Voice Of The Metro

So every now and then, a young journalist gets a nice-ass opportunity to interview someone they respect the shit out of. In this case, I got Mr. Roger Beat, formerly of MOB and TOB fame. When he approached me about doing an interview, I’ll tell you, I won’t front…I ji’ like felt accomplished. It’s to the point that I checked back with HIM about doing the interview. So after a little bit of reworking schedules, I finally got to meet up with Roger at the Starbucks @ Greenway Center to sit down and talk to a certified future go-go/hip-hop production legend. Sit down, open your eyes, and read up on one of the hottest young beatmakers in the go-go game…

Voice Of The Metro: Introduce yourself to the world, homie!

Roger Beat: What’s good, man? This is Roger Beat from Washington, DC. Doing my thing, trying to get out here on the map.

VOTM: I can dig it. So for the people that ain’t up on you or been paying attention to you, give them some history on you and what you’ve done in your career.

RB: Well, I started with a band called UFB. That was my first go-go band, doing a couple beats there, but never really had the mindset of being a producer really, so I was just doing little beats here and there. From there, I moved on to MOB, which was like my breakout band, got me a lot of exposure. Shouts out to them. I would work out with the keyboard players, which were Mark and O. Working out with them made me a better keyboard player. Then I got with TOB as their keyboard player, and I was their STRONGEST keyboard player, so everything came from me and my beats would always stand out. Eventually, bands would call me up for the Roger Beats, so now I’m doin’ rap/hip-hop, R&B, everything, because you can’t just stick to one thing. You have to be diverse with it.

VOTM: So when your name comes up, you’re looked at with this respect that surpasses a lot of people that are your age. Does that sometimes shake you up and put a little bit of pressure on you?

RB: Well, it does, because one thing you have to remember is so many people are making beats, so you have to make sure your beats don’t sound like the next man’s, and make sure your beats are marketable to whatever industry you’re trying to go into. I’m young, so I’m very open-minded, so I get confused as to whether I should do this or that or not, but at the same time, I have time to find myself and my sound. So this is just the beginning.

VOTM: I can definitely respect that. Now I know that you recently left TOB because you have to do your own thing, and you said that you’re leaving the idea of joining another band alone for a while. So during this time while you’re taking a break, what WILL you be doing in this time?

RB: Well, right now, a lot of producers are doing a lot of their stuff in the studio, making it with the keyboards, the Reason, the Fruity Loops, etc. What I’m doing is making my beats with my keyboard, then my own band with the bass player, and just making my beat with LIVE beats. So I have my own Roger Beats band to help make my beats with live instrumentation. Also, I’m putting together my audio profile so when I talk to record labels, I can say “Look, this is what I’m doing, this is what I’ve done, etc.”

VOTM: Yeah, you’re going to need the package for the labels. I know because I’m in this rap game…I’m not even gon’ speak on that though. (laughs) So right now, what do you think of the go-go game right now, progressing from the days of Chuck Brown to where it is now?

RB: Wow…like, Chuck Brown, he started go-go, but I didn’t grow up off of Chuck Brown. I grew up on Backyard. But it’s progressing a lot. Problem is, people aren’t hungry enough anymore. People are just satisfied with it being at that same consistent level, and it’s so competitive. People need to work TOGETHER. Everybody needs to get together and say, “Look, man, this is what we’re going to do.” We all trying to get go-go out there on the map, but it’s crazy. Bands worried about what another band is hittin’, they need to worry about their own band.

VOTM: As far as legends in the game, who do you look up to?

RB: Big G, man! That’s my favorite, I look up to Big G, because outside of go-go, he’s trying to put DC on the map. You look on TV and see him on “The Wire”. The last time I talked to him, he told me something about trying to be in the new Biggie Smalls movie. He’s trying to make stuff happen for the area, so I look up to him.

VOTM: Favorite carryout?

RB: Andy’s Carryout on New York Avenue! Definitely my favorite! Best mambo sauce, best tartar sauce, best fish, chicken, however you want it!

VOTM: Favorite go-go band?

RB: Period? Backyard Band.

VOTM: Favorite clothing store?

RB: Locally, AllDaz, they always doin’ their thing, so gotta go with AllDaz. Other than that, I love wearing LRG.

VOTM: Favorite rappers from this area?

RB: Wale. Right now, he’s making things happen for the city, and he’s not just a rapper all for himself.

VOTM: Shouts out to Wale, we got the interview with you next week, I ain’t forget. So any last words and shoutouts?

RB: Shouts out to my manager, Tina B. Shout out my band, even though I’m not with them anymore, TOB, I still got love for them. MOB, they was my breakout band, the manager, Rome. UFB, Free Mike B. And for everybody, if you need beats, holla at me. And Domo! Domo from AllStars Band, that’s my man right there, man. Look out for him because I’mma have him doing this rap thing too, man.

VOTM: Thanks for the interview, man. Keep doing it for the DMV and keep doing it for go-go.