Here's a classic freestyle 'Tay did for Peter Rosenberg's Real Late show, re-released in honor of today's announcement that both Phonte and 9th Wonder will join Rosenberg for a live interview at Noisemakers on April 6th. Little Brother reunion incoming?

LISTEN: Phonte - "Real Late" (prod. Khrysis)

Phonte - "Real Late" (prod. Khrysis) No related posts.]]>

Here’s a classic freestyle ‘Tay did for Peter Rosenberg’s Real Late show, re-released in honor of today’s announcement that both Phonte and 9th Wonder will join Rosenberg for a live interview at Noisemakers on April 6th. Little Brother reunion incoming?

LISTEN: Phonte – “Real Late” (prod. Khrysis)

Phonte – “Real Late” (prod. Khrysis)

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ACTUAL PROOF - THE X FACTOR from Pricefilms on Vimeo.

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ACTUAL PROOF – THE X FACTOR from Pricefilms on Vimeo.

The latest from 9th Wonder’s IWWMG imprint, directed by Kenneth Price. Taken from The Talented Tenth.

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King Mez and Khrysis team for this Mike D'Angelo directed clip.

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King Mez and Khrysis team for this Mike D’Angelo directed clip.

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Here we go with a new track from Little Brother featuring Torae. Good track right here, with production from Khrysis. Check it out and make sure to get the album when it his stores on April 21st. LISTEN: Little Brother + Torae - "24" No related posts.]]>

Here we go with a new track from Little Brother featuring Torae. Good track right here, with production from Khrysis. Check it out and make sure to get the album when it his stores on April 21st.

LISTEN: Little Brother + Torae – “24″

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   Look up the word patience in the dictionary and there may be a picture of Khrysis. The North Carolina-based Justus League producer has no doubts that his time in the spotlight will come. In fact, he's more in to honing his craft while buildin No related posts.]]> Look up the word “patience” in the dictionary and there may be a picture of Khrysis. The North Carolina-based Justus League producer has no doubts that his time in the spotlight will come. In fact, he’s more in to honing his craft while building a resume of work that more than explains why he is among the League’s finest.

With production on forthcoming albums from Hall of Justus, Darien Brockington, Sean Price, and his group the Away Team, Khyrsis chatted with HipHopSite about the new additions to his producing arsenal, the easiest and most challenging League members to construct beats for, the rock group he’d love to work with and why fans should forget everything they’ve heard from him.

HipHopSite: How did you get down with the Justus League?

Khrysis: I met Chaundon at (North Carolina) Central (University) when I was like 16. I had an internship or something like that at Central’s radio station while I was in high school. And he basically just introduced me to the crew and I kept in touch with everybody throughout the years. We all met doing music pretty much. After a while after time went on we became friends and whatnot…I started engineering sessions for them and then the next thing I know they voted me in. The first cut of the Away Team album was done before I was even voted in.

HHS: You and 9th Wonder are the most well known producers in the Justus League. Are there any other producers in the crew? If so, how many total?

Khrysis: There was a point in time where there was four of us. It was me, 9th, Eccentric and Yorel. As far as Eccentric and Yorel, by the time I came in, I hadn’t seen them around as much as everybody else had. They started doing their own thing. I think Yorel went to a school or something and so did Eccentric. Eccentric ended up going to law school, doing entertainment law and whatnot. So as far as they go, we haven?t really heard much from them.

I think just recently I think you’ll hear a producer on the HOJ album and on Darien?s album. His name is E. Jones. So that’s pretty much that’s all the in-house that’s going on right now. It’s me, 9th and E. Jones.

HHS: In a recent interview you said that every song is a stepping stone. Is it a challenge to continuously come up with beats that provide that stepping stone to what it is your trying to obtain?

