Video: A Conversation with Rashad

The Higher Plane catches up with ultra talented Columbus native, Rashad. The production guru behind Stalley’s Lincoln Way Nights is also preparing for his hybrid solo release, Museum.

In the interview, Rashad lets us know how the Stalley project came about, lessons he’s learned in the industry and the difference in approach he can take with his own music in comparison to working with other artists only as a producer.

I have been looking forward to liberating this interview for a little while now. Back in July at Summer Jam 614, we had the privilege to sit down with one of the best artist/producers out, Rashad. Although he has been doing music since his first deal at 13 years old, I didn’t become familiar with him until some of the early Fly Union projects I was on. Specifically, the track ”Go In” that he produced has always been one of my favorites and is a track I still listen to a bunch. That shit goes hard!

He then popped up on a few more Fly U tracks not only producing but crooning a few hooks for them. He also played a big role in LxE for the Uncool’s last two solo releases, The Anti-Parachute Theory and The Measure. While the former only featured a few nice Shaddy produced tracks, the latter was produced in its entirety by Rashad. To state it simply: The Measure is one of the most brilliant hip-hop records I’ve heard. To anyone who is a fan of this record (and if you aren’t, you haven’t heard it), you understand how flawless the production is across the entire album.

Little did I know that he was also part of Columbus super group, The 3rd. Not only does Rashad lend his production skills, but he can be found spitting bars and singing hooks. Yes, he’s that versatile.

It was in February 2011, that he did what I thought was likely to be impossible: create an album equal to The Measure. Having linked up with Ohio’s own Stalley, Rashad created a sound that gave one of the year’s top releases thus far, Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music), an exact audio representation of its name. Defining words through sound. That, my friends, is not easy to do.

Not only was it his production that garnered industry acclaim, but it was his splendid hook on the popular ”Slapp” that helped propel the project further into the mainstream than most hip-hop fans would have expected. Rashad will look to build on those melodic exploits, while continuing to cement his place as a production monster through his upcoming solo project, Museum. Rashad will likely finish out the year by releasing Attack of the Drum with The 3rd and a collaboration with The 3rd x Truch North called Reconstruction.

Be on the lookout for big things from Rashad and his Elevator Music family, C.O. City, P.A. Flex and Blacksmif, in the near future! And as they say, ”The Best Music is Elevator Music.”

PREVIOUSLY: Rashad – JAM (That’s My Sh*t!)