What’s up? My name is Stoni.
What’s the history of Stoni?
Basically, I got into music straight from the "Fame" school. I was a music major.
How did you get into the producing game?
I got hooked up with internships to work at different music studios. During that time I was always around producers, engineers, and writers so I watched and learned how music and songs come together.
How long have you been producing?
I've been producing for about 3 years.
I first read about you in Scratch Magazine, stating that you had won the International Producer’s Association Beat Battle Competition in New York City in 2003. Tell us about it.
Yeah, no doubt. I heard about a beat battle that was poppin' off at the Nuyorican Poet's Café. When I got there, all that I could see were dudes setting up their drum machines on stage, loading up beats, and battling. I'm watching the stage, the beats are going, and my peoples are like "yo, you need to get up on this….only guys are up there….people need to hear your beats". I signed up just because I wanted to rock on stage and have some fun with the whole thing. When I got the call to come through I was the only female on the roster. Before the doors opened, I was hooking up my MPC2000 drum machine and that is how the word got out about a female music producer being in the building. From the jump, the host announced that something new and different was about to happen at the Nuyorican and that “Stoni” was the first female music producer to ever battle at the Nuyorican and against all male producers. During the battle, the crowd went crazy. People in the audience who didn’t know me were shouting; "the chick got it". After the battle, the announcement was made that I was the first female music producer to ever win a beat battle at the Nuyorican Poets Café. The International Producer's Association blessed me with their official beat battle champion plaque that I got hanging in my studio. Soon after that, I found out that I was the first female to compete in any beat battle in New York City, so it was definitely a good look for me and I had a lot of fun.
How would you describe your production style? Straight loops? Chops? Keyboard work?
I do it all. Depending on the type of artist that I'm creating for the mood that I'm in.
How would you describe your sound?
My music is hard, crispy, and clean. I keep my music edgy.
What other producers do you have the most respect for? Who inspired you?
I have respect for all music producers. Being able to create music is a gift. I get inspired whenever I hear a joint and can feel the music whether it bangs hard or soft.
