Focus: On The Rise, Part 1

As one walks through the halls of Encore Studios in an undisclosed Southern California location, platinum plaques and accolades hang along the walls. Plaques bearing Dr. Dre and Eminem's names on them are proof of just how powerful, and consistent the good Doctor has been. Beyond the glory and history that lies within those walls that make up Encore Studios, sits a producer whom is as humble as the word itself. His name is Focus, and he's Dr. Dre's "protégé" per se. Maybe it's that humbleness that has contributed to Dr. Dre's long-standing dominance as one of hip-hop and music's elite producers? The mystery might remain unsolved, but nonetheless, Focus has some fire coming your way from here on out, so get familiar!

With a handful of heaters already getting radio rotation (Kam's "Don't Think So," Chino XL's "Watch Closer," and The Game's "Where I'm From"), the word of Focus' talent is spreading quick. BallerStatus caught up with Big Focus, and ended up getting all the 411 from his background to his rising status (which is still in the process, and rising rapidly), the starting of his own record label (a.fam Records), and lots more in this two-part interview.

BallerStatus.com: Can we get a little background on Focus?

Focus: I'm from the East Coast. My father was a bass player for the group Chic. Basically, I grew up in an array of different places -- Jersey, California for seven years, Connecticut.

BallerStatus.com: That move to California, was that a family or career move?

Focus: The final move was from Connecticut, and the career move started in Cali for seven years. Now, I'm in Georgia.

BallerStatus.com: What was your first piece of production equipment?

Focus: First piece of equipment was an Ensoniq SD-1, and that was my first major thing. It had an internal sequencer, and that was the first thing I ever did work on.

BallerStatus.com: How old were you when that took place?

Focus: Damn...uh, 12-13.

BallerStatus.com: You said your father produced as well, who did he produce for?

Focus: He produced for Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, and others. I definitely watched him, and it started pushing me towards the same route (producing).

BallerStatus.com: And what was it about hip-hop that made you want to produce it?

Focus: Well, I don't just do hip-hop, I do some R&B as well. I [also] wanna bridge into rock. I definitely love all music, but mainly hip-hop because I like the fact that it pretty much adapts to the time, and hip-hop gives you the leeway to do whatever you want. As far as R&B is concerned, you can't really go as deep in R&B as you can with a hip-hop song.

BallerStatus.com: Where'd the name Focus come about?

Focus: My father pretty much gave it to me, indirectly -- telling me not to focus on the things that a young kid might focus on. [He said], "If you really want this, you need to focus on the music." The more he fed it to me, the more I paid attention to the word "focus," and I started seeing it around and just adapted it's meaning. Pretty much, that's it.

BallerStatus.com: You said you had the Ensoniq machine first, so was that sample based or from scratch?

Focus: No, the E ST-1 is not a sampler at all. It was [used] for R&B. My first sampler was an ASR, well an EPS-16, which was the pre-ASR-10. My father had some kind of account with Ensoniq, so they kept sending him things, and he'd give them to me for Christmas.

BallerStatus.com: How long did you produce before linking up with Dre?

Focus: I been with Dre for about five years. Before that, I was doing it since about '93. So, from what I understand, Dre was following my career and certain things that I did. Michael Lynn brought me to [Dre]. I had a meeting with [Dre], and from that point on I went into the studio that day.

BallerStatus.com: So they pretty much tracked you down?

Focus: Yeah! Mike found me.

BallerStatus.com: And prior to that, what were you doing?

Focus: (repeats the question to himself) I was just doing remixes, basically. It was nothing that was really mainstream; it wasn't really out there like that. People just knew about my name and knew about the music. They just didn't know who I was. Soon as this situation (being with Aftermath) happened, all that changed.

BallerStatus.com: For those not yet knowing of Focus' style and sound, how would you describe it?

Focus: Um...it has a knock to it, but at the same time, it has a melody. A lot of cats now-a-days are just going so simple -- its cool, it works for the radio and all that -- but I'm not really trying to reach in or delve in with the rest of them. I really, really am trying to differentiate myself, so I kind of bring it back to the music -- to the core production, to the changes, to the bridges, and the transitions. Bringing that back, it's still gonna have that hip-hop knock to it. No matter if it's hip-hop or R&B.

BallerStatus.com: When do you know when you're done working on a beat?

