Bei Major is a name you need to be familiar with. He’s a Grammy nominated artist, songwriter and record producer. He’s worked with some of the best in the business. He started off by producing for Trey Songz at the age of 17 but has gone on from strength to strength working with the likes of Ciara, Sean Kingston, Jay-Z, Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, Wiz Khalifa and many more.
Recently Bei’s been concentrating a little more on his own music with a brand new single out ‘Trouble’ featuring J.Cole, which got the remix treatment which meant Wale,Trey & T-Pain were added to the line up!
Bei Maejor is also responsible for creating the new style of ‘Upscale’ which I can definitely say i’m a fan of!
In the interview below, the artist speaks on a broad range of topics, including producing for Eminem, his views on SOPA, working on Justin Bieber’s new album & more which you check out below.
Check out what Bei Had to say to us below.
For people in the U.K who might know who or what Bei Maejor is, how would you describe yourself?
I am just a kid making music and loving life. I invented new style called Upscale and created the uʍop ǝpısdn movement.
At 17 as we all know you got that call from Trey, and he wanted you to do some producing for him. At the time you thought it was for his mixtape but eventually it ended up on his album, what went through your head? At that point did you think you made it?
Yea I thought that I had made it to the top and I was going to win awards and be an instant millionaire, but it doesn’t happen quite like that.
More on working with Trey, some of our readers might not know this but you’ve actually produced on all of Trey’s albums since that first one right? How does that make you feel as a producer? Must be a great feeling knowing this guy who’s one of the greats in RnB now wants you on each of his albums?
It’s an honor. Trey is an inspiration and always showed love to me, including jumping on the “Trouble” remix. That’s the homie, so I’m happy to see all that he’s doing now.
You are a producer and an artist, you’re also a pretty accomplished song writer, How does it feel knowing that your actually writing for some of the biggest names in the industry such as Trey, Ne-Yo, Sean Kingston?
I really haven’t thought about it yet. I guess everything is happening so fast that I haven’t taken a moment to really sit down and think about it.
I heard in a radio interview that you did late last year with 102 Jamz, that you were in the process with working on something from Eminem? What ever happened with that?
Eminem recorded to a track that I produced that he got through someone else. So I actually haven’t had the chance to go into the studio and meet with him directly. I’m acutally a huge fan of Eminem so I was really excited to hear that he even touched the track.
Would I be right in saying that your concentrating more on being the artist at the moment with records like ‘Trouble’ featuring J Cole’s kind of blowing up, a remix is out, artists like Nelly adding there own verses, and now your new video ‘Mesmerised’ is getting a lot of support…. How does it feel to have the blogs that didn’t start off supporting show you love now?
I just feel more blessed everyday and realize how fortunate I’ve been. I’m really just having fun and it seems that people are connecting and gravitating to the music on their own…
How do you feel about the whole idea of SOPA & how it will effect music blogs and the industry, as you know artists have relied heavily on blogs & the Internet to build themselves to who they are today?
I always feel like any time we get information through the mass media (i.e. news) there is usually some kind of twist put on it. I’d like to find out what is actually going on with that situation and not hearing it through rumors etc. I’m not big into gossip at all so I can’t say we truly understand what is going on . I can say that I am in support of anyone doing anything creative, whether it be a blog or a painting or anything so I hope that it doesn’t interfere with anyone’s ability to be creative and express themselves without censorship.
So you call your style music ‘Upscale’ what’s that all about? What influenced you to come with that?
I created a style that takes Hip-Hop/Rnb music and puts those production elements that usually aren’t in there; making it feel a little expensive and thoroughly produced.
So recently Dre gave you his seal of approval , saying your music sounds cool hows that feel?
Its unbelievable I almost thought it was fake! Ha!
Which artist would you say is your greatest influence?
I’d say, Stevie Wonder and Timbaland.
2 questions in one here, what’s the favourite song you’ve written and produced for some one else ever future or past?
One of my favorite songs I produced/wrote with someone named Sam Hook is “Hustler” by Keri Hilson. Its a really deep song.
So you’ve worked with Tinie any future plans working with a U.K. artist?
Yea I love the UK! I feel like its a really creative place. Can’t wait to do more work there.
Any plans of touring the U.K or Europe soon?
I definitely hope so…make sure you come through the show!!
So its no secret that your working with Bieber in the studio at the moment for his new album, but what are you actually doing though, a feature, production or writing? or is it all 3?
Top Secret yo. Bieber is the little homie and I’m excited for what he does.
Who do you want to work with the most at the moment as a artist? There must be some one your like “yo I need him on one of my tracks!”?
Justin Bieber.
So Bei Maejor what can we expect from you in the future? Talk to us about some of your future projects.
I’m working on my album that will be out this year as well as producing/writing for a lot of people. Can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on.
Fancy dropping something exclusive for us that only we know?
I hate mayo and will never eat it ever.
Great interview. Thanks so much yo uʍop ǝpısdn always.
You can follow me on twitter @newbeatsdaily & I hope you enjoyed reading through the interview as much as I loved conducting it.
