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21 Questions A Conversation with Anomaly By Simba Hip Hop section Rasun72@excapethematrix.com a·nom·a·ly -
By definition, he is that.
More than just a dude who sits behind an MPC 2000 and puts beats
together. Nah, that would never prepare you for what is pumped out of
the speakers of Heat Studios in Ft. Meade, MD. Nah…that wouldn’t even do
him justice. With a head bowed as if praying for infinite wisdom of some
ancient creative force, he strings together some of the most definitive
works ever heard. Whether it be a remix for a Nas track or working with
some of Maryland’s best kept secrets, he brings the joy of a child mixed
with the intensity of an evangelist sprinkled with 11 herbs and spices
to the table.
I have had the pleasure of knowing this
brother for the better part of ten years. We have grown to be the
closest of friends and with that being said, I know dude! I know William
David Tyler, a quiet dude from Fairfax Co., Va. The cat who uses words
like "Young," and "Joe." The dude who is close to his family and is
honest in his relationship with his first girl…Music. For me, it started
at a small office in Towson, Md. I mean, he is so low key and humble
with his craft, I didn’t even know he did music until we were going to
hang out one night, and he gave me his cell number and he had one of his
tracks as the voicemail message. After I had to call back a couple of
times to listen to the track, I finally left a message…about how dope
the track was. Even today, when praised on his work, he gives only his
signature "Good Lookin" response. So, dear readers, if ya know like I
know, y’all will sit down and light this spliff with me as we converse.
Simba: So, would you say that you are a true child of Hip Hop?
Anom: Definitely!! Definitely!!! I remember I was like 5 years old and I heard like…no I was like 5 or 6 and I heard Radio…nah, it was Roxanne, Roxanne. That did it for me. From that point on.
Simba: Ah, yes…L L Cool J and U.T.F.O. Definitely two classics!
When these two artists hit the scene, these were definitive moments for hip hop. LL
pushed the envelope with a lyricism that was rarely seen at the time his debut hit stores.
U.T.F.O broke ground with the battles that made hip hop famous. From this one record, it spawned at least fifteen other responses that gave birth to other pioneers of this beloved
art form.
Anom: Yeah, after I heard that, it was over!
Simba: So, I guess that is what answers my next question, when and at what moment was that child born.
Anom: Aw yeah, that was it…That and Radio!!!
Simba: Can you narrow it down to one producer who most influences your style?
After he pauses for a while, he tries to answer. Now, I know this is a question that honestly would stump most producers because a lot of us came up during the Golden age of Hip Hop. For those of you who are just becoming familiar with Hip Hop, I mean true Hip Hop, that was the years from 1988 to about, for me at least, 1995. After that time, it seemed to me that Hip Hop’s pulse started to weaken a bit.
Anom: "I’m thinking…I’m thinking…I’m thinking," as he laughs.
Simba: Now you know you my man…I was going to come at you with some real
questions!
Anom: If I had to say anything, it probably would have to be Pete Rock. For sure…
You know what I mean. That’s Soul Brotha #1!!!
Simba: I had a feeling you were going to say that!
Simba: Who are some of the artists you listen to during leisure time, no matter what
genre?
Anom: PSSSS…Man!! Gill Scott Heron…um…Shit!! Aw Man…What don’t I listen to
should be the question? That’s a tough one!
Simba: Come on, Sun…you gotta dig in the crates for this one!
Anom: I mean, you got Portishead of course.
Simba: Yeah, we had some classic moments to Portishead!
Anom: Dog!! I don’t know!!! We could sit here all day…with me
sittin’ here trying to think.
I don’t know…we may have to come back to that one!
Simba: That’s cool. I know that was a tough question!
Simba: What artists would you like to work with?
Anom: Whewww…other than Louis Trees on the camera!!! Um…Nas. Definitely…
Simba: Oh yeah, you have done some DOPE remixes for Nas!!!
Trees: Yes Sir!!!
Simba: Yeah, For REAL!! Ay yo, Nas, if you EVER see this, you need to holla at my
man! Like, yo! Go to our myspace page and yo…Boy. Whooo, man I can’t even talk!!!
Anom: Yeah, it’s a whole lot of artists with that…there is a broad range…Like Nelly,
Furtado…I mean, you know, it is a real range on that one.
Simba: That’s right, this man can produce for any genre!
Anom: Yeah, oh yeah…it don’t matter! If you can hear it, I can make it happen!
Simba: So, these particular artists, like why would you like to work with Nas?
Anom: Because with Nas, you get to display versatility and I
believe in being versatile! You know
what I mean? You don’t want to just give people the same thing all the
time. And some artists have
a style where you know…they can do different things and they’ll usually
give you different things…
Like Nelly Furtado on her last album..
Simba:
Yeah, she really stretched out on this one!
Simba: Now every person I’ve ever spoken to about your music has described it as
phenomenal and every other synonym to that word I can think of. How would you put
into words, when you are in a zone, what inspires what you would describe as a definitive
moment when crafting a track?
Anom: Shhh…Do you need one on this one?
Simba: Nah, take as long as you need on this question..
Anom: It’s when everything clicks…You just know. I don’t
know. It’s when you
instinctively start saving and start making long term goals like, "Yeah,
I’m gonna work
with this one. Like, "this is a keeper, we gon’ rock with this one!" You
like when you
start listenin to your shit from the other room. You just know.
Simba: Yeah, it’s one of those moments when you get to listen to some new shit in the car!
Anom: Oh Yeah, you listen to that shit on everything…You even listen to that shit on your cell phone!!!
Simba: You’ve been involved with projects ranging from Amerie’s "All I Need" to Jay Z’s classic "S. Carter" album. What were those experiences like?
