When barber-cum-producer Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford left his native Des Moines, Iowa, he was only armed with a set of hair clippers. However, more than ten years and one beat machine later, he’s crafted soundtracks for artists like Ludacris, 8Ball & MJG, Kelis and recently reached a peak with Lil Wayne’s “A Milli.” The track sat at No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks consecutively, staved off only by Keyshia Cole’s “Heaven Sent.” Crawford spoke with Billboard about his beginnings and why his breakout song, “A Milli,” was a little disappointing.
Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” is now No. 1 on the Urban National airplay chart, but how did you begin working with Lil Wayne?
I got the song to him through a mutual friend. He heard the beat like last year and he loved it, it was a no brainer.
How’d you begin producing and how would you describe your creative style?
I just really starting studying sounds and the know how behind producing. I used to love going into the studio and just watching and it became my passion. I used to cut hair and I saved up to buy my own beat machine in 1998. I began producing with Ludacris. I knew him when he was an Atlanta radio personality, Chris Lova Lova, and he’d come to my barbershop for a haircut. I’d let him hear my beats and he had record deals on the table then but wouldn’t sign because he wanted to do it independently first. I did the majority of his first album, “Back for the First Time,” along with his first big single, “What’s Your Fantasy.” I also did “Throw Dem Bows.” Most recently, I did 8ball and MJG’s “Don’t Make” and “Forever” from their “Living Legends” album. I also did Kelis “I’m Bossy,” Ciara’s “Hotline” and some tracks on Missy Elliott’s last album.
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