Behind the Music Business Podcast

Behind the Music Business Podcast with Dre Mullen Season 1, Episode 8

On today’s episode of Behind the Biz, the Producer’s Cut, host Dre Mullen digs in the archives and pulls out a conversation he had with GRAMMY Award winning producer and Reach Records VP of A&R Ace Harris. He has been instrumental in helping to craft some of the biggest records within the Reach Records catalog for Lecrae, Wande, Tedashii, and more. A GRAMMY nominated and winning producer in his own right, Ace has worked within the hip-hop and reggae genres with such artists as Nicki Minaj, T.I., Chris Brown, and Koffee. His ability to help in shaping bodies of work is definitely something special In this episode, they talk about being a first generation Liberian in this country, how Jay-Z affected him musically, the impact of faith based music in the mainstream music industry, taking the role of A&R of the leading faith based hip-hop label in the world, and the mindset behind creating one of the most talked about playlist every year. An episode you don't want to miss with one of the industry's best!

Behind the Music Business Podcast with Dre Mullen Season 1, Episode 7

On this episode of Behind the Biz, host Dre Mullen sits and talks with producer OnBeatMusic. From his humble beginnings as a drummer in local bands to his experimental approach to production, he has created hits for artists such as nobigdyl, S.O.,Derek Minor, and more, OnBeatMusic has shown what happens when you are willing to push beyond yourself. He is well respected among his peers within the Chirstian hip-hop genre and beyond. In 2018, he was a finalist in the Remy Martin Producer Series which solidified him as a producer to watch for. He has recently relocated to Canada where he now works with other producers and artists to bring awareness to the producer community there. They talk about his early times of recording music from the radio, how various genres of music have influenced his ear for production, his inspiration behind his beat process, and how a chance meeting helped to usher him out of a season of depression. You don't want to miss this episode!

Behind the Music Business Podcast with Dre Mullen Season 1, Episode 6

In this episode, host Dre Mullen sits and talks with one of the industry’s leading Grammy nominated music producer, Mario Winans. Mario is part of the famous Winans family, who are best known for their huge contribution to Gospel music, and where he would get his start in production. As he progressed as both producer and songwriter, he would become an integral part of the Bad Boy Records era, penning and producing some of the label’s biggest hits with their biggest artists. His production work on the breakout hit, “I Need a Girl Pt.1” and his feature on “I Need a Girl Pt. 2” has single handedly solidified Mario as a triple threat behind the boards, with the pen, and behind the mic. They talk about being part of the Winans family growing up, how important it was to learn how to drum with clothes hangers, how his mom, the legendary Vickie Winans, gave him a chance at production, how a song and its remixed changed his life, working with Diddy, and how he is pouring into the next generation with Golden City Entertainment.

Behind the Music Business Podcast with Dre Mullen Season 1, Episode 5

In this episode, host Dre Mullen sits and talk with award winning producer Jacob “Cardec Drums” Cardec. From his literal playing in the background as a drummer for artists Alex Faith, Dominic Balli, Andy Mineo, and more to his Reggae and Reggaeton infused production for Social Club Misfits, KB, and Spanish artists such as Redimi2, Cardec has demonstrated his innate ability to fuse his production ear with the deep musical timbre from his Latino roots. He is well respected among his peers within the Chirstian hip-hop genre and beyond. In 2019, he co-founded the independent label, No Apologies, with the goal of becoming the bridge between American hip hop and Latin based music. With the label’s first artist Tommy Royale and award winning production for other Latin American artists, Cardec is determined to bring his musical style with no apologies. They talk about how he discovered music, why he thought he needed a college degree to work production software, how he almost quit music to be a barber, and how his two year work with KB brought him into notoriety and a renewed sense of purpose.

Behind the Music Business Podcast with Dre Mullen Season 1, Episode 4

Respected beyond the genres of hip hop and R&B music, GRAMMY award winning producer, Swagg R'Celious, had his humble beginnings rooted in the church and has since evolved across cultural lines, from Korean pop star Hyo Lee to writing the score for the motion picture “Stick Up Kids”. Perhaps his most notable work is with Gabi Wilson, the R&B artist who is best known as H.E.R. As one of the executive producers on the project, Swagg helped to usher in a new era and sound of R&B that catapulted the young prodigy to the top of the charts as well as bringing prominence back to the females in the genre. With his own production company, Progressive Musik Group and an upcoming professorship at New York University, Swagg continues to strive to make a mark. He and host Dre Mullen talk about how he discovered music, how he went from playing drums to programming beats, the details of working with a young artist from scratch, and how his production company is really an example of his personal mantra.