WILLIE GREEN - THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC
By Jenifer Barlone Photos By Prototype Imagery
I have to share that where this interview took place is where Jay-Z recorded The Blueprint, B.I.G recorded “Ready to Die” and Alicia Keys recorded “Songs in A Minor along with many other superstars and their hit records. What was I excited about? To hear Willie Greens newest tracks on a few projects he’s working on. Now, I was thinking how I was going to write this intro, an idea was just putting up his discography and letting that speak for itself but there’s so much on there, you guys might not read the article! So, I got to sit down with the Connecticut native/Brooklyn resident and discuss music, a short lived rap career and stressful cat sitting. Ms. ILL: So, Willie Green, I HAVE to ask you this. After we met and we did the whole friends on face book thing, I saw your government name is “Paul Womack”. Uh, that sounds nothing like Willie Green. How did you come up with that name? Willie Green: It just sounds cool. It sounds like I drive a purple Cadillac.
Ms. ILL: (Laughing hysterically) I LOVE purple AND Cadillac’s!!!
W.G: THERE YOU GO! (smirks) Na, I got it from a movie called, “Dolomite”. The bad guy in the movies’ name is Willie Green and I was like “That’s a cool fuckin’ name!” Back in the day I had like 17 different names but Willie Green is the one that stuck.
Ms iLL: Who were your biggest influences growing up, artist wise?
W.G: The first record I ever had was Michael Jackson “Bad”, that was ‘85-’86...
Ms. ILL: I was 3 …
W.G: We’re going to Google this right now. Your tape recorder isn’t going to catch me Googling so, WE’RE GOOGLING RIGHT NOW! … Aug 31, 1987. Ok, so I was 6. But yea, that was the 1st record I had, like I had the vinyl! A lot of Motown, Earth Wind and Fire, Lionel Richie that’s what my parents played around the house, a lot of old R&B. I have an older sister not any older brothers so I didn’t get like the rap hand me downs. My sister had Janet Jackson, you know, which was cool but I wasn’t getting the Def Jam joints in ‘85.
Ms. ILL: Who were your biggest influences in your life, personally?
W.G : I got a lot of musicians in my family. My uncle was probably my biggest influence. He gave me my first drum machine, my first keyboard and my first drum set. I played drums in his band for a long time. I started when I was really young. When I was 15 years old I was sneaking in to bars, played drums with the band and had to sneak back out before anyone realized how young I was. He got me in to recording and making beats. He had a studio, so I used to go there and just do all that.
Ms. ILL: I know I’ve asked you this before, but now that it’s on record, I have to ask again…Have you ever rapped before? (Laughing because I know the answer and how he is going to answer)
W.G : Oh yea I used to rap, BUT no one is ever going to hear that…EVER…EVER!! I rapped in high school (laughing) I’m a black guy in his 30’s, I mean we all tried it at some point. You know, it’s what you did…you wrote rhymes, you had your little rhyme book…I just realized I was bad at it. Then in college someone was like “Yo man, you should rap some more.” I was like “Aight, word!” Then I REALLY REALLY realized I was bad at it. So all evidence of that has been destroyed.
Ms. ILL: When I truly became a Willie Green fan is when I heard “Be The Change”. The drums and the horns lured me in! The sound is just so intense it makes you want to listen to the song and of course because PremRock, Warren Britt and SoSoon are on it. And listening to other beats, I’ve heard similar sounds. Why such a fan of those instrument?
W.G: Well my drums are my thing…
Ms. ILL: Would you say that that’s your signature?
W.G: I think so. I mean, I played drums for a long time, I played for about 16-17 years. I don’t play the drums any more, I quit. Because when I was in Boston, I owned a studio and a dusty drum set AND a studio. It was called “Secret Weapons Productions”, and we were behind on rent and I haven’t played my drums in a long time. I’m like I can sell my recording gear, my records, my drum machine or whatever or I can sell my drums. So, I sold my drums. That was a sad fuckin’ day, my momma bought me those drums. They were nice but it’s just not where I was going with my career. I was like fuck it, I’m a studio guy. It was like “I’m REALLY doing this” because you know, I was good! Not even on some ego trip, I was good. But yea, drums are always the first thing that’s really in my head. If I’m doing a sample based joint I’ll start with the sample and then I’ll use the drums and then I’ll add the synths or keys that I would need after that. If there’s NO sample, which for the past 4 months or so, my heads just been in that direction, a lot of the times I’ll start with the drums. Horns, I love horns, I wish I could do live horns more often but that’s impossible in a Brooklyn apartment. It all depends on the record, I like big sounding records. My whole thing is contrast, those horns don’t sound big unless you got something kind of small in there.
Ms. ILL: When your creating a beat and it’s just what you’re doing because it’s 3a.m and it’s fun, do you ever listen to the beat later and say “DAMN!!! So and so would sound so dope on this beat!”
W.G : Sometimes. You know it’s hard. I don’t think about that while making the beat unless someone specifically asks me. I just make beats just to make beats. Every now and then that will happen. What I usually do is I make the beat and put it away and listen to it the next day. I mean, sometimes you get a beat and you’re like “Ok…That’s a real one right there.” It’s also hard to say because emcee’s never pick the beats you think they’re going to pick. So many joints I’m like “Man, I don’t even like this!” And the artist is like “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? That beat is dope!”
