Courtesy Photo-Curshawn Terrell, aka “Kaz”
Ever wonder how those fantastic musical beats we hear in our favorite songs are created; just ask Curshawn “Kaz Drumatik” Terrell, a.k.a. "Kaz."
Born and raised in Lansing, Kaz is a graduate of Everett High School. Kaz got the best of all worlds. He found a job he would do for free that pays. Kaz is a self-taught music producer/recording engineer for mixing and mastering.
While working at Texas Roadhouse, at age 16, fortune smiled on Kaz. A record label in Lansing, (Smash Many Records) was looking for some beats. They had heard of Kaz and drove their van to Texas Roadhouse to meet with Kaz. On his break, he visited their van in the parking lot. “I was thinking a $100 per beat, maybe,” said Kaz. He was offered a solid grand. A constant smile and a star were born in the Texas Roadhouse parking lot.
Music was in Kaz' s blood from the jump. "My dad was my mentor," says Kaz. "He loved music, and so did I.”
Courtesy Photo-Curshawn Terrell. “Kaz” busy at work in the recording studio
Kaz has worked with the recording artist “T.I.” Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by the stage name T.I., is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. He signed his first major-label record deal in 1999 with Arista subsidiary LaFace. In 2001, he formed the southern hip hop group P$C, alongside his longtime friends and fellow Atlanta-based rappers Big Kuntry King, Mac Boney, AK, and C-Rod.
Dropping a few names, Ace Hood, Young Jeezy, Blood Raw, and Lyfe Jennings all top the lists of artists Kaz has worked with. Kaz also does a lot of work for independent artists throughout the Midwest.
Kaz recalled that he fell in love with music at age eight. He discovers he had an interest in rapping and making his own beats. "I wasn't polished by no means," says Kaz. "But I started playing around with sounds, and I have been doing it ever since."
Kaz' s first significant break came in 2009 when he was signed to DJ Khaled and a few other music producers. He was signed to DJ Khaled for three years as an in-house producer. Khaled Mohamed Khaled, better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American D.J., record executive, songwriter, record producer, author, and media personality. Khaled first gained prominence as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station 99 Jamz and translated his popularity by working with Terror Squad as a D.J. for their live performances.
When he started his career, Kaz noted that he needed access to all of the equipment necessary to run a professional studio. In the 22nd Century, technology has taken over. With computers and professional apps, all of the same work is possible. “I also use a couple of interfaces and quality microphones,” explained Kaz. Kaz has named his studio 51 Sessions Recording Studio, and his website is www.kazdrumatik.net
Planning for the future, Kaz has plans to teach small classes (4 to 6) of young children how to be producers and how to create beats. Kaz believes the lessons could be two to three times a week from 5 to 7 in the evenings. "It's essential to give back," said Kaz.
Kaz considers his specialty as putting the total package by making the product radio-ready, as well as creating original beats. Kaz’ s most popular beat is Rubberbands by Sino featuring Neisha Neshae in Gucci Mane produced by Kaz Drumatik.
In the future, Kaz would like to relocate somewhere with warmer weather such as California or Florida. "The warm weather appeals to me,” says Kaz. As to a pearl of business wisdom, “always keep God first, be patient, and it always counts to be a good business person,” explained Kaz.
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