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We Interviewed “Started From The Bottom” Producer Mike Zombie

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This past year has been quite fulfilling for 22-year old, Mike Zombie. Producer of the double platinum Drake single, “Started from the Bottom” and DJ Khaled‘s “They Don’t Love You No More,” it’s safe to say this New Jersey native is ready to secure himself a spot in the game.

Signed to Drake’s OVO imprint as a producer, Mike Zombie plans on making a name for himself by his lonely as a rap artist. Dropping his first mixtape, The End of the Beginning, at the end of 2013, his record “616” has sure become a notable fan favorite. But now Zombie is ready to bring fans his debut album, Rebel Without A Cause. A title inspired by a tattoo he got at the age of 16 after his brother called him one for being a fuck up for no reason at all.

Without including anything from your resume, who is Mike Zombie?
I’m a hyper, artistic college dropout turned musician that loves creating, proving people wrong and working for what I deserve.

How did you land on the name ‘Mike Zombie’?
Mike Zombie: Lol. I like to let people make up their own idea as to how I got that

What made you want to become a producer/rapper?
From being in the car listening to music, catching sounds nobody else was catching in sounds. I never knew how the sounds were created and even with me being in my single digit years I knew didn’t come out of thin air. I finally found out these sounds computer programmed and that;s when my mom bought me my first copy of software to get to work. Nobodies ever taught me how to make music and I can’t play any instruments. I just have a weird ear and crazy determination.

Signed To A Label?
Unsigned at the moment as an artist and to OVO as a producer.

What’s the relationship between you and Hollow Da Don? How’d you get in the game?
Maaaaaan that’s my fuckin brother. I went to go check him out in November just to kick it. Me and him get along so well because we just have the same morals and have real talks as if we were friends for mad long. Definitely one of the people I feel owe a great deal. We’re always in touch, that’s my nigga for life.

You don’t seem to gas yourself up considering that you’ve produced records for people like Drake or DJ Khaled. What keeps you humble?
Well, I’m honestly trying to get out of that. Not necessary being humble, but people often tell me I’m too humble. Perfect example: I had some girls over and The Source Mag was sitting in my room. One of the girls picked it up and asked why I had it; it was because I was in it, but I thinks he already knew and just wanted me to see it, which just makes things wierd. Even though it was, she told me if I was, I needed to let it be known cause that’s good shit and she’s right. I’m just not one for bragging. I like to let my work do the talking. I feel like it’s the most effective way to let it be known.

Has producing for Drake and DJ Khaled got other artists hitting you up? If so, what other artists are you producing for at the moment?
Mike Zombie. Lol.

Name a song that changed your life forever.
Obviously, “Started From The Bottom.” Other than that, there’s so many that made me wanna make music; but I’m gonna say: Aaliyah’s “Try Again” and 50 Cent’s “I Get Money” & “Piggy Bank.” The production on those 3 blew my mind the first time I heard them.

Your next project is titled, “Rebel without a Cause.” Why that title? What’s the direction of the project? Any features? Promotional singles?

The title it from a tattoo I got on my chest when I was 16, which reads: “Rebel without a cause”. I got the tattoo after my older brother da woo called me one for being a fuck up for no reason at all. I just liked to do what I wanted when I wanted and how I wanted. That’s how I feel like life should be lived, but that relates to the project because that’s the attitude of the album from the hellish red artwork to the dark sound of it. It’s raunchy and I wanted to say what I’ve been feeling for too long on here and shit that I really believe but people are going to say I’m jumping the gun on. There’s no features because I needed to show people this new musical lane I’ve hopped in. and the lane isn’t just one; and no disrespect to anyone coming up but I feel like I should be rapping along the Meeks, Drakes, Coles and etc., so until I can I won’t sell myself short. The first song I put out was “just wait” last year Grammy day but the singles are “cash money” and “south side anthem”.

How has life changed for you this past year?

I’ll be glad to say I’m not in the same place as I was last year; but it’s so much that has changed. I’ve grown musically, mentally. I’ve gotten some more haters which is always sweet, and I’ve traveled the most in the last year than ever.

What’s your goal for 2015? What can we expect from you this year?

I just want “rebel without a cause” to be a successful project that people can live with forever. A tour and maybe a major deal. Only 1 place I really want to go and I want to hopefully put out my next project which I’ve had the name for already for a minute now. That was mad shit but yeah, lol, those are a few.

If you had to choose, would you stick to producing or rapping? Why?

Producing only because I could still get on a record vocally without being considered a rapper lol.

What advice do you have for upcoming producers or rappers who aspire to be in the game?

The only advice I would say is don’t give a fuck about negative shit people have to say, be yourself and if you really want it you’ll find a way to make it happen.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Any promotional tours coming up?

5 years? I’ll be 27. Damn, hopefully performing at the Grammys after a win and in the studio with Imogen Heap or Prince or something like that; and yeah, we’re working on a tour right now. I’ll most likely be tagging along with someone else.

Interviews

Nicki Minaj Sits with Ebro to Talk ‘Pink Friday 2′ on Apple Music

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Nicki Minaj Sits with Ebro to Talk ‘Pink Friday 2' on Apple Music miixtapechiick

Nicki Minaj has been quite active on a promotional run to accompany her fifth studio album, “Pink Friday 2.” From sitting down with Kai Cenat to Joe Budden, the self-proclaimed Queen of rap continues her campaign by engaging in an interview with Ebro Darden for Apple Music.

Throughout the interview, the ‘FTCU‘ artist talks about the latest album, her newest signee to her record label Heavy On It, protecting her peace, collaborating with Drake and J. Cole, and much more.

