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This week saw the debut release of the new hiphop production DVD magazine Behind Closed Doors (BCD). It’s a collaboration between a good friend of the Blunt Beats crew, AB0181 (AKA Prolifik) and West Midlands producer/MC, Kosyne.

Taking you behind the scenes of some of Britain’s underground hiphop producers; each volume brings you exclusive interviews and features from some of the most talented beat makers and producers in the country. The trailer below gives you a little taster of what to expect…

When the dust had settled, and the guys had caught up on some sleep, we grabbed Andy B to find out more about the magazine and what’s gone into this volume and the bonus beat CD that’s bundled with it.

BB: So the furious last-min editing is done and BCD has hit the streets. What’s the response been like so far?

AB: Interesting! Kosyne and I had a bet on as to how many would shift on day one. I think my guess was slightly closer to the truth in the end. We shifted 20+ on the first day. Mostly for our American fanbase and the rest for europe and UK… A couple of days later we have moved even more units, so things are going well.

BB: It’s a limited edition run too, so people need to get ‘em while they’re hot?

AB: Exactly. I think having a hand numbered limited press of 300 is a good thing, it makes people get their act together to get one. (I will put my no.1 copy on eBay in a couple of weeks!)

We decided that since we’re dealing with a vibrant sub-culture which is mainly filled with people who like to collect stuff, i.e records, synths and other bits of equipment then they would appreciate and go for something collectable like a limited press DVD. I suppose cost came into play aswell because me and Kosyne were doing this all off our our backs, and getting funding and sponsorship can be long, so we decided to D.I.Y it.

BB: I love the collectable theme, and you’re spot on, it is in synch with the lifestyle and vinyl culture. It is about owning the object, rather than just getting a copy of the digital media, right?

AB: Yeah, defo. I think having something to hold is missed in the digital age. Also, in years down the line still having the object there in your collection to pull out and watch, and to say you have number so and so of 300, is appealing.

BB: And the beat CD is another exclusive that won’t be available anywhere else?

AB: Thats right. Not sold seperately. I guess it’s another hook for the fans/“stans” amongst the scene. Having exclusive beats is defo appealing, and people have been fiending for MP3s from a few of the producers for ages. Mainly Jaisu. Looking at search results to get to louisden, there are “jaisu beat tape download”, “jaisu beats rapidshare link” all over the shop. So, to get the go ahead from all the beatmakers and to get exclusive beats is certainly a treat!

BB: So, digging below the surface – what’s the aim of the BCD project?

AB: The aim of the project is to really take a close look at the strength of the UK beatmaking scene, as we both felt the DVD could be a platform to push beatmakers of all kinds to the next stage. We also wanted to show what this culture consists of… making beats is not easy and the whole ethos and attitude behind it is kinda interesting, to me anyway. But ultimately we really wanna show that anybody can do this stuff if they put their mind to it – i.e. get into making beats, or filming and editing this kinda thing together.

BB: So the DVD covers as much of the beatmaking culture and DIY creativity as possible, much more than just the actual process of creating the music?

AB: Totally. We wanted to delve deeper into the beatmakers’ thoughts, where they’d been to get to this stage and the whole evolution of having beat making as a hobby. Including all the digging and sample hunting, which has been an integral part of hip hop (regardless of beat making), since the early days. Goin’ digging for samples needs just as much attention as laying a bassline. However, as Darren Paul explains it can sometimes be all down to instinct.

BB: Yeah I’d guess so. You never know where or when you’ll hear or see something that’ll spark off an idea…

AB: That’s it. Certainly for me, and I think Jaisu and S-Type too (cos I dig with them when I can). We look for quirky, different, interesting, colourful, trippy artwork sleeves. Generally speaking if the front cover looks sick, then you might be onto a winner.

BB: What’s the background to BCD and how did it all get started?

The drive to get it going started when I spoke with Kosyne on the phone way back in late 2007. He had seen all my beatmaking videos with Jaisu and S-Type on youtube and I had been following his newly started weekly Louis Den Beat Battles online. The like-mindedness didn’t feel forced and we were looking in the same direction, which helps.

I had some free time from University in January and February ‘08, so we thought why not go on a little mission and film some beats stuff. Kos started a google document which went back and forth to generate ideas for features, locations and beatmakers and we just built from there.

BB: It’s been a long time in the works and sounds like a real labour of love. How much work has gone into this issue?

AB: Most of the filming took place in early 2008 and then the final bit of footage was recorded a couple weeks back. One of the missions was to London, which involved hiring a car, employing a TomTom and tanking around the east, south east, north and central to film, all over the course of two days. Nandos became a staple reward, in fact need to talk to them about sponsoring vol.2!

The editing side of things was left until the very end. This was down to a few things. One of those things was real life. We aimed for a late summer 2008 release originally however I got a turbo Full Time job in the Edinburgh Festival, which scored-off any hope of completing BCD in 2008.

Things started to pick up with my YouTube channel towards the last part of 2008 and Louis Den was snowballing too, so when the new year turned around we were both fired up to get this moving and wrapped up. A small stint at Kosyne Manor in early March finalised all the edits, interviews, beats, title cards, DVD cases, blanks media, covers etc. “Two Man Army” might be the name of our production company one day!

BB: How is the series going to pan out? Is the next issue on the drawing board?

AB: Well, volume one is out the way. So now we’d like to see the reaction and take some of it on board to make volume two bigger and more banging. The next issue has already been spoken about and we have a pretty good idea of who we want on it, plus we have folk who we never managed to link for vol.1 that deserve their place on vol.2. Some other surprises in store but can’t say a lot about them right now! I guess just keep it moving and stay tuned.

BB: We certainly will. Muchos gracias for taking the time to talk to us and all the best for the BCD future.

AB: Anytime. Bigups to my boy Kosyne the work horse, and to the Blunt Beats family!

Behind Closed Doors is available now. Visit www.louisden.com/bcd to get yours!