Atlanta has clearly become an absolute powerhouse when it comes to breeding talent from the ground up.
The city itself has played a major role in shaping the sound of rap music that’s celebrated globally today. While many producers hailing from the ATL have impacted the culture and sound in their own ways, TM88 seems to be in a class of his own.
TM88 is one of the co-founders of the iconic production and songwriting team that is 808 Mafia. With over a decade in the game — and a track record inimitable in comparison to industry giants — he’s aided some of the most notable artists of our generation, elevating them to superstar acclaim. Previously working on Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO TOUR Lif3,” Future’s “Codeine Crazy,” Travis Scott’s “No Bystanders,” XXXTENTACION’s “going down!” and more, TM88’s influence is encapsulated by hits spread throughout his career.
Working with Drake on his chart-topping hit “Way 2 Sexy,” he touts memorable projects in his 2016 album TGOD Mafia: Rude Awakening which he collaborated on with Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa. He also helped craft Young Thug’s legendary 2016 album Jeffery — producing multiple songs off of the project.
🔰 𝗢𝗚𝗠 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🔰
— Our Generation Music (@OGMusicCo) December 7, 2021
.@TM88 chopped it up with #OGM host @ayoohakeem to speak on ‘Yo!88’ with @pierrebourne, “Way 2 Sexy,” the producer community & more! ⬇️
READ + WATCH: https://t.co/ilUn2mLCdS pic.twitter.com/kOY1Ag3OQ1
If his resume wasn’t already elite enough, it’s only becoming more impressive with each passing track. Linking up with coveted producer-rapper Pi’erre Bourne on “Block boy” this past week (Dec. 3), the pair is poised to release their collaborative album Yo!88 on Dec. 10 — further asserting TM88’s consistency and relevance in striving to be the best he can be.
TM88, Pi’erre Bourne announce upcoming album ‘Yo!88’ with lead single ‘Block Boy’
Discussing how the producer grind has significantly changed in recent years — as it is now easier for producers to gain exposure and make money — the longtime curator and beatmaker is still gleaming at the top of his game. Focusing on getting his mind and health right — recently living a more reserved and peaceful life as compared to previous years — TM88 is a true example of hard work and dedication to one’s craft, able to inspire aspiring producers along the way.
Speaking openly and honest, the generational producer sat down with OGM host Hakeem Rowe, as the pair discussed his hobbies, Yo!88, “Way 2 Sexy,” 808 Mafia, Pi’erre Bourne, securing placements, and more in his Our Generation exclusive interview.
Watch TM88’s OGM exclusive below!
Quotable Moments
Hakeem Rowe: What are your whole overall thoughts on chasing placements as a producer?
TM88: “I mean you can chase placements, but it just depends on what you got in this for. Did you get into it to chase placements? Or, did you get into it for the love of it? A lot of us get into it for the love, and it’ll turn into chasing placements you know because you get so wrapped in it. It’s a high. It’s like, I just had five on this album, I need six on the next, I just had three come out on this one and two of them went platinum. You’ll get to a point where you stop kinda liking this shit and you gotta step back, and once you step back you gotta do it because you want to do it.
I think another thing is, a lot of people when they come in, they don’t have the funds to sit back and do it for the love, like bruh I gotta get my money. If you’re chasing, are you chasing for the right reasons? Chasing placements, you might need the bread, you know? To take care of your family or your family member’s surgery or something. It just depends.“
HR: You’re about to have a diamond record…
TM88: “I mean shout out Uzi. Man, You know, thank you -we went crazy on that. It was one of them that we didn’t know was gonna be like this. I told everybody though, this is going to be a song you hear for the rest of your life. At some point, you are going to hear it. I don’t care if it’s at a festival, at a carnival, at a stadium, football game, basketball, baseball, whatever, you are going to hear it at least one time.”
HR: How many times have you known off hearing a beat or a song, and said like “This is it. This is platinum. This is a hit.” Has this happened to you?
TM88: “Once… It was XO… I aint even gonna lie bro.”
