An Interview With Funky49

Funk49 is well known for his remixes of the Beastie Boys as well as other artists too. He is a member of the Beastie Boys Message Boards and always lets us know when he's remixes come out. More recently he has also made a track featureing fellow Board member, CJ Hood on the mic.

This interview was conducted on the 1t of July.

Jimmy JRG: How long have you been listening to the Beastie Boys?
Funky 49: Honestly? I feel I'm a later bloomer. 1994. I kinda discovered music late in my life. I ate up as much Beasties and Beatles as I could at that time.
Jimmy JRG: Nice. When did you start remixing?
Funky 49: I started 'remixing' tunes strictly as a response to Mr. Taco Zip.  I've been doing my own little stuff for years and when I bought the Beasties DVD Anthology I always planned to pull the acapellas out but never got around to it. I gave one of his first tunes a listen and said "sheeit, I gotta get my props too"
Jimmy JRG: Ha ha
Funky 49: Maybe that's residual poor self esteem or I needed that extra motivation to give the Beasties the funky49 musical treatment. Yeah, I probably needed that kick in the pants.
Jimmy JRG: What was your first Beastie remix?
Funky 49: Pass the Mic. I was fooling around on my Korg MS2000 and just came across the right keys.
Jimmy JRG: What do you use to remix and do you use a Mac or a PC?
Funky 49: I pulled out a beat or two I always wanted to use and things came together. That info will be made available at www.funky49.com/labgear.html :) I use a PC and uhm.. pirated software.
Jimmy JRG: How long does the average remix take for you?
Funky 49: Hours and hours. I never wanted to calculate it because that's time taken away from studying for school and ignoring my girlfriend... both of which are not cool to do. You just gotta force time when there is some ideas running around your head and you have the ability to make those sounds in your brain come out through speakers.
Jimmy JRG: So a few days or a few weeks...?
Funky 49: Let's say 20 hours of studio time. From start to finish. Virtual crate digging to final mixdown.
Jimmy JRG: cool. What's your favorite Beastie song?
Funky 49: Ohhh shit. You didn't just ask that.
Jimmy JRG: Ha ha ha
Funky 49: I can't say man. I really don't know.
Jimmy JRG: ok favorite era or album?
Funky 49: Probably something from Paul's. That 70s mack-daddy pimped out era is probably the most fun.
Jimmy JRG: Yeah, I love the 70's :)
Funky 49: 70's style is probably a bit played out right now, hence why there was a run of sampling of 1980's tunes in dance music. The only real big one I remember is the one that steals the guitar riff and the sample "I just wanna use your love, toniiiight"
Jimmy JRG: What song should be remixed?
Funky 49: An upcoming release from their new album.
Jimmy JRG: What song shouldn't be remixed?
Funky 49: Wow, that'a a great question! Let's say Time to Get Ill
Jimmy JRG: Ok
Funky 49: Don't touch it. Just let it sit on the shelf and admire what's going on.
Jimmy JRG: Ha ha
Funky 49: No no, Cookiepuss. Don't touch Cookiepuss! That's it. Leave that one alone. Respect.
Jimmy JRG: Definitely. Which Beastie DJ do you prefer, HURRA or Mix Master Mike?
Funky 49: I'm very much in awe of MMM's Anti-Theft Device. It's perfect for cruising in the car with a sub. I also like the job he does backing and complimenting the Beastie sound. No dis on the Hurra of course.
Jimmy JRG: Of course :) What do you want more and/or less of on the next beastie lp?
Funky 49: Keep the funkstrumentals the electro/techno vibe going. Don't hold back on the fun. I can do without the Instant Deaths and the Dr. Lee's
Jimmy JRG: Do you work on any tracks of your own and will there ever be a funky49 CD available?
Funky 49: Yes, I have small catalog of hip-hop and jungle tunes done by myself. Also a smaller cache of other pieces. I don't have any plans for releasing a CD of strictly funky49 tunes.
Jimmy JRG: So a mix CD?
Funky 49: My friend and I have created a mix CD of our nu-skool breatbeat tunes that we've created over the last few years. We're going to shop that out to a few record labels after we're done sending out 3-song demos to record labels.
Jimmy JRG: Cool
Funky 49: Yeah. I absolutely freaked the first time I went into a DJ record shop and found 'funky49' on a record in the bin.
Jimmy JRG: Have you ever thought of making an Audio/Visual Remix much like Taco Zips entry to the BBoy.com A/V comp?
Funky 49: That Taco Zip AV dealio is one impressive MF. I'm not the visual maestro though.
Jimmy JRG: Do you think you'll attempt something like it in the future?
Funky 49: No, I'd rather make my own music video for one of my own tunes.
Jimmy JRG: Which do you prefer CD or 12" LP?
Funky 49: For playback or being on?
Jimmy JRG: Both
Funky 49: It's more lucrative to be on a CD and have that sold in Sam Goody and whatnot. I think it's more fun to be on wax and hearing yourself in clubs and raves.
Jimmy JRG: So what can expect from you in the future? Any remixes in the works?
Funky 49: Rolling out a new website shortly. Going to remix at least one tune from every Beastie album. Hoping to have some breakbeat tunes on wax. I want to record this one 'nerdcore hip-hop' genre tune I have lyrics for.
Jimmy JRG: Sounds good.
Funky 49: And finish up this parody of Warren Sapp, an American footballer on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jimmy JRG: What's that all about?
Funky 49: I'm a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles which were eliminated by the Bucs for the Super Bowl.
Jimmy JRG: Oh ok
Funky 49: Yeah, the American football. The whole world says one thing and the US has to be different.
Jimmy JRG: Ha ha
Funky 49: I learned that in French class. I'm not a fan of soccer anyway.
Jimmy JRG: Any last comments or shout outs?
Funky 49: I like traffic lights, but only when they're green. A shout out to all the fans of the Beastie Boys.
Jimmy JRG: Ok good luck with your music and thanks for the interview
Funky 49: Thank you good sir!

Links:
www.funky49.com