Greetings to all VnT – Instrumental HH music Blog readers. Our guest today is F.F.B. from Russia.
1) Hi F.F.B., welcome to VnT! It’s a real pleasure to host a Master like you. Would you like to tell us how your love for HH culture and the world of beatmaking specifically was born?
My name is Artem, I’m 40 years old, and I’ve been listening to rap for 30 years. At first, I was a listener and a collector, as my collection initially consisted of a lot of hip-hop cassettes and CDs. I recorded my first rap song with a friend in 2005. Later, I became heavily involved in writing lyrics and recording songs, and since we were using other people’s beats, I started thinking about making music. My first sampler was an Akai MPC 4000 Plus. I didn’t have anyone to help me create beats, and at that point, YouTube hadn’t really taken off yet. I started making beats in 2012, but I was shy especially about performing. In 2017, I decided to participate in the Red Bull Beater Battle Makers and took second place. That’s when I started living a more public life, posting demos on Instagram, and meeting cool beatmakers I was often listening to at the time.
2) How did the name “F.F.B.” come about and what’s behind it?
F.F.B. stands for Fat Funky Beats. My friends Spivak and Vityahelped helped me gather it, thank you for that! They called me fat, that’s where I came up with the name. It’s not easy to come up with a nickname that doesn’t exist; I liked the name, so I kept it!
3) There are many Russian Beatmakers standing out on the global scene, just as many noteworthy independent Russian labels; how is this niche music genre perceived in your city?
There are a lot of beatmakers in Moscow and Russia in general right now. This movement is thriving; beatmaker parties are often held, and that’s really cool. There are a lot of young people and very interesting musicians. I hope it will continue to flourish, even in such a difficult political situation as the current one.
4) It’s always nice to discover new talents straight from the underground. Are there a beatmaker or any beatmakers you’d like to mention?
I’m a big fan of Damu and Klaus Leyer.
In Russia, I’d highlight Planet Ragtime, Mellowmatix, Kovsh Beats, ParkerSolo, Eshyo, Bloodcut, 111 Beats, Vibe Craft (Andre), Puzo TGK, Big Mic. I’m afraid I’ll leave someone out, but there are so many great, talented guys. Russian boom bap is really interesting right now, it’s worth paying attention to.
5) Your studio is full of beautiful vintage samplers… Is there a specific sampler you’re most fond of?
My three favorite samplers are: SP1200, Akai MPC 3000 and Ensoniq eps 16+ .
6) We know that besides being a great producer you are a vinyl record collector. What’s the most important record in your collection? Yes, I mean, that record you’d take to a desert island.
Yes, I have a lot of interesting records, but I’ll take three with me (if possible): Show & A.G. – Goodfellas, GangStarr – Moment of Truth, Pete Rock & Deda – The Original Baby Pa.
7) Thanks a lot F.F.B.! Now, in line with tradition, tell us about your favourite beer: Dark, Red/Amber, or Blonde? Recommend a good beer to enjoy while listening to beats 🙂
Thank you so much for inviting me to this interview, I wish you continued growth. A great theme that brings together creators from all over the world. I’ll follow your work!
Thanks, AlienLoop.
I don’t like beer. Listen to the beats while sipping tea and having dessert.
Happy listening, and greetings to all the readers of VnT – Instrumental HH music Blog! 🙂