MilanMakesBeats Talks D Savage, Making Cap$ule Corp With Chinatown, & More
I got another chance to connect with producing icon MilanMakesBeats for our second interview. Milan has been responsible for helping launch artists like D Savage, Playboi Carti, and Lil Yachty's career by recognizing their talent before anyone else did. Be on the lookout for more music from Milan and Cap$ule Corp!
You're from Rock Hill, SC, right? What's the music scene like in your area? Who were you listening to growing up?
Yeah I'm from Rock Hill SC. My upbringing was pretty good, my parents always supported me in everything I did or wanted to do. The music scene here is really growing, I think people would really excel if they took it more seriously and invest in themselves. I grew up being a big Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Chief Keef, and Kid Cudi fan.
You and Chinatown created the production duo, Cap$ule Corp. What made you two decide you wanted to collaborate as a dual sound? What can we expect from Cap$ule Corp in the future?
We had very similar sounds and how we thought about moving in the music industry was very similar to each other. We clicked as soon as we met. Expect more collabs and joint projects.
In 2017 you released your first mixtape, "Wave 1". "Wave 1" features artists: Yung Bans, Playboi Carti, Thouxanbanfauni, D Savage, Warhol.SS, UnoTheActivist, Lil Yachty, Levi Carter, Joey Fatts, and Larry League a stacked lineup for a mixtape. What made you decide to want to put out a mixtape as a producer?
I put it out because I felt like those artists weren’t doing it right. Everything they dropped they gave it away for free and just didn’t do business right. I took it into my own hands to make the tapes to show artists and producers how it should be done.
Let's talk about "32 Gang" a song featured on "Wave 1" by Warhol.SS produced by you and Vin$o. How did the beat get into Warhol.SS hands?
He sent me a melody and I just added a few others and the rest of the instruments. I sent Warhol the beat.
You produced "Joker" another song on "Wave 1" featuring D Savage. Can you run us through the process of making the beat? How did you end up collaborating on this song with D Savage?
This was another online collab me and D Savage had been talking about working and would FaceTtime whenever he was recording or I was making beats.
You worked with Lil Yachty very early on in his career. You produced "Boat Time" featured on his debut EP: "Summer Songs EP" released in 2015, also re-released by you on your debut mixtape "Wave 1" two years later. What made you want to re-release the song on your mixtape?
Yachty and I would DM back and forth because I rocked with his music early and he fucked with my beats. We originally were supposed to do a full tape after that but he blew up and it never happened. I added it to "Wave 1" because it was never released on streaming platforms.
Lessons you've learned that you wish you knew when you first started as a producer or an artist?
I wish I knew in the beginning how to get on streaming platforms and more about royalties/contracts. Biggest lesson I learned is that people word is not their bond so do the paperwork.
You've worked with a lot of artists over your career. What do you think is the best way to get your foot in the door as a producer?
The best way to get your foot in the door is work with as many different people you can and also remain humble. Stay focused and keep working towards your goal. I got myself here by by covering my ass and copyrighting everything and doing contracts with artists.
What can we expect from MilanMakesBeats in 2019 and 2020? Any upcoming projects your working on that we should be aware of?
I plan to do another tape but it takes a lot more effort and work now because I do everything right to avoid issues. I will soon be changing how I operate and do things as an artist so be on the lookout.