Repeat Offenders on Youtube

In an effort to get our plays up (yeah, I said it), here are a couple of videos we have on our YouTube page:

“Runnin'” (produced by South Hill Productions)

“Work In Progress” (produced by yours truly)

Both of these tracks are from the 2nd RO full-length LP, “On Purpose”.

Check out the other videos at www.youtube.com/repeatoffenders

Takin’ it back – my interview with Sean Carter of South Hill Productions (2008)

INTERVIEW WITH SOUTH HILL PRODUCTIONS – 12/29/08

Sean Carter of South Hill Productions

People might see the name “Sean Carter” and think of the well-renowned lyricist from Marcy Projects, and the former CEO of Def Jam Records. However, this is not the case – Jigga spells his first name “Shawn” anyway – this Carter is the head of the underground beat crafting imprint South Hill Productions. And if you haven’t heard of him at this point, then you need to make an effort to learn something.

South Hill Productions officially began in 2006. Carter dropped his debut album, Soul Sessions Vol. 1, in the spring of 2007, and he hasn’t looked back. Focusing on a jazz infused musical backdrop for artists to flex their creative muscle, South Hill Productions has churned out 3 more albums since Vol. 1: Songs For My Father: The Sessions (2007), Repeat Offenders: Throwback Soul (2008) and The Sean Carter Recordings (2008). All the albums were critically acclaimed for their impressive musical offerings, but taken down a few notches with questions about the “selection of artists” for the projects.

South Hill is set to drop its fifth release, Soul Sessions Vol. 2, on January 12, 2009. We sat down with Mr. Carter to discuss the new album, his thoughts on the current state of hip hop, and what he has to say to the critics out there…

Sean, we know a little bit about how you first connected with Repeat Offenders and started doing production on a serious level, but I think people want to know – why did you decide to get in the underground hip hop music game? Did it have anything to do with the rap music currently playing on mainstream radio and TV?

I have always been into music of all kinds. I went through phases when I was sick of hip hop and the state it is in and just focused on alternative music. I play guitar and I was in a band, but it never went anywhere, and the band broke up. Hip hop is and will always be my first love, nah mean? I always wanted to make beats but didn’t know how to go about getting started or what i needed – software and hardware-wise. I had so may ideas for beats but had no way of getting my ideas out. I knew what kind of music I wanted to do and what kind of style. I knew SL of R.O. from high school; we hung out and used to see him spit lyrics for us. I went to go see some shows and that’s where I met [Thrill of Repeat Offenders] (good cat) and just the feeling I got from hearing their music, the energy in the air… just to be around so many people who shared the passion for the culture like me was overwhelming. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. It’s not even about the money; it’s about the love for the music. SL gave me pointers and the tools I needed to get started and I just ran with it, practiced and messed with it everyday and had tons of questions for my man!

You released your debut album, “Soul Sessions Vol. 1” in early 2007. On one hand, it was considered a solid debut effort musically. On the other hand, there were criticisms about the selection of artists featured on Vol. 1, and suggestions made that there should be more instrumentals the next time around. Now we’re right up against 2009, and “Soul Sessions Vol. 2” is set to drop Jan 12. Without a doubt, Vol. 2 has more of an edge to it, more aggressive than the last installment…and even fewer instrumental tracks this time around. How big of an influence were the comments made by critics and reviewers, if at all, when you started creating Vol. 2?

I don’t worry about what the critics have to say; I am just gonna keep doin’ my thing ’cause it’s from the heart. I make music that I want to make, not what people want me to make. I took what the critics and reviewers had to say and used it to keep me more focused on the music. Emcees from the first album to the second album – I have total confidence that they can do their thing and rock the mic, so I ain’t even stressin’ what the reviewers have to say about them. I would not have had the emcees on my album if there wasn’t something that I liked about each artist. As far as Vol. 2 having more of an edge – it’s my way of throwing it in the critics’ face. I just want them to know I don’t care what they think because I know I’m dope and the people I am affiliated with are dope.

Soul Sessions Vol. 2 is your FIFTH release since your debut in 2007. That’s an incredible amount of work for a little less than 2 years’ time. Tell us about what motivates you to put out so much musical product, and how you feel you’ve grown as a producer since ’06.

Just the love for the music motivates me; it’s not work, it comes natural for me. We all have day jobs and at the end of the day, you other cats might like to sit back and crack open a beer… I crack open my laptop and throw my headphones on. I usually have ideas going through my mind all day on what I need to work on or what I need to change on what beat or what kind of project I want to come up with next. It’s my way of relaxing you can say, because I have that much love for it. I am a man of few words, so this is my way of being heard you can say! I feel as though I have been truly blessed to make music, to be able to come up with an idea and make it a reality. To be able to sit back and listen to what you came up with in your mind is an amazing feeling. I feel like I learn and grow with each project. I feel like I know how to use the [music] software better and I know how to manipulate sounds and what I want to do and how to make it come across.

For those that don’t know, tell us where the name “South Hill Productions” comes from…

The name South Hill Productions comes from this section of South Coatesville where my friends and me used to play music and come up with songs (shout out to Greg) on our guitars, and just play for hours and discuss ideas. Greg used to live in this little neighborhood called South Hill, and we would be jamming away in his basement. We had the drum sets, the mics and the amps cranked.

What do you want people to know about Soul Sessions Vol. 2, and why should they make the effort to pick it up when it hits stores on January 12?

I want everyone to know that this is, in my opinion, the best work I have put forth so far, and I have the confidence that you will really dig it. I am a big fan of all the artists on this album and I was lucky enough to have them contribute. If you are like me and cannot stand listening to the same 8 songs on the radio, this album hits you. You can tell it’s real; it’s real cats talking about real topics. It’s not people talking about their cars or how long they were in jail it’s cats like you and me that love Hip Hop.

Finally, let the readers know about any future projects that you can talk about…

Well I am currently working with artists to put out EP’s. I have been working with Jay Myers, Al Morton and of course my main man 50 grand SL of Repeat Offenders on their EP’s. I am also working with Repeat Offenders on their next full length LP. Yo, keep your eye out for that album – WOW! I am also working with Bress Frame on his upcoming ep. There are even talks of [Bress] and me doing an EP…. we shall see! I have beats done for the next project in mind, but still debating if it will be an instrumental album or an ep. I have a group in mind but that’s still in the works.

Thanks for your time, Sean. Best of luck with your new album and your upcoming projects.

Thank you very much. Peace.

-S. Jacks

For more info, please visit www.myspace.com/southhillproductions