In 2006, D. Rich was a self taught producer sending out beats on Myspace. Fast forward 6 years and he’s a platinum selling producer who has worked with the likes of Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Diddy and Lil Jon. He talks exclusively with JukeBoxDC about how Shawty Redd gave him his first break, working with Ross and who inspires him. Check out the full interview after the jump.

What inspired you to start producing?
I always played the piano since I was young. I was self taught, my dad always had a lot of CDs and I’d read the booklets and see who produced the songs. I wanted my name to be in there. I have a friend who gave me program called Fruity Loops and I was on that nonstop. I kept working and getting better, I didn’t want to give up.

What was your first big break?
Shawty Redd found me on Myspace back in 2006, when I was 17. I had some beats on my page and I sent him a message asking him to listen to them. He hit me back the next day and gave me his number. After a year of talking back and forth with him, I did Who Dat on Jeezy’s album The Recession. He moved me to Atlanta to live with him in 2009, I think that’s when it all started. Shawty Redd had a home studio and we just went to work.We started selling a lot of beats; Big Country, Young Dose, Gucci Mane, Lil Jon and lots independent artists. My biggest accomplishment was when The Recession went platinum. Having my first song on a platinum selling album was amazing. Young Jeezy helped me out a lot on TM:103 which is now gold. I produced SupaFreak on that album.

How did you get involved with Rick Ross?
Spiff TV is Ross’s right hand man, he shoots a lot of his videos. He had hit me up on Twitter, and I started sending him music. The first song I did was The Finals, it was a Ross and Meek Mill joint. We locked it in more, and by the end of September I was in New York at Diddy’s studio. I gave him a lot of music and made some beats there. I have two tracks on Rich Forever; Last Breath and New Bugatti.

How would you describe your sound?
I have a signature sound, the sound piggy backs off Shawty Redd’s style. My music is very up tempo with a lot energy, the beats have that big sound.

Who inspires you?
Shawty Redd is my biggest inspiration, DJ Toomp, who produces a lot for TI, and Mannie Fresh as well.

What producers are you listening to?
Right now I’m feeling Justice League big fan, MMG, Sonny Digital and The Runners

What do you have in the works?
I’m working more with Ross, there is a big possibility I will be on the album. Meek Mill and Self Made Part 2. Jeezy complication album, Rocko, Yo Gotti, Big Country plus a lot more that we are finalizing. I want to start placing my music in other genres, mainly R&B and pop.

What advice would you give to an up and coming producer?
I think it’s important to brand yourself, I learned a lot about that from the back end. When you’re by yourself and building your own name, invest in yourself. If you make a beat and get paid for it, don’t spend money on something that wont show. Buy more equipment, reinvest in your music. There is a lot of shady business that goes on, in the end it’s just you

Any last words?
I appreciate everything, it’s been a long road getting where I’m at career wise. I hope that you continue to support me and I promise I won’t let you down.

Follow D.Rich on Twitter at DRichThe1

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