Rap Radar Interviews TDE’s Mixed By Ali

Written By: @BdotTM April 24, 2014 @ 1:19 PM EDT
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Era Of The Engineer. 

While many credit Kendrick Lamar’s debut good kid, mAAd city for TDE’s rise, the label’s ascent wouldn’t have been possible without the fine tuning of in-house engineer, Derek “Mixed By Ali” Ali.  For the last eight years, the L.A, native has curated all of the imprint’s recordings. Outside of his camp, his signature crisp can be found on YG’s engrossing debut, My Krazy Life. Taking a load off at Engine Room Audio, hip-hop’s unsung hero talked to RapRadar about breaking into the game, work ethic, and West Coast dominance.

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34 Comments
  1. jimmyB says:

    how come b dot only gets to interview the smaller guys while yn gets the big names??? they should switch, b dot is so much better that yn dude comes across like a weirdo

    1. THE REAL mac DIESEL says:

      B.DOT IS SMALL IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!!!! VERY SMALL!!!! AN INDUSTRY MIDGET WITH NO CLOUT!!!! HIS SHAKY REP IS THE LEAST OF HIS PROBLEMS!!!!

      …………HA!!!! ANOTHER RAPRADAR INTERVIEW DUD!!!!

      DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!

      1. Kingly_Caracter says:

        Annnnd you are an internet commenter that literally lives here, on this one site, stalks other men (like a little boy would to a girl on the playground…in this case its another little boy. Disturbing.), repeats a gay mantra after every comment, and can’t afford a keyboard with a working caps lock key. B Dot must be jealous.

        And by all means…”DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!”

        (PS.Regardless of your wack prepackaged rebuttal…deep inside you KNOW you are worthless, unimportant, insignificant, and losing at life. But I understand. This is all you’ve got.)

        1. THE REAL mac DIESEL says:

          YOU SEEM TO KNOW ALL ABOUT ME!!!! AND WHO ARE YOU AGAIN???

          ……….HA!!!! B.DOT’S PROTECTOR!!!! HOW NOBLE AND CUTE!!!!

          DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!

          1. John Malubag says:

            Lmao…. Son. You lost.

          2. THE REAL mac DIESEL says:

            TELL ME HOW???

            DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!

          3. Blizeee says:

            This really BDOT’s side chick, mad cuz he cut that bitch off.

        2. Noe/Edub says:

          Damn. That was a cloud of Ether. Spot on tho.

        3. MIESERWICHSER says:

          Damn, homie! You just MURDERED that Mac diesel guy.

        4. Wac Diesel Ethered says:

          A.k.a Ethered Mac Diesel.

        5. reallydoe says:

          glad somebody finally said it properly. i cant find a single thread widout this mac clown raisin hell on it.

    2. BCE says:

      Elliott is a Vet. Dot runs his site. I don’t understand the question.

    3. It's Just Music says:

      smaller guys?

      Without this ‘small guy’ Kendrick would be flipping burgers somewhere.

      Show some more respect dickhead, all the big names have ‘small guys’ like Ali who puts in all the work while the artists takes all the credit.

  2. L.O. says:

    GREAT INTERVIEW!!!! SALUTE TO B. DOT & RAPRADAR.COM

  3. Ed Holiday says:

    Shoulda switched up the instrumental. That man,of the year track was getting annoying af

    1. Brian B.Dot™ Miller says:

      Ha! Duly noted

  4. SkillzOnSite says:

    wow that intro alone lol I did the nextel thing too. The whole Castle Hill Projects got ringtones from me. The irony on how I engineer too. #wild

    1. Kingly_Caracter says:

      It’s amazing how the smallest actions can lead to “Forever”. Might see you on here soon bruh. Bless.

  5. it's the roc says:

    Interviews like this keep this hip hop shit from being completely redundant. Good job all around

  6. The Incredible Creation says:

    very good, very fuckin good my brotha! [ posted here: http://www.theincrediblecreation.com/ ]

  7. tha OG says:

    Good job B.dot great interview keep them coming

    1. Brian B.Dot™ Miller says:

      Thanks yo!

  8. Damian Marshall says:

    Cut you off is one of my favorite tracks

  9. Hussle says:

    Salute homie! Keep up the good work

  10. relloworld says:

    Great interview! Ali gives TDE the edge that they have on the industry!

  11. rmfnation says:

    I remember when Ali was doing people mixes for a $100 a few years ago.. its crazy how far this dude has come

  12. b r z a says:

    cut this interview in half and a record change would have been nice but otherwise nice work

  13. Rap Zombie says:

    This dude is really interesting. It just shows how far work ethic goes in this camp. I look forward to seeing what TDE looks like when the core members are all three major releases in. Ali is Dope, I really respect his soundscapes. A good engineer is invaluable.

  14. XGRAPHICXDESIGNX says:

    Great video great interview, but this blocky design layout yall got going on is horrid. I get its supposed to be touch screen friendly or something, but the image at the top of this article doesn’t even look like its part of this article. Its like yall were trying to go madbury dot come with it, but missed.

    IDK I still swear wait on RR to report it before I believe the quickest blogger, so ur word goes far and goes heard, but the site layout blows. Copy The Verge dot come there what you are to tech culture. There the guys who left ENDGADGET and GIZMODO to start they own company and now get more page views and exclusives.

  15. Sina Mailer Daemon Djavadkhani says:

    One of the modern best <– Real talk.

  16. Blizee says:

    You Know what I’m sayin?

  17. TrillSouth says:

    good drop

  18. Renzo says:

    you know it’s a good interview when you grab something to eat while you watch it lol

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