Khrysis: Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s not, you know. Sometimes it can be a real roll of the dice. Like a lot of times, I just come right up like ‘Alright. Boom boom bang,’ you know what I’m sayin’. ‘Boom, we got a song.’ Then other times, it’s like “No that’s not it. No, that’s not what we’re looking for. No, that’s not where we’re trying to go with it, whatever have you.’ It’s a gradual step for everything that I’m trying to achieve as a producer and also try to achieve as a member of Hall of Justus and the Away Team, whatever what have you. That’s why I pretty much call every song a stepping stone because it’s like another achievement. It’s another look that I’m trying to build up.

HHS: That stepping stone, is it more like a trial and error type thing?

Khrysis: Yeah. I got beats I consider fuck ups. Like an accident, for real. Like ‘Oh damn. I didn’t mean for that shit to happen.’ And then niggas will be like “Oh, that shit is dope. Fuck it. Let’s run it anyway.’ Or even I will be like – Well, I didn’t mean for that to happen, but it’s dope so I’mma keep it.’

HHS: Are there any beats we would know of that was initially just an accident but just came out a hit?

Khrysis: There are some out there, but none I can name off the top of my head. Ones that would be easy for me for me to remember would be beats that I don’t even like that just end up being dope…I’d have to say, if people want to know, I’ll give an example, “Doin Me” by Little Brother. I didn’t really like that beat. I almost threw it out. That and “Door to My Life” by Joe Scudda. I almost threw that beat out, but Joe stopped me.

I had one person tell me that never throw beats out, even if you don’t like ‘em and then play them anyway for somebody. The worse thing anybody can ever say to you is ‘No,’ you know. Just go somewhere and come back. Make it right. Work with people, you know what I’m sayin.

HHS:  Who’s the most challenging Justus League member to make beats for?

Khrysis: Honestly, (Sean) Boog. That’s why I like working with him so much because it’s like a real challenge as far as coming up with song ideas and concepts. Him and Chaundon, too. Me and Sean used to argue a lot. Chaundon especially because he has a particular taste that he likes. Or they get a beat and we might sit on it or whatever what have you.

With Boog, Boog is a challenge because it’s a whole new song we trying to come up with concepts period. We try to come with concepts that either: (A) We haven’t covered yet or (B) Nobody’s covered yet. And that’s a challenge within itself and it’s fun. I have a blast doing that.

HHS: Who is the easiest Justus League member to make beats for?

Khrysis: Pooh. Pooh is the easiest. He comes in. He has his shit already written. Basically, he just wants to develop something bouncy that he can rock to. He’s real crazy with his flow and his progress now…I think he’s real slept on for that too, as well. Either that or he might get caught up in the shadow. Which I’m feelin’ that because I get caught up in the shadow of 9th… that means me and him have that much in common. With that said, I also vote him as one of the most slept on League members as well.

HHS: You use Fruity Loops and Cool Edit to construct a lot of your beats. Those are pretty reliable systems. Why stick with them and not use something better?

Khrysis: Actually, I’m glad you asked me that question. I have added the MPC 1000 and M-Audio Axiom 49 to the equation right now. So basically, yeah I sat up for 12 hours and learned how to use the MPC 1000 one night. E. Jones let me hold his mini keyboard because he uses Reason. So he let me hold his audio keyboard and as you know it runs through USB, so I midied the MPC to the keyboard and midied the keyboard to Fruity Loops. So I’m using the MPC, the M- Audio the fuckin’ Cool Edit and Fruity Loops now.

The reason why I stuck with Fruity Loops through the years… I mean pretty much 1. The main reason is because it’s all I know. It’s all I’ve known since I’ve started making beats. 2. The possibilities with Fruity Loops is endless. You get infinite sample time. I love all the effects and presets and all that shit that comes with Fruity Loops. It’s got some great sounds in it too. I’ve been experimenting nowadays with using keys now. I got a keyboard. I might as well fuck around and play keys a little bit.

