Jamie Cooley: Reppin’
By Tachelle Shamash WilKes
Tachelle: Is Jamie Cooley your given name?
Jamie Cooley: Yes Jamie Cooley is my given name.
T: Tell us a little bit about your home town.
T: Tell us a little bit about your home town.
JC: Well, I’m from a city in North Carolina called Rocky Mount, it’s a heartfelt, family oriented city, you know everybody knows everybody, I grew up in a neighborhood called Meadowbrook, it was a pretty good place to grow up.
T: Who are your musical inspirations?
T: Who are your musical inspirations?
JC: 9th Wonder is a huge inspiration to me, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliot, I really want to be where they are in the future… J Dilla, Pete Rock, Jean Grae, DJ Premier, Madlib, Diamond D, Timbaland, Nottz, The RZA, Erick Sermon, Von Pea, Ski Beats, The Heatmakers, Troy Taylor, Da Beatminerz, Just Blaze, Kanye West, DJ Marly Marl, Don Cannon, Dr. Dre, Hi- Tek, Alchemist, 88-Keys, Khrysis, Roddy Rod & Oddisee.
T: What turned you on to producing music?
TC: Well at first I just wanted to compose music, because I grew up basically in playing in all kinds of bands at school, but by just listening to a lot of my inspirations, mostly 9th, turned me on to producing music.
T: How long have you been making beats?
T: How long have you been making beats?
TC: A year and a half.
T: How did you learn to make beats? Share a story with us.
TC: Actually a good friend I used to date is a producer, and when we were dating he put me on to how to make beats, first he started me off really simple…you know he taught me how to first take a loop from a song and add drums to it… and in a short span of time, I grew and became better at the art, and I’ve been producing ever since.
T: What type of equipment do you use?
T: What type of equipment do you use?
TC: I use Fruity Loops Studio 4, and Acid Pro.
T: Do you play instruments as well? If so - what do you play?
T: Do you play instruments as well? If so - what do you play?
TC: Yes I do, I play the clarinet, flute, trumpet, baritone, but right now I’m playing the trombone for Clark Atlanta University
T: How do you feel that there are so few known female producers out in the game?
T: How do you feel that there are so few known female producers out in the game?
TC: Well personally I feel that there should be a lot more of female producers in the game right now, but there aren’t many, so that’s why there is not a lot of known female producers right now. But I believe there will be a lot more in the future, hopefully.
T: Does this fact make you work harder at your craft?
T: Does this fact make you work harder at your craft?
TC: Well yes, I really want to stand out, like I want people to know that I’m a dope music producer especially the hip hop heads that want to bring the true school back, I just really want my music to be heard.
T: What artists have you worked with or are currently working with?
T: What artists have you worked with or are currently working with?
TC: Jermiside, Donwill from Tanya Morgan, Stacy Epps, C. Arson he’s a emcee out of Va, Meyhem, Mister Powell aka Detroit Red from the Aphillates Music Group and Small Eyez.
T: Seems that you can switch up your flow when making beats - you come straight with east coast beats and gutter beats. Explain how you developed your style.
T: Seems that you can switch up your flow when making beats - you come straight with east coast beats and gutter beats. Explain how you developed your style.
TC: Well I told myself that I wasn’t just going to have just one sound, I take a little bit from everybody from 9th to Swizz Beats from Madlib to Timbaland…I just want to market myself not only in the underground, but in the commercial field also.
T: What do people say when they hear your beats?
T: What do people say when they hear your beats?
TC: Well I get a lot of mixed opinions, the majority are good though from “you’re better than a lot of dudes doing this” to “finally a hot female producer” or “a few months from now you’re going to be a monsta on the beats.” I just take what a lot of people say about my beats and take them in stride.
T: What projects are you currently working on?
T: What projects are you currently working on?
TC: Right now I’m working on beats for a mixtape that hopefully will flood the whole underground scene.
T: Where so you want to be by 2007?
TC: Well, I want to be in a place in my career where I’m getting a lot of major or indie placements. By then I just want to be a well known producer.
T: What are some words of wisdom that you live by?
T: What are some words of wisdom that you live by?
TC: You can do anything that you put your mind to, because this music thing is easy, you just have to have a deep passion for what you do. Well you know I would like to thank you and the whole femmixx.com for giving me my first of many interviews, deeply appreciate it. Hit me up on my myspace page, which is www.myspace.com/jacooley or send me an email to jcooley05@gmail.com.
copyright © 2006 femmixx.com