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Hi-Tek Presents…Marley And Me
When I was younger, I remember buying the Juice Crew’s “The Symphony” record, and I immediately fell in love with that song. I memorized every line, and must’ve played it so many times that the record sleeve ripped. I even remember sitting down at the piano and self-teaching myself that piano loop. I had never been to New York at that point in my life, and I knew that Queens was far from the ‘Natti, but listening to this record—I felt like I could’ve been right there in the QB projects.
Now let’s fast forward to last week. I am in the elevator in New York, on my way to sit down and record an interview with Marley Marl for his show Future Flavas on Power 105. Excuse me, the LEGENDARY Marley Marl. My mind starts racing and a million thoughts come to mind. All I can hear in my head is that piano loop from “The Symphony”. Over the elevator, the speakers are bumping some club-friendly song that uses the same drums from “Impeach The President.” I look on the wall and see an ad for the radio station with LL Cool J on it and think to myself, “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It immediately reminded me what a huge contribution Marley has made to the hip-hop. I begin to think this man is one of the pioneers of the game, the first dude to really chop up samples to produce records. He was the original “King Of Digging”—he found all the dope break records and manipulated them into works of art. What could I really tell him that I’ve done that he hasn’t done already a hundred times over?
As the door opens, I’m escorted into his studio. My nervousness turns into humility as he embraces me and lets me know what a fan he is of my music. We break the ice by talking about new equipment and mutual studios we’ve worked in—I’m soon feeling as if I’m accompanied by an old friend rather than the larger-than-life person I had made him up to be. As the interview jumps off, I start to feel really comfortable, but Marley’s laid-back demeanor and his questions brought out some of the best answers of any interview I’ve ever done. In my experience, some of the interviews I’ve done ask…I’ve received some generic-ass questions. Marley’s questions were so authentic that I poured out some of the most genuine answers I’ve ever done. He wasn’t asking the questions of a fan or of a magazine editor getting paid to do a job—these we’re sincere questions coming from the heart, from the mind of a fellow producer, a member of hip-hop. Now, in my career I have done many interviews, and I can tell the difference between writers who have been “prepped” versus the people who know of my music, and I was amazed that he was a dear fan of my work.
As we’ve moved on from the cassette tape days to the mp3 days, I think back to the crate of records I have back in my studio, my “Crate Of Classics”. All names synonymous with the golden age of hip-hop: Kool G Rap, Eric B & Rakim, the Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Biz Markie. They are all bound together by one man: Marley Marl. His influence on this music is awesome; he is truly a hip-hop icon. People like him pushed me to do what I do. The Afrika Bambaataas, the Marley Marls and the Jam Master Jays, the true purveyors of our music. I can only hope I leave a mark on this game like they do. Thanks Marley.
Listen To:
Hi-Tek feat. Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli & Raekwon “Where It Started At (NY)”
from Hi-Teknology 2, in stores October 17th
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October 9th, 2006
at 11:26 am
thebestout!! says:
1st! whatup hi!!!
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 11:33 am
thebestout!! says:
^^^^^^^^
whas’ dat gay?….probably…hmmmm.fuck it! I ain’t no big fan of ya’ shit but I recognize skill when I see it and I say the way you was lookin at Marl he was sorta in sense doin you the same way cuz’ you don’t find to many cats who come with that material you be breakin off nowadays kna’mean! so just stay humble and keep doin a good job and pretty soon the next hi-tek gon’ be shakin in his timbs while comin’ to meet you. stay up duke, MID_WEST REPRESENT!!!
http://www.myspace.com/16 kingz
http://www.myspace.com/16 kingz
http://www.myspace.com/16 kingz
http://www.myspace.com/16 kingz
hot shit (no apple bee’s boneless wings and icehouse)
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 11:42 am
illadelf says:
HI TEK TELLIN IT LIKE IT IS
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 12:26 pm
Jason says:
Yooooooooooo!