You’re going to hear some sample-free beats come out of there in a short amount time. Matter of fact one of them, I did this song strictly off Fruity Loops. This was before the M Audio and the MP, but I have a song on The Shield where I didn’t use any samples at all. It’s me and Joe Scudda and Pooh on this episode that Joe Scudda was on. There is a song on there playing in one of the scenes called Behind the Shield. That’s my no sample debut. It was on the show already. The episode already aired. When the DVD drops check for it.

HHS: Is it frustrating that 9th Wonder is the League producer everybody knows and not you?

Khrysis: Nah. Not at this point because since over the years, I’ve had a lot of room to grow and just kind of do my own thing and experiment with different sounds. Not to mention, as I’ve said in previous interviews, it’s like he’s kickin’ in the front door and I’m sneaking in the back window. It ain’t a role that I chose, but it’s the role I play. I just went ahead played it like “I’mma just play the back until it’s time.”

Now, I don’t know what position I’m in right now, because it’s like I got eight joints on the HOJ album right now. 9th got two. I got eight joints on Sean Price’s album, 9th got four. So it’s kind of been shaping into what it’s going to be. Things are meant to happen when they happen. So rather than me trying to force it upon the masses I might as well do what I do until it’s time for me to break out.

HHS:  Who inspired you to make beats?

Khrysis: Just the regular producers, the same ole. Premo, Pete, Dilla, Nottz. Aw man, the list goes on. RZA. RZA had a huge influence, man. When I was in middle school I was a Wu-Tang head. You couldn’t tell me shit. If you dig a little bit deeper, you’ll find Beatminerz and Diamond D. My influences are pretty much the usual suspects. And of course the newer folks. I’m digging the Neptunes, Scott Storch, Timbaland, you know.

HHS: There have been cases of producers making beats that don’t match up to the intensity of the artist’s lyrical stylings. As a producer, how important is it to be on point with the artists as far as matching beats up to their flow?

Khrysis: I’ll go as far as fuck around… I’ll change a beat quick. If I don’t like where something is going, I’ll change beats or if I have to sit on it and ride on it for a while and be like “Naw, this ain’t it.” Yeah, I think it’s very important that the beat and lyrics have to make a marriage. If it don’t work, it don’t work. If it works, great.

And it doesn’t even have to be the dopest beat in the world. Like I said, there have been beats that I’ve hated and then niggas were called to them and it turns into a hit. That goes back to “Doin Me.” I didn’t like that beat. I really didn’t. I thought it was soft and I thought it was pussy. And I called it everything but a child of God. (laughs) Yeah, the marriage with the beat and raps is very important.

HHS: If you had the opportunity to pick any artist (past and present), no matter what musical genre is there a dream list of artists that you’d like to work with?

Khrysis: Busta, Ghostface, Lil Wayne. Um boy that’s a long ass list. Anybody from G-Unit. Dr. Dre, of course. I’d work with a couple of rock groups, too. I’d do something with My Chemical Romance man. I’d fuck with them pretty hard. Anybody. There’s a lot of people I’d love to work with. Busta being number one.

HHS: Much has been mentioned about hip-hop being dead. Has hip-hop run out of original beats, become too dependable on samples?

Khrysis: No. Hell no. No way man because there is so many different ways that you could flip a sample. It’s like two different producers could hear the same record and get something completely different out of it….It’s so many things that can be done in so many different ways that I don’t think there’s anyway possible that it can run out.

Then you got producers that sample and play keys at the same time and will do both on the same track. I don’t think there’s really a possible way for samples to run out for us to rely on samples too much or for samples to even run out for that matter. The possibilities are endless.

HHS: What’s the status of the Away Team? Is another album on the way?

Khrysis: We started on the second project already. We’re probably like four songs deep. We just started out. The name of the album is Stars and Stripes. We’re shooting for it to drop on ABB, Hall of Justus. So far we have one guest appearance right now and that’s from Evidence of Dilated Peoples.

HHS: When can people see the new album in stores?

