Moot & Tempt

Arist:

Moot & Tempt

Members: Shanoy Moody, 21, and Joshua Bishop, 24

Who we talked to: Bishop

How did you guys get together? We've been into music since middle school. I rapped when I was younger, but we both kind of fell into the productions. We've been doing that for a while. We produce . . . hip-hop and R&B and dance music. We've been doing stuff around here with acts like Phene and Grump (and) Skollaz Entertainment. (In) Lancaster we do stuff with Big Skeem, who's a big artist over there. Even out of the area, we've been trying to expand doing different stuff in Philly and also in D.C., as well with different artists. We record them, we mix down the music and make sure it sounds like it's supposed to.

What artists inspired you back in the day? (I listened) to all kinds of hip-hop acts like Fugees (and) Biggie. I listened to R&B like Boyz II Men, R. Kelly and things like that.

Any albums that have come out recently that you like? Kanye West's ("808s & Heartbreak") . . . was good. Ludacris' "Theater of the Mind" album . . . was a good album. T.I.'s album was really good. The-Dream had a good album that I listened to for a while.

What studios do you guys work with? We work out of a couple different studios. There's Mellow D's Studio in North York. Skollaz Entertainment . . . has a home studio again. We kind of migrate to different studios.

Any producers that you guys like? Yeah, we look up to a whole bunch of producers (including) Hi-Tek, . . . Just Blaze, Timberland, Dr. Dre (and) a whole bunch of the hip-hop and R&B producers. We really look to try to see what they're doing, not to take it, but to try to mold our style around.

Do you think there is potential for any local artists to make it big? Yeah . . . the talent potential is pretty large in York. There (are) a lot of people out here . . . that can rival things that are going on as far as the major music industry. Our problem is we're really disconnected from it. (As producers in this area) we're just challenged with getting people to recognize the area . . . as a place where hip-hop is actually growing and expanding. It's not too, too difficult to really assert yourself in an area like this because it's so small. Inside the area, it doesn't take too long to build a reputation. It's kind of like a training camp.

Technology is changing the music industry. How is that affecting you? The technology is kind of like a double-edged sword just because anyone can get into it, so it kind of floods the market. Then, it creates opportunities for people that have the talent and ambition to do it. It's expensive to keep doing. The thing about production is. . . there (are) a whole bunch of tools and things you can get that will help you build your sound. The most valuable piece of equipment that you have is your ear. We're definitely trying to improve our sound all the time and figure out what we can do to get better. We go to different venues and conferences, and we just did a couple of battles where you just go in and showcase your productions.

Are you involved in the Central Pennsylvania Hip-Hop Awards? I won for a mix tape we did in 2006 . . . and I was nominated for two other awards that year. I was nominated once last year, and I didn't win that one. I haven't really been campaigning this year. I'll definitely be up there and supporting it and what not. It brings unity for that night. You get to . . . expand your market or . . . get with people that might be able to teach you a few things.

- ERIN McCRACKEN, FLIPSIDE STAFF
For details, visit www.myspace.com/mootandtemptmusic. To listen to the interview, visit www.flipsidepa.com.