QN5 Music

[INTERVIEW] Meet Algorythm…

Posted 3 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, 13 hours, 48 minutes ago by Substantial

algorithm (al·go·rithm) [noun] A step-by-step problem-solving procedure, especially an established, recursive computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of steps.

Algorythm (Al·go·rythm) [Hip-Hop/R & B producer] An upcoming producer residing in Brooklyn, NY (by way of P.G. County, Maryland) who artists call on to solve their lackluster production problem.

In a day and age plagued with bubble gum, lukewarm production in the mainstream and amateurish, often overrated production in the Indie scene, enters Allan Cole better known as Algorythm. Two time winner of the Red Bull “Big Tune” Battle (Brooklyn, NY & Washington, DC), recently handing an L to the up & coming DC production duo, The Best Kept Secret, who are, in my humble opinion, pretty damn dope! He’s even received the nod from acclaimed beatsmith, Illmind.

It may sound cliche, but this young man is the future. Although, Algo spends most of his time making a living as a freelance graphic designer, his polished production has the feel of a far more seasoned producer.

So, I sat down with the quiet brother with ear shattering drums and talked about everything from his inspirations, politics and the ongoing battle between Macs and PCs.

An Interview w/ Algorythm

Substantial: What was your first encounter with Hip-Hop?
Algorythm: Buying the Street version of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “Creepin on ah Come Up” without my parents realizing how disturbing the music was.

S: Del Preston (from the QN5 forums) asked…
How did you first get into production??
A: Short question with a long answer. I first got into production back in the late 90s. There was this dirt cheap program that I bought from K-mart (Can’t remember the name). It was horrible. All the loops and samples were pre-made and because of that, there was probably a max of like 100 different combinations of beats you could make with it. It was garbage. Then I stepped into Magix Audio Studio 5 (I think they are on version 12 now). This program was no good for me because it wasn’t really supposed to be used for actually making beats. It was a mixing and sound editing program. Imagine trying to make beats with nothing but Pro-Tools — kind of impossible. But the good thing is I could bring in my own sounds and drums. So I would record drums and sounds from CDs, chop them up and literally copy and paste the sounds next to each other to track the loops out — mind you, this thing had no metronome or tempo settings then. Back then I didn’t know if my beats were going to be wack or not so I never let other people I knew who were already doing music hear my shit (including Osinachi & Definition, to name a few). Later on I was put on to Reason 1.0 and that completely changed my perspective on production. As soon as I saw that you could flip the rack around and change the wire I/O’s I was sold. This is also around the time when I first met Stan, so my drive to make music skyrocketed and then the rest is kind of history.

What (from the QN5 forums) asked…
What/who propelled your switch from casual listener to serious producer?
A: Well for me there was never really a switch. I am very much still a fan of good music. I do listen to music with a different ear now that I make so much music for myself. Half the time I’m listening to music objectively trying to dissect how someone got their Kick drum to sound a certain way and how I might have done it differently. But the other half of the time I am genuinely in awe of what some of these producers/artists are doing now of days. Trying to critique every song I hear kind of sucks the fun out of it sometimes.

Mike Mason (from the QN5 forums) asked…

How do you go about choosing who you work with?
A: I feel like everybody thinks they can Rap and pick up a mic and move crowds. It really isn’t that easy, and just because you figured out how to put together a punchline doesn’t mean you’re the next Jeezy. I believe that good artists, have a certain thing about them that you can’t really put your finger which makes them stand out. So when I hear some one’s music, if I hear that thing then I know I will want to work with them.

BigMikeAlber (from the QN5 forums) asked…
Algorythm, what is the story behind your name? Did you go by any other monikers in the past?
A: Well the government name is Allan, which had always been slimmed down to Al since the high school days. After I let a few people hear my earlier beats they realized I needed some type of moniker. The first name that popped out of my boy’s mouth was Algorythm. That’s it. The actual spelling is algorithm so I sort of changed the spelling to make it my own.

g8torsbizktai20 (from the QN5 forums) asked…

How did you originally meet (Substantial) and what were your first impressions of him?
A: I met him when I first moved to NY for school. Substantial and the rest of the UV crew was all performing at this spot in BK. When I walked in he was spitting this crazy verse acapella. I was instantly moved. Simple as that. I think I might even have the recorded show somewhere on my old hard drive.

