The Hip-Hop Chronicle

Hailing from Culver City, California, Presto is a fantastic producer with an organic and soulful sound.

Never one to be swayed by trends, Presto has always been able to focus his energy on creating quality music, he’s worked with Hip Hop luminaries like Sadat X, Large Professor, CL Smooth, T Weaponz, Fatlip, O.C., Sach, Kim Hill, Blu and LOWD.

He has created his own independant label ‘Concrete Grooves’ and with his new album ‘State Of The Art’, Presto demonstrates his skills as a producer.

The Hip Hop Chronicle caught up with the producer and he gives us his thoughts on his influences, what fans of Hip Hop can expect from his new album and what he learnt from Large Professor.

Who is Presto?

I’m from Culver City, CA which is right outside LA. Been producing for 12 years and DJing for about 16 years. Producing is my main thing but i also run a indie label called Concrete Grooves which I started in 2000.

When did you first get into producing?

I got into producing in 1996. That was when I bought my ASR-10 keyboard and started making beats for my group Level One. DJing got me into producing. I learned a lot about song sequencing from DJing. The way a song would go into hooks, verses, bridges, etc. I liked the ASR-10 over the MPC because i liked having the key range instead of pads. The keys would make it easier to play a bass sound like a live bass because you have the half steps on the keys and not on the pads. I like to mix up my sound with samples and also module sounds. I use some outboard gear like the ASR-10 keyboard, Roland XV-5080, Minimoog Voyager, Triton Rack, and the Yamaha S90.

For those who arent familiar with your sound, how would you describe it?

My sound is hip hop with a soul backdrop and a jazz edge. I guess you could call it fusion. I try to make my beats sound like a 3 piece band. Simple but musical. I try to make my beats in layers, some smooth sounds, some gritty sounds, etc.

Presto - Part Of Greatness Featuring CL Smooth

Where did the jazz influence come from?

I got into bringing jazz into my sound by listening to groups like Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr, De La Soul, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, and Pharcyde when I was growing up.

Whats the best produced album you have heard?

Nas “Illmatic” or Pete Rock “Soul Survivior”

Presto - Higher Featuring Mhax Montes

Your trapped on a island, you have a turntable and you can only take one album, which would it be?

Cannonball Adderly “Experience in E”

I like that album because there are so many sounds you can sample to make different types of beats. It’s also a good listening album.

So you have a new album coming out ‘The State Of The Art’, when is it being released?

My new album State Of The Art drops on Concrete Grooves on June 17, 2008. Distributed by Fat Beats. Digital distribution by IODA. In Japan it will be available on Mic Life Records June 17, 2008.

Presto - Pour Another Glass Featuring Blu

Your working with CL Smooth, Sadat X and Large Professor, but what is the biggest thing you’ve learn from Large Professor?

I’ve learned a lot from listening to Large Professor’s beats over the years. I think using the filter on my beats I really learned from hearing Large Pro’s tracks.

Whats your favourite cut from the album and why?

My favorite cut is Conquer Mentally. A lot went into that song. Working with Sadat , O.C., and Large Pro was something i would have never thought would be possible when i was younger. All the verses were recorded at different locations but the track feels like it was recorded in the same studio. Those verses were some of the hardest rhymes i’ve heard from them. DJ Mino really killed it on the scratches. When I was making the beat, that piano sample was really hard to flip but I worked on it for a while and made it happen.

Presto - Conquer Mentally Featuring Sadat X, O.C. & Large Professor

Why should people go buy The State Of The Art’?

If you’re into hip hop give it a listen. You’ll like something on there, theres 18 tracks on the album. Buy the official CD and you get the bonus DVD with it.

Would you like to add anything else?

Support all of the artists that you like by buying their music.  

‘State Of The Art’ will be dropping June 17th. Its a must not only for producers but also lovers of Hip-Hop. Fabolous production, refreshing sound. Simply put; Presto is State Of The Art

The digital version of the album is distributed by IODA
The CD/DVD and vinyl EP are distributed by Fat Beats
For the Japan territory, this album is available on Mic Life Records

Presto Myspace

Concrete Grooves

Bonus:

Presto - “Conquer Mentally / On” featuring Sadat X, Large Professor, & LOWD …scratches by DJ Mino…directed by Jake York & Marcos Ponce