Anom: Just happy to be doing something. And at the time when
it was very little, but
still…recognition. You know what I mean…for doing something you love. I
mean,
everyone wants recognition for doing something they love. Everyone wants
to be able to
do they thing. That’s probably what I got from that. That and
experience.For those of you who don’t know, Anomaly was on the backend
of songs on this album like "Is That Your Chick", featuring Missy
Elliott, "Snoopy Track", featuring Juvenile and also "It’s Hot".
Simba: Now you and me have been chillin’ hard for like 10 years strong now and you are truly one of the most humble cats I know. With you being the caliber of producer you are, how do you maintain such a high degree of humility?
Anom: You know…I think really it’s not up to you to say that
you hot or whatever
because you are making this for other people to hear. So, it’s really up
to other people to
say that. You put your whatever into it and what you get out of it is
people feeling what
you do! It’s not really up to me, so when people say whatever…"Good
Lookin", cause
that’s what I want. You know, I really want people to enjoy this.
I think really it’s not up to you to say that you are hot or whatever because you are making this for other people to hear" Anomaly…
To say this brother is quiet is an understatement. His talents have drawn the likes of Diddy, as he was being wooed to be one of the legendary production team The Hitmen. He has worked with Rich Harrison, Ruff Ryders production team and Timbaland to say the least. But has still remained the same dude from VA.
Simba: You grew up where exactly?
Anom: Awww Man!!! Alexandria, Va…right outside of DC. That’s it…from the roota to the toota! Yeah, grew up in Alexandria and came up to Baltimore.
Simba: You went to the high school that the movie "Remember The Titans" was based
on, right?
Anom: Yeah yeah, T. C. Williams
Simba: What was is like going to a school that made such a statement?
Anom: Honestly, the people who went there didn’t realize anything until the movie came out. I mean, it really wasn’t hyped up like that. Yeah, until the movie came out, it really wasn’t hyped up like that. I mean, I enjoyed what you enjoyed when you saw it!
Simba: After that, there was a brief stay at Morgan State University, right?
Anom: Yeah…
Simba: Wasn’t that around the time you had a hand in the "S. Carter" album, right?
Anom: Yeah, I had started early…Basically givin’ stuff away just to see what people
thought and ended up kinda on the back end, helping out.
Simba: How old were you then?
Anom: 17...yeah, Like 17, 18.
Simba: CrazyI think this is a testament to Anom’s talent to
be involved in an album, that by most hip
hop aficionados to be a classic and to have done it at such a young age!
He has been on
the cutting edge of producing and is constantly growing and pushing the
envelope. One
of the first to delve into the music of Hindi artists and turn it into
something uniquely tied
to hip hop, Anomaly is Hip Hop production’s constant progression.
"Anomaly is Hip Hop Production’s Constant Progression…"
Simba: Ok, here is the million dollar question, do you feel that Hip Hop is dead?
Anom: Nah…Nah…It’s not dead. But it does have a lot of shit on it right now!!! But no, it’s not dead at all.
Simba: I don’t know, I am on the fence with that one. Like I find myself really making consorted attempts to listen to the radio and Man…I can’t even do it no more. I mean, I find myself doing what you do. I learned it from you, meaning I dig for dope shit because the mainstream cousin of hip hop leave a lot to be desired.
Anom: To me, I guess, hip hop being dead depends on your perception. Because certain shit I don’t even classify as hip hop. Like certain shit, it’s good, it’s working. But a bunch of that shit…Okay, I try to find something good in everything.
Simba: Well, I am trying to get to that point. I AM SORRY, I’M JADED!!!
Simba: Do you think there will ever be a time when hip hop, excuse me, Rap will get
beyond all of the nonsense that is being passed off as music now?
Anom: Nah! Cause it’s just gonna become hip hop. Rap is rap because it’s not hip hop. Rap is Fred and Barney rapping about Fruity Pebbles!! Things like that!
Simba: Ultimately, through producing, what would you like to achieve with this?
Anom: Recognition. My credit and my check! That’s it. No fame…none of that. Just give me my credit and my check. You can keep the rest.
Simba: I guess if Jay Dilla can do it, you can pull it off!
Anom: Exactly and rest in peace to Jay Dee! I don’t desire all that other stuff!
Simba: What projects are you working on now?
Anom: Right now, I got a single out with Lil Wayne and Jody Breeze called "Dippin". I
have a joint with Boyz In Tha Hood. You know I did the Cam’ron joint "White Girl"
Simba: Which I am still mad at him for!
Anom: Yeah…I am also working on a joint with Keysha Cole. It’s a lot goin’ on.
Simba: If you had to sum it all up in one statement about 30 seconds long, what would
you say to up and coming beat smiths?
Anom: Don’t become a jack of all trades and a master of none.
Get something, learn it,
master it. Use only that. Don’t start on a million things. Learn the
basics, listen to
what’s hot. Figure out why it’s hot. Apply what you like to your music.
Put yourself
into it. Don’t compromise and that’s it.
Simba: Where and how can people get in contact with you?
Anom: Even though I don’t like to found most of the time, you can holla at me at Heat
Studios. 1644 Annapolis Road, Odenton, Md. 21113. To call 410-305-0818. Hit me up on your myspace. I know everybody got it on they sidekicks and on your desktops. Ain’t nobody really working! Myspace.com/anom1360. My cell phone…is not listed!!!
Well, there you have it…Art in motion…Hard hits like locomotives. Truly, Anomaly is a dude who presents infinite possibilities with his craft. Simply providing a soulful commentary to his life, this love has transformed into a livelihood. Imagine getting up and going to work and being able to live off of what you absolutely love to do. Imagine being able to create your own stitch in time. The true measure of an artist is their ability to inspire other artists. In that, he truly is a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form. Remember the name…A.N.O.M.A.L.Y.