Behind every dope record is a master producer. While there are so many moving parts that have to come together to create a great song, a producer is the engine that makes the train go, so to speak. Ramon “Illmind” Ibanga, Jr. has been producing hit records since 2003, working with the likes of Drake, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Beyoncé, to name a few.
Being a producer also means understanding the business side of the music industry, and over the last decade, Illmind has “remastered” himself as an entrepreneur. In addition to his other entrepreneurial ventures, Illmind has recently started selling his beat packs through auctions. The multi-talented producer spoke with ONE37pm’s Mike Boyd about music and his business hustles on this week's Monday to Monday spotlight.
With songs like ‘Heard About Us’ by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, ‘Love Yourz’ by J. Cole, ‘You & The 6’ by Drake, and ‘X’ (a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and 2Chainz for the Black Panther soundtrack), Illmind has developed quite the resume over the past two decades. Starting as an independent producer, the young man from Bloomfield, New Jersey, had to learn the business side of things early.