My people over at Hip Hop Weekly sent us over a transcript for their exclusive interview with producer. Symbolyc One. Check out their Q&A with Symbolyc One as he speaks about his production on “Yeezus,” Hov’s up-coming ”Magna Carter” project and new group with Lupe Fiasco
Symbolyc One chops it up with Hip Hop Weekly’s J. Bachelor about his contribution to Yeezus and upcoming projects.
HHW: What were your first thoughts after hearing Yeezus?
S1: I always know what kind of creative level Kanye’s on, so I went in with a pretty open mind. I skimmed through every song and I really liked it. Sonically, it sounded different and as a creative person, I see myself in that same lane; every time I make something, I’m looking to go against whatever’s popular. It’s not my favorite Kanye album, but I still like it.
HHW: What’s your favorite Yeezy album?
S1: I have to say Late Registration. Musically that album is so incredible, just as a whole.
HHW: Do you think Yeezus is gonna have to sink in with people because it’s so different?
S1: I think so. One of the things I’ve noticed is that people either really love the album or they really don’t like it. I haven’t seen a lot of in-betweens, but I’ve actually read some people saying the album is growing on them.
HHW: Tell us about your contribution on Yeezus.
S1: Before Kanye started this album he had like 20 beats from me on hold, but what’s crazy is none of those 20 joints made the album. “Guilt Trip” was actually a joint I did in London for Watch the Throne. In fact, Kanye and Jay were in the room with me when I did it. I did it on the spot and they loved it – Kanye laid a verse immediately on it, and he ended up using it for this particular project. I make music to the best of my ability and move on, “Guilt Trip” is an example of that — a seed I planted a while back that was used later on.
HHW: Has the beat changed much since you originally recorded it?
S1: The beat is pretty much the same; he just kind of went in and beefed everything up.
HHW: Did you catch Jay-Z’s Magna Carta announcement last night?
S1: I did and I was really excited about it, because I didn’t know he was that close to releasing the project. I talked to Jay during the Watch the Throne Tour. I went to a couple shows and at the Vegas show he was like, “I know you got something for me, where the beats at?” I gave him a flashdrive with a bunch of dope beats on it, and that’s really the last time I heard from him. It’s one of those things where I could possibly have a couple beats on there, but you never know until a couple of weeks before it comes out.
HHW: You may be hearing something soon, Magna Carta’s set to drop July 4.
S1: Yep that’s exactly right. The approach to releasing it is so different, but I bet it does crazy numbers.
HHW: You think Jay was going for the double entendre with the title Magna Carta – almost sounds like a twist on his last name, Carter.
S1: You know what? It never even dawned on me. Could be ….
HHW: What’s next for Symbolyc One?
