Exclusive: Producer Twilite Tone Talks Similarities To Kanye West, Why He Doesn’t Have A Favorite Rapper

Anthony “Twilite Tone” Khan is an alien; equal parts eccentric, unassuming, prophetic, and speaking a music language far outside of the sonic stratosphere. He could boast about the credits on his resume (which most notably includes Common and Kanye West), but he’d rather not, because regardless of whom he’s creating for, the quality never falters.

The Chicago native is hailed in the Hip-Hop world, praise of which he may be shy to accept but no less deserving of. Responsible for Common’s first three albums, and now working as his creative director, Tone has clocked more than two dozen years in the music industry, with no signs of coming to a professional halt. On the contrary he’s looking to go in another direction, aspiring to start scoring films, in addition to his various other projects.

With music for Kanye West and the G.O.O.D. Music team in the works, plus Common’s forthcoming 10th release, Hip-Hop Wired caught up with Tone, just before he learned which of his submitted music will be featured on West’s new album. We spoke with the music producer about connecting with Yeezy, the future, and why he’s doesn’t believe in having a favorite rapper.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• 10 Hall Of Fame Level Flicks Of Rapper Struggle Faces [PHOTOS]

• Politics As Usual: 10 Rap Songs That Warn Against Trusting The Government

• Wired 25: The 25 Best Eminem Music Videos Of All Time [VIDEOS]

• Bangin Candy: Wankaego Visits Hip-Hop Wired [PHOTOS]

• Coon Affiliated: 10 Rap Songs That Set African-Americans Back As A Race

• The Great White Hype: 10 White Rappers Who Fell Off (Or Are Barely Hanging On) [GALLERY]

• Bangin Candy: Rick Ross’ “Diced Pineapples” Stunner Bernice Burgos [PHOTOS]

• NYC High School Guidance Counselor Loses Job Over Racy Online Pics [PHOTOS]

—
Photo: Juno Download

HipHopWired: MTV did something on Kanye West at his house a few years back, and he drew his interpretation of what a beat looks like. Do you visually see music that way?

Twilite Tone: Yeah, I see music in motion pictures. I see it in like dream form, it’s not just an actual color, I really see a thousand words really moving. I guess you can multiply that by however many, but I see film, you know what I’m saying? That’s why I’m so interested in scoring, or even doing movies based upon music. Not to sound like Lawnmower Man or some sh-t  [like] that. I can see how someone like Stevie Wonder is so visual without having sight, and I just would wonder what things look like in his mind. I wonder could you even stand that as a person, what he sees in his mind? A lot of people are like “What’s your favorite song?” or “Who is your favorite rapper?” like naw, dude “I cry over a chord,” like it could be a chord and it effects me, minus [the] vocal. So I’ll leave it at that.

HipHopWired: Would you say that you and Kanye work so well together because you both look at music on a higher level of understanding?

Twilite Tone: That and just being big a– kids! Like that’s the thing. [For example], our conversation in Utah, I think it was not just music, it was just being authentic and just being present. No ego involved. For me, I didn’t hold anything back in the sharing department. If he takes it and uses it, and I don’t get any credit, or whatever, [it’s fine, because] that wasn’t my purpose. My purpose was to serve, and it could have been anyone, but it just so happened to be Mr. Kanye West. Part of it is kismet, and the other part is design. So to answer your question, I’m gonna use a complete sentence: Kanye and I relate to one and other, I would gather, by allowing ourselves to be these big kids, just being a vessel for creativity.

HipHopWired: How do you maintain that child-like exuberance in this industry, or was there never any other alternative?

Twilite Tone: There’s always an alternative, you just have to make the choice to be yourself. I remember getting into an argument with someone [about] slavery. Like “Yo it was a choice.” You could’ve died or you could’ve [been a slave], but It was a choice. It’s always a choice, but how to maintain it through this industry, first of all I don’t own a TV, I don’t listen to radio. I have strong enough foundation to allow myself to stay grounded. Whoever I’m around, I’m gonna be Tone. I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do the way I’m gonna do it, and either you’re gonna get it or your not, but I’m not going to dumb it down.

HipHopWired: Have you been commissioned to Hawaii to create with Kanye on his solo next project?

Twilite Tone: We’ve been doing a lot to be honest with you. Without getting into specifics, there’s a huge folder with all our submissions, and today I think we find out what they will be going to. I know we’ll find out what we will be working on beyond that. A lot of us have submitted whole compositions —aka, beats— and those beats can either stay the same or be embellished. So you won’t know until it’s mixed or pressed up on a CD. That’s how it works. On my Facebook, people try to give left-handed compliments or be tongue and cheek with their criticism. Someone said , “Oh why does it take so many people to do a beat?” I responded, “It only takes a drummer to make a beat, but it takes a mastermind group to create a masterpiece, and it takes a nation of millions to hold us back! Motherf-cka!” I just need people to understand, we not trying to play 88 and just do something with a loop, cats is really trying to inspire you!

People are funny to me, it’s hilarious that people make a living off criticizing other people’s efforts to serve. With rap and with Black people, we get so wrapped up in ego that we don’t realize that making music is a service action, and I’m the best. Who’s better Twilight Tone, Hit-Boy or Kanye? Who’s the best rapper? Honestly…I wonder do surgeons and doctors be like I’m the best surgeon, can’t nobody f-ck with me? Like naw, you [are] made to be the best, or you’re made to be a great doctor or rapper, but you can give an excellent service to whoever your customer is.

HipHopWired: We hear Common’s album will be out in January, what are you doing for that album?

Twilite Tone: I just meet with Rashid. What I do for Rashid is I’m his musical director, and I just pull records at time on stage for him. I’ve been an consultant with him throughout his years in the music business. We’re in the works of doing things, nothing official. Whether I do production or not, I’m just gonna be an influence or inspiration for him.  Who he is as an artist, is heavily influential. I would want for that to be the premise of the album, him just letting people know who he is, and to also allow himself to be coachable.  We had conversations and we talked, and he’s actually working on a mixtape now, and I sent him some stuff for that. Stuff is coming into fruition.

HipHopWired: Why did you stop going by YNot?

Twilite Tone: You know that’s funny, why you pulling that out of the bag! You’re really trying to do your homework. Ok so, the thing is I haven’t stopped going by YNot, it actually has ascended to “YNot the best?” But I don’t know what capacity I am going to utilize that, whether that should be my artist name or whether it should be kind of something I say, because if you see it as a phrase or even as [an] affirmation, it’s a great one. YNot the best? So it’s a question and an answer. YNot is just Tony backwards, how we came up with that, is that one day early, early, early on we were working on the first album with Common. I said to No I.D., who is Dion [but] went by Immenslope, I looked at his name and flipped it backwards, and I was like “Dude [you] should be No I.D.” and he was like “Well you should be YNot!” From that day on we were No I.D. and YNot.

HipHopWired: Is your transition into movies already in the works, or something that you just see in the future?

Twilite Tone: Both. I have people giving me treatments and my management will be delving into it. I’m sure in the very near future it will be coming into fruition. I’m gonna be honest with you though, I’m just taking everything a step at a time and appreciating every step. I try not to look, because I don’t believe in tomorrow. It doesn’t exist. Yesterday is gone, so I just deal with the now. So I’m just focusing on what today brings, but yeah that’s in the works.