As we all know, the music business in Atlanta has been booming since those days of Shawty Low, TI, and Young Jeezy. From early 2000’s to hip-hop today, Atlanta still continues to cultivate music for the culture. While we may give major props to great Atlanta producers like Metro Boomin, Zaytoven, London On Tha Track, and many others, the city is still left with other underrated producers.
“Luv is Rage 2” is not the first album’s he’s collaborated on. Lyle has been crafting melodies and beats together since 2002. His journey through the music industry began when his best friend introduced him to music engineering and gave him access to Hip Hop EJ, a music operating software. He moved from New Orleans to Atlanta in 2003 and his journey officially began there.
Lyle has collaborated with many artists and only shoots higher for his next collaborations. He’s produced music for artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, A$AP Rocky, Young Jeezy, and much more. Lyle also works closely with Don Cannon, an Atlanta producer and DJ who has received much notoriety for his music and career advances. Lyle gets most of his inspirations from Pharell Williams and aspires to collaborate with Kanye West and Jay-Z. Find out how he dove into the music industry as a successful producer, meeting and collaborating with Lil Uzi Vert, as well as tips on networking and ways of thriving in the music business. Also, congrats on your newest accomplishment!
Read my full in-depth interview with music producer, Lyle LeDuff.
Paulette: When did you first begin producing music and beats? What programs did you initially begin using when you were learning how to create music?
Lyle: I started messing with music software in 2002. I started with Hip Hop EJ, and then FL Studio. Now, I’m exclusively using Ableton Live 9.
Paulette: Who inspired you to create music?
Lyle: My best friend Jaysen gave me Hip Hop EJ, and I loved it. It had prerecorded loops that you could organize and it would be a beat, simple. Jaysen, later on, introduced me to FL Studio (I wasn’t making full beats in there, just looped beat ideas), and then I really realized that I wanted to keep doing music. So all of this was happening in New Orleans. Right before I moved to ATL for my senior year of high school (moved to ATL in summer ’03, C/O ‘04), my friend Nick showed me how to format and layout a full beat/song idea in FL Studio and that just expanded my mind. I finally really knew what I was doing to start working on my quest to become a producer.
Paulette: Describe your process in creating music? Do you have a certain ritual or practice before going to the studio?
Lyle: I sit down and get to work. I usually don’t sit down and make a beat for anyone specific, I just try to make a dope ass beat! Sometimes things inspire me to produce, and it can be anything. Sometimes I’ll have stints where I look at certain videos or picture to get my juices flowing. One time it was “worst horror death scenes” on YouTube. Once it was H. R. Giger and his art and life. Right now, I’ve been super inspired by 80’s and 90’s post-modern interiors and homes/office buildings/malls.
Paulette: What do you remember being your very first memory or connection with music?
Lyle: Hearing certain music played in certain situations. Mom clean up, oldies/church music, Saturday car ride jazz, reggae and rap with my dad, my neighbor’s older brother/my step dad’s nieces playing local rap, too many memories! Never thought I’d be doing music but it’s funny how its always been in my life…
Paulette: Who are your top 5 favorite artists of all time?
Lyle: No order. Jay-Z, Kanye, Pharrell. I couldn’t think of 2 more because I suck at picking a 5 artist list.
Paulette: Who is someone you may idolize or look up to?
Lyle: Pharrell. Music, art, fashion, design, he’s done it all man.
Paulette: How did you and Lil Uzi Vert meet? How did you begin composing music and beats for him?
Lyle: Don Cannon, his cousin and I were headed to Atlantic City for a DJ gig Cannon had, and we were listening to the radio on the way. We hear this song named “UZI” by a kid named Lil Uzi and it was crazy, and the DJ kept yelling “He’s from Philllllllyyyyyyyy” on air. The sound was so different from anything we’ve heard from the typical Philly rapper. Me and Cannon’s cousin were telling Cannon he had to find this kid. Turns out, the DJ playing the song was Dj Diamond Kuts and she knew him. Cannon knew her and reached out and after a week or so, we all Facetimed him. A few weeks after that, Cannon went to Philly and met him. About a month later, Cannon told Uzi to move here, and he never left.
Paulette: How does it feel to be a part of Lil Uzi Vert’s debut as No. 1 album on the Billboards chart?
Lyle: It feels incredible. I had been stressing this whole year because I had no songs on the album until the week or so before it came out! I was pretty much the last song to make it.
Paulette: So far, what has been your biggest accomplishment?
Lyle: By far, being on a number 1 album is my biggest accomplishment right now. Other than my minor goals, linking with Cannon, meeting hella artists and creative.
Paulette: What has been your favorite project or song you’ve collaborated with?
Lyle: Asap Rocky’s first tape and Jeezy’s album.
Paulette: How were you able to market yourself as a music producer in Atlanta with all this new music going on right now?
Lyle: I collect sneakers, and that’s how I met everyone that’s helped my music career. So everyone in the industry knew me from that. And once I was comfortable enough to say I made beats, that’s when I started looking for help to advance my career.
Paulette: What artist would you like to collaborate with?
Lyle: Still Jay-z and Kanye. But to be honest, anyone who’s dope and open minded!
Paulette: Where do you see yourself in 5 years with music?
Lyle: Still hungry to get ahead, and wanting to improve my skills.
Paulette: Describe your music/beats in one word.
Lyle: Obsessive.
