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Music

12th Planet & Mayhem- "Murdaaa" [Exclusive Premiere]

Atlanta’s Mayhem talks about working with 12th and the real trap shit.

12th Planet and Mayhem weren't born yesterday. Actually… I have no idea when they were born. My point is that they have been grinding in this rave game for a long time (like 10 years or more) and their impressive production knowledge shows on "Murdaa," which drops May 7 on the L.A.'s mighty SMOG Records. "Murdaa" is the "flip" of "Whoops," a poppier dubstep number with OWSLA vocalist Pennybirdrabit, but it's definitely the A-side in our book: a huge, hip-hop-flavored poplock 'n' drop it club banger that will kill your next party and probably give your mom a heart attack.

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We caught up to Atlanta-based Mayhem to ask him about his drum & bass history, working with 12th Planet, and how he's similar to a Ninja Turtle… only hairier.

THUMP: Tell me the story of you meeting John 12 Planet for the first time. 

Mayhem: The first time I met John Dadzie? Where should I even begin? It was probably in the very late '90s, or maybe just into the 2000s, when John and I first got in touch. We were linked up via AIM with a gang of homies who've all become successful in a myriad of genres. In late 2000 or early 2001, I hit Cali for the first time touring in support of my drum & bass releases. John scooped me up from the airport an hour or more late, as he was notorious for. Back then he MCed as John Dada or DJed as Infiltrata. I remember him stopping at the gas station about 10 times as we made our way down to Compton or Inglewood—somewhere NWA rapped about. Each time he would put in about a dollar or so worth of gas—a gallon cost about that much back then—and from that moment I knew I had a real personality on my hands. I crashed in his dad's office on a beanbag or something.

Some people don't know that prior to dubstep and trap vibes you were a drum & bass DJ/producer. What is one classic drum & bass song that everyone should know about? 

If I had to recommend a D&B record that everyone should know, I would go with Konflict "The Beckoning." For me, it was a tune that could be—and most certainly was—played several times in a night and smashed it. It was a game changer in the respect that it ushered in a new sound in D&B, building upon the techstep of No U-Turn, Metalheadz and earlier releases from Renegade Hardware, and tinting the sound with a Detroit-Techno infuzed vibe.

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Where did you make these tunes? 

We produced both of these records together in his studio in LA. I was out in SoCal on gigs and we made time over a few visits to get in the studio and play video ga… I mean, make music.

Who was a big inspiration to you when you were starting to make music?

My early inspirations were in the grunge/alternative scenes. I loved Nirvana. I had a full man-crush on Kurt Cobain. I had an eight-foot poster of Nirvana in my room and 25 bootlegs, maxi singles, live performances, and albums from them. I admired Cobain's "fuck you" attitude as a youth. I started playing guitar at age 8 and quickly started making electronic music, as I was introduced to it by my fossilized sister and neighbor.

What is your favorite tune of yours that you've made?

All of them! Just kidding. I've had some hits and misses in my days but lately I feel like the music I am creating is getting closer and closer to articulating what's in my head. I've been focused on playing the keys a lot and have been slowly making some headway. I'm no Borgore yet, however. Make him play a piano if you ever get the chance. My stand-out productions include "Exodus" and "Moonway Renegade" with Noisia, "Brick Squad Anthem" and "Bangladesh" with Antiserum, and "Shibuya" all by myself.

Speaking of Antiserum, you make a lot of music with him. How is it different working with him compared to 12th Planet?

They're completely different people. Mikey [Antiserum] is very clean and focused and John [12th] is messy and has his head in the clouds all the time, or at least he'd like you to think so. John has to get warmed up to writing music and Mikey is very focused, generally making sure we actually finish our work.

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Which three cartoon characters do you most resemble? 

Pig-Pen from Charlie Brown. I have days where I can't be bothered to take a shower. When I actually do, I'm like a woman. I take at least an hour. I might try on different pants or shoes. I wouldn't be surprised if gnats and flies start following me any day now. My son says he would be Michaelangelo because he's a party dude. I'm a party dude, too. My whole life has been throwing parties, setting up soundsystems, planning tours for artists, and DJing nightclubs. Plus, I love pizza and women in yellow onesies. Lastly, I would be Schnarf from the Thundercats because I'm an Italian dude and kinda hairy. Plus, I just like saying the word "schnarf."

You're from Atlanta so you must have heard plenty of crunk and trap music. What is your favorite trap classic?

I'll go on record saying that my music is not trap. Well, at least the not Trap stuff I'm writing. I make some Internet rave music. You could call it Atlanta club music. In the end of the day, I just wanna make different shit that either turns you up or turns you down. If it's not rapping about bricks or killing someone, it ain't trap music. That being said, I'd say Bone Crusher "Never Scared," Pastor Troy, "No Mo Play In GA," T.I. "Rubberband Man," and the list goes on. All that shit will get you turnt up! I fuck with snap music, crunk… All the Southern shit I grew up on.

What have you got coming up next after this release? 

Next up, Antiserum and myself just wrapped up a remix of Kill The Noise "Jump Ya Body featuring Mercedes." We're also finishing up a new single for a label I probably shouldn't name yet. Got a remix of Heroes x Villains "Original Choppaz" and a collab with him as well as projects in the works with Bro Safari and Gent & Jawns. I'm also hosting FKI's new mixtape Transformers N The Hood 2 with a bunch of productions on there. I'm looking to make my way back to some more rap placements in 2013. I also have a side project called Edgewoode, which is a more soulful take on the Southern-styled production—that will be a live performance with my dude McBeezy on the drums as well as more D&B records with Logam dropping on the SLR and Santoku labels.