Features

All Categories

Sonny Digital Avoids 'Drugged-Up' Rappers, Reveals New Production Work

Posted Oct 3rd 2012 12:05PM by Nadine Graham
Comments

Thaddeus McAdams

Producer Sonny Digital prefers to work alone. The Atlanta native, who's behind some of 2012's biggest hits including Future's "Same Damn Time" and 2 Chainz's "Birthday Song," says he'd rather produce records without rappers peering over his shoulder.

"I'm not a big fan of rappers [on drugs] and I don't like being in the studio with them," he tells The BoomBox on the BET Hip Hop Awards red carpet. "A lot of them be drugged-up and they really can't function so I don't stick around too long."

The beatmaker is adamant about maintaining full sobriety in the studio. Depending on the artist's desire, Sonny has the ability to create a banger in as little as 10 minutes or the sessions could take 24 hours. But he has to have peace in order to build a masterpiece.

"All these different artists have so many different styles," he explains. "So I gotta adapt to each style every time. But making [a beat] with [the artist] in your face makes you kinda nervous, like having them on your back.

"For instance, if you're cooking for your mom and she's looking over your shoulder, you'll probably mess something up and she won't like the food."

Nonetheless, Sonny has continued to prove his talents behind the boards with the entire hip-hop world watching and he says he's not close to being done yet. He's got many forthcoming projects with big-name talent outside of his hometown.

"I got a lot of stuff coming next," he shares. "So much, like I send beats every day. You know I've got Atlanta already sewn up: Future, Gucci, all them... They're taken care of. But I have stuff with DJ Khaled, B.o.B., T.I., Rick Ross... Everybody, man. It's a long list."

See 15 of the Best Hip-Hop & R&B Albums of 2012 (So Far)