88:
I also had a Kalimba [African thumb piano] but I don't know WHAT
I did with it. I THINK I gave it to Erykah Badu.
DM: How do you prepare to work, do you have a certain ritual that
you do to get focused? Some people light candles, so on and so
forth…
88: Watch porn. Next question. Nah, sometimes if I'm focused on
a particular artist I'll listen to the last album they put out
just to catch a vibe. Most times I just get my fingers dusty &
listen to records.
DM: How did you get your stage name?
88: One day when I was making beats @ John's, Q-Tip showed up
with The Large Professor. As SOON as they walked in the door Large
Pro' started freestyling to the beat I was making on the ASR-10.
In his freestyle he said, "We got 88 keys on the grand pian'"
& he was referring to me. So I told myself - I said, "Self,
if you EVER get into the industry THAT'S gonna be your name: 88-Keys."
& thus a star was born. True story folks. You can't make shit
like this up.
DM: Will you tell us your real name?
88: Awww why y'all wanna know THAT for? Just playing. My full
gub'ment is: Charles Misodi Njapa. My folks, 1 brother & 3
sisters were all born in Cameroon which is located in West Africa
neighboring Nigeria & the Ivory Coast. I was the only 1 (in
my immediate family) born in the U.S. In The Bronx to be more
exact. I still consider myself Cameroonian though. Most people
swear I'm Jamaican because I look like a Rastafarian. BOOYAKA
SHOT!!
DM: What is it about your style that separates you from other
producers?
88: I'm not really certain but I do take pride in the way I chop
my samples. I also think my drum programming is pretty tight.
My chops are getting more intricate & I'm working more &
more faster as the days go by. |
