Scott Storch is quietly making his return, yet shunning opportunity to exploit himself. In returning to the scene, the producer is re-considering the media (canceling reality shows), steering clear of w###### himself out (Twitter) and even reflects on the loves of his life (Lil’ Kim). Through it all, “The Piano Man” is ready to do it again, with a more composed, humble boastfulness, where deeds speak louder than words.
AllHipHop.com: Timbaland recently said that he’s abandoned Hip-Hop and that he’s no longer interested in the music as a genre. What are your feelings on Hip-Hop these days?
Scott Storch: I love Hip-Hop. I love all music. In terms of its place in the market. Its not, you know, technically as strong and other [forms] of music. I shouldn’t even say that. It’s not as strong as it was at one point, dominating like everything. I still there there’s gems and plenty of ill Hip-Hop records to make. Living proof is Jay-Z.
AllHipHop.com: Yeah, Jay-Z and Raekwon. They pretty much have things on lock, you know, for the album.
Scott Storch: That realness of the album. The Hip-Hop experience.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve worked with a lot of pop acts in the past. I don’t know who came first, you or Tim, but you had Brooke Hogan and Paris Hilton. Do you plan to go forward with those other types of artists going forward?
Scott Storch: I’m going to be more selective about what I’m working on. In the world of pop, I did a whole album for Christina Aguilera, I mean, seven songs. Things like that, I would definitely attach myself to.
AllHipHop.com: I have to ask you about this too, especially with Brooke. Was there any “exchange” – a** for beats (also known as f***ing for tracks)? Any non-monetary exchange for music?
Scott Storch: No, not at all. You know what it was? I worked with her solely on one thing: her father asked me to do it. I was cool with The Hulk [Hogan]. You know? I did him a solid. It kind of backfired on me, but, you know…that’s the only reason that I did it.
AllHipHop.com: You and Christina seemed really close, but she really aired you out on a song. Do you guys feel like you will be able to repair that relationship again?
Scott Storch: I’m not sure. I would love to work with her in the future. But you know, things happen…people change…we’ll see where that goes. Again, that move, her making that song was like the Timbaland and myself feud. It wasn’t necessary.
AllHipHop.com: I asked a lot of people about you on my twitter and a lot of people wanted to know what was up with you and Lil’ Kim. Were you in love…? Are you able to answer those questions?
Scott Storch: I love her to this day. She’s a wonderful girl. She has had a not-so-easy life. And she’s dealt with the same things that the media puts everybody through and I have feelings for her as a person and we dated. We were cool and that’s all that was. I consider her a friend and somebody I care about for the rest of my life.
AllHipHop.com: You just mentioned the media. I can only imagine, but what is it like to be under such a microscope?
Scott Storch: It sucks and 90% of the stuff that comes out about me isn’t true. Like I was sitting around my boy’s crib one day and watching a movie, and flipping channels and I’m seeing on TV that I’m arrested and I’m in jail. I sitting there watching this s**t like, “What are they talking about?” Just dumb s**t like that. And look at Chris Brown and what he’s gone through – not that was he did was right – but still, its the media. And Tiger Woods. Anybody. People they just want to have an opinion these days. I think its too much information, too accessible to people. People should really care more about your art form or your craft. Everybody’s gonna be sorry when they turn on the TV and they are watching golf and they’re not going to be able to see Tiger. They ran him out of [golf] and now he’s going gonna want to [play]. Now, you’re going to have to suffer for a year. Its the fault of the media.
AllHipHop.com: Its crazy sometimes, because certain low-brown media almost force you to cover things you wouldn’t normally cover, due to a new demand for it. Its a Catch 22, very monkey see, monkey do. What’s your view on Twitter? Are you into that?
Scott Storch: I’m not really into it, but its kinda strange. Maybe people should try to do stuff instead of talking about what other people are doing. I don’t know. And Twitter…would you want people to know what you are doing all the time? I don’t. All these Facebooks and Twitters, there are 10 Scott Storchs on there and none of them are me. To this day, 90% of the interviews that I read, it says that I’m from Canada. I’ve never been to Canada in my life.
AllHipHop.com: Oh yeah? I read that too.
Scott Storch: I’m from New York. I was born in Long Island. I’ve never been to no Canada.
AllHipHop.com: (Laughs) Wow.
Scott Storch: It’s annoying when you read fake s**t about yourself, you know?
AllHipHop.com: That’s like “a fact,” because if you read certain credible sites its listed as suck.
Scott Storch: Its f**kin’ weird, man.
AllHipHop.com: That’s the internet. It’s still very Wild, Wild West. It probably will be for a long time.
Scott Storch: From a production standpoint, what equipment are you using? What’s your approach to music?
Scott Storch: You mean creatively or the process?
AllHipHop.com: Yeah, creatively and the equipment too.
Scott Storch: I’m still very old school, because I play live. A lot of stuff you think is looped, I’m playing the s**t all the way through. There are little minute, subconscious changes [that are seen] when you play the “loop” all the way through. It creates a nice feel. I do a lot of that. I try not to have one particular way of attacking it – not one particular source. I try to find drums from all over the place, not just from my drum machine. Sonically, I think it is important for each song to be its own experience instead of using stock [sounds].
AllHipHop.com: As far as other producers, do you have anybody that you are checking for?
Scott Storch: I have people that I’m a fan of, you know?
AllHipHop.com: Lets take it back to you early days with The Roots and stuff. You’ve made several seemingly dramatic changes musically since the beginning from The Roots to Dre to Fat Joe…
Scott Storch: It just goes back to the fact that that’s a challenge to me to work on different things, adapt to challenge. And learn. I try to attack all facets of music. It is what it is. Its like you’re a product of your environment. When I’m in Philly, I feel that Philly energy. If I’m in L.A. and I’m sitting there for six months, after a while you start soaking it up.
AllHipHop.com: Has the rate you charge for a beat been affected by your “crisis?”
Scott Storch: Not so much the crisis, but more [because of] the state of the music industry. But sort of. When you are in your prime, people will give you a check to walk in the studio. And now, it’s a little different. You go in the studio, make some records and then you get a check.
AllHipHop.com: Are you doing a reality show?
Scott Storch: No, I’m not doing that. It was something that was talked about, but no.
AllHipHop.com: Did you cancel it?
Scott Storch: Yeah. You know what? It was interfering with my life. Its not me. I’ve had enough people talking and s**t like that. I don’t want to have one more thing for people poking fun at. What I originally was thinking about doing a show for was…that message got lost. What the producers wanted out of the show…I wanted something that would inspire people, in terms of recovery and something inspirational. That’s not what it turned into.
AllHipHop.com: You think they were more interested in sensationalism?
Scott Storch: Yeah.
AllHipHop.com: I figured as much. What do you see in the future for you?
Scott Storch: Taking it day by day. I’m inspired so I think it’s going to be real productive period. Hang on, because its going to be a period for 2010. Its about to be serious. The world hasn’t seen the last of Scott Storch.
