Str8HipHip

SHH: Where are you from?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I am from Long Island, New York

SHH: How was it growing up in Long Island?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: It was too comfortable.  I liked it because of the comfort level, but at the same time I didn't like it because I believe a person needs to engage in some kind of struggle to truly achieve something great. Comfort is the enemy of achievement. It is difficult to continuously motivate yourself when the environment tells you that you can relax. Whats missing from that place was a sense of ownership and personal achievement. You need to truly achieve and truly own something. Not your father, not your mother, not someone you know, but you.

SHH: How did seeing the success of your parents effect you as you became a man?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I always wanted to achieve the same level of success or higher. They also were very hard on me. Everything with them is incredibly structured and reinforces discipline. They never  supported my determination to succeed in the music business. Probably because they know how shady the industry is, but at the end of the day they taught me how to succeed in anything and I use what they taught me with a combination of lessons I can get from other sources.

SHH: What other sources?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: Books. I read a lot of books that expand my capacity for knowledge. I must say books are really what open my mind to possibilities. When you don't have knowledge certain things look impossible, but after reading and gaining the know how; things don't look so impossible anymore.

SHH: What’s the hip hop scene like in your area?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: It honestly doesn't exist in Long Island. You just have a lot of people copying what they see on TV. I went to college upstate at SUNY Oneonta and graduated last year. I realized that college was just an extension of my high school experience in Long Island. A lot of big talk from people and absolutely no action. Almost everyone trying to do hip hop was gassed without credentials. They would throw album release parties without an official album to release it made no sense. They would talk about doing big things and popping bottles of champagne without actually doing it. It just made no sense to me. If I talk the next thing that follows is usually action. It just confused me to see people talk and boast about things they weren't doing.

SHH: When did you feel you wanted to start a career in music?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I had always played instruments as a child growing up. I played the violin, the piano, I sang in chorus. You name it I probably did it, but what really made me feel that I wanted to start was when my friend Bryant Arthur wanted to record an album. I listened to the beats and I thought they needed work. I remember the first beat I did, everyone was stunned staring at me in amazement when I was done. After I received that reaction I decided that this is probably something I need to perfect, do and grow at. Ever since then my life hasn't been the same.

SHH: Which producers influence your music if any?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Dr Dre. J.R. Rotem, DJ Premiere, Just Blaze, Alchemist. All these people. I recently bought Swizz Beatz album. I think every producer should go out and get it. It's inspiring to listen to as a producer.

SHH: How would you describe your style/sound to the people?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: My drum patterns and musical arrangements are almost patented. You know its a beat I did when theres steady lead in to an explosion into the hook or chorus. I also whisper on a lot of my records. I take heavy influence from the 90's since that is when I grew up.

SHH: What programs and equipment do you use?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I can't reveal the program I use because then everyone will run out and get it, but what I can say is that you do not need to spend thousands of dollars to get a platinum sound. I have a lot of speakers. I have a pair of horrible speakers that everything sounds bad on. When I can get the music to sound good on that I know I've made something worth exporting from my program. I've had experience with Reasons and using keyboards, but I'm finding it not necessary to have bulky external equipment. I like having something I can travel with. When I told people what I used and what I do they laughed. Those same people that laughed aren't even on my level now.

SHH: Which artists are you working with right now?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I'm currently working with Remy Ma. Her album Punish Her is coming soon. Everyone should look out for that its going to be a classic! I work heavily with D-Rich (RollxRecords) Trish Barnes an amazing upcoming rapper from Philly. I work with Thugacation, Fabolous, Red Cafe, Icadon and more.

SHH: Theres been a lot of controversy surrounding Remy Ma lately does that have an effect on your working relationship with her?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: Well no. I mean regardless she's always recording, she's a great writer, and shes a passionate artist. Shes like the Mary J Blige of rap music- people love her style because they know its genuine.

SHH: What's your outlook for 2008 (What are your goals for the year)?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I want to inspire change in the industry in a positive way. The labels treat their artists badly, they treat their employees badly, they treat their interns badly what do they expect? Everyone is screwing each other over and the industry is filled with a ton of stupidity and arrogance. It almost deserves to collapse as a consequence. My publicist and managers reached out to outlets where you can talk to the youth inspire people through your interview and experience like HipHopGame.com and didn't get any respect from Brian Kayser... Whatever his name is. He told them he was "hurt" because he "just had surgery" then they proceeded to show consideration and they asked for an appropriate date for an interview and to this day he hasn't responded. Its that kind of uncoordinated sloppy business I'm trying to change. I'm looking for more progress, and more outlets to inspire positive change within the music industry.

SHH: Who would you like to work with in the future mainstream or underground?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: I would like to get more familiar with the G-Unit camp and work with 50 Cent, Yayo, and Banks because I was working with Sha Money XL a while back.  I realized that the G-Unit camp is 100% about their business. They don't play games like these other industry people. And 50 himself is one of those people I have a high level of respect for . The first time I met him he didn't know who I was, where I came from, and I had nothing to offer him and yet he shook my hand with the kind of respect you give someone you know. After that I realized just how real 50 must be and why he's in the position he's in. You judge someones character from how they treat someone they need absolutely nothing from. And he treated me and my friend with nothing, but respect. Aside from G-Unit I would also love to work with great songwriters like Ne-Yo and The Dream and I would like to work with artists like Natasha Bedingfield, Gym Class Heroes, Linkin Park, Jay-Z and more. Theres so many talented musicians out there.

SHH: What do you feel separates you from the next producer trying to make it in the music business?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: My empathy and consideration for other people. I like to work with people. I love to get paid well, but I want every artist I work with to make a profit when they invest in me. I negotiate to fit the artists budget as well as I can. My policy is that if they don't make a profit then I'm not doing my job. If they spend all their money on me and can't promote or sell records my involvement would be a curse rather than a gift. I know in business credibility and true profit is built off return customers. These days everyone wants to get the instant gratification without paying their dues and working day by day with artists.

SHH: If not music what would you be doing?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: Thats a good question. I have hobbies, but none that touch my soul like music. Before I got deeply into music I had an interest in economics. It fascinated me to see how markets work and why they effect us. If I had the same passion towards economics that I have towards music I'd probably be an economist for some Fortune 500 company.

SHH: Where can people check out some of your music?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: They can check out my myspace at myspace.com/AndrewUThePerfectionist

SHH: Is there anything you would like to say to the people?

Andrew U The Perfectionist: Stay focused on what matters. Define your goal, write out every possibility of how to get to it, and proceed with all your energy towards your goals. You too can achieve great things. Keep your head up. Don't get caught up in the hype. Always appreciate the small things in life. One.