Interview: Dibia$e4
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I had the pleasure of doing an interview with California beat maker, Dibia$e (a.k.a. Diabolic). This slap master was born in Watts, and is now holding it down in south central California. He’s been in the music scene for over a decade now. At one point he was rhyming and producing, but he stopped being an emcee to focus more on making beats. He dropped music in open-mic workshops like The Good Life and Project Blowed. He released an EP titled “Up The Joystick” that features 8-bit video game samples like Mario Bros., Castlevania, and Megaman (you can D/L it for free at the bottom). A few of the tracks on that EP feature artists U-N-I, Amiri Dialect, Fifth P, DJ Deprave, and Hardware. He tackles the sounds of soul, hip hop, funk, raw neck-breaking slappers, and occasionally hits you with unexpecting samples (examples: “May The Force” with the Darth Vader sample, “Axel Foley” that samples that Harold Faltermeyer track, that Cheers flip, he flipped the Mr. rogers theme, etc). And, for those of you that don’t know, he was a runner-up in Los Angeles’ Red Bull Big Tune beat battle in 2008. Recently, Dibia$e was picked up by Alpha Pup Records, where he’s set to release his full length album sometime soon.
Interview after the jump…
Tiffology: For those that don’t know who you are… tell ‘em a little bit about yourself.
Dibia$e: I go by Dibiase, the slap master general. A beat maker / producer / retired MC. Growin up in Watts, now residing in south central.
Tiffology: Why did you choose the name Dibiase?
Dibia$e: Well I grew up a big fan of WWF, which is now WWE. Ted Dibiase, the Million Dollar Man, was one of the wrestlers. One of my aliases is Diabolic and heads would call me D.B., so I was thinkin one day Dibiase would be kinda fly. But I’m not that R&B cat that comes up when you type Dibiase in itunes, haha.
Tiffology: Who were some of your favorite groups/artists coming up as a teenager?
Dibia$e: N.W.A., Tribe Called Quest, EPMD, X Clan, Special Ed, Leaders of the New School, Black Moon, KMD, Brand Nubian, just to name a few…
Tiffology: What made you choose the path of making beats? When did you begin?
Dibia$e: Well I started rhyming seriously around 1990… well freestyling, but in ’94 I was writing rhymes constantly and spitting to random instrumentals. So in ’95, my boy got an 8-sec. sampler and I would mess around and loop on that all day.
Tiffology: RANDOM – What was your first job?
Dibia$e: In high school. I worked at Burger King for like 3 months. I couldn’t take that.
Tiffology: As a beat maker, how would you describe your style or sound?
Dibia$e: Unpredictable, unorthadox, and dirty, but very versatile.
Tiffology: Who are some of your influences (past or present)?
Dibia$e: Jay Dee, RZA, Diamond D, Erick Sermon, Pete Rock, MF Doom, and pretty much all the homies in the LA beat scene. We inspire eachother.
Tiffology: What was the first machine you bought?
Dibia$e: I bought a Dr. Rhythm drum machine with hella cheesy drums, but I had to start with something. Haha!
Tiffology: What equipment do you use now?
Dibia$e: SP 404, Micro Korg, Koasilator, Kaos Pad, MPC 2000XL, and Reason 4, but the SP 12 and SP 303 are out of commission at the moment.
Tiffology: RANDOM – Mac or PC?
Dibia$e: PC.
Tiffology: Your 2008 EP, “Up The Joystick”, has various 8-bit video game samples. What are some of your favorite video games – old school and/or new?
Dibia$e: I’m an old school head on the games. Any Mega Man, Mario Bros. 1-3, Kung Fu, Ninja Gaiden, Strider, Battle Toads on Sega Genesis last battle, Shadow Dancer, Ghostbusters, Golden Axe, probably the most current game I play is any Tekken game at the arcade.
Tiffology: One of my ringtones on my cell is a portion of “Mario Galaxy”. How has the reception been for that album? I imagine all gamers can get into it, whether or not they like hip hop.
