Coupe Talks How He Linked With Young Nudy, The Importance Of Having Your Own Sound, & More
Coupe is a rookie in the producing game, but he moves like a veteran which has led to his success through placements with some of the industry's most talented artists. His futuristic sounding style of beats is what makes him so different. Coupe is a producer you want to keep your eye on during these next few months he has some big placements and even bigger moves on the way.
Where are you from? What was your upbringing like? What's, was the music scene like in your area? And who were you listening to growing up?
I'm not from Atlanta, like most people think I'm from Macon, GA. MAC-TOWN. In Macon, we didn't have a real music scene, but we listened to a lot of Gucci Mane, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, and Pastor Troy. I personally listened to a lot of OutKast because that's my favorite group ever. As well as Kanye West, Pharrell, 50 Cent, Drake, as well as gospel music coming up.
How old were you when you started producing? What first inspired you to start making beats? And what helped you shape your sound?
I have been playing piano since I was young, but I started producing at 22. I was playing piano at a church, and a dude walked up to me and asked, have you ever thought about producing, and I was like "No", and he told me I should start. So I looked up what to use to get started, and I found Fruity Loops 12, and the rest is history.
A lot of producers struggle to gain any success because they try to copy another producer's sound. How did you create your own? And what's the importance of having your sound as a producer?
Well, my favorite producer is Southside of 808mafia, so that's where I take from. I used to watch his periscopes at like five in the morning on my way to work. His melodies and hard-hitting 808s stuck out to me.
Some producers go their whole career without a single placement and no artist relationships. You, on the other hand, have been able to network yourself quite well, landing yourself a lot of placements early on in your producing career. What have been the steps you've taken to put yourself in the situation you are in today?
Well, I also learned this from Southside. One time he said don't copy people's style. Just take pieces from it. So like with him, he has crazy 808s sometimes simple sometimes even off note, but it's cool how he uses it so those pieces I took from him. I created my sound by using my playing skills mixed in with what I've learned from various producers. When you have your own sound, you stick out like a sore thumb to artists as well as other producers. "Anyways", proves that. Listen to the fresh new sound you get from us on there. Use Instagram to your advantage and go out and network with different people. I was in Atlanta, so I just really went out to beat events and some studios and gave people beats for free.
You have a bunch of songs with Atlanta artist who has gained recognition in the rap game over the past few years, Young Nudy. How did you guys first link up? And what's it like when Nudy and Coupe link up in the studio? And how did that chemistry get built?
I met Nudy through a mutual friend. And we linked in December 2018. Nudy is like an older brother for real. He showed me the ropes in the industry. When we are in the studio, we just have fun, to be honest. He takes what he does seriously, but we still manage to have fun with it. I feel like the chemistry came from being around him a lot. 20Rocket and I were literally around him every day.
Let's talk about "Homies" featured on Young Nudy's "Faded In The Booth" released last year. Was this your first placement with Nudy? If so, run us through he ended up on one of your beats? And can you run us through that session?
"Homies" was my first placement with Nudy, and I was in the studio for the session. I actually made the beat at my house, but I sent it to him while we were in the studio, and he liked it. Nudy records his songs by himself, but while he's in the booth, we just kick it and vibe.
One of my favorite productions of yours is "Blue Cheese Salad" featured on Nudy's latest album "Anyways", which also one of the leading singles on the album. Where did the inspiration for that sound come from? Can you run us through making that beat? How did Nudy end up hopping on it? And lastly, can you run us through that session?
"Blue Cheese Salad" is funny because I love that Slimeball Synth. But I just wanted to make something people could listen to on their way to work but have a futuristic out-of-body experience with. I made the beat in front of Nudy, and we were just vibing to the spacey sounds, then he was like make the bass move, and then I made the 808 pattern. After that, he was like I like it and went and recorded it. And then he called it "Blue Cheese Salad".
You and DJ Marc B, who happens to be 21 Savage's DJ, collaborated on the "Cap Dem" beat. Another song featured on Nudy's most recent album. How did You and Marc B link up? How did that beat come together? And how did Nudy end up on it?
Me and Marc B first met when Nudy went to Miami to record Sli' merre. And after that, we were just cool. But Marc B had a session, and I hit him up and asked him if I could pull up, and he was cool with it. When I pulled up, he was playing the melody on "Cap Dem", and I was like bruh this is heat, and he was like get in on it, and the rest is history. Nudy heard it when I put the snippet on my IG, and he told me it was fye, so I just saved it for him.
Another one of my favorite songs you produced on Nudy's latest album, which really stands out to me, is "GTA Lyfestyle". Arguably one of the best beats on the album. Where did that sound come from? How did that beat end up in Nudy's hands? What was that session like?
Nudy started that beat. I was drained that night and told him I need some inspiration, and he used the Slimeball Synth to start it, and my brother Young Lord Sean added the melody I added some more melodies and the drums and it was heat. After the beat was done, Nudy went to the booth and spazzed.
What's one thing you've learned so far in your career as a producer that you wish knew when you first started?
You have to work every day in this industry and be humble. Being humble will get you in places you never thought you could go. And networking is one of the most important things because your network is your net worth for real. Fuck with other producers. Don't be a one-man show. "Anyways" was a collective effort, not a single one.
Message to all the producers out there?
I feel like creating your own sound is one of the most significant advantages you can have in music. If you sound like everybody else, you won't get heard or seen. Like I said before, new vibes stick out like a sore thumb on God.
What can we expect from Coupe this year? Any projects or singles you're apart of that we should be on our radar?
I'd say since I'm still a rookie in this, just wait to hear my tag again in one of these major artists' songs. I got something in the works I can't speak on right now, but some major placements coming soon. I'm still working like it's my first day on the job.