Elite's Official Blog

J. Cole - Return of Simba Prod. By J. Cole & Elite

2011-05-22T23:06:00.007-04:00

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/return-of-simba-prod-elite-j-cole"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Return Of Simba (Prod. Elite &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; J. Cole) by Elite&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

New Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit... Co-Produced by the same Duo that brought you WHO DAT!!!! hahaaaaa... we battin 1000 right now baby!!! Can I just say the lines on this shit are insane... Cole went in

Jon Connor "The Heist" Prod. by Elite

2011-05-16T17:58:00.004-04:00

Guitar by Gavidia
Artwork by Alex Haldi
From the Glorification of Gangster mixtape

The Heist (Prod. Elite) by Elite

Rap Relapse.com Interview

2011-04-06T17:50:00.005-04:00

#TeamRaprelapse caught up with Dreamville Producer/Emcee Elite before his show in Bk, NY. We chopped it about future production, J Cole & Jon Connor Collabos and Producer to Emcee transition.

http://raprelapse.com/2011/04/video-elite-street-qa/

Lock Down (Dj Booth Freestyle) Prod. by Voli

2011-02-10T11:53:00.011-05:00

Some of the music i've dropped so far is a little older... But I wanted to show progression.. It's about that time though! Here's a little something fresh out the kitchen! This was an exclusive freestyle for DJ Booth.net big shouts to them for reachin out!

SHout to VOLI on the beat.. he killed it!!!! insane

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/lock-down">Lock Down by Elite</a>

Art by Alex Haldi

Benz and a Backpack Interview with Elite

2011-02-07T15:37:00.004-05:00

Great interview, here is a little excerpt from it and you can read the whole thing here.

Elite: “I feel like you can tell somebody’s musical tastes just by listening to them. Artists that have good musical tastes are usually good. Well, it’s hard to say ‘good,’ because it’s all opinion, but I feel like if you’ve only listened to a small selection of artists in your life you don’t have as broad of a palette; you don’t have as many colors to draw with. The more you know and listen to, the better your music is going to be.”

http://benzandabackpack.com/?p=10546#more-10546

Shout out to the people over at Benzandabackpack.com they really had some great questions!

Jon Connor feat. Elite "Keep Your Head" (Produced by Elite)

2011-02-02T12:37:00.012-05:00

Artwork by TaVon Sampson for By Any Means

If you havnt heard of Jon Connor... This dude is a BEAST!!! This is the first beat I sent him and look what it turned into! We definitely have a great chemistry goin, much more to come! Shout to David Linaburg on the Guitar!!! A&R Credits to Nation!

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/keep-your-head">Keep Your Head by Elite</a>

Keep your head!

What a year...

2010-12-31T14:03:00.008-05:00

Damn, what a year.

2010 I have to say was my best yet... And we are just starting to scratch the surface!!!

I dropped The Groundwork in January, my first official mixtape... Which was received extremely well. Still very proud of this tape! But it's only the beginning! There was my first official appearance as an Artist along side Omen in the "Holy Omen" video which was an incredible experience. Then of course there was "WHO DAT" which I had the privilege of Co-Producing with my man J. Cole. Definitely my biggest record to date. Also got to witness Cole grace the covers of both The Source and XXL in the same month!!! Mind blowing. My man Voli released his "Glass Doors" sampler which I was excited to be apart of both as an Artist and a Producer. Cole also dropped an incredible project "Friday Night Lights" which I also contributed to with production work on "See World".

Towards the end of the year, I started to let small doses of my own music out.. Judas was my first official solo release and video. Which leads me to 2011.

During 2010 behind the scenes, aside from working with J. Cole, Voli and Omen.. I have been creating my first official project as an Artist... I am very excited about it.. A major theme of the project is Self-Reflection and empowerment which is going to be a theme of mine moving forward.. Not just in relating to the creative process.. But relationships, life experiences etc.. My goal was to release it in January but I think it's going to be just a tad delayed... Only due to perfectionism.. The project is for the most part complete but, I'm really going all out production wise.. It's really an album not a mixtape.. But the only things stopping me from calling it an album is that 1. its going to be free and 2. I did it all without any budget what so ever... Just me in my room!

I really can't wait to let people hear what I have to offer.. the songs I released were just a taste and 2010 was just the beginning for our whole team.

Thank you so much to anyone who has supported any and all of us during the past year... And cheers to all the possibilities in 2011!!!!

-Elite

Welcome To The Show (Freestyle)

2010-12-07T13:46:00.014-05:00

Didn't mean to bogart Mr. West... I thought if you heard it maybe that you would be impressed... I thought if I murdered maybe that you'd send me a jet...

