Location
Atlanta, GA
Originally
New York & Chicago
Tariq L: My name is Tariq L. and I am based out of Atlanta, GA. I am also a member of the group called The Hemisphere, I've personally been involved in the music business for over 5 years officially. The role I play is producer, engineer, mc, dj and visionary. I grew up in New York and Chicago; consider that a bi-coastal influence.
After speaking with you and hearing about all the new developments involving The Hemisphere, amongst those is the Beatz in My Lifetime Vol. 1 album. Take us back before you took the idea into action. Which track did you first start working on? What inspirations/influences, if any, did you bring into the creation of this album?
Well the idea been in my head for about 3 years now, BEATZ IN MY LIFETIME, this album was put together based on the catalog of beatz and songs with various artist I've worked with in my travels, so it wasn't an Idea when I worked on it! I was already done, my staff and I picked the joints and it was a Rap! The title was influenced by Jay-Z, "In My Lifetime", since production is my first love as an artist I called my album BEATZ IN MY LIFETIME volume 1.0. There are collective beatz that's truly from the heart.
Was Whirlwindz the first single for Beatz in My Lifetime? What distinguished this song from the other tracks in terms of its power as a single?
Whirlwindz is part of the Maxi-single, which includes Wildseed and Imani Uzuri. We feel that the maxi-single is a good starting point for the album. And soon we (SOUNDRIGHT MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP) will release the new single along side the new "Beatz in My Lifetime" 1.5, the mix cd BY DJ JAMAD.
One of the things I loved about Beatz in My Lifetime was the instrumentals that were included throughout the album. Amongst those Beatz which one comes to your mind first?
Stereo Freak #6; this beat has an accustic vibe with a down south riddem, and a taste of portis head darkness, ha! Ha!!!
When did you first start producing? Before you began putting things down yourself, were there any "Hip Hop" producers that you really felt? If so, whom?
I started producing @ the age of 10. My favorite producers were Pete Rock, BDP, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jaz-O (THE JAZ); back in the day, Large Professor, Dr. Dre, Jam Master J, Isaac Hayes, Bob Marley, King Tuby, Dennis Brown, Quincy Jones, Roy Ayers....
Does the sound that comes from your Beatz have anything to do with the area or setting that you came up in? In other words are there any elements from your surrounding area that exists in the music you produce?
My beatz reflect where I'm from, where I am @, and with growth where I am heading, ya heard?
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