Mike Patterson, information on Snoop/'Pac/Outlawz , this month!
Here's some new info, guys.
source - http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060901/ENT/609010308/1005
Here's some new info, guys.
Mike Patterson laughed into the phone receiver.
"It was that football game!" he said, remembering the video game that changed his life. "It was that (John) Madden game they loved to play."
Patterson, 32, who just collaborated with OutKast on its new "Idlewild" soundtrack, which is the No. 2 album on this week's Billboard chart, was struck with good luck while playing one of his songs during a casual video-game tournament.
The former Florida A&M University journalism student and founding member of Tallahassee funk band Smoke helped write and record "N2U," an "Idlewild" track featuring OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, for the movie's soundtrack.
Written and directed by music-video director Bryan Barber (“Hey Ya"), "Idlewild" stars Benjamin and Patton as Percival and Rooster, two childhood pals from opposite sides of the track. OutKast and a Tony Award-winning choreographer bring to life a '30s-era place called Church, a singin', rappin' and dancin' bar full of sketchy mobsters, scantily clad women and break-dancing Lindy Hoppers. It opened at No. 9 at the box office Aug. 25.
After graduating high school in 1992, Patterson moved to Tallahassee from Atlanta to enroll at FAMU and play the snare drum in the marching band. After a year, he decided school was not for him and formed a funk band called Smoke with two of his cousins.
'Adopted' by Clinton
Mike "P" and Smoke played in and around Tallahassee at venues such as the Cow Haus, Waterworks, The Moon, Deep and on local campuses, developing a strong fan base and local following.
While attending a George Clinton and P-Funk show at The Moon, Patterson sneaked backstage to meet the band, and he quickly became the newest member of the P-Funk family.
"They sort of adopted me," said Patterson. "I got to record music with them and make connections."
After 10 years of playing with Smoke, Patterson enrolled at Albany State University to finish up his degree.
"I nickel-and-dimed it for a while," said Patterson, describing how he scraped by after graduation. "I sold tracks to aspiring rappers but wasn't making much money."
But last year, some European record executives asked Patterson to do some recording. He quickly packed his bags and spent three months in London and Hanover writing more than 10 songs, including "N2U," his "Idlewild" song. But he got homesick, longing for the Southern cooking he loved, and flew back home.
"I just couldn't stand the food anymore," he said. "I grew up on fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens."
OutKast connection
It was in Atlanta where Patterson's friend, Keinan "Rastafunk" Roland, and music producer Rico Wade, who created TLC and OutKast, were playing Madden's NFL Football when Patterson began strumming out notes from his song in the background. Wade overheard it then asked if he could play Patterson's CD for OutKast.
"They loved it," said Patterson.
In the following months, he went to the studio and recorded bass, guitar and vocals for the ballad, arranging it with Khujo Goodie (Goodie Mob) and working with music producer Rob Manzoli (Right Said Fred).
"I thought I knew all there was about producing music," Patterson said, "but he (Manzoli) took my mind to another level. I'd hear him working on a track, and the next week, I'd hear it on the radio."
Since then, Patterson has worked on songs with Gnarls Barkley Cee-Lo, 2Pac (thanks to a pre-recorded track with Snoop Dogg) and the Outlaws. Patterson said the Snoop/2Pac/Outlaws compilation, "If There's a Cure for This (I Don't Want It)," is scheduled to be released this month.
Patterson said he was also featured on the "Snakes on a Plane" soundtrack with Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley, in a song called "Ophidiaphobia."
As an only child, Patterson taught himself how to play several instruments to tame his boredom. He learned to play drums, guitar, bass and whatever else he could find.
"I became this child musical genius," he said, "and I figured I could get girls. Whatever people say - 'for the love of the music' - is nonsense. It's a lie. They do it to get the girls."
Patterson said it is easy to figure out how he ended up where he is. His mother was an English major, and his father was a college mathematics professor who played in a band with both Clarence Carter and Johnnie Taylor. Patterson eventually found a way to make his love of words and music work together.
"If you can't take the reality of the business, then jump off the nearest building," Patterson said of surviving in the industry. "You can't get upset if they spell your name wrong. You won't make it."
Though he was not credited for vocals on "N2U," he is fine with it. Patterson knows it is about the connections he made and about the networking. The "Idlewild" soundtrack is just another springboard. And even though he was in the right place at the right time, it was Patterson's talent and drive that made it happen.
