May 14, 2007 Kwame: Stimulate Your Mind
Kwame Viapree is the kind of producer/artist that all musicians should respect. His fans know that he gives nothing but one-of-a-kind smooth groove remixes of some of your favorite popular songs along with his own vast collection of original tracks. It’s rare that music like his hits the mainstream the way it should, which is unfortunate. But, for those who are in the know, his talent is a gem that you’re happy to discover and even happier to share with other people. That’s why you should check after the jump to read more about him…
As a child, Kwame started playing the piano during the fifth grade with a focus on classical songs. For a bit of time he dropped the practice to enjoy his life as a kid, but picked up again as a freshman in high school. He found himself playing popular songs for practice, which eventually led to the composition of his own original music. In fact, his first song won a Coors National Talent contest. This recognition put his name in the public, and those who believed in him offered equipment for him to get started.
A few years of working in studios with local artists and working on his own craft beefed up his already impressive resume. He found himself working with the likes of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Melky Sedeck, Biz Markie and Simone Hines—to name a few. Not too long afterwards, Kwame realized that he had a stockpile of music in his collection. He loves music, and he professes to be able to make any kind of music, but the vast majority of the tracks favors the neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop and downtempo genres. Some of these tracks had been sold to labels, and he had worked with a variety of artists, but there was an entire library of music unheard. That was the moment his website, www.stimulatingmusic.com, was born.
He uploaded his own tracks and began to sell them to the public. Then he got the idea to also feature the work of artists with whom he had worked—Chinua Hawk, Aisha Mike, Lee Hogans, Felicia Graham, Jacqui Simone, Antar, etc—and sell their wares as well. What started out as a forum to feature and sell his own music turned into a platform for similar artists to have their albums sold by a fellow artist. In addition to tracks for sale, Kwame also features what he calls stimulated remixes of popular songs. His first track was Janet Jackson’s “All Nite”. Take a listen below:
Janet Jackson—All Nite Stimulated Remix
The smooth groove sound of these mixes are perfect for lounging with chill friends over a round of drinks, or, if you’re really smooth, you can take them right into the bedroom! Once he picks a song to remix, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for him to find the right beats and combinations to turn the final product into an escalating rhythmic composition nothing like its predecessor. Always a techie, he has all of his equipment at home, and that’s where he does all of the work, creating what you hear on the site. At the end of the day, for Kwame, a remix should be more than the original track with a rapper laying down a couple of lines—a remix should be a brand new experience. The song completely re-mixed.
Over time, he dropped many more remixes of popular songs. Here are a few:
Aaliyah—Rock the Boat Stimulated Remix
Amerie—One Thing Stimulated Remix
Jay-Z—Encore Stimulated Remix
Erykah Badu—On And On Stimulated Remix
Cassie—Me & U Stimulated Remix
He was on hiatus for a while, leaving his fans yearning for more. Just recently, he announced that his stimulated remixing was back up, and the latest song to be hit with his talent was Outkast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad”. Check it out:
Outkast—Bombs Over Baghdad Stimulated Remix
To use the word bright for Kwame’s future would be nothing more than a lackluster description of what is to come. Clearly, he’s on fire, and soon he’ll be one of the producers burning up the mainstream charts. Currently, he continues to work on his own craft along with producing numerous tracks for almost every artist featured on his site. Plus, if things keep up at this pace, there could be major developments down the road to put him right on the charts. He has plans for many more stimulated remixes with a few possibilities being “Kryptonite” from Big Boi, Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without You” and Fergie’s “London Bridge”.
It’s inevitable that you will like what you hear, so show your support in the right way! His albums and those of similar artists are available for purchase on his site: www.stimulatingmusic.com. You can also check out his Myspace page if you want to keep up with what he has going on. For any artists out there, he is always looking for new talent—talent that is 100% invested in their craft and ready to work.
In the words of Kwame himself, get stimulated!
Photo: Daniella Renee
Lezlie
May 14, 2007 at 9:59 am
He’s so talented. I love the Cassie and Janet remixes. The B.O.B. really gives a whole new feel to the original, not many artists are capable of that, great execution.
DJ LIFE
May 14, 2007 at 10:14 am
Kwame gave me his remixes about a year ago. I play at The Standard Hotel, The Abby and The Blu Monkey in Hollywood, Ca regularly. Everytime I play one of Kwame’s mixes, someone comes up to me and asks about the version. If given the chance, most Artists would choose his version. His mixes are ultra clean and super creative!
peace
LIFE
Nick
May 14, 2007 at 10:29 am
There’s no denying that Kwame is an expert collaborator and a genuine talent. The mainstream could use more artists of his caliber.
K.D.
May 14, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I can’t get enough of his remixes. I affectionately call them my crack-remixes. Love em, can’t live w/o them. I can’t wait for my next fashion show to use your music again. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
MsSvelteNY
Em
May 14, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Yes I have always been a fan of Mr. Viapree’s remixes. They are very orignal and he doesn’t alter the original vocals! I wish him the best success that life can bring.
Carioca
May 14, 2007 at 4:39 pm
clearly gifted… i’m waiting with baited breath 2 hear the robin thicke joint. and the pic with the flowing hair is INTOXICATING.
Michael Benjamin
May 14, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Hot as always, man! Keep em coming… I can’t get enough!
nOva
May 14, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Kwame’s music rocks my world. I been bumping it for a minute now…
kh
May 15, 2007 at 5:10 am
Kwame’s remixes are FIRE! He is so freakin’ talented, I find myself listening to his remixes and saying, “how does he think of that”?
H
May 15, 2007 at 8:29 am
His music rocks…ipod on the time!
Ali Al
May 15, 2007 at 10:56 am
I’ve been listening to stimulating music for awhile now. It’s some good stuff!
I always get it ’sight unseen’ because it never disappoints. It’s ‘Go to’ stuff.
I even like some originals after hearing what Kwame highlighted in the remixes, where I hadn’t prior.I appreciate it in a new way. Now that’s a good remix! Can’t get enough! like cooked food.
Shannon F.
May 15, 2007 at 11:57 am
Kwame, wonderful body of work! Keep the flow…
King K & Enrique
May 15, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Superior work. The arrangements seems so natural, that one is left with the impression that they’ve lived in one’s own imagination forever. A definite find.