Watch the interview above.

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Interviews

Apple Music Interviews Rihanna Ahead of Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Last month, Apple Music announced Rihanna’s Road to Halftime ahead of Super Bowl LVII campaign.

Ahead of Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Apple Music Radio’s Nadeska Alexis will interview Rihanna at the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Press Conference.

Viewers can tune in live or watch on demand on Apple Music; on @AppleMusic’s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter; or on the NFL Network.

Rihanna tells Apple Music about how she started the process of creating her setlist

The set list was the biggest challenge. That was the hardest hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes, but also celebrate. That’s what this show’s gonna be, it’s gonna be a celebration of my catalogue in the best way we could have put it together. And you only have 13 minutes, that’s the challenge, so you’re trying to cram 17 years of work into 13 minutes. So it’s difficult. You know, some songs we have to lose because of that, and that’s gonna be okay. But I think we did a pretty good job of narrowing it down.

Rihanna tells Apple Music’s about the physical demands of getting ready for Sunday’s game.

The physical challenge has definitely been immense, for many reasons, of course. But, I haven’t done this in a minute. First thing’s first, so you’re just running around for 13 minutes, trying to put a two hour set in 13 minutes, and you’re gonna see on Sunday, it just, from the time it starts, it just never ends until it’s like the very last second. Now I’m saying too much? But it’s a jam-packed show, and it takes a toll on your body, it does.

We’re excited to do the Super Bowl. We are. We’ve been working on it for awhile, and every day it just gets closer and closer to the finished product. And today’s a really big rehearsal, really important one, so that’s gonna be crucial for Sunday.

Rihanna on the cultural significance of this Apple Music Halftime Show moment.

I mean, it’s a long way from home, right? It’s a long way from home. It’s a beautiful journey that I’m on, and I could’ve never guessed that I would have made it here. So it’s a celebration of that. I’m excited to do that. I’m really excited to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage.

Rihanna tells Apple Music about where she is headed musically.

Musically, I’m feeling open. I’m feeling open to exploring, discovering, creating, things that are new, things that are different, things that are off, weird, might not ever make sense to my fans, you know, the people that know the music that I put out. I just want to play. I want to have fun. I want to have fun with music.

Rihanna on work-life balance as a mom.

Yes, it’s very different. The balance is almost impossible because no matter how you look at it, work is always something that’s gonna rob you of time with your child. That’s the currency now. That’s where it goes. The magnitude of how much it weighs. When you make decisions on what you’re gonna say yes to, it has to be worth it.

Rihanna on her favorite album and favorite album to record from her catalog.

Okay, I really enjoyed recording Loud and “Diamonds.” I was on the road for both of those albums when I created them. I was touring one album, making the next, and then I came back and toured that album and made the next, and then ANTI was the first time that I took my time making an album while not being on tour. And that frustrated my fans a bit, and here I am doing it again to them. But ANTI, for sure, top favorite album I’ve ever made.

Rihanna on the most important thing she’s learned in order to succeed.

To stay humble. Stay humble because if not this industry will humble you one way or the other. And, you know, my humility came from my childhood growing up in the Caribbean, growing up in my household with my mom. She’s a very humble woman. Her mom was a very humble woman. And I’ve never, I’ve never lost sight of that. That’s very important to me. I often fear the pedestal that the world can you put you on. And I always want to feel my feet on the ground. That makes me feel safe.

Rihanna on her transition back to music and her love of road trips.

The pandemic kind of, in a weird way, forced me to slow down. And then when you have all these boundaries and restraints and rules and you have to stay home, you kind of get creative with ways to stay entertained, in a way. Road tripping was one of those things that I’ve always loved, I just usually road trip while I’m on tour. That’s the road trip. So I got to feel the things I love about tour without having the commitment of the show every single day. It was just nice to appreciate that time. I really enjoyed it, actually.

Rihanna tells Apple Music about being unapologetic.

I’m definitely not one that’s worried about coming off too bossy. I’ve been bossy all my life. Ever since I was a little girl, but [this performance] is riding on me, you know? There are a lot of people who are a part of this show, and huge part of the reason why this show’s gonna be as incredible as it is, and I couldn’t have done it without them. But you know what, at the end of the day, if it flops or it flies, my name has to stand by that. And so I really get involved with every aspect of anything that I do, whether it’s the Super Bowl, whether it’s a makeup product, whether it’s Savage lingerie, like, whatever I do, I’m that annoying girl who’s gonna talk about everything. I want to see the copy on the website! I want to name every lipstick that I make. I care about it. I love it. I love it, I really do.

Rihanna tells Apple Music about sticking to her core values

It’s true, it’s true, a lot of my core values have never left me. A lot of the lessons I’ve learned in my earliest years I have never forgotten. I carry them throughout my life and my career.

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Interviews

Travis Scott Sits Down to Speak On ASTROWORLD Fest Tragedy With Charlamagne Tha God

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Travis Scott Sits Down to Speak On ASTROWORLD Fest Tragedy With Charlamagne Tha God

Last month’s tragedy at Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD Fest left ten people dead after a crowd surge ensued with over 50,000 in attendance. Since the horrific night, almost 300 lawsuits have been filed against the rapper and more recently, Scott is now asking for 11 of those lawsuits to be dismissed, according to KPRC2NEWS.

For the first time, Travis Scott is speaking on the incident with The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God on his segment, A Conversation with Lenard. During the 51-minute interview, Travis Scott speaks on how he’s coping with the aftermath of ASTROWORLD Fest, his apology being mocked, finding out when things got bad at ASTROWORLD, and much more.

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