Ms. ILL: When you’re working with an artist that you do not know, do you do your research on them?
W.G: Absolutely. I spend a lot of time doing that. If I send them a beat that sounds very different from what they‘ve done, it’s because I’ve listened to them and thought that they would sound dope over it. I’ve got 3-400 available beats sitting there maybe more. They may not all be great but people will pick what you think is your wackest beat and say “This is the one!” and make something incredible. I would never send any one a beat with out listening to their music first and I would hope no one would hit me up for a beat with out knowing what I do, and that often happens.
Ms. ILL: What goes in to the creative process of Willie Green?
W.G: I usually feel most creative, unfortunately, when I’m not in the studio. I’ll be somewhere, like on the train and I’m like “Fuck, I just had this great idea!” and I feel weird beat-boxing in to my phone. A lot of people do that, CoolE High does that, and that’s a great fuckin’ idea that‘s really smart! BUT I’m too vain to sit there and beat-box in to my phone…
Ms. ILL: Then how do you remember them? It’s not like you can write them down.
W.G: I’ve lost so many beats!! The best ideas are always when I’m not able to make them. I just try to stay inspired. It’s so funny to me to hear people say “You know it’s so hard for me to write a verse, because I have nothing to write about, I’m just not inspired.” (Starts yelling) Man, if I could rap, I’d rap all the fuckin’ time!!! You know how much shit there is to rap about?! Like how many times can people rap about bringing ‘94 back? I don’t want ‘94 back! I was there, all these kids rapping about how we need to bring ‘94 back. Ya’ll remember! I still have all those albums. If I want to hear “Illmatic” I’ll take the cd and put it in my cd player and listen to it! Everyone wants to talk about bring that shit back, that’s why you’re not relevant now because you only rap about the ‘90’s.
Ms. ILL: Do you feel like you have to prove yourself to anyone? I mean, your track record is mighty fine looking to me.
W.G : Not at all. I paid my dues a long time ago. People aren’t so one sided. I can do a pop record, I like pop music. I’m not embarrassed or I don’t like pop music because I’m supposed to because I’m indie rap. Long ago I stopped feeling I needed to prove how “hip-hop” I was. I don’t give a fuck. I ate ramen noodles and ate mayonnaise sandwiches and made rap songs. I did that, I don’t want to do that again you know? I have a nice apartment (laughs) I have a cat…named Lenore. If you don’t think I’m hip hop enough for you I don’t give a fuck. The whole idea is to not be labeled and go against the norm, but there’s so many rules you have to follow to be “hip-hop”! Well rules aren’t hip-hop!!!! That’s the first thing that’s NOT hip-hop is RULES! I got nothing to prove to anyone except myself.
Ms. ILL: What’s next for Willie Green?
W.G : I’m working on my next album. The big one, it’s not going to be an instrumental. I’m hand picking emcee’s from around the world. I’m really in to sci-fi from the 30’s. It’s going to be extra heavy because when you listen to it your mind is going to automatically think sci-fi. You know in the 30’s-40’s there was a lot of that romantic like sappy type strings, I love that shit! BUT, it’s not coming out until December of next year.
In July/August I’m dropping a project with HiCoup called “Guerilla Jones”. It’s me and him and just two guests.
In September, that project is top secret! But, be excited! It’s going to be dope!
In October, I’m dropping a project with Billy Woods from Super Chron Flight Brothers, called “History Will Absolve Me”. I executive produced his album and did more then a third of the beats. I had a very heavy hand in the project, I engineered the whole thing.
Then in November, this emcee from Boston named Pastense, whom I’ve known for a very long time, we’ve been working on this album for a very long time. It’s finally dropping.
In December I will be working “4 Seasons” and putting all the beats together. All the beats will be split up and there will be some bonus tracks.
Ms. ILL: My last question, I usually like to end it with a fun question, totally non music related. Now a few months back, on Twitter, you, Natty Night, K.O.N and myself were going back and fourth about old skool movies. Earlier you mentioned you liked 1930’s sci-fi, so you’re old skool in what you watch. Now, what’s your favorite old skool cartoon? T.v show? Movie?
W.G : (Takes deep breath) That’s the hardest question out of all of them!! How long we’ve been here? Two hours? I’ve run my mouth for two hours and NOW I have nothing to say! Um, Ok, favorite cartoon, Voltron…you don’t know nothing about Voltron.
Ms. ILL: (Laughs) I remember Voltron! I do! I’m going on 28, I know a little something.
( In the middle of him answering the question, the interview comes to a halt when Green receives a frantic call from his fiance who thought she lost their friends cat, Butters, whom they were cat sitting. Call lasted about 15 minutes until Butters was found behind the chair. The level of stress in that room raised and dropped dramatically. And the expression on Willie Greens‘ face made me wish I had a camera)
W.G : Cat sitting, that’s so not hip-hop. Ok, anyway, yes, I watched a lot of Cosby Show. Movie, that’s the hardest one. I couldn’t even answer that. I mean, Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back maybe. I mean there’s so many!
http://williegreen.bandcamp.com/
http://www.williegreenmusic.com/
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