Blackout Exclusive: Interview with Sean C & LV

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Blackouthiphop.com had a chance to catch up with the legendary producer duo Sean C & LV. They recently put out a dope mixtape called Loud Dreams Vol. 1 that features Pusha T, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Fabolous and many more. We also spoke on different highlights of their long career, from working with Diddy & Jay-Z to future plans and wishes. Hit continue reading to check out the Q & A.

Interview by Independent.


You guys have been working together since the mid 90’s. What does it take for 2 creative guys to stay on the same page for such a long period of time?

SC: Actually, LV and I started Grind Music in 2002 but I started producing in the mid 90’s on projects like Jay Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle” with my homie Knobody.

LV: Synergy. We vibe well both personally and musically. He’s my brother. So producing beats comes naturally when you’ve been working with someone for years.

Sean you started as a DJ and you were one of the founding members of X-Men. LV you also DJ-ed in the beginning of your career. Was that the thing that brought you together?

LV: Sean and I are from Harlem. My best friend, Young Sav is the brother of Scoop who was Sean’s best friend at the time. We would always hang at Sav’s and Scoop’s house, all the time. I always wanted to DJ so the next thing I know Sav brought me around to Roc Radia house where Sean and the rest of the X-Men were practicing. From there, that’s where it all started.

Back in the days you worked with everyone from Mobb Deep & Big Pun to Jay-Z and Puffy. Can you point out one collabo from that era that you would call your favorite?

SC: Each person we’ve worked with brought a different experience to each session. Working with Puffy was really fun. The energy he has is contagious.

LV: Working with Jay was great. He was easy to work with because he knew what he wanted for “American Gangster”. The sound, the vibe, everything. It was crazy to see him listen to a beat and then hear him mumble lyrics that would turn out to the the song itself. The most random shit that was happening was we’d walk into a session with Jay and next thing you know Puff, Beyonce, Kanye and LeBron would walk in. It was an insane experience.

You were heavily involved in “American Gangster”. Was this Jay approaching you or?

SC: Puff called me while on the vacation in Saint-Tropez saying that Jay was about to make another album. At the time, we didn’t know that the Jay album was going to be used as the soundtrack for the movie “American Gangster”. Puff said that he was executive producing and he wanted LV and I to the album with him.

How did the idea to do “Loud Dreams” come about?

LV: We wanted to do something new and that influenced people. To create and curate our own sound. We wanted to provide a platform for artists that we not only respected and liked but give new artists a chance to be well produced and be paired with well established artists. We plan to continue the Loud Dream series with a Vol. 2 soon.

Was the collabo with Busta Rhymes recorded for this project or was it something you did with him earlier?

SC: No, we recorded “Busstop” with him for the album.

Is there a rapper in the game you would point out that you would love to work with, but still didn’t get a chance to do so?

SC: I would have to say Andre 3000.

LV : Mary J Blige !