Zaytoven's run as Atlanta mastermind behind the beats for Gucci Mane, Future, Migos and everyone in between has been well documented. But we just found out dude literally wrote the book on coming up as a producer with no plugs, an obsessive work ethic and a manic sound. In this week's FADER Mix, which is packed with Zaytoven-produced tracks and mixed by his pal DJ Showtime, Zay's bounce is on full display: twinkling, cartoonish keys and bloated 808 boom spread across new Usher and old Gucci. Go warm up some ramen and put a quarter mil in the mail with this mix on blast.
Where are you right now? Describe your surroundings. I'm in my basement studio. My kids are running around in their pajamas. Trinidad Jame$ is in the booth and I'm behind the mixing board and we got boxes of Chinese food laying around. Just finished eating and now we back at it.
Your FADER Mix isn't short on fire. How would you describe the Zaytoven production style? Melodic, aggressive, and in ya face but at the same time angelic.
What are you working on in the studio at the moment? Making up some new beats. I'm working on my new Zaytown 4 mixtape.
What's the last book you read that had a big impact on you, and why? My new book, From A to Zay, and it had a big impact on me because I was really surprised at all the information I poured into it and how well it was put together. I'm excited about sharing it soon.
What's your favorite dish to cook and how do you make it? I don't really cook so I would go with ramen noodles; the shrimp flavor is my favorite. I can cook that really well.
Tracklist:
Usher f. Migos - Still Got it
Yung Fresh f. Rich Homie Quan - Show Em How To Do it
Plies - Bruh Bruh
Shy Glizzy f. Bobby Shmurda - Celebration
Migos f. Drake - Versace
Future - Made Myself A Boss
Gucci Mane - I'ma Dog
Gucci Mane - My Chain Stupid
Lil Scrappy f. Stuey Rock - That's Her
Nicki Minaj - Want Some More
Young Jeezy - Trap or Die 2
Big Bank Black - Try It Out
Gucci Mane - Bricks
Gorilla Zoe f. Rick Ross - What It is
OJ Da Juiceman f. Gucci Mane - Make Da Trap Say Aye
Gucci Mane - I Might Be
Young Dolph - Preach
Future - Real Sisters
Gucci Mane f. Young Jeezy - Icy
Plies - Bricks On Me
Gucci Mane - First Day Out
Usher - Papers