Focus: That's funny, to me, I'm never done. I over think stuff. Like I said, everybody in the industry is going so simple that I just try to keep it as distinct as possible, if you let me. I try to get the basics down, then I let the artist hear it. Then if they like it the way it is, they can keep it.

BallerStatus.com: What do you prefer: artists picking beats from random beat CDs of yours, or you custom making them a beat?

Focus: I love custom making them. I love getting it right for the artist. I even love working with the artist if they can put their ego aside, and we can work together. I love working with the artist!

BallerStatus.com: Let's go back to the day you said they brought you into the studio. Take us back to that day and tell us what happened.

Focus: It was actually a meeting. I met Dre at a restaurant -- I don't remember the name -- but I told Dre I was ready to go & work in the studio, and he put me over there in Record One [recording studio]. Dre saw the determination from there, and he saw that I didn't care if it took two days to stay awake. He just saw that I was real serious about it, and from that moment on, I think that week he gave me a spot on "The Wash" Soundtrack. It was definitely a good move.

BallerStatus.com: So that day you just made beats in front of Dre?

Focus: I just did beats; making beats from scratch. It was just me showing him what I could do 'cause you want them to understand it's you [making the beats]! A lot of cats have ghost-people behind them, and I wanted Dre to know that I'm the real mccoy. I wasn't showin' him no ego or nothing like that; I just wanted to show him "I really do know how to make music!"

BallerStatus.com: So that day was pretty much a "show & prove" day for you?

Focus: Yeah, just showing [Dre] what I could do, and seeing what direction he wanted me to go in. We were just feeling each other out. Dre is my mentor, and with somebody like Dre, I wanted to know if he signed me for being me or if he wanted me to be him. Dre was like, "I signed you to be you. I didn't sign you to be me." That was the best thing I had ever heard.

BallerStatus.com: So that was five years ago, what's changed since then?

Focus: It's been incredible within the industry because a lot of the cats that are my peers and my comrades that I came up with, the respect is now mutual, instead of me looking up to everybody and admiring everybody. Now, it's mutual admiration. It's a beautiful thing 'cause I've worked so hard to get to where I'm at today.

BallerStatus.com: What have you worked on that people might or might not be aware of?

Focus: "The Wash" Soundtrack; I did work with Destiny's Child on their Christmas album; worked on Beyonce's solo album; J-Lo. I did some work with Joe on the My Name Is Joe album. [I did stuff for] Christina Milian, Petey Pablo on the "Drumline" Soundtrack, and I can go on. Recently, I did a beat on The Game's album, "Where I'm From," which I'm getting a lot of love off of now. I'm working with Chino XL and Sway & Tech.

BallerStatus.com: What're you working on that isn't out yet?

Focus: We're working on Detox, and Eve's album. I'm trying to get on this Busta Rhymes album. 50 Cent did a song with me that's gonna be on the soundtrack for his movie, "Hustler's Ambition"... Back 2 Basics with Sway & Tech, and Chino XL.

BallerStatus.com: So you're working on a solo album with Chino XL?

Focus: Yeah, we're actually doing an album with like four other producers he knows. I've actually already did about four tracks so far.

BallerStatus.com: Is that the difference between an artist and a producer? Where as a producer you get to kind of freelance a bit more?

Focus: Yeah, it's really a beautiful thing. Dre didn't try to just keep me binded. He was actually like, "I want you to shine," and he allows me to work with anybody -- you got to go to your boss, and see if everything's cool. I'm [also] working with The Outlawz. I'm actually working on my own label that I'm starting called A.fam Records; I have some artists that I'm putting out that I'm very excited about.

BallerStatus.com: What are some of the first words that Dre told you, being that you said he's your mentor?

Focus: Dre pretty much told me he liked my style, and how I worked. If I was about my work, then to just show him by action. He let it be known that he was there for me, not the other way around. Once that was clear, I understood my role immediately. Aside from my other mentors, Prince & Quincy Jones, I was in awe when I first met Dre. As soon as that phase ceased, Dre was like, "Yo dog, I'm just like you. I just do music."

BallerStatus.com: What's the most important thing you've learned through your journey?

Focus: Keeping your ego right, man. Keeping your feet planted. I don't know if everybody's religious, but I keep integrity. I really believe in God. I know it's really hard to deal with people when they have egos. So I try to keep myself very much in-check -- very humble and that's about it. I don't let this stuff go to my head. I just love doing music; I enjoy it. I love working with people with no deals to working with Beyonce and all that.

- Continue to part 2 of the interview here

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