[RH Premiere] Slot-A: “Rocking With It”
Slot-A: When did you create this song? How long did it take to record?
Slot-A: I created, “Rocking With it,” in late September. The one that everyone is hearing is actually a 4th version that I did. I like the original but i knew the record wasn’t absolutely undeniable. It was fresh if you are into hip hop but if you’re not – there wasn’t that much “ear candy” for the listener. The version you’re hearing is more of art piece then just the normal rap record. The record to this very day took me just short of a month to get everything how I wanted it. From the keys, bass, the sequencing, build ups, revisiting the mix, etc. The actually recording and writing took maybe two or three hours just because of my recording and writing process. A lot of the writing is written on my blackberry but as i record I make adjustments to the lyrics for flow and so it communicates right to listener. And thats after I do what I call a scat track, where i record myself mumbling over the beat to find a pocket and see what I can do with my voice over the beat.
RubyHornet: “BangHot” – is that statement like a theme for you and your sound? I see it branded often (banghottv)
Slot-A: Bang Hot is my production company. Back in like 03′ when roc-a-fella was really killing radio. Just blaze would say his name at the beginning of his records. My friends Adam & Rasheed, suggested I do the same. But I couldn’t be in every session to record that so around 06 before I moved to Brooklyn for a short period of time I recorded myself saying it and put a bunch of effects on it. Its a staple in my branding and what I do.
RubyHornet: Where does the song fit as far as it’s purpose for being on The Transition EP?
Slot-A: Even though, Rocking with it, doesn’t sound like it, its actually more pep talk then it is actually boasting. The Transition itself in a nut shell is me finding the confidence to step to the front of the line. I’ve been behind the scene’s on other people’s projects for a while. You get comfortable not having to be known like that and not having to be responsible to a certain degree.
Like working with Neak, Sincerely Yours, Add-2 & Mike Schpitz I felt like I didn’t needed to rap. Like bias aside, they’re awesome at what they do. I’ve been recording records for years and not releasing them; letting them sit. But after a while I didn’t feel that I was being represented in hip hop any more. Like i couldn’t relate to my favorites any more or wanted to be like them. I came up on UGK, Celly Cell, Lil KeKe, E-40, Mc Breed, RBL Posse, Pre-vocal stacking Eminem, Insecure Kanye, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Main Source, De La, ATCQ, Little Brother, Slum Village, Outkast, etc. I felt like the soul element was gone – to where you could really connect to a person. I wanted to create a project where I felt comfortable being who I was and god willing saying something that wasn’t just a hot a line.
My goal with The Transition is to be what the B Coming album by Beanie Sigel was for me. Outside of being dope, it was myself help book, it was my job commute music, etc. I want to pay that favor forward for the listeners and build a genuine relationships with them.
