BROOKLYN, NY — December 14, 2015 — Sa’id (Amir Said), founder of BeatTips and Superchamp Books and author of the books The BeatTips Manual and The Art of Sampling, today announced his new album The Best of Times. The Best of Times, features beats and rhymes entirely by Sa’id, and in addition to being entertaining and thought provoking, it is meant to serve as an example of the ideas, methods, and practices found in his books.
“This album represents one of the best ways for me to further discuss the kind of information and insight that you’ll find in both The BeatTips Manual and The Art of Sampling,” says Sa’id. “Everything that I do with BeatTips is about continuing the discussion — finding new ways to help expand the beatmaking community at large. But of course, I’m also an artist: I rhyme and I make beats. So also it means a lot to me that have this opportunity to put out music on my own terms and watch it compete on the open market. Plus, I’m an advocate for beatmakers (producers) putting out their own projects. Whether it be as beatmaker-rappers or as part of duo or group, I believe that the most sustainable path for beatmakers (producers) is the path that includes creating and putting their own projects, rather than chasing or waiting for a beat placement. So I’m following my own advice.”
Although The Best of Times has no features in the traditional sense, it does have an important co-star. “What makes this album really special to me is that I’ve done it with the help of my son, Amir Ali Said. Amir, who is the co-executive producer along with me, has been extremely instrumental — literally speaking — to this album. My son is living in Paris at the moment; I just recently returned to New York City from there. And we wanted a way to stay connected until I made my way back to Paris. So as a challenge, and a way for us to really stay connected, I asked him to dig in the crates — e-dig — and pick music for me to sample. No one knows my ear better than Amir. That’s my son; he’s on the cover of The BeatTips Manual. He’s been hearing me make and talk about music his entire life. So I completely trust his judgment; I knew that he would send me stuff that I could catch wreck on. That’s why Amir is the co-star of this album: He sent me handpicked music to flip, and I flipped it.”
Coinciding with his album announcement, Sa’id dropped a new song called “Make It Mean Something.” “I had to drop a new joint. I couldn’t mention my new album and not drop a joint. So Here is ‘Make It Mean Something,’ the first song from my new album. Please share! And thank you for your continued support.”
