Mr.Blap

TNocz on January 8th, 2009

A weapon of mass destruction could be the proper synonym to explain this multi talented engineer/producer, rapper, singer, activist, and songwriter in just a few words.  I was born in Guam in 1976 but also into music, I remember…. matter of fact the pic is going on the inside of my next album cover but any way, it was a pic of my Mom and I in front of a toy version of a Hammonds and in the background you see the 5 piece Muppet drum set and every year since I would get music equip and instruments from family and friends erry year.  I guess it was destiny for me to be in music as I was only 6mos old when my parents took me to see Marsha Warfield and Teddy Pendegrass in Detroit where he held me and sang, “Turn out the Lights”. When I was 3 I sang with my Mom and Dad in a fashion show hosted by Moms the female DJ of the Mid West “Disco Deb” and from what the newspaper article my Granny has says I woo’d the crowd at 3, but we all know you get a pass at 3 but I really could sing and had a future but my mom who didn’t finish college and my dad a college grad said I had to focus on school.   I began break dancing and rappin like errybody else but at home it was Soul, R&B, Jazz, and the Blues only, Moms and Pop would buy me tapes when I didn’t have to dub them but she didn’t want to hear it on her good stereo with the reverb unit.  I used to hear the breaks and sample early in the game.  I won every talent show I was in from 5-12th grade, which was only 2 but I, won’em tho, I was a singer and a dance machine.  I began free styling to pass the time between classes and gang fights with my homies as we walked the streets of the East causing trouble.  I joined the ARMY fresh out of high school and in 1997 I was challenged to a rap battle that I won but got me set on my next flight of music and landed me a spot at a show where Rome was the headliner then Genuine and I then decided I’d never give up.  I was once known as Cotton-mouf taking a part of my last name and a snake know to be quick and vicious because of my Sacramento flip style rap.  Mr. Blap was est. in 1999 at a recording session in Arkansas’s own South West Pimpin’s (S DUB P) apt in our living room studio where the neighbors came to inform us that the bass was knocking all her pictures off her walls.  S Dub P came back to the house and said you “Blapped all her shit off her walls”, when he was trying to say beat/bapped (a N California term).   We came up with HI-FLUX ENT INC and RUFFMINDED PRODUCTIONS LLC. completed the “NOTHING IS PROMISED” album there with Classic Ville Records.   From having to go to studios and pay for sessions that when we’d return to finish had other peoples vocals on our trax or the music can’t be found made me decide to begin my own recording set up, not for clientele but to get my feelings out.  Hooked up with my group AFTER HIJRAH and payday after payday was spent in Guitar Center until I had what was necessary to make music how I wanted it done.  After a short stint in my first studio I decided to get educated about all facets of this side of music.  I took a recording class @ ARC in 2002 that was in one word BORING! Because I’m a visual learner and that program has you in lecture for an entire year.   I got fed up pretty quick and decided to learn on my own until I found a school that taught the systems and soft ware I used and was accepted, at the same time a track I had gotten to an A&R at Def Jam records landed me a pay out for a composition in the form of $65,000 check which paid for school, bills and setting up some things for my kids future and of course some updated equipment.  I began learning both the digital and analog side of recording and manipulating audio at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences.  While in school and completely due to how quick I pick things up, my sense of work ethic, and I got the highest grade on a very difficult test on the SSL 4000E/G, I was invited by a teacher at the school to assist on a Mary J Blige session at West Lake studio in L.A in 2005.   After that mind blowing yet humbling experience and having burying my big brother Big Tone, and visiting family and friends in L.A. I was requested by former classmate and the studio mgr of West Lake studio to record a session with Jaime Foxx that needed an engineer in late 2005 and engineered a session with Lincon Park in early 2006.  After completing school I came back home to Sacramento, CA in 2006 hoping for the break I felt I deserved and found that the music scene had drastically changed and I needed to be more creative to get noticed.  With all the singing lessons my mother gave me growing up and my musical abilities I can do my thing and showcase my production and mixing skills.  There was only one problem you have to get noticed to get to that point.  So I opened my own 3 room-recording studio that I personally built onto my house in the East Side of Sac called “BIG TONE STUDIO’S” and opened up for biz in 2007.  My work ethic, word of mouth, and my personality had me booked up in a matter of weeks while working at J Street Recorders with Brian Wheat of the rock band TESLA as well.  By mid 2007 I was assisting at Jst studios, running Brian Wheat’s radio show on KNOZ I was finally sought after as a produce, singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, engineer, and mixer.  In 2007 the credits and features began to roll in beginning with Bobby Valentino, San Quinn, JT tha Bigga Figga, Hollow Tip, T-nutty Nutt, Snoop Dog, E-MOE, Brotha Lynch Hung, Dezit Ease, AP9, Yuckmouth, Reek Daddy and more while growing every week.  2008 began with me loosing my Dad who was the biggest supporter of my music career but due to my sorrow I bumped into a position in a struggling recording studio in downtown Sac called the 916 FACTORY that opened the flood gate, starting from just an engineer to house producer in 2 weeks then chief engineer the following week then in a month and a half I was named the manager of the entire facility but I still had all the other duties as well.  The studio struggle for so long prior to my arrival it fell a terrible death but was reborn when owner of Omina Labs recording studio also in downtown Sac decided he needed more room and took over the location and purchased all the equipment resulting in a 3 studio building with a A, B, and C list clientele.  As the year turned 2009 I recently opened my newest production/recording studio named by my homie “THE BLAP CAVE” on Jan one’th and thanks be to ALLAH biz hasn’t stopped yet.  I continue to work with up and coming artists, artists who have talent but haven’t been given the look cuz were in Sac the Capitol and Hollywood is 5hrs away, and artist who have deals but are still struggling themselves.  I have clients that I work with regularly like Reek Daddy, Cali-O, Skurge, Righteous Movement, and many more but my dream is to work with any artist that still loves music for music not just the money and fame and that has true talent and we can build a project together (them having the budget to afford me and the project and promo too).  I go to sleep thinking of ways to make music or make the music I’ve touched better.  I’m currently finishing my master’s degree in music biz and should graduate in 2010 but by then I should have had at least a gold record out and in constant circulation and still being requested for production or as a singer or engineer.

Mr.BLAP
mrblap@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/ruffmindedproductions
916-640-6083

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