JD On Tha Track Talks Producing "Pop Out", Connecting With Lil Reese, + More!
We got the chance to connect with producer JD. He' produced one of the hottest songs of the year "Pop Out" by Polo G and Lil Tjay, I'm sure all of you have heard it. He's had the chance to work with artists like: Youngboy Never Broke Again, Polo G, Lil Tay, Lil Reese, and more! Check out my personal favorite production of his: "Brothers" by Lil Tjay.
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 Brazil and I made a connection to producing music by the age of 16. I've been making beats and producing for 6 years.
What's your producer tag? How did you create it? What's the importance of having a producer tag?
My producer tag is JD On Tha Track and I created it because of my name which is João Duarte so JD. The importance of having a producing tag is huge because a lot of people recognize you and your beats by the tag and that way you can also ''protect'' your beats.
What's your scene? Would you rather be at the crib cooking up beats solo? Or be in the studio collaborating with other producers?
I would say both. It just depends. Me, I like to be at my crib chilling making beats but I also like to be in the studio with other producers cooking up. I would say both of the ways is beneficial but cooking up in the studio with other producers and artists is way more beneficial because you create a real-life relationship and that way both can tell their opinions about the beat and tell some ideas. The only limitation by cooking up at your crib is that. You don't get to show out and network with other producers and artists.
What made you start focusing on music as a career rather than just a hobby?
When I started to get money with it and when I started to get a lot of placements. In those moments, I started to focus on this way more and taking very seriously.
You produced Polo G's "Pop Out" (feat. Lil Tjay) a song that's been going absolutely crazy. How/when did you first link up with Polo G. Can you run us through making the beat with Iceberg? How did Polo and Tjay end up hopping on it? Did you think it would do as well as it's done?
I ain't had a chance to link up in real life with Polo G yet. I know him just by social media. About the beat, so, Iceberg he sent me the melodies of the beat then I added the drums and gave the final touches to the beat. After that, I just laid the beat down and sent it out to Maria, Chelsea which both of them are A&Rs at Columbia Records and to Lil TJay. I think one of them got into Polo G's hands. I might have sent to Polo G too but I don't remember. I definitely knew that was gonna be a hit if it got to the right hands and it did.
How/when did you first link up with Lil Tjay? Can you run us through making the "Brothers" beat? How did Tjay end up hopping on it?
Well, I've sent a beat pack to him last year and then he hopped on the beat Brothers. After that, I just kept sending him beats till one day he called me and we get to talk. After that, I linked up with him the first time in Miami and we have made some crazy records while we were there. So the beat, Protege had sent me the main melody and a couple of other melodies. Then I added more melodies, the drums, laid the beat down and gave the final touches to it. After that, I just sent the beat to him.
How/when did you first link up with Youngboy Never Broke Again? Can you run us through the process of making the "Over" beat? How did Youngboy end up hopping on it?
I ain't had a chance to link up with NBA Youngboy in person yet neither. I just sent the beat to him and his crew then he hopped on it. So, to that beat, I think I was feeling so sad at the moment and that day and I started making some sad beats and Over was one of them.
How/when did you first connect with Lil Reese? Can you run us through the process of making the "Seen or Saw" beat? How did Reese end up hopping on it?
I ain't had a chance to link up with him in person yet neither. Just by social media and that was one of my first major placements. At the time, the drill scene was crazy and everybody was on that kinda vibe so I use to make a lot of those type beats and send them all to the Drill Rappers at the time. I had his personal email and I've just sent the beat to him and he hopped on it.
How/when did you first connect with Quando Rondo? Can you run us through the process of making the "In My Section" beat? How did Quando end up hopping on it?
I've heard a record by Quando a while ago which was ''I remember'' with Lil Baby. Till that day I wanted to work with him and I did recently with that record. Me and him got like 4 unreleased songs but just 2 got released. So, the beat, BoyFifty have sent me some melodies then I added more melodies, the drums and laid the beat down. After that, I sent the beat to Quando and he hopped on it.
What's on the horizon for your music career in 2019?
Now it's time and I'm going harder than ever. I would say that this year it's my year and I'm coming for everything. I rather just show than talk but yea that's it.
Check him out:
https://soundcloud.com/jdonthatrack
https://www.instagram.com/jdonthatrack/