L.A. Times Meets Kanye’s Engineer

Nah, It wasn’t the man upstairs, B.Dot. Instead, it was Andrew Dawson. The LA Times recently chopped it up with Dawson about his involvement on Kanye’s …Dark Twisted Fantasy.

How did you get involved with the “Fantasy” album, and what were some things you talked with Kanye about in terms of engineering and mixing it?
“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” pretty much started New Year’s Eve 2009. He flew everyone out to Hawaii the day before New Year’s Eve … and I remember on New Year’s Eve I was in the studio getting everything ready to go for the next day. And on Jan. 1, we were getting into the recording sessions and worked pretty much 24-7 for six months straight out of Hawaii. I literally would leave to go shower, change clothes and come back to the studio. There weren’t many beach days. But Kanye went through his process and worked on it solid for a good six to seven months.
But as far as engineering, there are certain sounds and certain production aspects that he really likes. If there’s a sound or an idea he wants, he’ll take it to, like, an extreme, to where you start to wonder, “Why is this so far out there?” Then he’ll pull it back to a perfect amount. He’s the master of knowing how to push things almost too far. …  I did some co-production on “Power.” I was the one who found that “21st Century Schizoid Man” sample and chopped it up.

al lindstrom

Previously: Kanye So Appalled At Los Angeles Times

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  1. Belize says:

    Guess it was worth it cuz most of the album is dope.

  2. Ben says:

    Dope. The album was not what I expected, but still alright.

  3. Damn Homie says:

    Just goes to show… all you hating niggas… its always a white boy involved.. lol

    Ye’s album was forgettable just like I said… not a classic.. didn’t deserve 5 mics.. I ain’t heard a nigga mention this album in months.

    Oh well.. maybe he’ll get off this bullshit and come back home.. I feel like “d” on hustle and flow talking to skinny black.. “just come back home nigga.. we miss you”.. ha

  4. plo says:

    i thought S1 found that sample….

  5. badjuju says:

    Stop talking out of your ass @Damn Homie

  6. seriously says:

    @damn homie you must not pay attention. ye’s album is number one on every list that matters. (time, rollingstone, pitchfork, spin, etc.)

  7. mr.300 says:

    I doubt anybody went to the store or itunes & brought this album because of a that 21st. Century sample of BDot. Free promo from the Times & Rap Radar I Guess.

  8. puerto-black says:

    Good read. Every great rapper, had a great engineer. jayz had guru, em had Dre and ye got andrew.

  9. Donn says:

    Lol yall can speak for yourself. Greatest album to come out all year. It was like hearing artwork. If you dont like it your entitled to your opinion. But speak for yourself

  10. Damn Homie says:

    Yall can’t hear the album with all the noise his cock is makin goin in and out yo mouthz… damn yall love this dude no matter what.

    The album was… aaiiiigghhhttt.. it wasn’t great.. and nigga up top.. since when does a Time magazine review matter? since when does rolling stone rep hip hop??? get outta here with that.

    You talkin lists.. i’m talkin public.. I don’t hear ANYBODY bumpin that Ye album.. I ain’t known a nigga that bought it.. maybe copped it online months before it came out but never played it after a few listens.

    Yall wannabe backpack cipher underground i’m on a whole nother’ level wannbe niggas kill me.. lets be real… Ye ain’t God.. that album wasn’t even close to bein on the level of College Dropout.

    end of story.

  11. UltraKid says:

    Damn Homie is sooo ignorant…He’s saying the album is alright because none of his gay ass friends are bumping the album…Nigga, man up & have a mind of your own.

  12. PITRI says:

    In a couple of years ima be where that white boys at lol gona be making BANK!!!!!!!!

  13. Donn says:

    @UltraKid

    Cosign. Just cus YOUR homies and ppl YOU know ain’t bumping it don’t say shit for the rest of the world. There are millions of people in the world my dude. Just cus your little circle ain’t bumping it doesn’t mean nothing. No one said Ye was GOD, that was an ignorant comment. I hate ppl who bash ppl just for liking someone they don’t like. Ye’s album is unlike anything heard in HipHop and if u deny that then your really not being open minded.

    @TheRealShifty
    But yet your probably the same one who comes back to the site over and over again but then wants to talk shit about it. If all those sites you claim are better are so good then stay on those sites. But don’t get mad when your favorite website goes down cus they wanna leak every and little thing that hits the internet with out regard for the artist. You guys are like feens looking for a download link. This is ppl’s livelyhood your downloading for free. Ppl who have a lifestyle to maintain. Ppl don’t make music for free my dude. Think about that next time u run to a website looking for a download link. RR is being smart by not posting every little thing. And ur probably just mad about the EMinem & Dr.Dre leaks.
    RR was mentioned in Billboard Magazine and is one of the most respected websites and blogs in HipHop. IF U DON’T LIKE THE SITE GO BACK TO WATEVA MEDIOCRE SITE YOU GO TO. No one’s asking for you to come here
    Cus honestly y’all only come here for the comment section, to disrespect each other and take up comment sections with mindless bickering

    GONE….