Tek, your shit is dope man. Good read. You new track, “Music for Life” is fire. You’re definitely goin’ to leave a mark on the hip-hop culture. No worries.
peace + progress
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 12:32 pm
Time Is Illmatic says:
1st
ur album is fire by the way tek…
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 12:39 pm
The DJ Formerly Known as N-CREDIBLE says:
free jadakiss
nice narrative dude…no promos though…whos on the new album…
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 12:39 pm
The DJ Formerly Known as N-CREDIBLE says:
…keep Cassidy in your prays peoples
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 12:51 pm
SONNY CHEEBA says:
Marley has more “classics” than ANYONE in Hip-Hop… Think about it?
Yeah Dre is the “greatest producer of all time” due to his longevity and the actual “albums” he put out, but Marley was the nigga Dre was listening to!
Marley WAS THE 1ST to chop samples and re-compose them! That means everyone from The Bomb Squad to Dr. Dre to Primo to Pete Rock to Kanye to Just Blaze owes his some muthafuckin paper nucca!
He did more “legendary demos”/ with CLASSICS on them than ANYONE in music, PERIOD!!!
Big Daddy Kane “Set It Off”, “Raw”: Eric B. & Rakim “My Melody”, “Eric B. For President”:
Kool G. Rap: Biz Markie: etc
^^^Those records r CLASICS and they were on these niggas DEMOS!!!
Put that in ur pipe and smoke it!
http://www.myspace.com/theanticorp
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 1:12 pm
Omar says:
That interview is the Passing of the Torch
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 1:24 pm
Rey says:
Hi Tek, Huh? Splinter Nigga is really bringing in some big guns. Way to show appreciation and respect for the old school. Maybe you can teach Sickamore’s crazy ass how to give credit where credit is do. UNO!
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 1:41 pm
Fernando says:
I like the diversity of characters you are bringing in for the guest spots. Mistah F.A.B followed by Hi-Tek??? Well done.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 1:46 pm
the one says:
Marley has more “classics” than ANYONE in Hip-Hop… Think about it?
Yeah Dre is the “greatest producer of all time” due to his longevity and the actual “albums” he put out, but Marley was the nigga Dre was listening to!
Marley WAS THE 1ST to chop samples and re-compose them! That means everyone from The Bomb Squad to Dr. Dre to Primo to Pete Rock to Kanye to Just Blaze owes his some muthafuckin paper nucca!
He did more “legendary demos”/ with CLASSICS on them than ANYONE in music, PERIOD!!!
Big Daddy Kane “Set It Off”, “Raw”: Eric B. & Rakim “My Melody”, “Eric B. For President”:
Kool G. Rap: Biz Markie: etc
^^^Those records r CLASICS and they were on these niggas DEMOS!!!
Put that in ur pipe and smoke it!
______________________________________
No lie. What up Marley….CoChese..Time Is Money..Hip Hop Dictionary Vol. 2..
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 2:08 pm
Worried 2 Def says:
HiTek is one of the greats in my book.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 3:01 pm
rip says:
yo tek, i love “keep it moving” from your new album…
anyways my favorite marley beat is “the bridge” that beat is killer
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 3:42 pm
thoreauly77 says:
tek- down since “the manifesto”. keep being consistently dope and perhaps one day you will be considered one of the greats alongside of marley. good blog; its good to see some love written in here.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 4:16 pm
Sushi K says:
Great post. And props for the writing skills the last “celebrity” blogger lacked (Lupe). Unkut Robbie’s posts from last week were righteous, though he is a pro blogger, so he had better have some writing skills.
Yep, Marley Marl was the truth. Kool G. Rap-DJ Polo’s first album and LL Cool J’s Mama Said KYO albums are still some of my favorites.
Welcome!
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 4:18 pm
Enlightened says:
Damn, I’m surprised the haters didn’t come out. I thought I was about to read some shit like, “we don’t wanna hear no gay ass shit about you meeting your hero.”
Maybe niggas is growing up.
Anyway, you definitely do your thang. I’m a Midwest nigga as well so I definitely appreciate how you rep that Nasty Natti and the whole Midwest.