Dibia$e: Funny that that’s your ringtone. The Llamas laced that beat. Yeah, I always wanted to flip video games, but back in the late 90′s, my Nintendo and Genesis were dead already and I just had the Playstation. I wasn’t feelin the music on there and my equipment was very limited to chop sounds. So in ’05, I had a labtop with an imulator of old games and got to the choppin, so it was more fun to put that together. Then next thing I know, it’s a project. I pushed it on the net or at shows. Everyone got that inner nerd in them, so I figured heads could relate worldwide.
Tiffology: In the beginning of the year, we were talkin about the Red Bull Big Tune beat battle briefly. You mentioned that you and 14KT were workin’ on a project together. Is that something that’s still in the works or what?
Dibia$e: Yeah. Well, we get on AIM from time to time and send files back and forth. So far we have like 4 joints. But the first joint we did together in NY during the Red Bull Battle was actually a tutorial on Reason and it got pressed up on vinyl. It has been movin’ well.
Tiffology: Speaking of that 2008 Big Tune battle, you were runner-up in Los Angeles. How was that whole experience?
Dibia$e: That was crazy. I was super nervous, like how I am normally before battles, but I liked my chances. Then ended up going to NYC. I wish I would’ve won it all, but my grind was already tough before and after the Big Tune. I was actually in the Big Tune this year in Las Vegas. Didn’t advance out the first round, haha. Let’s just say, I didn’t have to fix my beats. I should’ve been from 702 to have a chance there.
Tiffology: RANDOM – Can you cook? If so, what’s the best thing you can make?
Dibia$e: Naw, I can’t cook for nothing… even though my pops was a chef.
Tiffology: Do you remember your first beat battle? What was that like for you, did you get nervous before you began?
Dibia$e: My first battles were in ’02, I was losing all those. But in ’05, there were these battles where you bring your MPC and make the beat on the spot. I won like 4 of those in a row, then the beast was created. Haha, I’m always nervous still to this day, because nothing is guaranteed, and you gotta wonder if you have to deal with politics most of the time.
Tiffology: In terms of sampling, is there anything specific that you listen for on an album?
Dibia$e: No sample is safe, in my theory. I like rare samples, but I find a challenge samplin’ some corny song or theme song, and make it funky. Havin’ heads like, “he can’t flip that”, then shock ‘em with the unexpected.
Tiffology: I read on your myspace page that you did some spitting before. Is that something you still dabble in, or is that old news?
Dibia$e: It’s pretty much old news, but I can do it. I done the whole producer/MC thing for so long, but I noticed the beats took off when I concentrated solely on that department. Who knows, when I start rockin’ shows overseas, I might break out some verses…
Tiffology: Do you religiously make beats on an every day schedule or does it only happen when the ideas/creativity/inspiration come into play?
Dibia$e: I try to religiously, but sometimes I might not turn on the machine for 2 weeks or just listen to samples and chop it in my head.
Tiffology: RANDOM – When you have time to hop on the internet, what are the first 3 websites you visit?
Dibia$e: Old ass myspace, SP forums, and youtube
Tiffology: Other than hip hop, are there any other styles of music that you like listening to?
Dibia$e: Brazillian bossa nova, old funk, jazz, and oldies.
Tiffology: You’re part of a crew called Green Llamas with people like Fluent, Vincent Price, Tone Live, and others. What’s that about and who else is in it?
Dibia$e: Yeah, I was the last addition. But the Llamas is Selfish, Fluent, Decay, Tone Live, V.P., Ill Don, Butta Verses, DJ Monkey, and B Stilt is fam, plus there’s heads affiliated.
Tiffology: When can we expect a Green Llama project?
Dibia$e: Well I been finished with Llama Ville. Gonna hit the blogs off with that soon. Uncut Raw 2 is done. City Slick 2, I think that’s done. Me and Tone Live got a project Dum Dumb Retarded.
Tiffology: RANDOM – When you’re not making music, what do you like to do?
Dibia$e: Ahh movies occasionally, playin b-ball sometimes, or hittin up a good show.
Tiffology: In music, who are you listening to these days?
