BackTrak by TmrO

TmrO Network
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS

Welcome To BACKTRAK! Hosted by the renowned producer and music executive Don Cannon, BackTrak recreates Hip-Hop’s greatest hits from t h e s a m e location where each song was originally made. BackTrak is not just a show, it’s a journey through the heart of hip-hop, chronicling how a track is b o r and evolves into a classic.

  1. JAN 26

    How DJ Montay Made Hits for T-Pain, Flo Rida & DJ Unk | BackTrak

    Before “Low” went diamond and “Walk It Out” became a movement, it all started in Atlanta. In this iconic episode of BackTrak, legendary producer DJ Montay steps into the studio to recreate the records that made the South dance—and the world follow. From Flo Rida & T-Pain’s chart-destroying “Low” to the snap-era classics “Walk It Out” and Shawty Lo’s “Foolish,” Montay breaks down the sounds that helped define a generation of club music. It’s more than nostalgia—it’s a blueprint for how ATL shaped the culture. 0:00 Intro 3:05 Origins: Born and Raised in Atlanta 4:26 The 90s Mixtape Scene & The Identity of Atlanta 11:31 Street Respect: Oomp Camp 17:15 First Equipment: From the Boss 990 to the MPC 2000 22:51 Balancing Radio, Production, and Touring with T-Pain 26:52 Behind Andre 3000 on "Walk It Out" Remix 30:34 Sacrifice: Balancing Music with Fatherhood 32:16 The Success of "Low": T-Pain and Flo Rida 34:06 Spending the Royalty Checks: Buying 15 Cars 37:47 Realigning for Success: Day Trading and Investments 41:58 Technology in Music: AI and Modern Production 44:29 The Business of Selling Catalogs 45:55 Beat Breakdown: "Foolish" (Shawty Lo) 1:00:41 Beat Breakdown:"Walk It Out" (DJ Unk) 1:10:56 Beat Breakdown: "Low" Sound (Flo Rida & T-Pain) Follow DJ Montay 📸 https://instagram.com/djmontay Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #tpain #walkitout #florida

    1h 20m

  2. 12/26/2025

    No I.D: The Producer Behind Kanye, Jay-Z & Common | BackTrak

    No I.D. isn’t just a producer—he’s the quiet architect behind some of the most important careers and sounds in hip-hop. In this special episode of BackTrak, we sit down with the legendary Chicago native to talk legacy, growth, silence, structure, and why true creativity takes time. Known for shaping artists like Common, Kanye West, J. Cole, and executive producing for Jay-Z, No I.D. reveals the philosophies that have guided his multi-decade career. He reflects on building from intention, not clout—on letting the music age well—and on the lessons he's still learning every day.He also gives us a rare look into the DNA of “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, remaking it live in the studio—but that’s just one page of a much deeper book. 0:00 Intro4:52 The Rise of House Music & DJ Dion Wilson  9:46 1988: The Apex of Influence (Criminal Minded & Paid in Full)  11:24 Learning to Dig for Jazz Samples with The Beat Nuts  13:14 The Pursuit of Dopeness vs. Commercial Success  15:47 The South: Getting Pennies Thrown at FAMU  17:23 Character Building: Opening for KRS-One in Jersey  19:17 Moving to Atlanta: Seeking Jermaine Dupri’s Infrastructure  21:19 Songwriting Lessons: Learning the Artist Side of Producing  23:35 Mentoring Kanye West: Watching Him Break the Rules  26:11 The Jesus Piece vs. Buying Equipment  30:16 The "Diamond Era": Street Rap & The Shift to Big Money  36:44 Long-term Career Strategy: The Rick Rubin & Quincy Jones Model  37:54 What do you need all that money for?41:30 The 5-to-7 Year Artist-Producer Relationship Cycle  45:47 Staying Sharp: Why Value Trumps Loyalty  48:37 Debunking the Jay-Z "Rock the World" Production Myth  54:15 Dealing with Industry Calamity & Storytelling  57:04 List Culture: Being Offended by "Top 50" Producers  1:04:13 Legacy Beyond Music: Photography & Writing  1:07:21 The "Vintage Chair" Philosophy  1:10:00 Reconnecting with Kanye after the Loss of His Mother  1:12:15 The Hawaii Sessions: Treating the Studio Like a Band  1:14:33 Technical Breakdown: Producing "I Used to Love H.E.R."  1:21:56 Recreating the Sample & Bassline in Ableton  1:31:27 Realizing the Legacy: When Resurrection Became a Classic  1:34:51 Final Reflections: Doing it for the Love   Follow No I.D.📸 https://instagram.com/cubansozeFollow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production:📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #common #jayz #kanye

