A powerhouse of a producer and engineer. A name found on some of the most influential underground projects. A name that has no limits, no specific genre, no specific sound. A name found on new emerging artists projects. From the top tier to the new comers, one thing is often found in common, they have a track produced by SMEB or a song engineered by this multi-talented creative. He has been a person we really wanted to know more about since finding out about him, and we got the chance. Read our interview with SMEB directly below and then enjoy some of our favorite projects he has taken part in directly from this article.
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Q: What all do you do musically, and what is the one thing you do that you are the most passionate about?
A: "I love this question, because there really is so much I've wanted to do. From starting out just loving and being a fan of music, it turned into me collecting a huge library of music and always looking for new music. Then I wanted to make playlists and curate so I could put people onto good new music. At one point, I wanted to be a drummer. As I got more into EDM after high school, I also almost got into DJ'ing too, but I fell in love with producing and mixing instead. Wouldn't change it for anything because mixing has kind of become an addicition in a good way. With that said, there are always more music related hobbies I'm diving into because music is what I'm thinking about 90% of every day. I even cut out TV shows and movies for the most part so I could stay locked in and focused. I got tunnel vision with this shit, and that's by choice!"
Q: You are one of the rising stars in the producer world. What are the biggest placements you have landed so far and which placements are you the most proud of to date?
A: "I appreciate y'all saying that. I just do my thing. I'd say the biggest placements have been this year when I got to work with Knowitall and Patty Honcho within a few weeks of each other because I was doing mixing and post-production for one of them. I had wanted to work with both for a long time, and I am actually getting the chance to work with them again soon! Last year though I got to work with Andrew Kelly who is another artist I had wanted to work with for awhile. Also, my placements on The Nait SIRK's EP "Stagnant" are some that I am really proud of because the music but also because it got mentioned in The Fader. Even more excited about this year though and what's still to come."
Q: How are you easily able to engineer and produce several different styles? Which style of hip-hop is your personal favorite?
A: "I think I'm able to work on and make so many styles because I have been listening to and digesting new music and different genres for like 15 years at this point, including multiple different genres within electronic music, which brings an interesting sound design element to my mixing when I mix hip-hop songs. It's my most listened to genre for sure besides instrumental albums, but more specifically, when I'm not listening to some hard, production driven hip-hop bangers that push the boundaries, I'm usually listening to some chill, heady jazz rap. I'm always looking for the newest sounds and ways to combine genres and elements."
Q: You and Tendo have dropped 2 singles so far in 2024 with a great reception by the underground. What can we expect from you two as a duo?
A: "I'm glad people are seeing this, because it is something we are both very happy with as artists. We are building up to drop a dark project that we've had very unfinished in the vault for 2 years, but we made it insane and dropping it this month (April 2024). It could be up by the time some are reading this. At this point, Tendo is honestly a day one and one of the closest people I've met through music. He is also one of the most talented so we are definitely working together a lot in the future and bringing a sound people really haven't heard much of if any at all."
Q: Who is the easiest artist you engineer for and why? And, who is the most difficult and why?
A: "I'd say Alma 16 and Tendo are the easiest because they do so much interesting vocal mixing themselves and already have it sounding amazing when I get the vocals in. Also the fact that they are both day ones makes it just easier to work with them whether it be familiarity or communication being effective. The most difficult would just be vocals that I get that are recorded with a cheap mic and a badly treated room that results in me having to do a lot more work to make them sound natural. Trust me, I don't assume everybody has the funds/resources to have a great mic and setup so I still understand and work with any types of vocals."
Q: Which community would you say is more toxic: rap or production?
A: "I'm obviously bias, but while I think that both communities have their toxic parts and thought processes, I do think I see the rapper community being a little more toxic. I see way more hating and negativity from rappers towards their peers. All while, they could take that time to make a diss track to air some of these dudes out instead. At least then content is still being created. It's not like producers can make diss beats at other producers, and yet, we still get along better and appreciate one another's crafts in my opinion. I've also seen a lot of talk here recently about rappers being more important than producers in terms of the finished song, but to be honest, I could make instrumentals and still be happy. A rapper without a producer is just an acapella so I wouldn't be so quick to write off the importance of a producer especially in today's landscape of music. We are literally carrying the weight of having to break musical boundaries and innovate while rappers think they can do it all themselves. In 2024, I'd say this is even more so the case where the beats are really carrying the next sound, and that is even more profound in mainstream music."
