Check the exclusive interview with the Illfonics. If you don’t know who they are you need to read this (or go jump off a bridge). I can’t wait to hear some of their current projects.
Your most recent project and what do you think people are responding to the most in it?
Matt Friedman: Just did “Enter Galactic” for Kid Cudi’s album. It’s a love song about him doing mushrooms with this girl. It’s really creative and I’m definitely happy how it came out. Also, we had the Jim Jones single, “Na Na NaNa Na Na,” off of Pray IV Reign.
Jed Cappelli: I think it’s really catchy and just annoying enough to get stuck in your head all day.
What are you planning to work on next, and where are you planning to work on it?
Matt Friedman: We’re working on a few songs for new Universal/Motown artists like Jackie Chain and Ernie Gaines. We’ve done songs with Nipsey Hussle and Red Café for their albums and we’ve been working with Mickey Factz for his upcoming project. Also, just started doing songs with this new rapper Jaheil from the Bronx.
Jed Cappelli: We did a song with Shanell for the Young Money album. Also Rell and other R&B and Pop songwriters/artists like Tasleema, who wrote “Feedback” for Janet Jackson.
Matt Friedman: We don’t want to jinx it, but we just found out this week we might have a placement on what will probably be one of the biggest albums of the year. So we’re definitely keeping our fingers crossed for that one.
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Jed Cappelli: Born and raised in the Bronx and I still reside there.
Matt Friedman: I’m from Westchester, living in Manhattan now.
Jed Cappelli: We were actually both born at Einstein hospital in the Bronx, which is a crazy coincidence.
What was your first project as a musician that you really felt was
important?
Jed Cappelli: Working with Fab Five Freddy and Charlie Ahearn on the DVD release of the hip-hop documentary, Wild Style. Me and my dude Eli made a beat as a replacement for Bob James’ “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” in the classic Grand Master Flash kitchen scene where he’s juggling the beat. We had to edit our beat to the footage and make it seem like Flash was juggling our beat. Just being a part of that project was crazy.
Matt Friedman: I think when we did 60 tracks for the NBA 07 videogame in like two weeks. It was our first big check and it really felt like our career was finally headed in the right direction. Also from a musical standpoint we were analyzing a lot of current tracks at the time so it definitely expanded on our Top 40 sensibilities. I know you asked for just one project, but I also have to mention the two tracks we did on LL Cool J’s last album because being in the studio and working with him was really a game changer for us. He was great to work with, very open to our ideas and I think collaborating with a legend like that and having input on the final mix really gave us confidence in what we were doing moving forward.
Who do you look to as a mentor in your career, and what have they
helped you to learn?
Matt Friedman: So many people have been instrumental and inspirational in our careers. Family, friends, and other artists. It’s really hard to just pick one out of so many.
Jed Cappelli: Yeah same thing.
For all you tastemakers and trendsetters that aren’t on the paper toy game yet…..kill yourself. My man Jay Edwards did his thing with this one. What’s crazy is the detail on this. For the latest paper toy updates, don’t forget to follow Jay (@papermatez) on Twitter.