    1h 35m

  3. 11/12/2025

    Zaytoven: Make The Trap Say Aye by Gucci Mane & OJ Da Juice Man

    In this episode of BackTrak, Zaytoven retraces the creation of “Make the Trap Say Aye” by Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman—a record that helped define the Atlanta trap sound in its rawest form. From the churchy melodies to the unfiltered bounce, Zay walks us through how the beat came together in a flash, why Gucci and Juice were the perfect match, and how this song lit up the streets like a firework. This is trap history from the man who scored it. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:21 Early Upbringing and Moving All The Time 10:40 Church Lifestyle 15:10 First Placements 19:15 Moving To Atlanta 24:28 So Icy 29:28 Gucci Locked Up | Working With OJ 31:26 Instruments & Still Playing In Church 36:01 The Zaytoven Sound 40:32 Musical Influences & Family 44:14 Make The Trap Say Aye Backstory 48:58 Collaborations & Engineering 53:04 Prepping The Process 55:59 Beat Recreation 01:07:57 The Legacy Follow Zaytoven 📸 https://instagram.com/zaytovenbeatz Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #zaytoven #guccimane #zaytoventypebeat

    1h 17m

  4. 10/11/2025

    "Murder To Excellence" by Jay-Z & Kanye West w/ S1 | BackTrak

    Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Murder to Excellence” wasn’t just a standout track on Watch the Throne—it was a dual narrative of trauma and triumph, a sonic requiem for Black America and a proclamation of generational power. In this episode of BackTrak, Grammy-winning producer S1 (Symbolyc One) takes us into the architecture of one of his most emotionally layered productions. From sourcing the chilling choral sample that opens the track, to constructing the sharp transition into a victorious, synth-driven second half, S1 reveals how this beat was designed to feel like two different worlds colliding—because that’s exactly what it was. He reflects on the call from Kanye that changed everything, the spiritual weight he carried while producing the song, and how Jay and Ye each approached the duality of the record with different emotional perspectives. This isn’t just a beat remake—it’s a walk through the DNA of a modern protest anthem. A creative act of reverence, resistance, and resilience. This is Murder to Excellence—rebuilt from the ground up. 0:00 Intro 1:39 Show Introduction: Backtrack with Don Cannon & S-1 3:00 Family Foundation in Waco, Texas 5:27 The Power of Music in the Church 7:13 Hip Hop Awakening: Discovering Underground Music 11:07 Symbolic Elements: From Rapper to Producer 14:44 First Production Gear: The Alesis SR-16 Drum Machine 16:17 Strange Fruit Project & Early Co-signs (Erykah Badu, Questlove, Dilla) 18:31 Producer Influences: Dilla, Premier, Hi-Tek, Pete Rock 21:56 Discipline and Focus: How Early Parenthood Fueled Success 23:39 The "Power" Story Begins 25:17 Kanye's Text: "He's About to Change Your Life" 26:33 Hearing the First Version of "Power" in Hawaii 33:36 Post-"Power" Production Growth 36:27 Drum Kits & Non-Selfish Approach 41:15 Landing the Beyoncé Placement 45:13 S-1's Formula: Breakbeat, Chant, and Dope Progression 1:02:03 From Reason 6 to Ableton 1:05:57 Merging "Black on Black Murder" & "Black Excellence" 1:07:52 MTE Breakdown: Laying the Breakbeat and Modern Drums 1:14:10 MTE Breakdown: Sampling The Color Purple 1:19:23 MTE Breakdown: Piano, Organ, and Bassline Progression 1:28:23 Closing Remarks Follow S1 📸 https://instagram.com/symbolycone Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #jayz #kanye #jayztypebeat

