NOW AND LATERZ

By Mark Williams-Washington

Now and Laterz is a production team making beats with madd flavor, like the candy by the same name. So far the two brothers, a.k.a. Ben Grimm and Abe, have done beats for artists like Nore, Capone, Tragedy, Cormega, Saigon, Prodigy, Remy Martin, Bars n Hooks, Mobb Deep, and Benzino, to name a few. Check out what this super-producing duo had to say about their production game, and more...

Shine: What’s good?

Now and Laterz: Chilling. Working.

Shine: How did you get started?

Now and Laterz: Abe has a brother that was a DJ/producer so we were always around music. We eventually started learning about drum machines, mixers, turntables, etc., and started to take it seriously.

Shine: What are you working on right now?

Now and Laterz: We are working on our fist mixtape called Trial and Error which will feature songs that we've done with some of the artists we worked with, and a few unreleased, as well as some remixes with our tracks. We are also working on Ron Artest's first solo album and working with the rest of the Truwarier artists. We are also working on projects in the Latin market. We got Chosen Few 2 The Tour coming this fall (we also produced most of Chosen Few 1. El documental peaked at #2 on the Billboard Latin charts) and The Draft which will be a compilation featuring new Latin artists. That should be out this summer. We will have a full length Latino album out next year called Ahoras Y Despues featuring known artists. We got two joints on Tragedy Khadafi’s new project called Thug Matrix 3 and two joints on the Black Market Militia Album already in stores. We got a joint on Street Life’s new project.

Shine: What do you listen to, to help with better producing?

Now and Laterz: We listen to what's on the radio to see what songs are hot. We go to clubs to see how people react to certain records and try to capture that feel. But we do listen to all kinds of music.

Shine: Who have you worked with so far?

Now and Laterz: Remy Martin, Bars n Hooks, Prodigy, Bravehearts, Lake, Nature, Chryme Fam, Nore, Capone, Tragedy, Cormega, Saigon, Domination, Royal Flush, Royce da 59, Jinx the Juvy, Scram Jones, Obe Trice, Ron Artest, Fort Knox, Infamous Mobb, Mobb Deep, Killa Sha, Benzino, Killa Priest, P Dap, and Street Life.

In the Latin market we have songs with everyone. That market is poppin' right now and we got our feet all the way in that door!

Shine: Is there anyone you would like to work with but haven't yet?

Now and Laterz: We've always wanted to work with Nas and Jay. We would also like to work with some pop artists as well, like Christina Aguilera or Janet or Gwen Stefani.

Shine: Who are your favorite producers?

Now and Laterz: Dre, Timbaland, Neptunes, Kanye West, Alchemist, Trackmasters, Just Blaze, Scott Storch, Cool N Dre, Seven, Organized Noize, and Havoc.

Shine: What kind of equipment do you use?

Now and Laterz: Right now were using Reason 2.5, Cubase SX, ProTools, and a two octave midi controller.

Shine: How much money do you think someone would have to spend who's just getting started?

Now and Laterz: I would say between $2,500 and $5,000.

Shine: What pieces of equipment would you tell them to buy first?

Now and Laterz: A computer or an MPC depending on what you want to make your beats on hardware, software, or both.

Shine: Any last words or shout outs?

Now and Laterz: Yeah, thanks to everybody that’s supporting Now and Laterz and the movement. Shout out to the whole C40, Area 51, Chosen Few crew all my n*ggas out in QB, wuddup to Big Shady...Oc Bars...BEN GRIMM + A.B.E = Now and Laterz. Peace!!!

Holla at NOW AND LATERZ for for beats and studio time:

Contact Ben Grimm at Bengrimm82@tmail.com or

Bengrimm82@yahoo.com

Contact Abe at Abeluv83@yahoo.com

Click here to check out more DJ's and producers featured in Shine Magazine!