Q: Do you have any big placements coming this year that you are willing to tell us about?
A: "So far, I've already gotten to work with a few bigger rappers that I've wanted to work with for awhile, but I also just had three collabs with SEVEN! on his new album that I'm really proud of because we've wanted to work together for awhile. Everytime we work together, it's like making the sounds of the future of what hip-hop could be. Check those songs out on his album "LAMBS BLOOD". I have a bunch of collabs and placements coming this year, but the one I'm the most excited about is an entire album that I am mixing and mastering for one of the best rappers in the underground, arguably top 3 in this scene. Not saying who just yet, but this album is gonna be crazy and really show people I mean business when to comes to not just making beats but also engineering."
Q; What, to you, makes a good beat? Same question for what makes a good mix.
A: "Damn, this is a loaded question because every beat or mix can be good in it's own way for what the track is trying to achieve. I'd say though that a good beat has to be engaging enough to pull you into the soundscape, and in my opinion, have enough changes throughout to where it isn't just repetitive. That leads to your ears knowing what to expect and doesn't really captivate a listener. Of course, there are more looping hypnotic beats like that, but there needs to be enough to keep you always aware and listening. There also needs to be a unique sound/mix that doesn't sound like other beats. That is the problem with a lot of hip-hop beats in the mainstream. They're not unique. For the most, they're cookie cutter repetitive beats that only huge rappers with a lot of personality could really even make a good song over. Same with mixing, I'd say most people go into it just trying to make it sound normal or fix something, but I go into a mix wanting to make it sound not only warm but also ear grabbing with the effects used. Things like panning and all that so there is literally always movement happening in the mix. Many people see mixing as just something to do to just make it sound like everything else, but to me it is the opposite. Mix in your own way and try cool things that subtlety will push the listener onto a certain way even if they don't know why they feel that way. Not everything in a mix has to be so obvious. There can be small details that really spice up your beat and your mix so that every time they come back to the song they hear something new as a listener. That's the best way to stick out with beatmaking and mixing in my opinion; be your own artist and honestly build up and train your ear so that you can trust it fully when creating. That's what I do is go fully by ear, and I'm trying to bring my own style and sound into hip-hop mixing on top of the beatmaking."
Q: Anything you would like to say to your fans, and any advice you have for other creatives?
A: "Honestly I love everyone who listens to my music so much because I know there’s so much shit you could be listening to besides mine so I’m very appreciative, especially of the day ones that have been fans since like three years ago, but even to anyone who just came along and can see the vision. Y’all being excited to hear new music and loving the new sounds I’m working with really pushes me to do my thing more and bring more dope art to the underground. I do try and show my appreciation always because as much as I trust in my vision and my trajectory in this music shit, I also know that it’s based on people giving me their time which I will always see as something amazing. Thank y'all forreal. Also to anyone starting out or just trying to be a creative in music, my only advice is literally DO WHAT YOU LOVE, MAKE WHAT YOU WANT, LISTEN TO YOUR GUT AND YOUR EAR, DONT LISTEN TO ANYONE IF YOU’VE PUT IN THE TIME AND HAVE YOUR OWN UNIQUE THING. PEOPLE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND UNTIL THEY SEE OTHER PEOPLE GETTING IT AND IT'S TOO LATE. TRUST IN YOUR SOUND & INTUITION AND DONT FORCE ANYTHING. DO IT FROM LOVE AND PASSION, AND YOU'LL NEVER STOP! THAT'S THEONLY WAY TO MAKE IT IN MY OPINION. ALSO, DONT GO BROKE BUYING EQUIPMENT, ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR EARS AND BRAIN AND A DAW, LOVE Y'ALL, THANK YOU FOR READING! AND THANK YOU L1FEL1NE FOR WANTING TO INTERVIEW ME, MEANS A LOT FORREAL."
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES FROM SMEB
TO HEAR HIS ENTIRE CATALOG CLICK THE HIGHLIGHTED HERE AT THE TOP OF THE ARTICLE!