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Straight out of Cleveland, Ohio comes a producer that is doing big things. DJ Ames always supports his cause so we thought we’d do an interview with him to get more of an idea of what he’s about. Our boy Brendan Deane asks the questions.

I’m from Cleveland Ohio. I don’t know what the scene is like now but when I was at home it was real diverse.
 
How did you get into music and is there anybody or anything you credit as an influence?

I got into music trying to be a DJ. I credit my family and DJ Quik & DJ Premier as influences.
 
As a producer you’ve worked with quite a few artists, but for those that don’t know tell us who you worked with?

Ludacris, Dr. Dre, Trey Songz, Lil Scrappy, The Dogg Pound, GhostFace Killah, Murphy Lee, Murs,  Playaz Circle, Tony Yayo, Bobby V, and Chingy just off the top of my head. Also my group The Plague Co.
 
Out of all the artists that you have worked with what was the most memorable experience and why?
I would have to say Dr. Dre because I grew up listening to that dude way before I even thought about doing music.

So what you released to date and what releases have your beats been on?

All of those names from question #3. I did drop a mixtape with the UK's own DJ Ames late 2009, "International Hustle Producer Edition Vol 4" which featured records that I had produced. It also including exclusive music by The Plague Co.
 
When did you actually start making beats?

I started making beats at the end of 1996 beginning of 1997.
 
How long did it take you to get moving and what was your first release?

It took me until 2004 to get my first major release and that was on the Ludacris album "Red Light District" track #10 " Spur of the moment" which also featured DJ Quik and Kimmi.
 
What’s your studio set up like?

Its a mix of old and new like I have a couple computers for the whole digital thing and I have some analog out board gear like keyboards and drum machines I mix it all up and create 1 big machine. Now what Im sayin?
 
What’s your favourite bit of kit in the studio?

MPC 2500, MOTIF ES6 KEYBOARD, PROTOOLS 803.
 
Do you have any studio tips for any producers coming into the game?

Make sure you have top notch audio cables to insure a clean sound and dont let dust build up on your equipment.
 
When you set out to make a track do you have a certain formula that you work too?

Yep I call it "VIBE".  I just let it happen I dont try to force it.
 
So is there anything you are working on or promoting at the moment?

I’m currently working on tracks for Ludacris and Lil Scrappy just to name a few.
 
Forget budgets and the politics, if you could work with any Hip-Hop artist who would it be and why?

The Wu-Tang Clan and every body from the first Chronic Dr. Dre put out because with both it wasn’t about just making a song like it is with most artist today back then it was about a vision and being creative as opposed to sitting down saying lets make a club record or a record for radio back then they just vibed out and handled the politics afterwards.
 
Okay forget about Hip-Hop for a minute, is there anybody outside of our genre you would like to work with and why?

Monica and Chrisette Michele because they are simply the truth!
 
Do you have a My Space page?

Yep www.myspace.com/ltmoe
 
People are jumping from My Space to Facebook and Twitter. It seems there are loads of these type of websites popping up. What’s your whole take on the Internet and these social networking websites?

They're good for networking but some people have too much time on their hands if you know what I mean!
 
L.T. mOE Websites/Contact info:

www.myspace.com/LTmOE
www.twitter.com/LTmOE
www.myspace.com/theofficialpageoftheplagueco
www.ThePlagueCo.ning.com
Manager: Zeek This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Publicist: So Sincere This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Interview by Brendan Deane
www.myspace.com/ragomagazine 

Photography by Hannibal Matthews