With an incredible drive, producer Tyrone Fyffe is on his way to staking a solid claim as one of Hip-Hop's elite producers. As the former protégé of New Jack Swing super producer Teddy Riley, Ty Fyffe has known success since the start of his career. Blessed with a creative passion set aside for a chosen few, Ty Fyffe entered the scene with Wreckx N Effect’s highly successful “Rump Shaker”, followed by tracks on the smooth and sexy sounds of the quartet Blackstreet. As he progressed, he began making beats for the likes of Erick Sermon, Redman, Ja Rule, Foxy Brown, Slick Rick, Canibus, and Keith Murray. Now in 2005 Ty Fyffe is looking to take his career to the next level and MVRemix is here to show you how.
MVRemix: People are familiar with all the beats you have done over the years, but a lot of people don't know who Ty Fyffe actually is. So lets just start with some background questions, so fans can get to know you as a person. What was it like growing up in Jamaica, Queens over the years.
Ty Fyffe: Its was a hustle trying to come up. I made my own occupation, as I was DJing first, then I started producing. I started making my own demos and things like that.
MVRemix: What is your first memory of Hip Hop?
Ty Fyffe: I guess The Sugar Hill Gang and Grandmaster Flash.
MVRemix: Who did you look up to on the production side of things when you were coming up?
Ty Fyffe: Probably Marley Marl, Erick Sermon, and Dr. Dre.
MVRemix: How did you first get into producing?
Ty Fyffe: I started out DJing, then I got into producing, and Teddy Riley eventually ran into a friend of mine who was engineering. That's how I got put on.
MVRemix: What was it like working with Teddy Riley?
Ty Fyffe: It was a great learning experience.
MVRemix: When you started working with him, what was he having you do?
Ty Fyffe: Producing a lot of his acts, and people that came in from outside of his company.
MVRemix: From there, how did you progress and start making a bigger name for yourself?
Ty Fyffe: I got down with Erick Sermon, than I started freelancing on my own through Def Jam a lot. Irv Gotti, Chris Lighty, Erick Nicks - I started building relationships with a whole lot of people.
MVRemix: What was the first beat you ever sold?
Ty Fyffe: The first track might have been "Rump Shaker" by Wreckx N Effect. That was my first biggest accomplishment. It was actually another track called "Wreckx Shop", and this other beat, which I forgot the name of it.
MVRemix: Did "Rump Shaker" change a lot of things for you?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, that was one of the biggest singles I have ever done. It helped me to start building relationships with people in the business.
MVRemix: When I see that you produced a track for someone, I immediately know its going to be some crazy hardcore street shit. Are you satisfied with that, or do you want more?
Ty Fyffe: I'm just trying to be versatile, and have different sounds. Club, street, gutter, southern - I can do anything.
MVRemix: Do you have any memorable or crazy stories of working with certain artists in the studio?
Ty Fyffe: Everything was memorable, I just like artists work ethic. I remember the artists that work hard.
MVRemix: Are there specific artists you like working with more than others?
Ty Fyffe: Jay-z never wrote on paper, he never work anything down. I guess I liked working with LL Cool J as well.
MVRemix: What was it like working with Canibus?
Ty Fyffe: Canibus is a real talented lyrical dude.
MVRemix: Back in the days, producers like Marley Marl, Pete Rock, Primo, they all let their music speak for themselves, just as you have done. However, nowadays, its seems like the opposite. And no offense to Just Blaze, who is a great producer, but every one of his tracks you have him shouting out his name. Or Jazze Pha has his annoying jingle. What do you think about that? Does it bother you?
Ty Fyffe: It doesn’t bother me, its just how it is. You have to make a signature for yourself nowadays. It's just a signature thing.
MVRemix: In your opinion, who are the top 3 producers of all time?
Ty Fyffe: Quincy Jones, Dr. Dre, and L.A./Babyface.
MVRemix: What one emcee deserves to rock over a Ty Fyffe track that hasn't yet?
Ty Fyffe: I would like to work with 50 Cent.
MVRemix: Overall, do you feel underrated or overlooked?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, definitely.
MVRemix: Why do you think that is?
Ty Fyffe: I guess because I never linked up with a click. I freelanced all these years by myself. It's also really political, so it doesn't have anything to do with the music, but more to do with association.
MVRemix: Are you looking to hook up with an artist or group in the future?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, I am with Cash Money right now, so we'll see how that turns out.
MVRemix: How did you hook up with Cash Money?
Ty Fyffe: A friend of mine hooked me up.
MVRemix: What has it been like working with them?
Ty Fyffe: It’s a blessing to be associated with certain people.
MVRemix: Are you gonna have some tracks on the new Lil Wayne album?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, looks like it. I'm on the new Baby album.
MVRemix: Overall, do you have a main career goal that you are looking to accomplish?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, to form a label and become a successful entrepreneur.
MVRemix: Who have you recently sold beats to or worked with?
Ty Fyffe: Foxy Brown, Beanie Sigel, Destiny Child, Ghostface, Stat Quo, Wrecognize, John Doe, a couple more.
MVRemix: Are you interested in doing an album like Alchemist did with 1st Infantry?
Ty Fyffe: Yeah, it depends on how hot I get.
MVRemix: What else do you have going on in the future?
Ty Fyffe: Just working and trying to develop my production on a high level.
MVRemix: Any last words?
Ty Fyffe: Just check for the new songs I got out, and I'm trying to stay consistent.
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"The first track might have been "Rump Shaker" by Wreckx N Effect. That was my first biggest accomplishment. It was actually another track called "Wreckx Shop"