"It was that football game!" he said, remembering the video game that changed his life. "It was that (John) Madden game they loved to play."
Patterson, 32, who just collaborated with OutKast on its new "Idlewild" soundtrack, which is the No. 2 album on this week's Billboard chart, was struck with good luck while playing one of his songs during a casual video-game tournament.
The former Florida A&M University journalism student and founding member of Tallahassee funk band Smoke helped write and record "N2U," an "Idlewild" track featuring OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, for the movie's soundtrack.
Written and directed by music-video director Bryan Barber (“Hey Ya"), "Idlewild" stars Benjamin and Patton as Percival and Rooster, two childhood pals from opposite sides of the track. OutKast and a Tony Award-winning choreographer bring to life a '30s-era place called Church, a singin', rappin' and dancin' bar full of sketchy mobsters, scantily clad women and break-dancing Lindy Hoppers. It opened at No. 9 at the box office Aug. 25.
After graduating high school in 1992, Patterson moved to Tallahassee from Atlanta to enroll at FAMU and play the snare drum in the marching band. After a year, he decided school was not for him and formed a funk band called Smoke with two of his cousins.
'Adopted' by Clinton
Mike "P" and Smoke played in and around Tallahassee at venues such as the Cow Haus, Waterworks, The Moon, Deep and on local campuses, developing a strong fan base and local following.
While attending a George Clinton and P-Funk show at The Moon, Patterson sneaked backstage to meet the band, and he quickly became the newest member of the P-Funk family.
"They sort of adopted me," said Patterson. "I got to record music with them and make connections."
After 10 years of playing with Smoke, Patterson enrolled at Albany State University to finish up his degree.
"I nickel-and-dimed it for a while," said Patterson, describing how he scraped by after graduation. "I sold tracks to aspiring rappers but wasn't making much money."
But last year, some European record executives asked Patterson to do some recording. He quickly packed his bags and spent three months in London and Hanover writing more than 10 songs, including "N2U," his "Idlewild" song. But he got homesick, longing for the Southern cooking he loved, and flew back home.
"I just couldn't stand the food anymore," he said. "I grew up on fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens."
OutKast connection
It was in Atlanta where Patterson's friend, Keinan "Rastafunk" Roland, and music producer Rico Wade, who created TLC and OutKast, were playing Madden's NFL Football when Patterson began strumming out notes from his song in the background. Wade overheard it then asked if he could play Patterson's CD for OutKast.
"They loved it," said Patterson.
In the following months, he went to the studio and recorded bass, guitar and vocals for the ballad, arranging it with Khujo Goodie (Goodie Mob) and working with music producer Rob Manzoli (Right Said Fred).
"I thought I knew all there was about producing music," Patterson said, "but he (Manzoli) took my mind to another level. I'd hear him working on a track, and the next week, I'd hear it on the radio."
Since then, Patterson has worked on songs with Gnarls Barkley Cee-Lo, 2Pac (thanks to a pre-recorded track with Snoop Dogg) and the Outlaws. Patterson said the Snoop/2Pac/Outlaws compilation, "If There's a Cure for This (I Don't Want It)," is scheduled to be released this month.
Patterson said he was also featured on the "Snakes on a Plane" soundtrack with Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley, in a song called "Ophidiaphobia."
As an only child, Patterson taught himself how to play several instruments to tame his boredom. He learned to play drums, guitar, bass and whatever else he could find.
"I became this child musical genius," he said, "and I figured I could get girls. Whatever people say - 'for the love of the music' - is nonsense. It's a lie. They do it to get the girls."
Patterson said it is easy to figure out how he ended up where he is. His mother was an English major, and his father was a college mathematics professor who played in a band with both Clarence Carter and Johnnie Taylor. Patterson eventually found a way to make his love of words and music work together.
"If you can't take the reality of the business, then jump off the nearest building," Patterson said of surviving in the industry. "You can't get upset if they spell your name wrong. You won't make it."
Though he was not credited for vocals on "N2U," he is fine with it. Patterson knows it is about the connections he made and about the networking. The "Idlewild" soundtrack is just another springboard. And even though he was in the right place at the right time, it was Patterson's talent and drive that made it happen.
