Jeff Bhasker would love to produce ’brilliant’ Slim Shady, hitting studio with Kanye soon.
In just five years, Jeff Bhasker has had a pretty epic run behind the boards. The producer who recently shared a Song of the Year honor with Fun. at the Grammys for their smash «We Are Young», has worked with a galaxy of stars in his brief career. Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg, the Rolling Stones, Mary J. Blige, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, Drake and Beyoncé are all on his list of achievements.
Yes, he feels blessed with his success, but as he gets ready to hit the studio with West again, Bhasker told MTV News he has one artist at the top of his musical bucket list: Eminem.
«I would love to work with Eminem, he’s one of the most brilliant writers and vocalists that we have,» he said of the reclusive MC, whose follow-up to 2010’s hit Recovery is reportedly slated for a post-Memorial Day release. Bhasker is putting the finishing touches on his solo debut, which tackles the story of an Iraq War soldier’s experience, and he said his aim is to find other things to write about besides, well, love.
«He’s [Eminem] another guy who has found other subjects to write about,» Bhasker said. So far, the phone hasn’t rung, but that doesn’t mean Bhasker is sitting around at his cozy Mar Vista, California, home studio waiting for work.
In fact, the 1999 Berklee College of Music grad who started out as Yeezy’s keyboardist and then bumped up to his musical director and producer on songs from 808s & Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne is about to jet off to Europe to work on some tracks for West’s upcoming album.
«I’m working on his next album and going out to do shows with him in London and Paris,» Bhasker said of Kanye. «I’m going to spend some time with him seeing if I can contribute something to the album. It’s always great to collaborate with him. He recharges my battery with his superhuman artistic strength. It’s great to have that rub off on you.»
The pair have had a very fruitful association so far, working on such West classics as «Runaway,» «All of the Lights,» «Power,» Amazing” and «Love Lockdown.»
Bhasker said some of his favorite moments in the studio with Kanye are the unexpected ones where they capture a unique moment. «I brought the music and then made a beat for it [„Lift Off“] on the spot,» he said of the Throne song featuring Beyoncé. «Sometimes it’s good to bring him things that are raw and then we just do it on the spot. A lot of it is done on the piano because I try to keep it spontaneous.»
