopped working since, producing critically acclaimed artists such as Mike Jones and chart toppers like 50 Cent & Fabolous. He is building a reputation as one of the most in-demand Hip Hop/R&B producers in New York, earning Platinum and Gold status with Mike Jones, Cam’ron, Fabolous and Danity Kane. Other productions include Bow Wow, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, Papoose, Marques Houston, Trey Songz, Cee-Lo, Lil Wayne, Joe Budden, as well as Lil’ Mo’s last two singles, “Yeah Yeah Yeah” featuring Grammy winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari and “Sumtimes I” featuring Dip Set’s own Capo Jim Jones.

Amadeus has been featured on numerous TV shows including six times on BET’s 106 & Park and twice on BET’s Rap City, in addition to his appearance on Rap City Top 10 with Mike Jones. He’s also had music appear on the ESPN network.

Amadeus took some time away from crafting another hit to speak with us about what he’s done, what he’s doing, and of course, his Korg keyboards.


Korg: When did you begin your journey as an artist/producer?

Amadeus: I started producing 11 years ago when I was 16 years of age. I started real young because I was exposed to good music as a child. My parents played different genres of music from old school hip-hop and R&B to gospel and jazz. I heard it all and to top it all off, they put me in private school in which I had the opportunity to learn and study drums and percussion. I studied these instruments from the fourth grade all the way to high school, and I still play drums to this day at my local church. So as you can see, making beats was always in me as a child!


K: You’ve worked with a lot of other heavy hitters in the game...do you approach each project differently or do you have a go-to formula you like to use?

A: It depends on the situation…a lot of times I kind of just study the artist’s style, sound, tone, lyrics, swagger, etc., to get an idea of what to create for him or her. That’s one of my strategies, but what I also do is create my music and ideas from how I feel at the present time. So if I’m upset, then you will get a dark track. If I’m feeling good, you will get a very melodic, pleasant-to-the-ear type of track and so on. That’s my formula and it seems to be working very well for me.


K: Any particular project that you consider your proudest moment?

A: Hmmm…I would have to say the song I produced for female rap artist Foxy Brown, “My Life (Cradle 2 the Grave)”, which was featured in the movie Cradle 2 the Grave and on the music soundtrack! That was a really awesome experience because the song played in the movie for 26 seconds, which is a long time when it comes to music being featured in a movie or television show. Most of all, it was incredible to see my name roll on the big screen in the credits after the movie was over…and lastly it brought me my first Gold Award recognizing the achievement of the music soundtrack selling 500,000 copies!


K: What projects do you have in the works that we should look out for?

A: I’m the newest producer member of Diddy’s production team, “The Hitmen” /Bad Boy Management and it’s going great. I’m working on a lot of projects like Danity Kane, Donnie Klang, Diddy, Cassie, Yung Joc, Cheri Dennis, Bow Wow, Mos Def, Mike Jones and many more. I also have my own artists signed to my production company/label – Platinum Boy Music Inc. Female vocalist Tiffany “Angel of R&B” Mynon, and male rapper Ravenus P.N.I.C are two amazing artists I’m working with, so be on the lookout for them real soon. We’re finishing up the album and mix tape and will soon be shooting two music videos.


K: What Korg gear do you use and why?
A: I’m currently using the microKORG, which I love, and I use the TRITON Extreme from time to time, as well. I really like the sounds that they come with. They feel as real as it gets…like I’m really playing all of the particular instruments myself. It also gives you so many options on how you can tweak each sound to get what you are looking for. They’re excellent! I will be working on the Korg microX pretty soon, too.


K: Any favorite feature of the Korg gear that you can’t get enough of?

A: Yeah, I love the arpeggiator on the microKORG that gives you the option to change the tempo on the sound without changing the note. I also love the bass sounds in the microKORG, one of which I use in every track I make!


K: Anything you’d like to see Korg come out with?
A: I’m very impressed with the various keyboards that Korg has come up with in the past and present. It would definitely be hot to see what the microKORG would be like and look like if it was made into a sound module or rack. I think that would be really different and would attract a lot of people.


To get more info and updates on multi-platinum producer Amadeus, visit www.myspace.com/produceramadeus. Be sure to also check out Platinum Boy Music’s artists Tiffany “Angel of R&B” Mynon and Ravenus at www.myspace.com/tiffanymynonmusic and www.myspace.com/platinumboyrav