    1h 32m

  5. 10/10/2025

    Creation of "I'm Goin In" By Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Jeezy w/ Needlz | BackTrak

    On this episode of Backtrak, we spotlight platinum producer Needlz as he breaks down the creation of Drake’s early classic “I’m Goin In” featuring Lil Wayne and Jeezy. Known for his precise drum programming and cinematic layering, Needlz walks us through how the track came together. From dialing in the hard-hitting 808s to building the moody backdrop that set the tone for Drake’s So Far Gone era, this episode offers a rare look into how a timeless record was crafted. It’s a behind-the-scenes deep dive into the sound that helped shape a generation and cement Drake, Wayne, and Jeezy as a legendary trio on wax.

    1h 15m

  6. 10/06/2025

    "CHEERS" By Rihanna with The Runners

    In this episode of BackTrak, producer The Runners pull back the curtain on one of Rihanna’s most celebratory anthems: “Cheers (Drink to That).” Built around a bold Avril Lavigne sample and driven by stadium-sized drums, this record captures the carefree chaos of Rihanna’s Loud era. The Runners take us inside the creative process—how they fused rock textures with island swagger, how Rihanna’s energy in the booth elevated every layer, and why this track became the ultimate toast to resilience and release. From genre-blending production to global party anthem, this is the story of how “Cheers” turned life’s chaos into a celebration. 🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more beat deconstructions! Follow Mayne 📸 https://instagram.com/blvckjvck Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #rihanna #cheers #producer

    19 min

  7. 10/04/2025

    Hit-Boy: 1 TRAIN by A$AP Rocky

    In this episode of BackTrak, Hit-Boy breaks down the creation of the explosive posse-cut “1 Train.” A gritty blend of boom-bap drums, ominous sample textures, and cinematic energy, the record highlights Hit-Boy’s ability to modernize classic East Coast aesthetics while keeping the raw underground feel. From structuring the beat’s relentless drum patterns to shaping the dark, rolling atmosphere that every rapper attacked, he shares insight into how the track came together—and how it marked another milestone in his evolution as a dynamic, genre-bending producer. Hit-Boy Follow Hit-Boy 📸 https://instagram.com/hitboy Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #asaprocky #hitboy #producing

    13 min

  8. 10/03/2025

    Blxst Rebuilds the Beat for “Aye Girl”

    In this episode of BackTrak, Blxst breaks down the creation of his standout record “Aye Girl.” A blend of melodic West Coast production and modern R&B flair, the track showcases Blxst’s signature self-produced sound. From drum programming to harmonic layering, he gives insight into how the song came together—and what it represents in his evolution as both an artist and producer. 0:00 Intro 2:32 Early Life & West Coast Musical Roots 6:08 First Equipment: The FL Studio Trial 9:13 The "Bug": Inspired by Kanye West's Graduation 12:30 High School Jerk Crew & Learning the Business 16:35 Securing the Kendrick Lamar Feature 18:01 Betting On Himself: The Non-Traditional Deal 26:00 Patience, Generational Wealth, and Attorneys 30:28 Choosing Love Stories Over Gang Culture 34:33 Raphael Saadiq’s High Praise 41:31 How Blxst Made "Aye Girl" 47:55 Upcoming Album & The Roxy Residency Follow Blxst 📸 https://instagram.com/blxst Follow us for more insights into hip hop history and music production: 📸 https://instagram.com/tmronetwork 📸 https://instagram.com/Doncannon 🎽 Merch: https://shoptmro.com/ #blxst #blxsttypebeat

    52 min
See All (42)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome To BACKTRAK! Hosted by the renowned producer and music executive Don Cannon, BackTrak recreates Hip-Hop’s greatest hits from t h e s a m e location where each song was originally made. BackTrak is not just a show, it’s a journey through the heart of hip-hop, chronicling how a track is b o r and evolves into a classic.

Information

  • Creator
    TmrO Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © TmrO Network
  • Show Website
    BackTrak by TmrO

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