Khrysis: Probably be late summer of next year. We’re also be reaching out for outside production. We got a joint from Evidence right now. We got a joint from Jake One right now and then there’s a couple of other people that we’ll add too. I’ll still be doing the bulk of the album.

HHS: Any reason why you’re branching out to outside producers?

Khrysis: Basically, just to see what happens. It’s more like ‘Let’s try it and see what happens’ kind of thing. If it doesn’t work out, then you probably won’t hear it (laughs). For the most part, this was kind of a thing that it was a decision we made together. You know like ‘Aright, let’s go for it.’

HHS: In recent years, producers have become as recognizable as the artists they craft beats for. Does that add pressure to you to create something worthwhile in light of people knowing you by name and your production style?

Khrysis: Naw because I started making beats because it’s something that I love to do. Whether everybody recognize me or not or I’m trying to be superstar status, it doesn’t really matter. Just as long as I’m able to make a living at what I’m doing I’m pretty much satisfied. As long as I’m able to pay my bills (and) I got some place to live, I don’t feel a whole lot of pressure, you know what I’m sayin’. Actually, that’s where most of the pressure comes from. When money gets real tight, that’s when I’m like “OK, it’s time to turn the heat on.” That’s it pretty much.

HHS: What can we expect from Khyrsis in the future?

Khrysis: Basically, when the HOJ album drops, I’m gonna need everybody to forget everything that they’ve heard from me before. Like I said, I’ve been in the cut. I’ve had a chance at a lot of times to explore and experiment with all kinds of different sounds.

A lot of people are going to hear stuff that they wouldn’t expect to hear from me. That and the Darien album. I got two songs on Darien’s album as well. Darien’s album is called Somebody to Love and the Hall of Justus album, Soldiers of Fortune will both be dropping on Oct. 3, 2006. We’re calling it HOJ Tuesday, for those that don’t know. Also, I have Jesus Price from Sean Price which will be dropping on Duck Down on Oct. 31.

HHS: Can you give us a hint of the new sound?

Khrysis: Well first of all, like I said I’ve been experimenting with a whole lot of different sounds ranging from samples to drums to me playing over top of samples. Shit like that, 808′s. I been fucking with those a lot recently…I might piss a whole lot of people off, but fuck ‘em

HHS: Final words?

Khrysis: HOJ Tuesday, Oct.3, 2006. Hall of Justus Soldiers of Fortune. Darien Brockington Somebody to Love. HOJ Tuesday. Big shout to everybody out there reading or listening or whatever the fuck they doing.

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HHS: The story of how Little Brother came together is well-documented, but how did Away Team come together?

Sean Boog: Basically we (Khrysis and I) met at Missie Ann (Missie Ann is the studio that Cesar Comanche ru No related posts.]]> By: Darin Gloe & Cardiff Giant

HHS: The story of how Little Brother came together is well-documented, but how did Away Team come together?

Sean Boog: Basically we (Khrysis and I) met at Missie Ann (Missie Ann is the studio that Cesar Comanche runs, Little Brother recorded all of The Listening there and we recorded half of National Anthem there) through Comanche and 9th.  It wasn’t till about a year or two later that we decided to do this Away Team shit

HHS: L.E.G.A.C.Y., How were you indoctrinated into the camp and when?

Legacy: It was mid 2001, thanks to Leaguer Mike Berv AKA Mikey Whispers, he took me to 9th, I dropped a song and it was dope, a week later it was like “Leg you wanna be in JL”?

Khrysis: And after we jumped him in!!

HHS: Khrysis, there’s only so many accolades that can be thrown around in one camp, with 9th being such a hot commodity these days, and considering your very ill in your own regard (recently produced tracks for Sean Price, Smif N Wesson, Jean Grae, Masta Ace), which your work on National Anthem more then verifies, but do you ever feel under-appreciated?

Khrysis:  Nah, not at all, its just that I don’t have as much material out, I’m very happy with my role, people are starting to recognize my talents, it was only a matter of time!

