Qreepz is a man of many talents, aliases, and creative projects. He moves in and out of genres much like he switches between projects and musicial “job titles.”
You have probably heard of Qreepz the producer/DJ and J. Battle the engineer and producer. Well…they are one in the same. As well as 1/2 of Kaskets and member of Dead Rich and CODA.
This past winter Qreepz went to New York to finish a full-length project with Kingston (88Ultra) of Blue Sky Black Death. Together they are the production duo, “Kaskets.” Their debut album Waves of Ashes is available on all streaming platforms.
In between the studio and DJ booth, Qreepz has been working on a compilation album as well as a new EP titles Arts And Crafts. We were lucky enough to catch up with Seattle’s hardest working producer and chop it up about all things Qreepz.
RMR Man I’ve been trying to get these questions to you for some time now. You’ve been busy being Jay Battle, Qreepz, Kaskets, Dead Rich, Coda, and numerous other super human beings. Jay Battle whats good bro?
Qreepz: Ha ha! Yo Mitch! Just been staring at a computer screen waiting for these questions to show up in my email lol jk but Yeah things have been getting pretty crazy lately musically! I’ve been really good though, very focused!
RMR: So with a real name that’s doper than most producer names (Jay Battle). Where did the name Qreepz come from?
Qreepz: Yeah my family name is pretty rad, definitely got lucky with that one. As for Qreepz I needed something that would completely separate myself from myself. A friend of mine was saying one day during the studio session ” you’re always creeping around working on shit and never telling anybody until you’re ready to drop it .” I took that and ran with it. Also, I’m just absolutely scared of everything, the dark, commitment, everything. Thought about going as “Creeps” but I wanted to be greedy with Internet traffic. U definitely gotta have a unique name so people can find you easier LOL.
RMR: Seattle has seen a handful of DJ and producers gain some traction over the past few years but honestly, it feels like you may be the most ‘prolific.’ You engineer, producer, DJ, and work on 137 projects a year under numerous names and affiliations. How do you stay focused and manage your time to do everything?
Qreepz: I truly appreciate that! Honestly, time management has been one of the biggest challenges for me. The recording studio has been picking up and a lot of the projects I’ve been working on have been gaining steam. The best thing that works for me is taking time out and having a strict calendar/schedule. Everything has to be scheduled, even my meals. I don’t necessarily like it but it’s what I have to do so I don’t miss a step. iCal is my bible haha.
RMR: With a real diverse range of projects. You do hip-hop music, electronic, and perform live. Where all do you draw inspiration from for your music?
Qreepz: Honestly I draw inspiration from my peers, the people that I work with through Anomaly, CODA and the artist’s that I produce and engineer for. I see everybody working really hard around me and it just makes you want to work as hard if not harder. I’m blessed to have the community that I do in this city. The artists, producers, and DJs. I’m always hearing new music and new techniques all the time from dope people directly in my circle.
RMR: What did you grow up listening to?
Qreepz: When I was really young I grew up listening to a lot of West Coast gangsta rap, and soul and funk music. in my teens, I really tapped into jungle and drum and bass, alternative rock, and LA hip-hop. What got me into producing tho was Jungle.
RMR I remember the first time I caught you live you had a band of manikins on stage with you. You still perform with the ‘band’ and where did the inspiration for that come from?
Qreepz: LOL the whole band just stays in my living room now, but I do bring one to two of the girls to my shows from time to time. I was in a group Grand Rapids, A rap duo for awhile and when we disbanded I really couldn’t handle being on stage by myself. So it’s kind of a security thing knowing that I have people on stage with me. Nothing better than feminine energy. I remember buying them from this guy that lived on Lake Washington who had a whole house full of mannikins and I said: ” what kind of weirdo has Hella mannikins all over his house??!” I accidentally also became that guy lol
RMR: Alongside rising Seattle talents Justin Hartinger and Levitate, you have been running a night at Q Nightclub called ‘Coda.’ How did this monthly event come about? What do you like about DJ’ing in the nightclub scene?
Qreepz: Yeah CODA is definitely what this city needs. I don’t run CODA but I definitely am a part of its foundation, growth, and movement. I was approached by Justin Hartinger, with an idea of an amazing night of taste and community. They had already been working on the ends and outs with the night when I was approach with an opportunity to join and I definitely wasn’t going to pass it up.
Again community, family is what I love most about DJing in the nightclub scene. Being able to be instantly inspired by someone else that you know closely that is doing the exact same thing that you are with the hopes of the same goal. I also love being able to play my own, new original material that I really care about, to a crowd that wants to hear it. Blessings
RMR: With all your hustles and interest, what do you like the most? Producing, DJ’ing, engineering?
Qreepz: That’s a hard one haha, but honestly all of these things go hand-in-hand in the reason why I’m able to handle so much at one time because I treat them as one entity I don’t treat them as separate things. My band Dead Rich, Kaskets, Qreepz, The Battlefield, Anomaly and CODA. Everything links up, I get to practice my skills and be around people I love from my personal projects to the studio to even my roommate who also does video and produces (Candlight).
RMR: Anything else you want to the people to know and/or look out for?
Qreepz: Right now I’m really working on a spree of Dead Rich singles, The Kaskets Album, multiple Qreepz produced EP’s and projects with artists that I’m working with in my studio. A few CODA releases, a few Anomaly releases shit! It’s hard to say what to look out for, just follow me and follow everything I’m doing! Muahahahaha!!! 
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You can check Qreepz out at the Death By Stereo beat battle this upcoming Wednesday, June 28th!
