Lil Lody Is Working With Plies, Says Young Jeezy Is a ‘Teacher’

Producer Lil Lody is feeling the love. About 18 months ago, he laid a track for Miami hitmaker Rick Ross, titled 'Summer's Mine,' which was a diss record directed at trap rapper Young Jeezy. The longstanding rivalry between the two artists was the catalyst in putting Lody on the map as one of the freshest, young producers to watch. Six months after Ross' track dropped, Lody received a phone call from Jeezy's camp, asking that he travel to Atlanta for a weekend of studio sessions. Lody didn't hesitate and drove to Georgia with his hometown of North Memphis in his rearview mirror. After that initial weekend, Jeezy extended an offer that the eager rapper-producer couldn't refuse. He informed Lil Lody that a room had been booked at a local hotel and his presence was needed for his upcoming album. Since then, the 22-year-old has lent his passion for creating speaker-thumping records to the Atlanta rapper's 'The Real Is Back [Parts 1 and 2]' as well as the much-anticipated 'TM103.'

Within a matter of months, Lody had a phenomenal run of smash records with Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Entertainment camp. Lody then dropped his mixtape, 'The Theory,' last May and fielded calls from other high-profile artists hoping to rejuvenate their sound with his earth-rumbling production. After working with artists from Fabolous to Yo Gotti, he says that he isn't close to being at his peak. He's focused on success and his alignment with one of the most solid albums of 2011 definitely helps things. Earlier this month, he released 'Heat N Da Streetz' -- a sort of refresher mixtape showcasing tracks featuring various artists over his production. Lody is content and he has nothing left to prove, except how he plans to outdo himself.

The BoomBox had the opportunity to talk with Lil Lody about how he's adjusting to fame, staying level-headed and learning from Young Jeezy.

What did you hope to accomplish by dropping 'Heat N Da Streetz' now?

With 'Heat N Da Streetz,' I just wanted to let the people know -- like the people who're still confused by my sound -- I wanted to bring attention or notoriety to the songs I produced, that a lot of people wouldn't even imagine that I produced. I also just wanted to give something to the fans who like my work.

I know in 2011, you dropped a tape, 'The Theory,' before Jeezy released his two mixtapes, 'The Real Is Back' Parts 1 and 2, and 'TM103.' Were you ever overwhelmed with your work in addition to his?

Real talk, I work so fast that I can't be overwhelmed. The only time I felt under pressure doing my thing and his thing was when we were in album mode. That was the only time. Once we got that knocked out, everything else was easy -- it all just fell in place how I wanted it to.

Jeezy told us a few months ago that he liked you because you were "young and wild but you wanted to win." Have you settled down any since this whirlwind began last spring?

Honestly, for the public? Yeah, I've settled down, but behind closed doors ain't no telling what's going on.

What's the best experience been for you so far?

When my homies are in the studio. All my people are thorough -- a pack of thorough, young n----s. If I'm recording, they'll let me know like, "This s--- wack. Get it outta here, we ain't rocking with that!" That's my best experience to have the people I grew up with around me and they just keep it true. They don't let things slide, whether you like it or not, get mad or whatever. You just gotta do it over and deal with it.

So you purposefully keep your older friends around you while working.

Yeah. I watch the industry and I see in the industry circles, most of those people who are around, they're cool but a lot of them are "do boys." Like, with my own camp, I don't have "do boys" around me. Everybody's their own boss and have their own job and their own lane. Everybody calls the shots around me so that's what helps us keep it eye to eye because nobody around me is bigger than the other. We all one and we all equal.

Are you thinking of doing viral videos for 'Heat'?

Nah, I haven't even thought about it yet. Honestly? I didn't even know that impact of 'Heat' was going to be as big as it is. It shocked a lot of people to come out like me and Kato who's over at TrapsNTrunks.com. We just said we'd put this tape together where I'd produce every song and promote my own music. I didn't expect to have it come out and have everybody anticipating what to hear from me. Out of all the work I've created, now they want to hear what my work sounds like.

How are you adjusting to all this new attention?

I get used to it more, day by day. I don't know whether or not I should say I'm a superstar. I don't know. I'd let the fans judge. I just stay level-headed with it.

You've been an artist for years. Would you say that meeting Jeezy last year, and being around him has taught you anything?

Yeah, he taught me a whole lot. Just to see what he goes through and to see how he deals with a lot of situations on tour or in the studio. Even out at the club. Being around Jeezy just taught me a whole lot about life situations. It was big to see a top dog jump down to help me, and show me the ropes.

What's your favorite song on 'Heat'?

I like them all but I'd have to roll with 'Never Be Same,' because that song is the definition of my life. When we were working on the tape, this one was the second or third song that we came up with. It related so much to me -- just the title. I'll never be the same. I'll never look at life the same. I knew my life wouldn't be the same after doing what I did, after going to the studio. I knew people wouldn't look at me the same.

What's your favorite on 'TM103'?

My favorite one off 'TM103' is 'OJ,' because to me, it's just extraordinary. People get it but they don't get it. You've got to listen to it real close. I was in the studio when they recorded it and I didn't know it was gonna come out like that. I just did the beat and sent it, thinking, "movie theme," because that was my mind frame when I was doing it. "Big movie theme."

Are you thinking about pushing any of the tracks on 'Heat' to radio?

I ain't even concerned about no radio play. Honestly? I'm getting so much money doing what I'm doing now, as long as the streets respect me, I don't care nothing about no radio. You have to go through so much with that and it would just be extra stress. Nah, it ain't even worth it.

Who are you planning on working with next on the production side of things?

Me and Plies just got off the phone. Something about to go down with me and him. We chopped it up and the vibe was already 300 [percent]. I love dude like a brother already and we ain't even kicked it yet but just from our phone conversation it's just been... Like, dude's real. A few other people too... I'm turning it up for 2012. Trying to make this year better than 2011.

You're from Memphis and grew up listening to Three 6 Mafia. Do you have any thoughts on Juicy J signing with Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang?

Nah, nah, nah... I just... You know, he's a man, so I respect him, for whatever moves he makes, for one. Second, he can do whatever he wants to do. He's a legend, like those dudes [Three 6 Mafia] can do whatever they want. I feel like legends sold enough, they sold millions of records back in the day and they're the main reason some people started doing what they're doing. They influenced a lot of the industry. I'd say 75 percent of the music industry, because everybody's heard of them. Everybody's listened to them. So I feel like, he's done his job, he could wash his hands of it, or go on and turn up on it if he wants to.