Photo Credit: Shefik
Multi Platinum Producer Keith Clizark has over 30 years of experience and knowledge in the music and film industry working as an audio engineer and producer. Keith has over 12 million records sold and multi-million dollars generated to his production credits. He is one of the music industry’s best-kept secrets as well as the epitome of a new breed of business savvy music entrepreneurs and well seasoned Veterans. The CEO of Team Mashn Entertainment is part of the musical genius that has produced legendary records for Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Too Short, Master P, Kurupt, Mystical, Tha Eastsidaz, T.R.U. and many others. Clizark’s music has been featured in motion pictures and television networks such as; Warner Brothers Pictures, MGM, BET, MTV, VH1, BRAVO, E!, CARTOON NETWORK, and HGTV. It is different players but the same game with Clizark and with knowledge brings mastery of a skill or an expertise.
RESPECT.: Where are you from?
Keith: I was born in Greenville, Mississippi but at the age of four, my mother transplanted us to the Eastside of Long Beach, Calif.
RESPECT.: You began producing at an early age. What made you decide it would be music you would follow as a passion and what was the sound like in the 80’s and 90’s for the west coast?
Keith: I got bit by the music bug at an early age. It was at the age of 6 that I was at my Aunt Barbara’s house for a barbecue and they played Parliament Funkadelic’s “Flashlight”. I didn’t know what it was at that time but I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. It wasn’t until the late 70s and early 80s that I figured out how to channel that energy and it was through Hip Hop. The musical sound on the west coast at that time was all Funk oriented.
RESPECT.: Who were a few of your music inspirations?
Keith: I have a few musical inspirations. James Brown, George Clinton, Rod Temperton, Quincy Jones and of course the good Dr Dre.
RESPECT.: What is the difference with placing your catalog on albums and getting your catalog music & TV placement in the music business?
Keith: The difference between placing production in film and television versus recording song with artists. Unless you’re producing on a gold or platinum selling artist it’s more lucrative to place production in film and television. The record industry is slimy 95% of the time, you have to chase your money. It’s way different in the film and television World, there right on time with the checks ya dig.
RESPECT.: Who were a few artist that you worked with early that you put in the grind with?
Keith: I formed the crew called “Beat Control” back in 84-85. The group was composed of 3 DJs (DJ slice, Seany P and myself K Rush) and 2 MC’s (Kool P and Grandmaster Master Prince Vince). I developed my earlier production Style producing for the group. We release one of the first rap records from Long Beach in 1987.
RESPECT.: You’ve done records with several legendary artist from Warren G, Snoop Dogg, T.R.U. and Montell Jordan, what were the vibes like?
Keith: I’ve been in a gang of legendary Studio sessions. It’s always a blast recording with Snoop. B-Legit was also dope to work with, me and Meech Wells produced two tracks for the Hempin Ain’t Eazy project, “The Game Be Cold” featuring Snoop Dogg and “Where the Gangsters At” which was an epic session. The song featured Kurupt and Mack 10. Foxy Brown was also in that session, she wrote Kurupt’s first verse. Her pen game is ridiculous!
RESPECT.: What are a few things a producer that should listen for in a session to make a hit?
Keith: As a producer, some of the things you should listen for in the studio is tone and pronunciation of the Artist. Of course the music must be dope to start with.
RESPECT.: How is it being on two sides of the marketing with traditional business and social media business?
Keith: Marketing business traditionally and on social media go hand-in-hand. I use social media to Market/Brand my company and I used traditional business to close deals.
RESPECT.: What are your brands #TeamWinning and #TeamMashn? What should be people be informed about getting the knowledge about getting into the music industry and being effective?
Keith: I have 3 business ventures: Team Winning Consulting (TWC), Team Mashn Sound Design (TMSD) and Team Mashn Distribution (TMD). Team winning Consulting help Independent Artists in producer’s successfully navigate the industry. I’ve consulted artist with plaques on the wall all the way down to beginners, trying to get in the game.
RESPECT.: How has the music industry evolved over the last two decades?
Keith: The times have changed, it’s not who you know anymore, it’s what you know. My sound design company is doing major things, we have deals with Akai Pro, PreSonus, loopmasters, Big Fish Audio, MVP loops and Sounds. We’re positioning ourselves to take over the sample pack / Loop industry. The company is composed of a few talented sound designers and platinum producers as well as 3x Grammy award-winning engineer Gary Noble. Team Mashn Distribution is booming. I have a partnership with INgrooves / Universal Music Group for distribution. I also just completed a joint venture deal with Trent Woods, CEO of A Hit Music Group out of Houston Texas to distribute their label. You don’t know them now but by this time next year they’re going to be major factors in the game.
RESPECT.: How has the music industry evolved over the last two decades?
Keith: The music industry has most definitely evolved some positive some negative. Until they come up with a fair royalty rate, streaming is not advantageous to Independent artist. you have to be doing numbers in the hundreds of millions to make it all make sense. Also technology is making it easier for untalented people to over saturate the industry. This depreciates production value. I remember getting no less than 15 to 25 thousand per track back in the day. Lol now you can buy beat for $19.99.
RESPECT.: Do you see potential for the growth of independent artist competing with major labels with streaming?
Keith: I see a tremendous amount of potential in growth for Independent Artists. When you’re talented and original there is no competition. Once you get the Knowledge and apply it, GAME ON! Once you recognize your demographic you can cater directly to them. You can convert it into a sustainable income. The key to success for indie Artists Beyond Talent is self investing.
RESPECT.: What’s in store of the remainder of 2019 and plans for 2020?
Keith: In 2020 you can expect more of the same but times 10. I’m also shooting a movie in 2020 called (Operation: Green Day). My Team is going to be a disrupter in 2020!!!
RESPECT.: What does RESPECT. mean to you?
Keith: Respect to me is everything. I give a lot so I expect a lot in return.
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