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/welcome-to-the-show">Welcome To The Show by Elite</a>

Photo by My Slanted Vision

Design by Blaqout Deisgn for By Any Means

Elite - Sing My Song (Prod by Elite)

2010-11-30T11:44:00.011-05:00

Yeah I do it all, from the hook to the track to the rap mix the song and its all in my room picture that - when I'm on? It's a wrap... If it aint a Grammy on my wall it's a plaque.

.... On My Way....

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/sing-my-song">Sing My Song by Elite</a>

Produced & Mixed by Elite

Keys by Ron Gilmore

Guitar by Hanan Rubinstein

Photo by My Slanted Vision

Design by Alex Haldi

Video: "Judas" Directed by Impakt Studio

2010-11-22T11:28:00.002-05:00

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Directed by Impakt Studio

Words With Elite

2010-11-22T11:15:00.002-05:00

When you write things down. They start looking like facts.
I started keeping a notebook in Mexico when I went to visit my Mom. I needed to get my goals out there and ask myself questions. I wrote outlandish shit, small shit, big shit. It really makes you feel focused like you have a purpose instead of feeling overwhelmed. Going through everything and going back and checking things off. Breaking things down into specifics. It’s not dreams anymore, it becomes a blueprint.

For the full interview click below

http://www.letsjusteatcheese.com/2010/11/22/words-with-elite/

Elite - Judas

2010-11-15T13:52:00.004-05:00

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/judas">Judas by Elite</a>

Co-Producer of J. Cole's "Who Dat" and more recently "See World" off the Friday Night Lights mixtape - Elite offers a glimpse into his world as an artist. "Judas" from Elite's upcoming mixtape, is an exploration of the creative psyche. Working his way through the industry over the last ten years, "Judas" serves as an introduction to Elite's story.

Produced by Omen

Guitar by David Linaburg

Keys by Ron Gilmore

Bass by Benno Richter

Art & Design by TaVon Sampson

Photography by Aristotle Torres

Art Direction by By Any Means

Additional Production and Mix by Elite

J. Cole "See World" Produced by Elite & J. Cole

2010-11-12T15:12:00.014-05:00

See World, ya no good.

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/see-world">See World by Elite</a>

Great lil story about this song... The night we did this session, Cole had just got back in New York after working with No I.D. 0ut in LA for the first time....

Energy was high.. We started the night with me on the boards and Cole laid down most of what you now hear in "See World".

Whats really incredible about this night though is that after he finished.. Cole laid down his verse for "All I Want Is You" which is now a hit. If that wasn't enough... He did the ENTIRE "We On" song.. beat and all... This is all one session... One night... Looking back on it I can definitely say that was a special one!

Congrats to my man Cole on another CLASSIC mixtape!!!

Download Friday Night Lights in it's entirety Here

Lets go!!!!

Touch The Sky

2010-11-08T11:00:00.006-05:00

"The kids better buy my rookie card now, cause after this year the price ain't comin down"

.... Just the beginning... I rap

<a href="http://elitethatsme.bandcamp.com/track/touch-the-sky">Touch The Sky by Elite</a>

Let's go!!!!!

Shout out to Blaqout and ByAnyMeans for the Artwork

Voli - Glass Doors Sampler

2010-09-08T12:06:00.005-04:00

So excited to finally introduce to ya'll my good friend and colleague - VOLI

Me and Voli have worked together for over 10 years now, and this is a big day - finally releasing some much-needed-to-be-heard music. This shit is soooo Dope, and its only a SAMPLER!!!

Track 2 "Sunrise" features myself rhymin, and J. Cole on the boards.

Track 7 "Deja Vu" features production from myself as well as a ridiculous bassline by shootouts guitarist Hanan Rubinstein.

Check out Voli's Bandcamp site to download the whole project... Can't wait to scream out "I TOLD YOU SO" the same way i did with Cole. Best shit you neva hearda.

DOWNLOAD

Limited Edition CD - "The Groundwork"

2010-07-29T20:27:00.008-04:00

Click Here

to Purchase a limited edition hard copy CD of my first Mixtape "The Groundwork" for only $5 !!!! U know this is gunna be a collectors item soon!! Get em while they last!!! HAAA!!

You can also download a high quality version of the tape in any format you want for FREE at my bandcamp site... Enjoy!!

Thanks in advance to everyone who supports, I truly appreciate the gesture more-so than the money!!!!!

June 25th - Michael Jackson Day

2010-06-25T16:16:00.007-04:00

One year ago today, I was completely devastated. Michael Jackson's death probably affected me more than the average person, I was a COMPLETE fanatic growing up as a kid. I used to perform MJ routines at local talent shows, I memorized every single song and I even had an extensive memorabilia collection. Very few things in life did I obsess over more than Michael Jackson's music (The Knicks maybe?).

Below are 2 mixtapes/collections i spent a lot of time on this time last year. More for myself than anyone else, I wanted a collection of all my favorite Michael songs that wasn't just comprised of the typical Billie Jean, Bad, Beat It etc.

