Producer Evilgiane was simply as shocked as the remainder of us when Kendrick Lamar and Child Keem dropped their new single “The Hillbillies.”
Final week, the cousin duo surprised-released the Jersey club-tinged monitor, evaluating themselves to soccer stars Lionel Messi and Neymar whereas buying and selling bars in a playful back-and-forth method. The accompanying Neal Farmer-directed visible options an look from Tyler, the Creator, asserting the return of his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival after a four-year hiatus (the competition will happen in Los Angeles Nov. 11-12).
“The Hillbillies” samples Bon Iver‘s 2020 track “PDLIF,” a alternative Evilgiane made due to how “fairly” it sounds. The monitor is the Brooklyn native’s second main credit score since producing A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti‘s unreleased monitor “Our Future / Sights,” which reworks Future’s Little one‘s 2004 lower “If.” Evilgiane’s knack for sampling caught the eye of Keem, and the 2 related over Instagram late final yr, with the rapper telling the producer to ship him some beats.
Whereas Evilgiane is starting to make a reputation for himself, the 26-year-old born Giane Chenheu additionally runs a producers collective and label, Surf Gang, which has develop into a budding drive within the underground New York drill and different scenes. The group has labored with indie artists like Matt Ox, Polo Perks, Babyxsosa and extra.
Beneath, the producer talks to Billboard about linking with Child Keem, how he chooses samples, his beat-making beginnings and the way forward for Surf Gang.
Inform me the way you first related with Child Keem and made “The Hillbillies” beat.
Keem has at all times been on some totally different s–t with manufacturing. He hit me up on Instagram and advised me to ship him s–t, that’s how we linked up. How I made the beat was, I simply appreciated the [Bon Iver] track and I at all times pattern songs that I actually f–ok with. The beat was a made a pair months earlier than we related. I don’t bear in mind the precise date, [but] like early this yr, finish of final yr.
What particularly about “PDLIF” attracts you to it?
Nearly all the pieces about it. When you ever heard the unique track, it’s simply actually stunning. The vocals, the instrumental, it’s all actually fairly.
I do know individuals on-line have been saying how Keem and Kendrick’s flows are just like the one Drake makes use of on “Sticky.”
I didn’t know individuals have been gonna make up beef about that s–t. I don’t really feel like they’re copying something actually, they have been simply having enjoyable on the track. I just like the track “Sticky,” don’t get me mistaken, however the beat wasn’t impressed by that track.
What do it’s a must to say to the individuals who say that sampling lacks originality?
That’s completely not true. Hip-hop actually began from sampling. That’s kinda silly. The primary beats have been samples from like, funk songs, blues songs, approach again within the ’70s. It takes creativity to see a special track inside a track that’s already made.
While you made the beat and gave it to Keem, have been you conscious of something after that?
I’d solely heard a tiny little bit of it, however aside from that, I didn’t actually have that a lot data on it in addition to [the fact that] he bought on it. He advised me he f–ked with it and was making an attempt to shoot a video to it. I didn’t know Kendrick was gonna get on it till last-minute. I didn’t know the video was popping out instantly as effectively. That s–t actually caught me without warning, [but] it was thrilling. It might’ve been figuring out for tremendous lengthy and being anxious ready on it to drop. I believe it dropped completely. Every thing concerning the video is mad enjoyable, too.
So I assume you didn’t know Tyler, the Creator was gonna be in it both, proper?
Nah, by no means. That s–t additionally blew my thoughts.
They higher invite you to the competition!
I might like to [go], if they might. Shout-out Tyler for exhibiting like to it, that s–t’s wavy.
How’d you get into producing?
I’ve at all times been serious about it since [I was] slightly child. I’ve at all times appreciated skating however it’s at all times been behind my head. As soon as I lastly bought the chance to do it, I simply ran with it.
What’s your go-to software program?
I take advantage of Ableton. The very first thing I used was Logic and FL Cell on my telephone, however I’ve been utilizing Ableton for the previous 4, 5 years now.
How lengthy have you ever been producing?
At the very least 5 years.
The place does your producer identify come from?
[Laughs.] It’s foolish. It was my Instagram identify, making an attempt to be edgy and humorous. It got here from Evil Mario, and I used to be like, “I’m gonna be the evil model of Giane,” as a result of I’ve an Italian identify anyway. I simply thought it was humorous.
Inform me about your collective, Surf Gang.
Now we’re beginning to develop into extra of an impartial label, we have now our personal releases we’ve been doing. We’ve nonetheless been sticking on the identical swag we’ve been doing. We began out as a collective and all of the artists [we’ve worked with] have all been impartial, however nonetheless hella loyal to us. I recognize all artists that we’ve been working with to this point, previous and current. And future.
It’s at all times been a household from the beginning. We actually began out as a skate crew after which it developed into what it’s now. We meet new individuals and [they] be a part of. It’s at all times been us simply making an attempt to construct and create with one another.
What are you most happy with to this point?
Simply how far we’ve come. From individuals not listening to us at first to now individuals beginning… we haven’t gone that far but, however I nonetheless recognize all of the love we’ve been receiving to this point.
What can we glance out for from you sooner or later?
I’m at all times gonna hold stunning individuals with drops like this. With Surf Gang, we’ve bought 454 popping out this summer time, exhibits arising. You gotta watch, you realize? We staying energetic.