  14. Bigant ! says:

    @Damn Homie You just ignorant and dont wanna face the fact that there wasnt one bad song on that album SMH

  15. RoeLuv says:

    That’s right RR , I like when y’all get deep into the music like this

  16. wow says:

    A few things Kanye has been using Mike Dean lately as well, Google him as he is credited with alot of mixing as well as some production on the album… I’m hearing there is going to be a new master coming soon but that is yet to be seen or heard for that matter …bcuz the current master is actually taking away from the project….Obviously Bdot knows nothing about that sort of thang but y would he we consume most of our music via crappy computer speakers with no bass and on ipod earbuds who can tell good from bad nowadays… But listen to Dre’s 2 mix on “syllables” it puts kanyes album to shame mp3 or no mp3 shit is soooo cleannnnnn

  17. DevinT1911 says:

    Lol well Damn Homie…everyone I know both white and black and indonesian and such…is all bumping the Ye album…What album was better this year???

    #1 MBDTF
    #2 Teflon Don
    #3 Thank Me Later
    #4 Sir Luscious Left Foot
    #5 Recovery

    #Imjustsayin

  18. Ashin Kusher says:

    This album needs to be appreciated as the masterpiece it is. Those hatin’ on it probably listening to it through cheap ass headphones or shitty speakers. Fantasy deserves the best sonically!

  19. Cold Blood says:

    @ DevinT1911

    “#3 Thank Me Later”

    REALLY? THAT ALBUM WAS GAY!

    YOU CAN HATE ME NOW!

  20. CapricornReligion says:

    Eminem “Cocaine”… Full song just leaked.. Was going to be “Relaspe 2” First single(Rumor)… and shout out to Kanye Lol

  21. Whip22 says:

    I can personally say I have a competition quality stereo system in my ride. This album sounds clean as fuck. Incredible production. On a side note, Lloyd Banks’ HFM2 is incredibly clean sounding as well, especially the vocals. Both of which are terrific, and I would gladly vibrate anybodies house coming down any block I so choose with either of these and a number of other albums as well.

  22. Big Von says:

    @ DAMN HOMIE…FUC U LIVE AT THEY AINT PLAYIN YE’ ALBUM…THATS A LAME ASS CITY RIGHT THERE..SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO STAND UP..on anotha note you need to change friends or yall need to upgrade yall selves..REAL TALK…this album is ridiculous..not aight..and sayin its aight dont make u sound smart or cool either..u sound uneducated in what a great album should sound like…AND SORRY “RECOVERY” IS NOT ONE OF THEM EITHER..folks be puttin that shit up there on top of lists like ppl really played that shit…not one car “in my city” rides by playin that shit..even the “whiteboys” ride to kanye OR somethin else..not eminem wack ass shit..them beats is horrible and the boy just dont got it no more..give it up..he had a run…

  23. rob says:

    I purchased Kanye’s album because musically it is really one of the greatest albums of the year. BUT, the mastering on the album is terrible IMO. Just about every song has clipping of some sort, leaving distorted sound artifacts behind. Get yourself a GOOD pair of headphones (and im not talking beats by Dre) and you will recognize what I’m talking about.

  24. The beat made me do it says:

    Fuck Ye album straight skinny Jean tight t shirt wearing rap frilim gayfish.

    @damn homie feel ya nigga the streets ain’t on this ye shit.

    And fuck the mix cuz the songwriting and lyrics is garbage like a mutha fucka.

    Dick ridin niggas…. Ye fell the fuck off and the whiteboy killin it this yr.

  25. James says:

    RECOVERY=WACK @DAMN HOMIE GO BUMP THAT WAKA OR THAT GUCCI NIGGA HA HA!! MAN FUCK A KANYE JAY WHERE YOU @?

  26. kendra says:

    i like kanye ….but can tell me what kind of foolishness that he wrote i this new cd…nouf said thou….

  27. puerto-black says:

    “Some people hate, Some people kill there brothers. I think they lost there minds”

  28. the kraken says:

    bdot is an ignorant, dickriding moron. the mastering on this album is horrendous.

  29. Word says:

    The Kanye stans out in full force. You say one bad thing bout Kanye or his album And you get crucified in a hot ass second. smh. Thanks for the internet God.

    Quote me, album was cool. Lol don’t hurt me bloggers.

  30. I MAY BE I MAY BE WRONGGGG says:

    lol if i would have left a comment than i would have said everything the same as Damn Homie..

    it was ight but no replay value for me and it aint even close to his first two albums

  31. TheRealShifty says:

    @donn

    I come back to this site with hopes of it returning to how it was a month ago. Look back, I have never commented on this site until now. Music downloads? Fuck that. But streaming? Sure. Rapradar has never supplied people with download links which is what made them so good, cuz they didn’t and still don’t support illegal downloads.
    Further more, did I ever say I gave a FUCK about who wants me here or not? I didn’t think so. I wasn’t talking shit I was stating FACT, and FACT is that its nothing like it used to be. I’ve been coming here for years so get OFF MY DICK about what right I have to say my opinion about the content change of this site. What u said makes sense, but it FAILS to point out that leaking music is all this site did since it began!!!!!! Mad props for this site, I just am upset that I had to find a different site to be informed of what’s going on in rap.

  32. @_Champ_ says:

    I knew Dawson back in my Sony Music Studio days…glad to see him still grinding…

  33. […] Cham is definitely off Universal Records and in an agreement with his release, he’s not allowed to release material from his long-over due LP, Venom. After his Ustream session earlier, he releases some new music and here’s one of three featuring Nipsey. Produced by Andrew Dawson. […]

  34. […] Cham is definitely off Universal Records and in an agreement with his release, he’s not allowed to release material from his long-over due LP, Venom. After his Ustream session earlier, he releases some new music and here’s one of three featuring Nipsey. Produced by Andrew Dawson. […]

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