Rapper Songwriter Mixer

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

A: One of the projects I’m proudest of is a recent track, “Sell Your Soil,” which is part of my own catalog. I handled every stage of it, from writing and vocal performance to cadence construction, mixing, mastering, and final vocal polish. It marked a real milestone in my growth behind the boards. The song began as a bare instrumental, but by the time it was finished, it had developed structure, energy, and a fully realized narrative. It reminded me why I love this craft. There was something cinematic about watching an idea grow from nothing into something people can feel.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m finishing multiple projects under my label, Daredreamer Recordings, including an upcoming EP and a full-length album under my artist name, Speaque. At the same time, I’m actively developing new collaborations and vocal features. My schedule stays productive, but flexible enough to take on new client work and give it the focus it deserves.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because of speed, flexibility, instant recall, and clean consistency. I came up in the analog era,and miss the warmth and grit of analog, but digital lets me create at the level I need.

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

A: A clean, intentional performance, sharp writing, fast communication, and a record that feels fully alive.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Turning someone’s idea into something tangible. Watching a rough beat transform into a record you feel in your chest.

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

A: Can you match this flow or this energy?” Answer: Yes — but I’ll bring my own authenticity to it so it feels natural, not imitated.

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

A: People think writing or recording a verse is just “spitting bars.” It’s actually architecture, pockets, tone, rhythm, clarity, intention, and translation

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What emotion do you want the listener to feel? • What’s the story or message behind this track? • Do you have a vocal reference or aesthetic reference? • What’s your deadline and revision timeline?

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

A: Be clear about the mood and message you want to convey. Reference songs are helpful, but energy descriptions are even better. The cleaner your vision, the cleaner the final product

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

A: gear? • Apollo Twin • Headphones • Blue Mic • MacBook Pro with Logic • Midi Keyboard/Drum Pads

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

A: I wrote my first rap when I was 10 and stepped into my first major recording studio by 16, Studio 4, home base for Columbia/Ruffhouse at the time. That experience set the tone for everything that came after. From there, I built my craft through years of recording, refining, and performing with my group, working with engineers and musicians who were part of real industry ecosystems. We collaborated with international acts that came through the States, and I toured stateside with artists like Les Nubians and Zap Mama, which sharpened my ear for live performance and musicality. Over the years, I released music through indie labels such as Groove Attack, Rope-a-Dope, and Full Blast, eventually establishing my own creative home, Daredreamer Recordings. Every phase from the early cipher days to professional studios and label releases has shaped the writer, rapper, and producer I am today.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Conversational but layered. Smooth but intentional. Soulful, witty, grounded, and cinematic, the kind of writing that makes you feel like you’re watching a scene instead of hearing a verse.

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

A: Probably Tyler, the Creator, he treats music like world-building. I like working with people who see songs as little universes, not just tracks.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always build the cadence before the words. If the flow is solid, the lyrics will fall into place. If the flow is shaky, even the best bars will sound forced.

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

A: Hip-hop in all its shades, soulful, alternative, underground, cinematic, and laid-back West Coast-leaning grooves. I also work on projects that blend hip-hop with R&B, jazz, storytelling, or spoken-word energy.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Cadence design and lyrical clarity. I know how to carve space in a beat, hit pockets clean, and choose words that sound natural out loud, not just clever on paper.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity, depth, and pocket awareness. I’m big on intention, the right cadence, the right tone, the right moment. My superpower is making a song feel like a lived experience, rather than a written assignment.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by attempting to understand the intention: the mood, message, and energy you want to hit. Then I build the cadence, shape the pocket, and write lyrics that feel natural to your world. From there, I record clean vocal takes, comp them, polish the timing, and deliver a performance that helps the song breathe. If I’m mixing, that’s the final stage: glue, balance, and clarity.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work out of a clean home studio, built around an Apollo Twin interface, featuring Neumann and Shure microphones, and utilizing Logic Pro. My chain relies on high-quality plugins like Waves, TDR, and iZotope for shaping vocals, along with a few secret sauce tools I’ve refined over the years. The room is treated, the workflow is fast, and the sound is warm and clear.

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

A: I pull inspiration from everywhere. I grew up on the West Coast when I really started listening to hip-hop, so the energy of N.W.A., Native Tongues, Wu-Tang, and early West Coast storytellers lives in my foundation. However, my musical DNA extends beyond rap. I’ve always been moved by the songwriting and scene-building of artists like Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, and especially Prince. Prince and Tyler, the Creator, both embody the kind of freedom I connect with: genreless, expressive, intentional, and unafraid to take risks. On the production side, I’m inspired by the textures and imagination of Alchemist, Madlib, and anyone who treats beats like cinematic spaces instead of just loops. When you blend that kind of musicality with my fascination for cadence, pattern recognition, and making words roll off the tongue with purpose, you get the lane I create, rooted in rap, shaped by storytelling, and influenced by every sound that has ever moved me.

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

A: clients. I help artists bring their ideas to life by writing complete songs, crafting hooks, refining verses, and delivering clean, mix-ready rap vocals. Most clients come to me when they want lyrics that feel lived-in and a performance that sits naturally in the pocket. I also handle mixing, vocal comping, and editing when they need the complete package.