instrumology

Before I became a beat maker and a music producer, I was a music enthusiast first. Growing up in a Bronx apartment with 4 siblings, a mother and a father that constantly played music a high volumes on the weekend. I can remember the feeling that I got when I listened to certain songs that my father would play on his record player, which he forbade us children never to touch. In my apartment, you would be listening to any genre of music and any popular artist or music group. I might come home from school and my father might be playing Jimmy Castor, or maybe Queen, he might even throw on some Frank Sinatra, and then some Kool & The Gang. After my father and mother separated, The loud music came to minimal decrease, but my father left behind his record collection, which I’d sought threw as a young teenager, looking for music to sample on my Casio SK-5 Keyboard. In my teenage years, hip-hop became my passion. I knew that I wanted to be apart of the culture in every way. b-boy, mc, dj, whatever it was, I was ready for it. As I became an adult, my views and opinions when talking about music had changed drastically. I know longer had that same feeling that I’ve felt all my young life. What happened to the feelings? Did radio or video change how I felt about music? Or, was it that I was just tired of artist putting out microwave music? Or was it all of the above? Only in my most recent years has my feelings for music been somewhat restored. I began putting out my own music and promoting it independently and started instrumology.com for music lovers, but mostly for the music producers and aspiring beat makers worldwide. This is how I was able to connect with music producers worldwide that work with talented artist around the world that I might have overlooked if it wasn’t for the internet. THIS STORY BRINGS ME TO the NEXT Producer to shine the spotlight on. His name is Siba Giba, music producer, mc, label owner, and one 3rd member of “Get Open” a rap group based in New York City. Siba Giba has worked with a lot of notable artist and his beat making skills vary from dope to classically dope!!! Siba Giba is our next interviewee and our most recent producer to share the spotlight. Read his entire interview below.

 

 

Inst: Let the world know who you are and where you’re from?

Siba: My name is SibaGiba and I’m originally from France but live in Brooklyn for more than 20 years.

 Inst: Who have you worked with & how long have been beat making or producing? 

Siba: I’ve worked with Daddy-O (Stetsasonic), Sadat X (Brand Nubians), IAM & Faf LaRage (Marseille), Vinia Mojica, Freestyle Fellowship, Produced 2 tracks for Evelast’s  triple platinum & grammy nominated LP, “Whitey Ford Sings The Blues”. And with my Hip-Hop group Get Open.

Inst: How did you get started beatmaking-producing?

Siba: I started making beats in 1990 back in France. As I’m originally a drummer since the age of 3 years old, so making beats on a drum machine was almost a natural progression. But my first track, I sampled “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder.

 

Inst: Of all of the artist that you’ve worked with, do you have a favorite artist that you work well with? 

Siba: Yes, I worked with Sadat X on a couple of occasions and an easy cat to work with. Easy going and always prepared.

 Inst: What equipment and or software are you using? 

Siba: Protools, Started with Akai s950, then Akai 6000 then moved to MPC 2000, MPC 500 and now MPC Element.

 

Inst: Do you use or prefer sampling over playing live instruments?

Siba: I do both. But sampling is my favorite way to create.

Inst: Has anybody influenced your style?

Siba: The Bomb Squad (P.E.), Marley Marl, DJ Premier, A Tribe Called Quest.

 

Inst: Do you ever see yourself quitting or retiring from beat making? 

Siba: I’ll always make beats ‘til I reach the grave.

Inst: Do you feel that there is a difference between being a producer and being a beat maker?

Siba: Absolutely, the word producer has been misused in Hip-Hop.

There is a difference, a producer doesn’t automatically touch or program any machines although he can, a producer advises, suggests and make decisions on sound, musicians to use, style to approach and direction.

A beatmaker makes tracks and that’s pretty much it.

 Inst: Do you have any tips, tricks, or advice that you’d like to share?

Siba: I work with kids for the past 4 years and I always tell them be Original, think outside the box, that’s how you create your own sound. You can copy to practice but you must be unique to be noticed.

I also advise all beat makers to use sampled drums which are much warmer in sound than any sound bank you can find online or in stores.

Sample is the key to Hip-Hop production, less these days but it will always be the basis of the music. That’s what made and makes Hip-Hop unique.

 

Inst: Where can we hear your work?

Siba: You can hear my track for Everlast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a99CrEg7Tc

Track with VonMeista ft. Sadat X

https://soundcloud.com/sibagiba/rhymes-vonmeista-featuringMy new project with Get Open (Free Album): http://getopenmusic.bandcamp.com/album/black-book-free

Some beats right here:

https://soundcloud.com/sibagiba