About this episode
Summary • DJ Loot's Introduction and Background (0:00) ◦ Matt Sue introduces DJ Loot, a music producer from Oroville, California, currently residing in Sacramento. ◦ DJ Loot shares his background, mentioning his establishment in Northern California for over two decades, producing various genres including hip hop, pop, and R&B. ◦ DJ Loot discusses his upbringing, mentioning that his grandparents raised him and he had a normal life with scholastic advantages. ◦ He talks about starting with the saxophone in the school band and later studying Recording Arts at Chico State, which formalized his music production skills. • Matt Sue's Background and Personal Struggles (2:58) ◦ Matt Sue shares his background, mentioning his early involvement in music and his label, Way Too Good Entertainment. ◦ He discusses his time in juvenile hall for a crime he did not commit, which involved a manslaughter charge and overdose deaths related to pills he sold. ◦ Matt Sue talks about his abusive father and his mother's coping mechanisms with gambling and loan sharks. ◦ He describes the hardships he faced growing up, including living in a 1982 Nissan Sentra and sleeping under a bridge with his family. • Matt Sue's Musical Journey and Inspirations (4:46) ◦ Matt Sue explains how he turned to music to get off probation and how his brother introduced him to hip hop. ◦ He mentions his early influences, including Rush and their drummer Neil Peart, and how they inspired his songwriting. ◦ Matt Sue discusses his experience in juvenile hall, where he started freestyling and eventually fell in love with hip hop. ◦ He shares his journey of getting degrees in music production and sound engineering, which helped him build his brand. • DJ Loot's Early Music Production and Inspirations (8:56) ◦ DJ Loot talks about his early DJing experience with rave music and his transition to hip hop. ◦ He mentions his influences, including 2 Live Crew, Ice-T, and Naughty by Nature, and how the late 90s saw a surge in rap artists. ◦ DJ Loot describes his early attempts at beat making with basic equipment and how he improved with time and feedback from dedicated hip hop heads. ◦ He shares his experience of producing and mixing albums for various artists, including San Quinn and Hollow Tip. • Collaborations and Industry Experience (13:56) ◦ DJ Loot discusses his collaborations with big-name artists, including San Quinn, Hollow Tip, and Mr. Fab. ◦ He mentions his work with Sony Records and Universal, and how he signed NDAs for unreleased songs. ◦ DJ Loot talks about his experience of producing and mastering entire catalogs for artists and his ongoing projects. ◦ Matt Sue expresses interest in collaborating with DJ Loot and shares his own music and beats. • DJ Loot's Radio Show and Future Plans (21:24) ◦ DJ Loot talks about his radio show, which started as an internet-only platform and later moved to Ozcat 89.5 FM in Vallejo. ◦ He explains the format of his show, which includes live interviews and playing local and regional music. ◦ DJ Loot mentions his plans to continue expanding his skills and genres, including EDM and house music. ◦ Matt Sue and DJ Loot discuss potential collaborations and future projects, including a possible compilation album. • Defining True Artistry and Hip Hop vs. Rap (25:34) ◦ Matt Sue and DJ Loot discuss their definitions of true artistry, emphasizing the ability to evoke emotions and resonate with the audience. ◦ They debate the differences between hip hop and rap, with DJ Loot arguing that rap is an element of hip hop. ◦ Matt Sue expresses his view that rap is often watered down and lacks the depth and storytelling of true hip hop. ◦ They both agree on the importance of skill and message in rap and hip hop.