Hippie Beats is a Producer/Engineer from New Orleans. He is now residing in Atlanta. Hippie graduated from Talladega College with a major in music performance. He has been producing since 2006-20007 right after Hurricane Katrina. Since the Atlanta move, he has worked with talented acts such as Duke Deuce, Yung LA, Enchanted, Zaytoven, and more. Hippie Beats is currently about to drop his first every EP “The Pregame”
Q: How did you get your producer name?
A: I was known as the peace keeper on my block and was definitely known for smoking marijuana, so at first my friends called me “J the Urban Hippie” and I kept it till I realized that name was too long, so I shortened it straight to “HippieBeats”
Q: What was your first record placement?
A: My first placement came from a guy named “JuOrleans.” My OG, MixbyRich, put me on and ever since then I’ve been keeping a grind to get more and some well known placements.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you learned while working in the music industry?
A: “The only person who can stop you from doing your best job, is you.” Simple really.
Q: Where are you from, and how did it mold you into the person you are today ?
A: I’m really from Bridge City, which is more of the outskirts of New Orleans. I was raised in a hood home, but my block wasn’t as good. Family members had shoot outs (not my family). Fights were an every other day thing. So while growing up I didn’t want to see that anymore. So I tried to help prevent as many fights as possible to let people know there are more ways to resolve a conflict without violence.
Q: Who is your favorite artist to work with?
A: Don’t have one. Every artist that I’ve worked with brings something different to the table and helps me bring more flexibility to my sound. Every artist is unique in their own right.
Q: What DAW do you use, and what is your favorite plug-in?
A: I produce off of FL Studio. Been rocking with it since the “Fruity Loop 7” days. My favorite DAW has got to be the Nexus series. Nexus 2 and 3 have been my go to for the last decade. Just gotta have those expansion packs ready.
Q: What is your favorite record placement and why?
A: "Beef" by Baccwood Calvo. Calvo and I went to the same college (not at the same time) and he's also a frat brother of mine who I look at as a little brother. So working with him and watching his skills progress makes me feel better than most other projects because you can see and hear the growth. And not just with him lyrically. He even picked up producing, so I feel like a proud brother.
Q: What are somethings producers don't know that they should know?
A: Paperwork. I know a lot of people who just make beats and sell them, without having a BMI, or some type of way to ensure that their work is copyrighted and they can get royalties. Make sure your paperwork is together or else someone can claim your work, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Q: What makes you a hot producer?
A: I’m a hot producer cause I don’t miss. Not to sound cocky, I’m literally using another persons words here. I try to find different ways to transform my sound while still keeping the “essence of Hippie” there. Doesn’t matter the genre, I’ll always adapt to the situation and make another banger.
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