HHS: Sean, your ode to happy hour “Likka Hi (Last Call)”, struck an immediate chord with us, if we saw Sean out at the local watering hole, what would he be sipping on?

Sean Boog: Coors Light, Bud Light, Heineken, Crown Royal, it really depends on the money situation… Why you buying?

HHS: Leg, Project Mayhem is a darker sounding LP that gives a different feel then anything else we’ve heard drop from the JL camp thus far, would you say you’re a dark person?

Legacy: I would say I was light skinned (lol).  Nah, but really, I would consider my life and my dealings to being dark.  I’ve been through some things to say the least, which have made me this way.

HHS: Were all very curious as to how long it took you too come up with L.E.G.A.C.Y. (Life Ends Gradually And Changes You), did you have a “Guru” like moment of clarity, or was it mulled over for awhile?

Legacy: Didn’t take long at all.  I heard of another “Legacy” in my area and I was like fuck, I gotta distance myself from this wack bastard; this was about 1995 I think.  So why not make it (my name) mean something?

HHS: Leg, you kind of carry yourself with a rock star swagger, so is it sheer irony that the title of your lead-single is “I’m A Star.”

Legacy:  I thought it was ironic too, I found out “I’m A Star” was my single or hell my song for that matter when somebody sent me the artwork for the 12″ in an E-mail (lol).  I’ve grown accustomed to not knowing what the hell is going on and moving with the times, these are wild times for me right now!!! I love it though!

HHS: Similar to the ideology that Gang Starr, Reflection Eternal and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth symbolized, National Anthem harkens back to hip-hop’s Golden Age and reinstitutes the chemistry between emcee and producer.  Was that an aspect you really wanted to focus on for the LP?

Khrysis: Yes, it’s something that you don’t see very often, or has been forgotten these days; especially in this generation.  Not to mention, the chemistry between a producer and an emcee who work exclusively with each other is like no other.  We challenge each other in crazy ways; we throw around new ideas and basically grow together as team mates and as individuals.

Sean Boog: Yeah, most definitely, that’s what artists are missing these days. When you’re able as a rapper to have one producer that you can sit down with and come up with the same vision, I think it makes the music that much better. I think it’s harder to create a vibe throughout a whole album when you have beats from different cats, “uhh let me get something from over here, something from here, something from there” those producers can’t truly understand what your looking for. Also, to be mentioned in the same question as cats like Gang Starr, Pete Rock and CL Smooth is a blessing, so we definitely want to keep that tradition going.

HHS: Sean and Khrysis, you named your debut National Anthem, any significance behind that?

Sean Boog: This is our entry into the game, our beginning, everyone pays attention to the “National Anthem”, this is our way of saying “stand the fuck up”.

HHS: Khrysis, everyone knows that you and 9th have beats, but there has been some criticism about the use of the same drums…what do you have to say to the critics?

Khrysis: I’ve never heard such nonsense, but I don’t care what the critics are saying, I ignore them for the most part.  They just mad cuz they aint got drums; a lotta niggas drums be sounding pussy anyway; I’m not concerned!

HHS: With the buzz the Justus League has right now, is there any competition in the camp, for tracks, producers, how do you balance it all out?

Sean Boog: Not really competition, but having so much talent around, you have no choice but to step your game up constantly. I know for me it keeps me focused, like if I hear a new Leg joint I’m feeling, it’ll make me want to work that much harder. I’ve actually learned a lot about how to make music from my team. I used to sit back and just watch Little Brother work, watch 9th work, watch Leg work. I picked all the details up from them, and just built my own shit off that.

Khrysis: Of course, that’s how we make each other better and stronger.  Occasionally somebody will rock a track and somebody else will be like “I coulda rocked it better” and sometimes me and 9th had gentlemen’s battles.  Sometimes we’ll have the same record and it’ll go unsaid, but we’ll see who would make the most beats out of it.  All kinds of shit goes on here, but it’s all love; every family should work like that don’t you think?