Monotonous One (from the QN5 forums) asked…
Why haven’t you started on the album with Substantial? If the answer is: “I already have”…then I have a follow-up. When is that shit coming out? (I’ll assume its 6-24 months after whatever date you say.)
A: HaHaHa. We’ve spoken about it a few times and its definitely something that I’d like to do ASAP. I’d like to do it like that 9th Wonder & Skyzoo joint called “Cloud 9″. Lock us up in the studio for like 2 weeks and come out with an entire album. That would be dope. When it happens I’ll make sure the world will knows.

Substantial & Algorythm Collabs Over The Years:

Tonedeff (MC/ Producer & Owner of QN5 Music) asked…
I’d like to know what his favorite beat on Sacrifice was – regardless of whether he made it or not.
A: Track #2, “Let it Go.” Hits me every time.

S: Besides Sacrifice, Sacrificial Lambs,soul vocalist, rnb’s album The Green Room, & Insanate’s Production 9401 what other albums has your been featured on?
A: I have 3 joints on Completion’s album “Freedom’s Journal” which is available for free through my website (algorythmusic.com). Out side of that I have a bunch of songs that I’ve done with people, Kay(The Foundation, Kay and Nicolay), Naturel (EP coming this summer), Slo-Mo of Fortilive, Pumpkinhead, Skyzoo, S.K.Y., etc.

Lip (from the QN5 Music Blog) asked…
How different are the hip-hop production and R&B production scenes, in terms of networking and the labels, etc? Are there any notable differences between them?
A: I’m a little more in tune with the Hip Hip end of that spectrum so i can’t really say. I’ve only been to maybe 1 or 2 R&B networking types of events and it seemed the same to me. The only difference is that there is more focus on instrumentation at R&B events so guitarists, bass players, trumpet players etc, all have room to network. At a Hip Hop events, there’s only rappers, producers, and managers.

S: Why do you think the DMV Hip-Hop/Music scene isn’t as widely recognized, considering how many artists from this area are making moves abroad?
A: I think there a certain mentality in our area that that you don’t really find anywhere else. If you look at the story of Petey Greene, Dave Chappelle, or the History of Go-Go music, there is a certain connection with the purpose of creativity that a lot of us aren’t really willing to sacrifice for money & fame. I think we have certain understanding of who and what our music is for and the idea of partnering with “the machine” to expand world wide just isn’t as vital to the music as it is in other places. I love that about the area. At the same time though, with artists like Wale, Kev Brown, Marky, J. Holiday, Raheem Devaughn and more, I think there could be a change in how the DMV area is perceived throughout the world which is definitely a good thing. I just hope it doesn’t become another short-lived regional gimmick like a lot of the newer shit that’s out.

The Obvious (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
What other producers have inspired you to do what you do?
A: Oddly enough the first two producers who really made me want to get into production were Swizz Beats & Dilla. Odd combination I know. But now I get inspiration from everybody, from Black Milk, Illmind, Swiff D, DJ Khalil, Best Kept Secret, Nottz, to Timbaland, Bangladesh, Kev Brown, Pete Rock, Danja Handz, Bink, etc… (this is a very VERY long list).

Gregory Grammar (from the QN5 Forums) asked…

How was your whole experience with the Red Bull Big Tune Battle (specifically the finals in Seattle)?
A: The Red Bull Big Tune Battle was a amazing experience. Winning here in New York was a big deal for me, and I am still seeing some of the exposure effects from it. The battle in Seattle was fun. The only difference was that it was a different type of crowd, than what I had here in NY. I had no idea what to expect from the Seattle crowd or what type of sound they would go for which threw me off a bit. Also, there was a bit of home field advantage for some of the producers, but those producers had some bangers so there’s no hate there. All in all I had a great time and I am thinking about doing it again this year (in D.C.)*

*Yes, he did it again and… he won again.

