Not too much man. Can’t really complain. Excited. This is my first interview. Feeling like this is my first job or something. [laughs]
Man, it’s been almost impossible trying to get you for this interview. You a busy man nowadays…
Yea man. We [Top Shelf] have been in grind mode lately… I just recently relocated back to Houston so I been tryna make that adjustment to this market but its all good.
I gotta say that I’m a big fan of yours. You been doing your thing for a minute now…I seen the growth from when you first started to now.
What type of music did you grow up listening too?
I listened to everything growing up. Really too much shit to name. Mostly Cash Money and Death Row artist but I used to listen to everything. Bad Boy too. Listened to Limp Bizkit and Korn and shit like that just cuz of the area I grew up in, it was the suburbs. That what all your [white] homies was listening to so sooner or later you was gon hear that shit and like it.
Since you from Houston, did you kind of see yourself as an outcast when it came to the type of music you were banging?
I don’t know if I would say outcast but rather just well rounded when it came to music. Cuz everybody had that period where they was bangin Bad Boy, then it was Cash Money, and once niggas got older the majority [of people] was listening to all the local shit like Swisha House and S.U.C. Not to knock that shit, cuz it was cool, some of it still is. But I just knew it was a lot more music out there than just local shit.
What producers, songwriters and/or artists do you see as your primary ispirations?
The Neptunes, Dr. Dre and Timbaland. Definitely. Just the way they create music is amazing. I think Timbaland and The Neptunes were the two main producers that really mad me want to do this [produce music]. Mannie Fresh too. If you ever meet somebody out the south that say they not inspired by Mannie Fresh they fuckin lying. Daz too. Daz has to be one of the most underrated producers ever. Next time you listen to your [2]Pac cd, check some of the credits. From his Death Row shit.
Who you listening to on your Ipod now?
Just bought Ryan Leslie’s new one. Its dope. Haven’t really been listening to too much new shit cuz its not really anything out. I mostly listen to old shit like the Funkadelics, Chicago Gangsters and shit like that… O. I have been listening to Mos Def cd The Ecstatic a lot. N.E.R.D., Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Wale, Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa How Fly. So I guess I have been listening to some new shit. lol
Who have you worked with?
Cypher. That was one of the first niggas to fuck wit me on the music shit. Back when I was first started and didn’t know what I was doing [laughs]. When yall hear some of the new stuff we’ve worked on… MAN… You can hear the progression in both of us as artist. He really been working hard. I’ve worked with Dee-1. I think that’s one of my favorite songs that I have done. Working on some new shit with Riko Sanchez for his new mixtape that should be coming out soon. A couple others. But right now the focus is Cypher’s new project and Sanchez’s Members Only.
What artist do you work with…I mean, is there something that you have to see in an artist in order to work with them or you down to work with anyone?
Really for the right price I’m willing to work with anybody [laughs]. Nah, if I hear something that I really like I will reach out to try to work with the artist. At the same time I’m open to working with anybody. The best way to get in touch with me is holla at James [manager]. He take care of all that.
Do you have a favorite musical project that you’ve worked on?
All of em. No bull shit. Hearing somebody on a song that I produced is an amazing feeling. Every artist is different so different songs have different emotion behind em. Really depends on the mood. Like right now I’m really feeling those Cypher records because they just have that good feel to em.
Real quick, Name your Top 5 Producers?
Easy. Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mannie Fresh, and Kanye West.
Do you think it's the mark of a great producer to show versatility in today's melting pot of music?
I feel that if you tryna stay relevant you have to show versatility. The industry is constantly changing. There was a time when producers had their own sound and that would be the reason artist and labels would go to them because for that particular song they wanted that producers sound. But now, I think the industry look for whatever sound like a single or whatever will be that crossover record. So you gotta be able to be versatile in order to have a little longevity now as a new producer. Industry just seems a lot more business than music these days. But that’s different subject.
What do you like to do for fun outside of working on music?
Anything but a night club. No matter how much fun you having that shit still is work. In there networking and shit. I rather go to a bar or something. I watch a lot of movies [DVDs] but lately I have been going to theaters a lot. I try to play basketball when I have free time too.
I understand your company Topshelf Ent has turned into a movement…Tell the readers what exactly is Topshelf Ent and what it means to be Topshelf?
Well, Top Shelf is the company and the movement. The company focuses on reaching the entertainment industry and offering services from musical production, video production, to graphic design and promotions. Always open to the record label. Just waiting to find that right artist.
And the movement is what it is. It’s a way of life. When you doing something, no matter what it is, you should feel like you doing it Top Shelf. Know what I’m sayin? We [Top Shelf] started this company maybe 2 years ago and since then everything we try to do has to be that way. I nomally don’t talk shit but I have to. I been to Miami 2 times since we started this shit. All Star game, Glow in the Dark concert, all kinds of shit. Fuck. Everybody in Top Shelf got college degrees and shit. We pretty Top Shelf if I must say so myself.
What other avenues have you gone through or are currently going through to make sure that your music is heard?
It’s a mixture of promoting online and networking in the streets. And by streets I’m talking about just being out places meeting people. Just wanted to clear up streets. Not tryna have any 40 Glocc problems [laughs]. But you gotta meet artist, promoters. Everybody. Sometimes you gotta go through somebody else to meet people. That’s why I used to fuck with the street team shit when I first started out. Networking. Have to do that to get the name out there.
What is a typical day in the life of Cuzin Mike?
Busy. I start the day by checking my email. Look at all the top hip hop websites just to see what is going on in the industry. Update my website. Go on myspace and do whatever promotions need to be done; also do the same wit twitter and facebook. Listen to some music. Make a beat. Go to school. And study. That’s a typical day. Not much free time but when I do get it I relax. Or I find something to do.
When can we expect a mixtape?
Aw man. I don’t even know [laughs]. We may try to do something next year.
Any last words for the readers?
Yea. I appreciate this interview. Everybody that read this all the way to the end thanks. Uhhhh… Anybody looking for advice on how to make it. Just do what you wanna do. The only keys to success are God and the man in the mirror. So nothing else should hold you back from reaching your goals. In the words of Dan Weiden “Just Do It”. [We good?]
