The movement created by the New York rap collective The Diplomats appears to be gaining more strength each year, and as the Dipset drops more albums and gains bigger exposure, their projects seem to include an increased number of unknown producers looking for shine.
It’s from the Dips’ penchant for soliciting the work of new producers, that 23-year-old I.N.F.O. [an acronym for I’ll Never Fall Off] is making his way into the game.
John Christopher has been crafting beats from his home in the North Side of Pittsburgh since he was 18, but his stock soared in December when Cam’ron freestyled over one of his beats and then turned it into the Jay-Z bashing “Gotta Love It.” Since then, I.N.F.O., who also produced Cam’s “Get ’Em Daddy (Remix),” has worked with other Diplomats and artists such as promised work from Trey Songz and the Clipse.
The upstart beatmaker spoke with AllHipHop.com about the evolution of “Gotta Love It,” where he thinks a producer stands in the midst of a MC feud and his plans for future. The young beatmaker says he would like to work with Jay-Z, we asked him if he think Jay would work with him. Read it, daddy.
AllHipHop.com: Right now you’re part of one of the biggest stories in Hip-Hop. Tell me how you got involved with Cam’ron for “Gotta Love It?”
I.N.F.O: I started working with my manager, Spliff probably around last April. I’ve been giving him tracks non-stop, everyday. So, he just does what he tries to do. So, with the Cam’ron joint, one day Spliff hit me up with the sample. Within two hours, I had the beat done. In two hours, he had the beat to Cam’ron. The next day, Cam’ron recorded a song on Hot 97 on the same beat. So, we thought he’s gonna go ahead and make this track for his album. He’s just going to take the same track and rerecord it. So, a couple of weeks later I sent him the Pro Tools session, and then the next day out came “Gotta Love It.”
AllHipHop.com: So you didn’t have any discussion with Cam’ron at all?
I.N.F.O: Nah, I never spoke to Cam ever. I don’t know him at all.
AllHipHop.com: Did you have any idea that this was going to be used for a Jay-Z diss?
I.N.F.O: Nah, no. Not at all. I thought it was going to be a regular song. See, ‘cause he recorded the one song (the radio freestyle). You know what I mean? So, I figured he was just going to lace the same song, but record it in studio quality. And then just boom, out it came. Unexpected.
AllHipHop.com: Did you regret doing it now that he ended up using the song for that?
I.N.F.O: No, not really. I mean if you look at like Ron Browz who did the “Ether” [for Nas] joint that came out years ago. He looks like he’s sittin’ pretty nice right now. You know what I mean? Hopefully, I’ll be doin’ the same in a few years.
AllHipHop.com: What’s your favorite line from the song?
I.N.F.O: I really don’t have any in particular. I think the song is pretty good though.
AllHipHop.com: Do you feel loyalty to the Dipset? Would you consider making a beat for a rival MC?
I.N.F.O: I mean business is business. Cam’s beef with anybody doesn’t involve me. Anyone’s beef doesn’t involve me. I am a producer.
AllHipHop.com: Do you think that you may be blackballed from working on Def Jam projects since you were a part of this Jay-Z diss song?
I.N.F.O: [Laughs] Nah, I really don’t think any of that concerns me. Like I said earlier, Ron Browz did the “Ether” joint how many years ago? I am sayin’ through the change over time, I don’t think I should have no problems with that in my career.
AllHipHop.com: Cam’ron’s style has evolved over the years. How do you think he’s coming on Killa Season?
I.N.F.O: It’s gonna be great. I always respected Cam as an artist from day one, maybe even before I started producing. Buying Cam’ron’s first CD, I’ve been a big fan of him since back then. I followed his career through it all. He just seems to get better and better as time goes on. So, it’s definitely going to be a hot album.
AllHipHop.com: Are you producing other stuff for the Dipset?
I.N.F.O: Yeah, I done other stuff with the Dips. I got two joints on JR Writer’s CD History in the Making. That’s slated for June. That’s going to be his official first album. Then I got a joint on Hell Rell’s CD that I produced with my man Nova [I.N.F.O.’s occasional producing partner from Washington state]. Then I got a joint with Shiest Bub that’s unreleased right now too. Most of it is unreleased. It takes so long to get the stuff out.
AllHipHop.com: Have you had any direct contact with these guys, or is this all through sending these beats through e-mail?
I.N.F.O: Yeah, it’s pretty much all through my manager.
AllHipHop.com: Are you sorry that you can’t be in the studio and be part of the song making process a little more with these guys?
I.N.F.O: Yeah, I would like to be in the studio. It’s kind of hard though. I just had a kid. I am down here in Pittsburgh. I’d love to be up in the studio. I guess it’s a little hard you know, getting up there.
AllHipHop.com: You really had a busy few months.
I.N.F.O: Yeah. Pretty much, I’ve established like all of my big credits probably since Novemberish, December.
AllHipHop.com: So what’s it feel like? You’ve been making beats since 18. You got to think that you’re really starting to make it and be a part of the industry.
I.N.F.O: Yeah, really. It was good man. Not even like just the braggin’ rites of it, but just like I’ll eventually, hopefully be able to get some plaques on my wall which is pretty much – you can’t get anything more accomplished than that as a producer.
AllHipHop.com: What other people can we expect to hear rapping over I.N.F.O. beats?
I.N.F.O: [Laughs] I wish I knew. You know what I mean? I would love to work with some of the other big dogs. Fat Joe, Jadakiss, anybody. G-Unit, Jigga, the whole Roc, anybody. Anybody that can put out hot music.
AllHipHop.com: With the likes of Sam Sneed and Mel-Man hailing from Pittsburgh, it seems like the city has made more of an impact in Hip-Hop with producing instead of MC’ing. Did you take anything from them guys and have that influence your beatmaking?
I.N.F.O: Not really. I kind of — my style is a little bit different. I mean, I respect Mel-Man a lot as a producer. That dude’s really hot. He’s worked with Dre all them years. I really respect what he does. I look up to that. But I don’t think his style or anything rubbed off on me.
AllHipHop.com: You said you have a style all your own, but what other producers do you like?
I.N.F.O: Producers I’m feelin’? I’d say probably my favorites are Just Blaze, Alchemist, Kanye, Timbaland. I could probably go on for a couple hours if you wanted.
AllHipHop.com: Pittsburgh isn’t really a hotbed for Hip-Hop yet. Do you think that you can help spark something?
I.N.F.O: Yeah, I would like to. S**t. [Laughs] I got a couple boys that rap. They’re tryin’ to do their thing. They’re recording a couple songs. I would like to someday be able to help them out ’cause they’re really talented dudes. You can find more information about me at www.spliffingtonmanagement.com.