Nevski

P. Diddy might be one of the weakest emcees in the game, but as remix producer, he's nearly untouchable. I truly believe that if P. Diddy created his album, and then remixed it, he'd have a much better end product.

Enter Nevski. Born Chaylon Brewster, this little-known Canadian producer has P. Diddy-esk remix skills. Having worked remixes for underground Prince Edward Island emcees including MC Squeege, K-Flow, Busted Flow, Tech Thai & Teknikal, he's proven that he can elevate solid works. He remixed an already strong track in MC Squeege's 'Blaze Em Up,' and managed to blaze it even hotter.

But, it was the first-hand experience with New Brunswick's PIMP-T that illuminated the extent of his talent. Nevski took PIMP-T's 'Bump-N-Grind Fiend', a weak techno-ish track, and converted it into an unfathomable hip-hop remix featured on PIMP-T's ECMA-nominated album 'Power Is Mindful Peace'. Additionally, his remix of the 2000 Urban X-Posure nominated, 'Tha PIMP-T Theme,' landed the video in rotation on MusiquePlus (French MuchMusic).

Despite being blessed with amazing production skills, Nevski remains focused and humble. His hard work also shines through in the management of his very small independent record label, Street Fame Records. But the buck doesn't stop there. By 1998, Nevski had completed his debut album, which surprisingly remains unreleased.

"I put a lot of work into the album, and I was looking to release it on a professional record label" states Nevski. "Since then, I've learned a great deal and have chosen to keep it unreleased because it's not what I am anymore." What used to be a biter and beef-oriented Nevski, has matured since 1998 to focus on the love of the music and his beats at hand.

Nevski remains a very mature and personable hip-hop producer. This can easily be attributed to the fact he became a father as a young teenager. He accepted this responsibility and admits that his life has changed: "Although you can't run around as much when you have a child; you don't miss running because all you want to do is stand still and hold your boy."

The adversities facing Nevski seem only to propel the fire that lies within. He's managed to squash the verbal beef between his Street Fame Records and rival Charlottetown label. Criminal Records (www.criminalunderground.com), and has launched a unifying PEI site at IslandHipHop.com. It's only a matter of time before Nevski gets the break he deserves and feels his hard-worked and loyalty rewarded.

For more info, check him out at: www.streetfamerecords.com.

Nevski Interview Q&A:

Brockway: How long have you been making beats?
Nevski: I've been making beats since 1996.

Brockway: How many artists have you worked with and who were some of your favorites?
Nevski: I have worked with MC Squeege, Pimp-T, K-Flow, Luke Cage, Nonsense, Teknikal, Tech Thai, Ill Factor, L.Vision and Blue Knights, and a few other cats. I don't have a favorite really. I like everyone for different reasons. Pimp-T is kick ass because he really has the business side of his shit down. Nonsense and Calypso are some very good artists, they have a ton of talent, and are amazing rappers and producers. Luke Cage is an old buddy of mine from L.A., and he has some of the best beats I have heard. Mike Dean is a dope producer who has worked with Scarface and Tupac, he gives me some hints and shit that really helps with my music. Tech Thai and Ill Factor are some guys who have a lot of talent, I just wish they would make it explode and help put us on the map like I know they can. L.Vision is an amazing rapper from Toronto, and never ceases to amaze me with his talent! LVision got shit locked down for sure. MC Squeege is my boy from many years ago, and he really is the one that got me started on PEI. K-Flow has a ton of talent, he is working hard.

Brockway: Some might criticize you for having not released many albums. Why have you put together so many songs, but have yet to release a professional album?
Nevski: Never worked on a complete album up until recently, and all that shit is in some huge turmoil with a few of the locals. It will be lucky to see Street Fame's talent on that album cause the album was simply amazing, not sure what them cats are doing to it, but I wish them well. Other than that, you can see my material on other professional albums in the works, or already out.

Brockway: Some people in the hip-hop community feel that if you use computer programs to make beats, then you're not keeping it real. What are your thoughts on this?
Nevski: Only computer programs I use are GoldWave and Sonic Foundry's Acid, the rest comes from my Yamaha DX-7 and samples. I doubt if I am the only one that uses them. I know Acid is very popular, and Gold Wave is mainly for cutting the samples, and making shit into usable sounds. As an answer, I would not say that if someone uses a computer program to make a beat, that they are not keeping it real. Not everyone lives downtown Toronto and can walk into a store and buy a Triton. I would say stop hating, if it sounds good, then all the power to them.

Brockway: You've repped a few different cities in the last few years. What's the hip-hop scene like in Charlottetown compared to other cities where you've lived?
Nevski: Charlottetown has a huge scene, and is starting to get exposure by both collab tracks with Toronto rappers like L.Vision, and by shit we do in-house. I moved here from Windsor, Ontario and this place really takes its' music seriously, it is a really good place to start out, because people want to hear about cat's like us that came out of nowhere. I love PEI, this place has a faithful audience for Hip Hop evident in the nearly weekly Hip Hop Show's thrown here. Nearly all of them are sold out. We all built on this shit, people like me, DJ Que-T, and K-Flow really put a lot of work into this shit, it is time people hear from us west of us. And they are.

Brockway: A lot of people are aware of ongoing beef between you at Street Fame Records and Tech Thai & Ill Factor at Criminal Records in Charlottetown. How did this beef get started? How deep did the threats end up running? And what the current status of this beef?
Nevski: Personally, that beef was childish, and I dropped that shit. The beef got started over the wrong reasons, and we really dragged each other down. I have contacted Ill Factor and we settled the shit. Seems like there are still some tension between us, mainly for the past shit that happened, shit went very wrong one night, but on the most part, the beef is gone, there's really still some heavy hard feelings between some people, but for the most part, I believe I squashed the beef.

Brockway: What have you got coming up in the near future? Any exciting collabos?
Nevski: I have some things lined up. I am talking with Julie-Kim's people on doing a track or so with her, and me and L.Vision are doing some tracks as well. Keep your eyes open, this shit is ready to bounce. I am doing a track with Calypso and a few more local artists here on PEI. I am going to be doing a hook up for Nonsense, watch for this guys album!, Pimp-T, and a few other people.

Brockway: Anything you'd like to add? Website? Email?
Nevski: Yeah, I would like to add that a new album, "Wishing on a Dream" is in the works, and will feature some old Street Fame rappers, and the new Street Fame Rappers. Gonna be dope. Also, peep the websites that are affiliated with Street Fame at www.islandhiphop.com, www.streetfamerecords.com, and my site, www.chaylon.com. You can peep our music and shit there, and drop me an e-mail at nevski@streetfamerecords.com. Also, I would like to give shout outs to Lady T of Deans List, Tanya Herron! PEEP HER SHIT, THIS CANADIAN HAS SOME MAD MAD TALENT, AND HOOKED UP WITH THE BEST RAP HAS/HAD TO OFFER!, Mike Dean, L.Vision, Luke Cage, Lil Boo, Pimp-T, Scewen, and the rest of my crew.

Brockway: Thanks for the interview.
Nevski: Thanks.