The Custodian Of Records is a Producer from Montclair, New Jersey . His sound is reminiscent of Pete Rock, Large Professor, Rjd2, and Kanye West, with a healthy dose of originality. His beats have attracted an enthusiastic audience to date. Before signing to July 18 Music Group in 2008, the Custodian had readied a EP that compiled with an eclectic array of MCs throughout the New Jersey area. Currently recording new CD for Late 2008/Early 2009 release. He will release a pre – release (The EP) Digital Download via Itunes, Rhapsody, etc. Which will later accompany the official CD. The Custodian Of Records created and Hosted New Jersey based Hip Hop Showcase Midnight Marauders(w/past quests: Young Zee, El Da Sensei, Rah Digga, Hom, etc)n and Beat Competition Weapons of Mass Production. Co Created one of the first Underground/Unsigned Hip Hop Podcasts series with Noah Zark and Dj Brown Bum for WFMU Coffee2Go. Produced for Arablak, Thirston Howl III, Murdoc ,Reef The Lost Cauze, and Pace Won.

MMIM: How did you get into producing tracks?

COR: Well I first got into Hip hop when i was about 8 going into the third grade.. I used to rhyme, still do actually but keep that “under raps” get it…eh…Though beats were made by the instrumentals off the records as opposed to machines like the sp 1200 and akai samplers.. so 7th grade I weaseled my folks into getting me a gemini start up kit which was a turntable, DJ mixer (PMX-7 which I still use to this day) and a tape deck. So I wasn’t exactly “beat juggling” as a between (laughs) then when I realized beats were made by actual equipment ie: samplers, keyboards. I would go to a guy with an sp and give him a sample and he’d flip it for me. Now fast forward to circa 99′, I got this computer program called ACID which is a great program for looping stuff and a couple years and a few records later, I “upgraded” and got the mpc 200xl which I use now. I wasn’t too confident in the acid days, but now I think I developed a sound but aside from all that, I really make tracks because I feel no one is making the kinda stuff I like, even the “Real Hip Hop” stuff is for the most part just a synthetic version of the “Boom Bap” so in turn I’m just trying to make the stuff I would listen to and hopefully more heads will get into it..

MMIM: Why do you call yourself “The Custodian of Records?” What made you choose that as a name?

COR: Well the came about from me being a pervert watching pornos with the doors closed (laughs). Nah, but yeah when a p-flick comes on, you get the federal warning and the Custodian of Records thing stating that all models are of age. I basically took that along with my love for actual vinyl records and ran with it. I think it works cause the stuff I do, much like porn, a lot of people are ashamed of, they want everything in their music to sound ‘safe’ for the most part.

MMIM: What was it about the July 18th Music Group label that made you want to be apart of it?

COR: Well I’ve known Larry since High School, so when he said he wanted to start a label, much like a loyal cult disciple following their leader, I followed his lead. He’s also the only dude who has expressed interest and actually followed through with helping me push my project. He also has a more realistic vision that I share about how we should go about pushing my stuff. Oh, and he’s a maverick (laughs).

MMIM: Who are some of the artists to be released on your EP? When will the EP be released?

COR: Lets see…I got my dude Solzalez on some songs, who is an incredible emcee/musician out of Newark, New Jersey. Along with him, there’s Murdoc from Orlando who just recently was on the legendary wake up show with King Tech and DJ Revolution. I’ve got a song with Murdoc Featuring Thirston Howl III that will be on the project. I’m actually recalling the idea of making it an EP though. I did a limited run of CDs and I think I kinda rushed it. Also, there’s a lot more dope stuff I got that will be on the new re-furbished one…just wait..

MMIM: Tell us about the Podcast series that you co created.

COR: Damn I feel like larry david (laughs). Nah, but my pal from another gal DJ Brownbum introduced me to a dude named Noah Uman back in 2004 I think. And Noah had a show on legendary free form radio station WFMU. He invited us on for the first installment of his show “Coffee Break for Heroes and Villians.” Noah expressed interest in doing an off shoot of the main radio show but said he wanted to do a 30 minute podcast of fresh unsigned/unheard talent. So me and Brown and Noah combined our demo CDR’s which we received from people we knew along with cats who just gave us music in passing and we stirred up a musical gumbo of sorts. But it was truly a great thing, but most people fronted on the opportunity to be heard which kinda discouraged me from wanting to do it as often and I really wanted to always have fresh shit. I grew up listening to Stretch and Bob breaking demos on KCR along with Home Jams with Flavor Flav and later Denis Revira on Hot 97 (when KRS called it the hip hop epicenter). So I loved (and still do) the idea of breaking new records from artists from all over and also it was a way for me to display some of the insane amount of talent that New Jersey has. So when a cat wasn’t the most savvy with the internet but had stuff recorded, I was able to get his/her stuff heard. A lot of the stuff I was playing a year before is just now getting some recognition from other radio shows. It was a great thing but I didn’t get enough feedback and not enough people expressed interest in getting their stuff heard, but now, Podcasts are all the rage…go figure.

MMIM: What artists would you like to produce for in the future?

COR: I mean aside from the people I’m working with now, I really don’t see a point in going backwards. Meaning, I’m trying to let people hear some new fresh talent, but I mean if this were fantasy football for rap music, I’d have to say Redman, Young Zee, Dave Ghetto, One Be Lo, Tame One, Black Thought, Treach…the list goes on.

MMIM: Anything else you would like to let our readers know? How can MMIM readers reach out to you?

COR: I got an album coming out super soon called “Burton Music: Vol 1″.. anyone interested in hearing what I got, go to the july 18th music myspace and my email is: Fiverowsback@gmail.com just in case anyone wants to contact me in regards to music…peace to MMIM.

www.myspace.com/custodianofrecords

Below is a track from The Custodian of Records EP entitled The EP.
[audio http://mymoodismusic.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/06-6-the-maverick-8th-w1.mp3]
The Maverick-8th W1

Stay tuned for more artists from the July 18 Music Group.

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