NHH Producer Of The Month [May] – Kid Konnect

In: Uncategorized

30 May 2011

His name is Kunle Oluwadiya but I bet the hiphop community knows him better as Kid Konnect. Born in Lagos but currently in Florida, US, this young brilliant Nigerian has for some time now been gathering mad recognition attributed to his beat making. After making beats for the likes of Modenine, Beazy, Show Dem Camp and Chiddy of Chiddy Bang, he says he’s just getting warmed up. Read his all exclusive interview:

1. Since when did you realize you could make music/beats?

I actually wanted to be a rapper…all the way from high school, but when my roommate introduced me to Fruity Loops in my 1^st year of college; I immediately realized my strength was more in production….so I’d say about 2002.

2. Since when did you decide that you wanted to produce and make music?

2005…by that time I was getting some attention on my campus about my beats and I was always working on tracks, and decided to make it a career from then on.

3. What/when was the first beat you made?

2002… It was a techno beat…..I still remember how it sounds….Incredibly wack!!!

4. You were obviously influenced by hip-hop. Give me a name that influenced your listening culture (Rappers only)

Busta Rhymes…….. I’ve always been captivated by how animated he was on tracks…. He could make the simplest track sound MONSTROUS!!!

5. How long have you been staying in the US? How has the American culture affected/influenced your beat making and then beat making skills?

Been here since 2001…wow…10 years… The American culture influenced my style heavily (I learned how to sample here)…well I mixed it with all the ideas I had from some of the traditional Naija music my parents used to play. The culture here also influenced my competitiveness and confidence as far as my work goes cause of things like beat battles and showcases.

6. Did you ever use Fruity loops 3? Do you think if handled now, you could make a dope beat outta it?

That was the first Fruity Loops program I ever used. If I had some of my go-to VSTs….I think I could knock out some ill stuff.

7. When you worked with Modenine, did you have a working relationship going on was it just business?

Funny thing is Modenine and I used to converse (still till this day) via the net for almost 2, 3 years, but we never worked, even though I had being sending him beats. Now after a couple of years and no beats on any project, I just assumed he didn’t like any of the stuff…turns out cause of “Naija internet” he couldn’t listen to any of them, then one day last year, Mode e-mails me about a beat of mine…..and im like….’errrrr I don’t remember that track’…..i search my old files and BAM!…there’s the beat that I sent him in 2006 that he’s just hearing now and loving and that ended up being the track “My Life” on Mode’s Da Vinci Mode album. Thanks to the advancement of better internet connection, we talk more and will be doing more work together.

8. You obviously don’t get to meet some of the Nigerian rappers you’ve worked with, how do you relate with them and know what’s suits them?

Very simple… it’s a salesman tactic I learned from reading the book “The Pursuit of Happyness” by Chris Gardner…… “Ask Them What They Want”…back in the day, I used to just send rappers stuff without knowing what they wanted…..since I ask and listen carefully to what they want….I find the closest thing I have to their description in my track arsenal or I go make it!!!

Beazy ft Loose Kaynon, Skales – Fall Back (Produced by Kid Konnect)

9. What’s your relationship with upcoming rapper X.O Senavoe? Beazy?

Beazy and I grew up together…he’s my cuzzo….I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been alive….. I was very surprised when I heard he was a rapper, even more surprised when I discovered he was dope!! J

I was told about X.O by M.I but formally introduced to him by my homie Afrotunes…. We had mutual respect for each other’s craft and well….. the rest is history

10. You seem to be a nerve-cracker on twitter, how do you managed to keep up with all the madness?

Abeg people overhype my “madness” jare….. I just need that outlet to express the stupid shit I think about sometimes.. :-p

11. What sort of equipment do you use?

FL Studio 6, Logic Studio Pro, & m-audio axiom (R.I.P…… she recently died on me)

12. Do you believe in ‘the bigger the equipment, the better the production’?

Hmm…..not necessarily…..at the end of the day, its all about your creativity and imagination….. but if you are creative and imaginative, having some doper equipment can take your ideas to another level.

13. How many beats have you made till date?

Ahhhh….. I stopped counting at 400……back in 2009

14. Who would you like to work with? (Nigerian and foreign)

Busta Rhymes, Don Jazzy, Kabelo, Praiz, Banky W, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Sean Kingston.

15. Tell us about your projects (already concluded and future ones)

I’ve worked with the following artists -à Chiddy of Chiddy Bang (Parlophone/EMI), Rocky Diamonds (Universal Records), Beazy, X.O Senavoe, Modenine, Skales (EME), Lynxx, Show Dem Camp, Loose Kaynon, Chykay, Kemi Adetiba, Zara and many more.

Chiddy – Over You (Produced by Kid Konnect)

I’ve put out two Instrumental Beat Tapes “The Epic” and “The Epic 2”. There’s a documentary I scored music for that is being directed by Kemi Adetiba; and it’s looking like we are gonna be working on more projects…… Also have work coming out with eLDee da Don, Skales, YQ and more….. we’re keeping busy!!

16. Name you best 5 producers

Kate Bush, J-Dilla, Dr Dre, eLDee da Don & Pete Rock

17. Do you think female rap can be that good in Nigeria, considering all the water-downed feministic approach?

Ahhhhh that’s a tough one…. Female rap can and will be good in Nigeria but I think there just needs to be one who comes mad original with her style and delivery….. with a lot of female rappers I always hear a carbon copy of somebody else’s style (like many of their male counterparts)….so if one can come with a style unique enough to set her apart but relevant enough to be accepted by the public…then my friend….a REVOLUTION will begin.

18. Name you best five Nigerian rappers.

M.I Abaga, Beazy, Kahli Abdu, X.O Senavoe & Poe

19. Are you on M.I’s Illegal music II?

Right now I can confidently say yes…I am on there, but we have to wait and see. In my many years doing this, just cause the artist might have recorded on your track, it might not make the album…. But to be honest im confident im on there…. The project is gonna be classic IMO.

20. How did you get the name Kid Konnect?

Was talking a s**t and trying to come up with a name and then the name “Kid Konnect” just showed up outta no where. #TrueStory