Dibia$e: 14KT “Nowalataz”, the homie Dakim “Standthis” mixtape is on some next level, and Devonwho.
Tiffology: You produced four tracks on U-N-I’s “Before There Was Love” mixtape. How’d you come together with them?
Dibia$e: I knew their manager before I met them and he introduced us at a show. Then, like 2 days later, we linked up.
Tiffology: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Dibia$e: I should have like 5 full length albums, touring like crazy, and on a few magazine covers hah… by then.
Tiffology: Working on anything new that you want to tell us about? Or any shows that you’re in that people should know about?
Dibia$e: About to drop an EP on Fat City “Cakeology”, and a 10″ with the homie P.U.D.G.E. on All City no later than Dec. Should be gettin the test press soon. And the Alpha Pup album “Lo Tech Mastery” is gettin’ mastered, so early 2010 that will drop in a major way. So I should have release parties for all of those projects. November 28th, I got a show in the Bay with HouseShoes, Devonwho, and F.A.M.E. That’s gonna be a heavy show there.
Tiffology: What’s a typical day like in the life of Dibiase?
Dibia$e: Umm, I’m constantly in the lab now, on music full time for the past year now. Rock live sets or battles at night throughout the week. Or I have jam sessions at the crib. All my roommates make music as well. Dr. Oop (MC), Devonwho (beats), the homie Brad (Team Scrub), live band, or I’ll take a break from the music and go to the other homie’s crib to play some XBox. But normally I’m online choppin’ up with heads overseas late night, because it’s daytime over there. Just tryin’ to pay them bills.
Tiffology: RANDOM – Here’s a few top 5s and word associations. Finish off the sentences.
Top 5 places to eat – Rubios, Baja Fresh, Flame Broiler, Olive Garden, In & Out
Top 5 movies – Juice, Terminator, Nightmare on Elm St, any Star Wars, Fist of the Northstar (anime)
Top 5 producers of all time – Jay Dee, RZA, Pete Rock, Premo, Erick Sermon
I can… rock just as good or even better than a lot of producer that get all the limelight
I won’t… be taken lightly in 2010, that’s a promise
My biggest fear in life is… deep water, like the ocean lol
Tiffology: Thanksgiving is approaching. Let’s talk food for a second. What do you look forward to?
Dibia$e: Umm, my fam don’t really cook on Thanksgiving like they used to when I was younger. I used to look foward to the turkey and gravy, and the mac & cheese definitely.
Tiffology: As of 2009, what’s your proudest accomplishment?
Dibia$e: Well, I will have released 4 vinyls by the years end. Signed to Alpha Pup Records to release my full length album.
Tiffology: Any shout outs, advice, or last words?
Dibia$e: Peace to the whole Llama fam, Jonwayne, Devonwho, Dr. Oop, Nassi, P.U.D.G.E., Teeko, Max Kane, all my folks in The Bay, Dakim, Ras G, the homies at Poobahs, FatBeats, HouseShoes, 14KT, all the homies on the SP forum (yeah, the SP army is deep), Hustle City, Grimey, CT Thurz and Yo, Nick, Glenn the engineer, Uncle Jeff, and 2Suant.
Check out some videos below…
Dibiase’s Red Bull Big Tune 2008 feature.
Video of Dibia$e dropping through Fatbeats for Starship 27
L.A. beat showcase at Constant Elevation.
Beat battle between Dibiase and Jeh-Free.
* Download his “Up The Joystick” EP. (Rapidshare)
** DON’T MISS IT: November 28th, 2009 – from 10pm to 2am. HouseShoes, F.A.M.E. (Teeko, Malaguti, and Max Kane), Devonwho, and Dibiase in house. Located at the Rockit Room, 406 Clement St. Guestlist email: goodcompanysf@gmail.com. Check the event on Facebook here.
*** PS: I wanted to show you two birthday cakes he’s had. Hahah. Dooope, right?
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Dope interview Tiff
Thanks, homey
yep yep, Dibiase is definetely that dude..
Very dope interview, love to get in the head of DB.