Callarii Talks How He Switched From Producing To Rapping, Working With LUCKI + More!
We got the chance to talk with artist and producer Callari. He's worked with artists like: LUCKI, Famous Dex, Polo G, Lil Tracy and more! Check out my favorite production of his: "Deep Wounds" by Polo G. He's got heat coming your way all 2019 so look out.
Where are you from and what age did you first make a connection to producing music? And how long have you been producing music?
I'm from Brooklyn NY, born and raised till I was 16. Then I moved out here to West Palm Beach. I've loved music my whole life, but I started at 18-19, going to college I saw this dude on the train and in school who would just make beats, so I asked him for the program and started there. Pretty much taught myself, the guy was super stingy and never wanted to teach me, so I used youtube most of the time to help me out. So all together about 3 years ago is when I first started, actually this October makes 3
What's your producer tag? How did you create it? And what's the importance of having a producer tag?
My tag now is "Ayo llari this shit fye" shoutout tezzy. He recently just made that tag for me. My older tag was just this girl saying "Callari hehe", but she was foreign or something so she sounded kinda weird saying it, but that tag was used for the most part. Tags are super important, that's why I changed mine. I wanted to have something catchy, and make it possible for listeners to tweet the tag out if they fucked with a song I produced on, on my older one it was kinda low quality, and you can't even hear what she's saying fully.
What's your scene? Would you rather be at the crib cooking up beats solo, or be in the studio collaborating with other producers?
Literally, I'm either at home or at the studio. Out here in West Palm, I got a little cook up spot, my bro Nick and 1040 work there, so every night pretty much a bunch of producers link and just go to work there. It's a cool environment and I get along with everyone so it's cool to work there. But 99% of my other beats all made at home using headphones. Not everyone gets to just go to a studio to cook up every night, but it's a blessing to be able to. It was easier, and the vibe is cool with just my friends, in there laughing, smoking and shit makes the whole process not even feel like a job, or like work.
How/when did you first connect with Polo G? Can you run us through making the "Deep Wounds" beat?
SHOUTOUT 1040. My manager had hit me up the day before to get us beats for Youngboy. I called 1040, and he called Dmajor, and we sat in the stu for like 10 hours just cooking up packs, like 8-10 beats. All Dmajor melodies and me and 40 on percussion and all that other jazz. Youngboy still ain't use them, so when 1040 went to LA recently, he linked with someone from Warner Chapel, who sent the beat out for us and bam, Deep Wounds was made.
How/when did you first connect with Lil Tracy? Can you run us through making the "When It Rains It Pours" beat?
So for this, kinda crazy story. I was just scrolling on twitter and saw Tracy had tweeted out, "Follow my manager @nickblanco". So I literally followed and dm'd him and was like "lemme send beats for Tracy". He was like "CALLARI I BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU. SEND THAT HE RECORDING TONIGHT". Me and 5herrif literally just made a couple beats the night before, so I had sent those his way. We exchanged numbers, I woke up and the song was out. Crazy shit.
How/when did you first connect with Lucki? Can you run us through making the "Make Up" beat?
My boy Cortdot had just blessed me with Lucki's old beat email. I just consistently sent him shit, and we had built a little bond thru just email back and forth. He would tell me what he wanted and id just made it, me and Lucki got a good sound. Me and Oxy had just been cooking for Lucki and so happens he used that beat. We got more shit coming though so stay tuned
How/when did you first connect with Famous Dex? Can you run us through making the "Outta Here" beat with Ginseng?
My friend had slid me Dex email, literally the weirdest looking email. Was just a bunch of letters, like "hdksbkedex@gmail.com". I ain't even believe it was his. But I was like fuck it imma take the chance, so I had sent him 2 of mine and Ginsengs beats (shoutout Chris). He got on both but only one is out, the snippet to the other is on my Instagram.
Any advice you'd give to all the producers trying to establish a name for themselves and build credits?
Just keeeeeeeeep working. Literally. There will be a label, manager someone watching u work and build credits and be there for u one day. Just pay attention to rappers posting their emails and take any chance on sending some shit out you never know who or when someone will fw ur shit. Stay versatile and just go the hardest you can cuz it will pay off.
What's on the horizon for your music career in 2019?
Man y'all just gonna see how hard work pays off. So far 2019 has been great for me, and I just plan to go harder to achieve my goals. I'm on the Billboard charts, and about to get my first plaque and I can't be thankful enough to god, and all the others who support and help me. Yall really helped my dreams come true.
Check him out:
https://soundcloud.com/callari
https://www.instagram.com/callarii/