MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.

What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?

• Diesel Hampton: I started as a Dj at 13. Well to be honest before that I used to sneak in my uncle’s basement (he had this wall of records and 2 turntables) and play with his deck. I used to love hearing all the old school songs and I started mixing them together with his old breakbeat LPs and it was dope! I then got my own deck and started making beats for my friends in high school.

Website: www.DieselHampton.com
Facebook.com/dieselhamptonmusic
Twitter: dieselhampton
Instagram: @dieselhampton

MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?

• Diesel Hampton: I loved the old school guys like Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire. They were the first ones who really caught my attention. But when I started making hip-hop music it was the “god” level producers I fell in love with, Dj Premier was my favorite, JustBlaze, Rico Wade, Dungeon Family, Kanye West all those guys motivated me and help me develop my style.

MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?

• Diesel Hampton: I want to be the next Berry Gordy. I want to create a movement in Urban music so powerful it can’t be denied, and not just music that appeals to the pop masses but music that inspires people like the old heads did, the guys I study like Marvin Gaye, and Gil Scot Herron. I want the songs I make to last for generations like my parents and grandparents music did. I believe we can do so much more with our music. I believe Public Enemy used to talk about “Music in our Message” I would love to create a movement on that level.

MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?

• Diesel Hampton: I went to see A Tribe Called Quest at the Pageant in St. Louis MO before Phife Dawg died (R.I.P.) and I was blown away by how these guys were old as they were, performed and ENTERTAINED the entire time not just let the songs we knew lead us, they lead the show I knew then this is what I wanted to do.

MuzicNotez: You founded DieselHampton Music Group, which focuses on production and promotion. Tell us a little more about what you do there.

• Diesel Hampton: DieselHampton Music Group or DHMG is a production house that focuses on urban music (rap, hip-hop, R&B) we also do concert promotion and artist development, but our main focus is production work. We’ve produced singles for artists, commercial jingles, and movie scores but our main focus is music for artists.

MuzicNotez: You’ve worked with some of the best, what are some notable artists you’ve worked with?

• Diesel Hampton: Nelly, The St. Lunatilks, Bryson Tiller, Gucci Mane, Keezy, Sounds of Blackness, Dawn Robinson (EnVouge).

MuzicNotez: What would you say you bring to a track that other producers don’t?

• Diesel Hampton: I believe I have a talent to know how to pull more out of an artist than what they believe they can do. The tracks are not as simple as many in my genre but they are not too complex that it’s overwhelming. I think I do a great job of knowing how to make a listener bob their head. I know if I got your head moving I can reel you into the rest of the song.

MuzicNotez: The track you’re pushing right now is ‘Foreign’ (featuring Anonymous E, Gho$t, and Syn Alexander), which has already hit 100K+ streams on Spotify! How would you describe this release?

• Diesel Hampton: I always said it’s an homage to the greats of hip-hop, Jay-Z, Nas, Dj Khaled, Nikki Minaj, etc. It’s one of those joints that gets your head moving and then pulls you in so deep you can’t help but vibe to it and when you get to the end and that surprise at the third verse hit it’s all over! You’re in love! Ha ha!

MuzicNotez: What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?

• Diesel Hampton: I’m currently working on releasing my debut solo project “#BLACKEXCELLENCE” It’s a producer album like Dj Khaled featuring some GREAT up and coming artists and some national recording artists that I think will really do some damage.

MuzicNotez: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?

• Diesel Hampton: I’m a student of the game, who LOVES the culture of hip-hop and I believe if you love something put ALL YOU CAN INTO and NEVER GIVE UP on the dream. Also stream FOREIGN on all platforms ha ha!