Around the age of 16 producer ReeceBeats was given his name by one of his cousins and that's when he started really getting into instruments. He had been playing the drums in church with his grandfather, when his cousin JuneBug started to teach him cords on the piano. An astonishing 5 hours after JuneBug gave ReeceBeats these lessons, his life had come to an end as he was murdered in Oakland, CA. Ever since this event, the producer ReeceBeats has been working to do nothing but get better and better and grow his musical talents. The producer has recently linked up with Trey Songz and Eric Bellinger down in LA and has worked with Bay Area legends such as The Jacka, E-40, Lil Rue and many more! Check him out on Instagram, Twitter and Periscope using @ReeceBeats.
ABM: How'd you get your name, ReeceBeats?
ReeceBeats: One of my cousins gave me that name and I just rolled with it. I was about the age of 16 and yeah I've basically just been rocking with it ever since.
ABM: What got you started in music?
ReeceBeats: I started in church, just playing drums and being around my grandfather. I was introduced to the keys from my cousin. His name was JuneBug and he called me into a room, it was strange because he called me and my street cousin both into the room. He said he wanted to show me cords on the keyboard and I'll never forget this, it was a Tuesday he said he would give me $20 on Thursday if I didn't stop practicing the piano. My other cousin had left, it was too hard for him. I must have practiced the whole next day and I remember the cops coming to the door asking for my parents. I told the cops that they weren't home but that my uncle was. I went and got my uncle and I was listening as the cops were talking, they were telling my uncle that someone with an ID which had this address on it, had been murdered. This was only maybe about 5 hours after my cousin had started showing me the keyboard. My uncle went with the cops because they asked him to identify the body, when he came back he called us all into a room and told us that JuneBug had been killed. I was like "What!", because he had just left and I guess when he left here he went to Oakland and someone murdered him. But thats how I learned and how I got started, I just kept on playing and kept playing in church.
ABM: How many instruments do you play?
ReeceBeats: Drums and the piano and some of the organ.
ABM: Have you ever been interested in learning new instruments?
ReeceBeats: I've thought about it but I think I'm good with the ones I have now.
ABM: What are some of the records that you've produced?
ReeceBeats: I've done Keak Da Sneak "Air it Out", E-40 "Grey Skys", E-40 "Ball Out" and also "Play too Much", The Jacka "Heavy Weight", another one with The Jacka and Lil Rue, just to name a few.
ABM: How did you link up with, League of Stars?
ReeceBeats: I linked up with them through my boy Da Boy Dame, signed to CMG with Yo Gotti and his camp. I was coming out of surgery from having my appendix removed when he called and told me that he had a spot for me. I go down there all the time and work with them.
ABM: Explain your relationship with producers, you work with a lot of other producers more than some do?
ReeceBeats: Its a dope experience when you have producers who respect what you do, like for Bangladesh — I worked with people like Janet Jackson and Kelly Rowland. Its cool to be inspired by each other and it might mean they have stuff in their head that I can learn from, so that makes it fun and keeps things fresh.
ABM: If you had three artists that you could work with right now, that you literally have heat waiting for them?
ReeceBeats: Chris Brown, I have a few records for him right now. I would say Bruno Mars, he's another talented dude. And if I had to go with one more, Kanye man. Just because of the producing aspect, it would be dope you know.
ABM: If there's an up and coming artist, they might look at your resume and think that you're out of reach. Are you? What would it take to get you on the production?
ReeceBeats: You know a lot of my Instagram followers hit me on the DM and say that too, but like with me if I see that you're really working and making some noise I'll take an interest. If I see someone who's really trying to make it and not just doing it to do it, I'm always willing to help because I know what its like trying to get to the scene and no one wants to help. Now if its the producing side of things well, there might be the money bag involved you know.. but yeah Im always down to help.
ABM: Where can people find you?
ReeceBeats: They can find me on Instagram, Periscope, Twitter and my name is @reecebeats all one word.
ABM: Any shout outs?
ReeceBeats: If you're going to do music take it serious man. I know there's a lot of the little popcorn stuff out but I just want people to know that I take this seriously. This is a job, this is the only job I've ever had and you know thats it.