Do your thang!
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 4:44 pm
Belize says:
Good ish
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 6:23 pm
Danja29 says:
Yep- Marley is no doubt amongst the greatest, and people always seem to leave homie out nowadays when talkin’ about the greatest of all time. If them munkies knew any better, surely they wouldn’t. It’s almost felonious how many classics he is responsible for.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 7:39 pm
che says:
the only worthwhile blogger in this temp space since lupe.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 8:55 pm
e says:
Marley Marl is an underated producer.
I even remember sitting down at the piano and self-teaching myself that piano loop
^^^^^
Is it necessary to learn how to play the piano to be a producer(just curious)?
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 9:07 pm
www.jumpoff.tv says:
REFLECTION ETERNAL ALL DAY!
When is the next RE album coming out?
Kweli and Hi-Tek, no better duo.
SICK SONG BY THE WAY.
Check out this Kweli and Dilated Ppls freestyle.
http://www.okayplayer.com/real/kweli/talib_rakaa_free.ram
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 4:30 am
KICKER says:
# e Says:
October 9th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
……………….
^^^^^
Is it necessary to learn how to play the piano to be a producer(just curious)?
not at all, especialy if your sampling, but most of the producers you hear on the radio cant play the piano or even use more than 2 fingers on a keyboard at a time. and they shouldn’t sell synths to anyone in the southern 1/2 of the country
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 9:29 am
e says:
Thanks Kicker
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 1:04 pm
Spark says:
Hi-tek is sick i heard it and ima cop it straight fire (josephine!!)
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 1:07 pm
Spark says:
Hi-tek got the #1 spot now (r.i.p Dilla)
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 2:30 pm
flava dav says:
I’m from the deep south and all I listened to growing up was the juice crew- kool g. rap roads to riches is one the top 5 albums of all time.
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 2:39 pm
john cochran says:
Alot of people dont include marly in their top 10 lists simply because he’s not from the XXL generation. Many of us dont know who he is. We are not properly educated on the history of own culture cause hip hop moves so fast. That’s sad.
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 3:24 pm
Mr.Me says:
Only these type of rappers get blogs on here. Shame.
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 7:24 pm
Curt McGirt says:
Good read. I’ve always liked Hi-Tek since the BlackStar days. Honestly I would give the “Origianl Cratedigger” props to Mark the “45 King”. Also, I’d give the orinal cat to really chop up samples to Mantronix.
On that note Marley is the one of the first if not the first to make a gang of scrilla as a top notch producer and set of the super rap record label based on in house production.
Props to Marley and Tek.
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 8:04 pm
daesonesb says:
HI TEK. Been with your stuff since reflection eternal. Shit was astounding. Honestly I’d love to hear you and kweli go at it again, get that same vibe going.
You are doin it well with this blog. Well Spoken.
Mr. Me is an idiot. He thinks that Hi-tek is a, quote, “rapper,” Dopey ass. Pay no mind to a hater
Reply
October 12th, 2006
at 4:02 am
A^G says:
Safe as…
Hi-Tek is a top producer and (surprisingly enough) this was actually quite an interesting read… guy can actually write as well. Nice one.
Reply
October 12th, 2006
at 4:27 am
A^G says:
Oh yeah forgot to gratuitously plug my blog
http://straightoutleodis.blogspot.com
It’s a Leeds, UK thing.
Reply
October 15th, 2006
at 6:30 pm
Playa=50= says:
yeahhh Hi-Tek jo like u ….
cool muzikk
Reply
October 31st, 2006
at 2:01 pm
Cavious says:
The album’s Hot,Cincinnati on the Map…………………………………….Stay doing your thing,Yo Nati Boy,Cavious.(Tell Dontay Wats up)
Reply
January 22nd, 2007
at 12:16 pm
513 Ju Baby says:
Yeah…………. Nati on da map we comin fa you niggas!! 513 niggas
Reply
May 10th, 2007
at 3:47 am
da_realting says:
big up hi-tek
Reply