Szabo (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
Where do you usually find your samples (Record Collection etc.)?
A: I have a small but deadly record collection myself, I go digging maybe once a month if I’m lucky. I also sometimes find joints online, but with online records, there’s a good 80% chance that there’s another producer who’s got the exact same shit, so I try not to download too much shit.

Tonedeff (MC/ Producer & Owner of QN5 Music) asked…
How his design work (influence) his production work and vice-versa? I know a lot of visual artists are also musicians…so I’m keen to know what drives his aesthetic in both mediums.
A: For the longest I have tried to keep the two separated. But one way or another they figure out a way to come together. I love being creative in both mediums but the design stuff has definitely become more of a trade for me. I have a little bit more of my heart in music. The aesthetics are driven by life experiences for the most part, I can be walking to the corner store and a design concept will pop into my head, just as easily as a production idea. I am nerd in that way.

S: If we were to open your iTunes on your computer right now, what are the top 5 songs with the most plays?

A: Well lets see [Opens iTunes]…
1. B.R. Gunna “Man Up Ft. Quest McCody, Fat Ray
2. Dabrye “Game Over (feat. Jay Dee and Phat Kat)”
3. Jaylib “Strapped ft. Guilty Simpson”
4. Drake “The Presentation”
5. Pacific Division “Gorgeous”

S: If you were a jazz musician, what instrument would you play?
A: The keys, I’d play the keys.

S: Who would you like to work with someday?
A: Wow that’s another long list. Lets see. In no particular order: Bishop Lamont, Black Milk, Drake, Weezy, PacDiv, Bilal, T-Pain, Kanye, Kweli, Elzhi, Busta, Inverse, Ty & Kory, Dwele, Mickey Factz…

S: What projects are you currently working on?
A: Working on Naturel’s first solo EP/Mixtape. Round 2 of my Instrumental Series (Which is put on hold due to a hard drive crash. NOT COOL.). rnb’s sophmore album. Slo-Mo of Fortilive has a solo record coming soon that I have a couple of cuts on. I’m working on a few joints for Completions next Album I have a few joints with this group S.K.Y. on the West Coast. Of course more joints with Substantial, eFamm, etc. I know there’s more that I’m forgetting about.

Laks80018 (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
Is there any new info on The Remake 2? (You better give an answer this time Al LOL)
A: HaHa. I kind of ran out of steam on that one man. But the most comparable thing I’m doing now is this instrumental series that I’ve got for free download on my site.

Houstonz (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
What things outside of the world of music do you enjoy?
A: As mentioned before, I do graphic design which I enjoy(most of the time). Right now I’m working on all of the new blogs on the okayplayer.com website which is pretty fun. But most randomly, I play tennis, which I realize isn’t the most Gangsterific thing to be doing as person who makes Hip Hop music, but fuck it. The shit is fun and it keeps the doctor away. Ha!

S: Ok now for the random section of the interview. Reason or Fruity Loops?
A: Reason all day. Everyday. Fruityloops’ interface is like video game compared to Reason which feels a bit more hands on. But I’m not knocking FL at all, I know dudes that KILL it with Fruityloops but it just isn’t for me.

S: McCain or Obama?

A: Obama. And not on some band wagon shit either. I’ve listened to both of these guys talk about their policies and I simply do not believe McCain. I don’t feel what he says (He wouldn’t make a good rapper; see question from earlier) and I don’t like his politics. I do feel the majority of Obama’s words and I think he represents my interests as a middle class American trying to keep my bills paid, and live life happily. I could get real deep with this but this is a Hip Hop Q&A. Back to the music!

Inferno (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
If you had once piece of wisdom to impart to the world, what would it be?
A: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

S: Boxing or UFC?

A: Boxing.

Nova Norway (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
Which one would you rather engage in sexual intercourse with, a retarded midget or a retarded giant?
A: Uhhhh…These are my only two options?…I guess I’d go with the big joint…LOL

Inferno (from the QN5 Forums) asked…
Why do your beats kick so much ass?
A: Because kicking ass is good for the soul.

S: Any last words?
A: Mac’s are better than PC’s (most of the time).