Producer Focus talks about Detox

Dubcnn interviewd one of Dre's proteges, this time producer named Focus.  Below is an extract where he talks about Dre and Detox. Click the link at the bottom for the full interview, in which Focus talks about why he left Aftermath and his projects.

Dubcnn: The reason behind that last question, is that you worked side-by-side with Dr. Dre for several years while he's been fine-tuning Detox. How much, if any, of the "idea" for Detox to be a totally different sounding project came into play with the Avant Garde?

'Avant Garde' came outta the blue and when I was working on Detox, I solely focused (no pun) on Detox. I did my 'Dedicated' cd when I was in Detox mode. Dre's 'different' and my 'different' are two different things. He is still going to keep the essence of what made him DRE, you know. I'm still new to many so I can experiment and really go different places with my music.


Dubcnn: Speaking of Dr. Dre, you recently left the Aftermath camp. Why?

It was just time. Dre has given me guidance and a doorway into the industry, I am trying to show him and my listeners that it wasn't in vain. I've been with Dre for over 7 years and I was getting frustrated with my music just sitting around. I wanted to be on the various Aftermath projects, but we were so 'Detox' driven that nothing I was doing was coming out and really couldn't be shopped too many places because I tailored it to Dre. Me and Dre spoke and I told him anytime you need me, I'm there but I gotta do this. He was cool about it and we still holla' now about me being on 'Detox' so hopefully you'll hear me on it.


Dubcnn: What is your relationship like with Dr. Dre now?

That's still my mentor. We still good. I didn't leave kickin' up dust and cursin' cats out. Just showing Dre that I'm a soldier in and out of the ‘Math.


Dubcnn: We've heard the rumor of Detox for nearly a decade or more, and just recently there was a rumor swirling (fueled by Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine) about a Detox single called "Under Pressure". Is Dr. Dre toying with us about his supposed final album?

Dre is strategic. When the time is right and the music is 'perfect', it'll drop! This isn't a game to him so he doesn't want to regurgitate the leaks with the same rhymes and beats. He'll sooner revamp the entire lp before running with old material. Dre is a perfectionist. Can't rush perfection.


Dubcnn: How many tracks have you worked on for the Detox project?

I've submitted well over 500 tracks to Dre for Detox while I was signed to the Math. Could be more, but I know that I was constantly working on it and submitting every track as a Detox hopeful.


Dubcnn: One of my personal favorite songs you produced was "Where I'm From" for Game's The Documentary. Why wasn't Dre's verse on the album version?

Good question. Again, Dre is a perfectionist. If he didn't like the cadence of his voice or one line, anything, he probably heard what we couldn't hear. I was dumb excited when I heard Dre spit on the song. Would've been a great look for the lp.

Source -  http://www.dubcnn.com/interviews/focus2010/