[Video] Cicero ProducerGrind Interview (Talks Being the Keys of 808 Mafia, Moving to ATL from Chicago & More)

Cicero of 808 Mafia Interview on the Producergrind Podcast. Cicero stopped by the office to speak with us about his title as “The Keys of 808 Mafia” and how he was first blessed with the opportunity to make a beat with Southside, who recognized his talent instantly and told him he had to come with him to LA to continue working. We talked a lot about Cicero’s struggle, come up & making it out of Chicago and coming to Atlanta on a greyhound bus with basically no money. He talked about how his spirituality and belief in the law of attraction made him know he was going to find success. He talks a lot about being humble and playing your role as a team member when it comes to making music & supporting your friends music at all costs. He talks about how he makes loop packs for other members of 808 mafia and his most notable work being on the Future – Hendrixx album. Overall this interview is filled with great producer advice on how to get placements, networking & more. Cicero even dropped some dope knowledge on his favorite keys of songs and trap chords to use when making beats. Stay tuned for our studio session vlog with Cicero and Tre Pounds of 808 Mafia.

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0:25 Carrington whooped Kato the Producer in ping pong
1:07 How Cicero’s career got started – His grandma always wanted him to be at church so he started playing the drums and keys
2:52 Learning how to play 90’s and early 2000’s R&B
3:39 Why trap is influenced by old school R&B
4:08 Growing up in Chicago
4:28 Becoming a member of Brick Squad at the age of 16
4:55 Creating the Bop wave with Kemo and D Low (D Low Shuffle)
5:20 On being the keys of 808 Mafia
6:51 Sending melody packs to 808 Mafia – Being an in-house sound designer
7:54 How they handle business with the in-house loops
8:57 Most notable contributions with 808 Mafia is the Future Hndrxx album
9:43 Took three summers to get good on the keys
10:28 Learning how to play every song he heard on the radio
12:35 808 Mafia expanding outside of the United States, outside of trap and hip hop
13:29 When Southside told him “pack your bags we’re going to LA” he recognized the value in Cicero
14:34 He connected with 808 Mafia by being an engineer first
15:49 How he got the name Cicero in Chicago
16:59 How he feels about people who false claim 808 Mafia
18:40 What does it feel like to be stamped official 808 Mafia – The work he had to put in after he got the official blessing
21:00 He had to learn that it was ok use the 808 Mafia name to get where he needed to go because he had Southside’s co-sign
22:20 Being hands-on in building his fan base, one person at a time
23:15 Calls himself “the king of the struggle”
23:38 Going to clubs in Atlanta and taking a year to catch the sound
24:32 Learning how to vibe
25:08 Cicero’s favorite chords – C & D# minor & major *Cheat Code Alert*
28:18 Billboard top 10 chords
29:10 Advice for producers who move to Atlanta from another city
29:29 When Cicero got to ATL he moved in with his uncle in Buckhead but he had to go find the trap
33:22 Building relationships first and staying down to help an artist on their journey
36:20 Meet artists at their budget point instead of trying to break a wallet – every client is different
37:31 Overrated/Underrated
-Harold’s Chicken
-Chord creators
-Gelato
-Selling beats online
-Tekashi 6-9
41:32 If it wasn’t for type beats, nobody would be rapping
45:11 Other reasons, besides music, that he left Chicago
47:38 Cicero’s connection to drill music and being able to help Chicago artists eat
50:07 808 Mafia as a publishing company and shortcuts to distribution
53:23 His work with SpeakerKnockerz and his rap career
1:00:37 The Umm Factor – All the things Cicero did with his first big paycheck
1:02:21 Being able to take care of his family with music money increased his work ethic
1:04:54 Making EDM music
1:06:38 When producers start rapping
1:07:59 Cicero spiritual habits

Hosted By
@ceodylan
@theletterlbeats
@carrington_hill
@producergrind

Special Guest
@ciceroondabeat

Directed by
@cookitupkayo

#ProducergrindPodcast