RD: Let’s talk about Level 13 the person first. Tell us a bit about yourself.
L: I’m a South Philly based producer, a new(ish) dad, my daughter Charlie is almost two.
RD: Do you set aside time to create, or get to work when inspiration hits?
L: For sure, I used to be more of a night owl and fell into the trap of only making beats when inspiration strikes. But the last four or five years or so I really begun to regiment my creative time. Especially after reading Steve Pressfield’s The War of Art. I began to treat it more of a job. A job I enjoy, but still a job. So, lately I’ve been keeping my clock-in and clock-out times in the morning and early/mid afternoon.
RD: Your list of placements is nothing short of incredible, in an era where placements are few and far between you seem to excel at shopping your work. Is it raw persistence? Building connections? What advice could you give to other producers like yourself?
L: Thank you, shit’s work. A lot of it’s persistence. Of course building relationships. Advice I would even chase placements. Some of my biggest advice is to learn to sell/lease beats online.
RD: Do you have a personal favorite piece of work?
L:From myself? Probably the joints I did with Bodega Bamz, or the joint I did for Billy Danze “What It Was”
RD: Once you get the green light for, lets say Method Man’s Meth Lab 2, what occurs after that? Are you in constant contact with reps until the project drops?
L: Not at all, even with Meth Lab I, I didn’t hear the finished track until it was done.
RD: When constructing a beat, what comes first?
L: It depends, always starts with the melody for me. Half the time I sample records, other half someone is sending me loops.
RD: Growing up in Philly, who were some of your biggest local influences?
L: Rap wise? Beans of course, Black Thought, Paz & Stoupe, Reef.
RD: Best place to see a hip hop show in the city?
L: Voltage used to be one of my favorites. The Rona messed things up. Has me feeling bad for not getting out to enough events pre- pandemic.
RD: Aside from your placements, you have developed a few projects with up and coming rappers as well. Is that something you plan to do more of? If so, who are you building with?
L: Definitely, I have something cooking up with my homie Vas from Philly. Also dropped Smoke Crudo with Bub Styles back in 2019. I definitely want to do more 50/50s though.
RD: If you could get any 5 vocal talents on a Level 13 album, who are you contacting?
L: Man, probably Thought, Beans, Dark Lo, Paz and RJ Payne.
Follow the man on IG level_13_beats
Respect Due Podcast 