What is your creative process when producing?

MZ: I don’t like to work with anybody in the room to be honest. It’s rare you see me with mad people. Usually just me, working and recording from home. Lately I been around other people, writers and stuff, and it’s different. But mostly I like to be by myself and get the idea done how I want to.

You created “Started Form the Bottom” and it took off, did you expect for it to be as big as it became?

MZ: I knew it was going to be big because it was Drake and he can’t miss. It can be used for so much, you listen to rap and it was a phrase “Started from the bottom” and now you have to say like Drake. It really became a staple of hip-hop.

You have done a track with Drake, Jay Z, Meek Mill, what does it mean to have records with people that big?

MZ: It was crazy to work with DJ Khaled. Before and after “They Don’t Love You No More,” because I used to listen to “Brown Paper Bag,” “We Takin’ Ova,” those are anthems. To get to work with someone so motivational it’s great. This the thing about Khaled that I was hip to before Snapchat and I used to tell people, he is so charismatic, super energized and he’s like that when the cameras are off. That’s really him. It’s dope to get around people like them, French, Birdman and really work.

What are you currently working on?

MZ: I got my project Humble Genius. I been doing some work with Charlie Heat, some work with TDot Illdude and giving back to the youngins out here grinding. I remember how hard it was coming up and get a look. I just did a track with this kid who is like 18 and the track, “Hella Crack,” is going crazy. I been working with Sevyn Streeter, a bunch of writers, I just dropped a track with Casey Veggies. I been working with so many people that I forget until it come out. A lot of stuff I’m doing could come out in a year from now or next week. You never know.

What key lessons have you learned early on?

MZ: Key lessons for me are this industry, somebody may record over your track and you may not know it exist. Like on Jay Z’s Magna Carta, he said “Oceans” was like three years old but it sounds new. You just have to keep working because it doesn’t stop. You also need to know where music is going to stay relevant because music changes by the month, by the week, by the day. Then really networking and building those relationships.

What are your goals for the rest of 2016?

MZ: I’m going to say get more help. I’m so self-sufficient. I design my own stuff, mix my own stuff, produce it and I do so much now it’s like I need some more help. My goal for the rest of 2016 is to build a squad that will help me take it to the next level and get my name as big as it can be. A Grammy is definitely on the list, always, every year.

Be sure to check out Humble Genius below and follow Mike Zombie on all social media.