I was beginning to grow weary in CLEVELAND. To watch soooo many artists struggle with direction, consistency, and production is overwhelming. There were times when people would hit me up, in hopes of finding everything they needed...in 1 outlet, to help them make it to the next level. (*It's levels to dis sh*t...hehehe) I would always fall short, providing the most confusing directorial, and not to mention usually having the artist hitting up every corner of the city before completing their project.Just when I thought all hope was lost, I began to notice TOP OF THE WORLD's logo....it was everywhere!!!! It started when I heard SHUICIDE HOLLA's Freshmen Year.I heard "TOP OF THE WORLD" belting out! Next I would casually hear various artists say "Dude I gotta go to my session at TOP OF THE WORLD", after that it was like a snowball effect!!!(*Have you ever noticed that you never notice the kind of car you drive on the street, until you or someone you know drives that car.) From the OHIO HIP HOP AWARDS, where they were 1 of it's biggest sponsors...I mean we're talkin ice sculptures, Top Of The World T's, dope videos, graphics, and even marketing... like a friggin multi-music media outlet!!!!!
When JOSH MAUNUS officially invited me to TOP OF THE WORLD STUDIOS, I couldn't wait!!!!! I finally had a chance to see the hit factory for myself!!!!! When I pulled up to the studio I was thinking..."okkkkk...uhhh ohhhh...not another house/studio". I mean how many of these make shift studios can 1 chic see in a lifetime? I was surprised ,almost astonished!!!! The studio was a REAL studio!!! I'M TALKIN HIGHEST QUALITY ERTHANG!!!!! It was cool inside (*ummm central air people ...duhhhhh *take notes), it was immaculate as well (aint no mild bs all over the floor, or crusty cups ), the air seemed filtered (not a trace of stale smoke), and it was spacious and comfy. "Sooooooooo"...I thought to myself..."this is what high quality is like".....I pushed open 2nd door and found JOSH MAUNUS waiting with a smile......
Q. How long has Top Of The World been a company?A. Really about 6 yrs, but officially about 2 yrs
Q. What were you doing before Top Of The World?
A. I was bartending
Q. Your a professional Mixologist?
A. Yup!!! Double mixologist, sound and drinks
Q. Where did you bartend?A. EVERYWHERE
Q. How long have you been doing music?
A. Welll maybe since about 12, I mean that's when I got my 1st keyboards etc.
Q. How'd you start Top Of The World?
A. I was just living in Cleveland a lil while, I was on the 16th floor of a building and I could see alll the lights over the city, and I thought..."I feel like I'm on top of the world", so I decided to call my company ...TOP OF THE WORLD
Q.Who'd you start your company with?
A. Well it was just me, well me and my lil brother Matt
Q. When you describe Top Of The World as "being outside of the box", what does that mean?
A. Top Of The World offers a lil extra, we offer the highest quality of any service, with a fraction of the price. We are more into quality, excellent quality for the artists.
Q.What is all "in house"?
A. I mean...we can provide beats, videos, marketing, graphics, everything you need out of 1 outlet...TOP OF THE WORLD
Q.Do you feel an artist needs some kind of budget?
A. YES! You have to treat everything like a business, at all times. I mean we have all had to cut corners before, hell I've had to cut corners before, but you have to pick and choose where you put your money.
Q.What does an artist have to have for you to work with them?
A. Acceptable music, and mos def a vision. Every artists needs a vision.
Q.Do you ever deny an artist stdio time or any of your services?
A. No, I'm a sound engineer, my job is to make you sound better, everything won't be a hit, but it will mos def sound better.
Q.How many artists have you worked with?
A. 300
Q. How many songs have you cranked out?
A. Ummmmmm close to 3000!!!
Q.Who all do you have on the Top Of The World Team?
A. Well we've got Coach K, Elvis Freshly, Ced Lynch, Derrick, Matt, and just recently Brett Vance joined the team...all in house !!!! It's like a factory.
Q.How do you stay neutral when working with artists who may not get along with each other?
A. At the end of the day it's 100% business, I will provide the best sound for you and your opponent, there will always be a loser, but I'm just the man in the middle tryna make it sound good.
Q. What were the OHHA for you like this year?
A. It was amazing, I mean overwhelming, cool to be a sponsor, and we had a dope ice sculpture...it was unreal. It was cool to see artists that we'e worked with finally getting the recognition they deserve. I like to call it the new generation. There was a generation gap for awhile....
Q. Which artists are you referring to?
A. Caine, Mookie Motonio, King Cobra...they are all doing shows now, and their music is getting plays.
Q. What was it like being asked to be on the speaking panel for OHHA?
A. LOL!!! It was cool, I mean people always ask me questions and I try my best to answer them, but in the end, I don't know all the answers I'm still tryna figure stuff out myself...
Q.What other kinds of music do you enjoy?
A. I love anything with a melody, still not into country that much but if it has a melody...I can dig it.
Q. What exactly is a sound engineer?
A. I will take a sound and add a few chops, maybe some harmonies that weren't there before, synthesize it, and make it sound amazing.
Q. Sooooo since you produce sound and beats do you always here beats constantly in your head?
A. YEAH!!!!! I GOT PROBLEMS!!!! I can be driving down the street and the windsheild wipers will be going and then I come up with a beat.
Q. Why do you feel artists migrate towards TOP OF THE WORLD STUDIO's"
A. Probably because we are a relaxed studio, I mean we kick it, still get sh*t done, but we don't try and have you feeling awkward while you are here, this is not a stuffy studio...no way.
Q.Who do you look up to in the industry?
A. Mos def Young Yonny, he's been showing me alot, I mean dude just did a #1 hit for Justin Beiber...somethig like 7,000,000 plays in a day...whew....
Q. Who would you like to work with in the future?
A. HAHAHAHA JUSTIN BEIBER!!!! Hit me up Justin!!!!! 440-855-1519
Q.When you built your studio what was your 1st must have pieces of equipment?
A. Pro-Tools HD!!!! Oh and high quality miss, you gotta invest in excellent mics.Q.WHY?
A. It's the industry standard, you have to be able to call yourself a "professional studio".
Q.Would you like to give a S/O to anyone?
A. YES!!!! I'd like to thank all the artists who have worked with us, and thank you for trusting me with your songs, I kno ow intimate of a thing it is for an artist to share their talent with the world and I am appreciate you trusting me with your vision.
I can admit...as I interviewed JOSH MAUNUS....I looked for some sort of crack in this industry mogul. I was almost waiting for 1 of the team members to show some sign of frustration, maybe even a sarcastic face or hell...even some kinda of ego trip....but I couldnt' see anything that would suggest any sort of negative vibe. Instead I noticed that TOP OF THE WORLD...was the exact opposite of negative. It was almost as if I had overdosed on positivity!!! I mean the whole
I mean JOSH MAUNUS pregnant wife ...was bustling about making sure the whole team was feed well... pregnant and all. Derrick was doing numbers, Elvis was brainstorming ideas for graphics, Ced was shooting footage with Coach, Matt was listening to beats, and Brett (purple films) was working quietly as well editng videos. I noticed that they didn't try and over crowd each other, but every so often would check on each other...with some kinda positive reinforcement.I may not have been 16 floors up, but I looked around and realized.. I was at the "TOP OF THE WORLD"!!! XOXO
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