Legacy: Damn if I know? Maybe, maybe not?  If there was a comp, I wouldn’t get involved. I mean fuck that, I always figure if everybody’s getting better with time, then the best beats haven’t even been made yet, so I’ll wait my turn, or go elsewhere for tracks if need be—they’re not the only show in town!

HHS: And with that buzz also comes pressure, did you feel any while in the recording process?

Legacy: No pressure at all, in the studio is one of the few times I’m relaxed/content being an artist. I’m so far ahead and so much better then my previous work, that I’m giddy like a school girl with the thought of getting back in the studio for my next shit; I think I have a woody right now man lol….I’m entering my prime now, I will not always be this hot, get it while the getting is good!!!

Sean Boog: No not at all, I just had fun with it. After we did the first couple songs I knew it was a wrap, shit was just coming so naturally. Plus back when we were making the album, we were not even thinking about what we were going to do with it, what label, what market; none of that, we were just making music.

Khrysis: I don’t feel it in the recording process; we challenge ourselves like crazy as it is. We’re just starting out and there are so many angles that we haven’t even touched just yet. We joke around too much to run outta things to do when it comes to just plain making a song.  We damn near live by trying some new/other/wierdo/funny type shit!

HHS: L.E.G.A.C.Y. (Project Mayhem) and Away Team (National Anthem) drop on the same day (5-17), with 9th Wonder’s unreleased Dream Merchant Vol.1 included in the package deal (National Mayhem), why did you guys decide to go that route?

Sean Boog: We did it for the fans, we are tired of people selling CD’s for 17 dollars a piece so we give you 3 for that price!

Khrysis: Because these albums are crazy, there nationally causing mayhem, hide your kids, lock your doors (lol).

Leg: Because Big Dho (manager) made us!   Nah, not really, well kinda (lol).  We kinda voted on it.  I was against it in the start, but then the albums leaked, then I was like damn; I’m glad we’re throwing that 9th shit in there!!

HHS: Joe Scudda you’re featured on both L.E.G.A.C.Y and Away Teams LP’s, are you the next emcee to drop a solo-LP out of the JL camp?

Joe Scudda: If everything goes right I should be, either me or Chaundon.  I’m working on my debut, The Authentic, now with 9th Wonder and Khrysis, there will be other producers involved as well, but I’m keeping that under wraps right now.  If everything goes right, you’ll be hearing more from me soon!

HHS: Pooh your solo-LP, Sleepers, dropped a few months ago, were you happy with the results and did it meet your expectations?

Big Pooh: I was happy when the album was released, of course I wish the numbers were up a little bit, but that’s the way it is. My main expectation was to release this record.  Once I accomplished that, the rest is icing on the cake!

HHS: Why was it so important for you to release a solo-LP?

Big Pooh: For three reasons, One, to show everybody that I was working.  A lot of times if people don’t hear from you, they don’t know, or believe you are working.  Two, to show the doubters and nay-sayers that I can hold my own when it comes to this music thing.  Three, to show myself that I could hold my own when it comes to this music thing.

HHS: Little Brother’s major-label debut, The Minstrel Show, has been given a release date of 9-13-05 and expectations are thru the roof, what should we expect and did you ever feel any pressure when recording tracks for this LP?

Big Pooh: What you should expect is some of that Little Brother shit!  We all have grown and stepped our game up, so this album is a little different from The Listening in that aspect, as well as we know we couldn’t and wouldn’t make the same album again. There is always some level of pressure when you start working on your second album but nothing major for us. We just put pressure on ourselves to make an album better than the last one; and I know we accomplished that!

HHS: Has the first single been chosen as of yet?  And if so, care to disclose what that is?

Big Pooh: The first single has been chosen and it’s “Loving It” feat. Joe Scudda

HHS: We all know 9th is going to handle the bulk of the production, but will Khrysis, or Nicolay contribute any tracks?

Big Pooh: 9th will handle all of the production except for one track, which Khrysis produced.

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