I put a lot of time and thought into these mixes, I hope if your a true Michael fan you will love them as much as I do, and if you were just a casual fan - Maybe these will up your appreciation for the artist that I consider to be the best that will ever do it.

RIP Michael, we all miss you.

The Elite MJ Collection Vol. 1

DOWNLOAD

The Elite MJ Collection Vol. 2

DOWNLOAD

Video: J. Cole - Who Dat (Prod. By J. Cole & Elite) Shot by BBGun

2010-06-21T19:45:00.001-04:00

Here it is, FINALLY! What a big moment for J. Cole, Dreamville, BBGun, Say Uncle and everyone else involved. Been a long time coming, I've never had a song that I've worked on become a video either believe it or not! The first of many.

I gotta say the video is incredible, can you believe this was all recorded in ONE SHOT? No edits??? Wish I coulda made it down for the shoot, just to SEE how the hell this was done... Incredible.

WHO DAT (Updated w/ Instrumental, Clean)

2010-05-05T11:32:00.005-04:00

I'ts finally here, the first single off J. Cole's album "WHO DAT" Prod. by J. Cole & Elite.
This was a fun song to be a part of, and let me just say it's only the beginning.. Cole got so many classic's in the tank.. Just wait!!! Cheers to my Dreamville fam. Been a long time coming!

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole – Who Dat (Dirty)(prod. J. Cole & Elite)

UPDATE: The Official mastered CLEAN version... Please DJ's ignore the old version previously leaked. This clean up is much more official!

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole – Who Dat CLEAN MASTER (prod. J. Cole & Elite)

UPDATE #2: Here's the Instrumental

DOWNLOAD: J. Cole – Who Dat Instrumental (prod. J. Cole & Elite)

Bonus:

Below is the footage of Cole performing it at the historic Sob's show

J. Cole Funk Flex Freestyle

2010-05-03T21:00:00.003-04:00

Good lord... Dreamville what up. Historic.

Make sure u download that WHO DAT Produced by J. Cole and Co-Produced by Elite!

A taste of what's to come....

2010-04-21T01:29:00.002-04:00

J. Cole on the cover of THE SOURCE!

2010-03-04T21:06:00.005-05:00

I stopped posting as much J. Cole stuff ever since JColeFans.com emerged and did a way better job than i ever could have lol. But this one is special. Seeing this bugs me out, feels like we took his picture and photoshopped this shit. I can't even believe it completely. Real proud of my homie and how far he has come, but this is just the beginning. The same people who didn't listen when I said he would make it here, prolly won't believe me when I say his album is a classic, he's going to go down as one of the greatest etc... So just prepare to keep on being proven wrong. DREAMVILLE

-Elite

Elite – iStandard Interview (Video)

2010-03-04T11:28:00.003-05:00

I recently sat down with Istandardproducers.com and shared a bit of my story, it came out really dope so check it out! Also spoke about how I made "Heartache" for J. Cole

Nickelus F prod. by Elite - Follow Me x Carpe Diem

2010-03-03T17:16:00.000-05:00

Update:

Here is another joint I produced called "Carpe Diem" off Nick's new mixtape "Season Premier"

Download: Nickelus F - Carpe Diem prod. by Elite

Also download this banger "Follow Me" that was released before the tape.

Download Nickelus F - Follow me prod. by Elite

Video: Omen feat. Elite "Holy Omen"

2010-02-25T15:10:00.003-05:00

From Omen's "Delayed" Mixtape Sampler.

Directed by IMPAKT STUDIO

Shouts to Letsjusteatcheese

I started out as an artist before I was producing. Once I got into making beats I would only write rhymes once in a while. After recording a warm up freestyle, I hit up Omen asking if he wanted to do a song. He was on a roll at the time, sending me tons of music and I wanted to latch onto his energy, he was being real productive. He sent me the sample and I did the beat pretty quickly – sent it as a “rough draft” but he really loved it. He was in Chicago and I was in New York, so we both wrote our verses without knowing what the other was writing about. Somehow it came together though. I knew Omen was gonna bring it so I couldn’t slack. The reactions I got were great so it ended up being the first step to my rededication to rapping. I’m currently working on a mixtape as an Artist and I definitely have Omen to thank for giving me the shot to kind of rediscover myself as an MC.
The most rewarding part about working with Omen was that he put confidence in me. As someone who is known primarily as a producer, it’s hard to break that stigma and gain respect as an artist. He is very picky with who he works with, so him allowing me the opportunity to not just produce a track for him but appear as a featured artist as well meant a lot. -Elite

Omen "Holy Omen" Feat. Elite Music Video Directed by Impakt Studio's Chris & Blaq from IMPAKT STUDIO/Chris & Blaq on Vimeo.