Lyrics, Recording, Production

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Tech N9ne, Eminem, or Hopson. Like I said, real is rare these days. Rap today sucks. Bad. It's up to the unknown to come and change that!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: When it comes to mixing and mastering, quicker completion usually yeilds better results.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: If I don't get the urge to tell my brain, "ay brain, that shit isss dopeee boy!" then the chances of it being worked on to completion are very slim. I'm not opposed to ANY genre. If I feel it, I bang it, produce, and present it. Period.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm a Wordsmith & Wesson with a lyrical delivery that even FedEx couldn't compete with. Straight fuego. Don't confuse my statements as arrogance. I've earned my right to have recognition. %100 self made, independent, original, creative, and unbelievably unbeatable. I come from a small little town, being the son of a third generation farmer, the white boy high school football captain dude that possessed the lyrical talent to spit the equivalent of what comes out a dragons mouth. Raised up anti rap, until hiphop saved my life. Real is rare these days, so I no longer keep it 100. I keep it 1000. Music saved my life. I plan to provide the world with the same kind of therapy. So undoubtedly.. A1. No Exceptions.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A1 Everything. That's all I know.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1) Scan through 45-650 beats on the eternal struggle trying to find my mood in rhythmic Form. 2) Write what I feel, so you feel what I write. (Non negotiable) 3) Swerving on at least 2 full verses grants me access to actually recording the project to either completion, or to a point of helping me remember the flow and pitch pattern. 4) If step 3 is fulfilled, then I proceed to isolate vocal recordings to their respective folders to prepare the files to be imported into Adobe Audition for the next step in the process. 5) Step one is white noise removal, step two is sound equalization, step three is sound leveling, step four is further equalization, step five is volume control, and so on.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I provide my fellow artist with %100 authentic, on the spot created, raw, unbiased, dedicated, fire fueled content they could ask for. No matter the genre, no matter the artist. What you get is A1. No Exceptions.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: Since the night I unintentionally overdosed, October 29th, 2004. Had no idea what hiphop was until shortly after being introduced to the one they call Eminem. My reaction to his ethnicity was extremely racially biased. I was fully convinced rap was NOT a caucasian hobby and/or career. That moment was a fucking game changer for me.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Verbally assertive. Lyrically impressive. Metaphoric thunder. Bars so hard you could sell em to a warden. Genuinely unfuckwithable. Always A1. There's no exception.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: When local artist refuse to collaborate on anything cause I bring mad skill. Collaborations are NEVER competitions for me. I bring my A game. It's nothing personal. It's all about the fire when I dose a beat. I expect you to have the same attitude. I'm here to kill it bruh! Leave the minimal effort productions to the radio rappers.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Would you give your child to a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Exactly. That's why you need to run with A1.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: I advise you to consider someone dedicated to bringing out the realest potential of your project. I don't cut corners. I choose an all nighter of hard word over sleep any day.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: 1) A genie. 2) A hovercraft. 3) A solar powered cellular device. 4) A group of females to fight to the death for my affection (and entertainment). -there can only be oneeee 😋 5) An escape plan incase shit goes south. I always have an alternate way out.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The therapeutic release of anger, aggression, and depression Im able to to achieve just by literally talking to myself in a manner that allows you to experience it as well.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I've kept this a secret until this very moment. Although I'm a proud owner of ProTools HD, I've actually preferred to commit to recording strictly on Acid Pro Music Studio (v.5.0a) and have done so ever since I first experienced the software back in 2004. I've used interfaces and studio microphones here and there, but my ultimate "go-to" will always be what I came in the game with.. and that's just the software phase. I run a Microsoft Surface Book 2 as my studio monitor. Compact, lightweight, easily accessible, great battery life, no fan noise, detachable keyboard for touch screen editing (AMAZING FEATURE), i7 processor handled heavy CPU loads efficiently, but if you know anything about the surface line of devices, you're aware of the lack of USB plug and play hubs (mine has two, and they only operate with the keyboard attached, but you'll understand why that's not at all an issue in my process soon), plus a few more minor details not necessary to mention here at the moment.. and that's just the 1/2 of the hardware phase. I lay every vocal track through a USB Yeti microphone, and a steel studio pop-blocker. Works flawlessly. (Yes, I'm aware that I'd have many major advantages with phantom power hardware ran through an updated DAW). I have that luxury. I just decline to use it.. and that's just the second half of the hardware phase. Here's where things get wild. I've recorded %85 of every song I've ever produced from the front seat of my car with the windows up. I prefer doing this over every other method I've tried. When it's done right, it's the most A1 topping to a trifecta setup I believe I could achieve. I personally recommend any home based independent artist to try it at least once. A1. No Exceptions.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Tech N9ne, Eminem, Strange Music, DJ Mustard, TPain, Mainstream Hiphop (Era 2003), Independent Artists, Real MFers, My Disorder, My Misery, and my hunger to be the best. A1. No Exceptions.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Since day one I've been blessed with the ability to destroy any and everything I've come in contact with in a conflicting manner. Seeing first hand how much less destructive words are than violent actions has taught me how to handle my unstable moodswings in a constructive way. Music is my medication. My meditation. My reparation. My serenade. My sense of appreciation. My validation. My heart and soul. My realization. My only go-to. My true commitment. My life til death. My truest feelings. My main escape. My murder outlet. My symphonies of madness. My melodies of laughter. My love of myself. Forever after. Without raw instrumentals and the freedom to express unfiltered emotions, I would filled my brain with bullets a fortnite ago. So for my life, I'm thankful I was given the skill to sing through those moments. Life is more than madness. Rhythm makes it worth it. I love y'all. -Mista A1

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An alliby, where to conceal this weapon, where to obtain a new identity, and the best way to achieve all 3 in the next 24 hours. 😎

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Mista A1.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog. It's got anal in the title. Say no more. Honesty, each producer has certain preferences. Always roll with what works.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: You'll never need a second revision. The first production will ALWAYS be as close to perfect as you could wish for.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Bruh, how are you so dope spitting untouchable flame and still unnoticed?? My dudes, music was never about leveling up via attention and recognition. Music was who I was. I made those sounds to stay alive. But now it's 2020 and I'm on a mission to go super sayan on these ratchet ass mumble rapping radio actors. A1 INDEPENDENT UNDERGROUND HIPHOP. NO EXCEPTIONS!