B.R. Gunna | Main

Bold and brash, two young guns from Detroit crank out beats like a sonic wrecking ball. Both just shy of 21, Curtis "Black" Cross and Ralph "Young R.J." Rice are already hip hop studio veterans. As a unit, they are the production duo B.G. Gunna and their skills are impeccable.

Introduced as teenagers with family ties in the music business, the two found a common interest in musical mechanics. Influenced by everyone from Radiohead to Master P to 1970s soul jams, B.R. Gunna is a force gaining momentum. Their discipline of craftship and diligence take it to the next level.

"We might have a concept of our own, or we might find an artist who lays the foundation and we make beats around it. It depends on what type of vibe we're going for," Young R.J. says. "We're concerned with sound and the feel of it. If you can't stop playing it over and over, then it's dope."

Molded by intense studio sessions within the Slum Village camp, B.R. Gunna are the next generation of producers to explode out of the Detroit hip hop scene. The common equation is crisp, fresh and funky beats, leaving a dent in the sheet metal of the Detroit sound.

Their arsenal isn't flashy, with the classic MPC 3000 dominating their production approach. Their savy sound is built on original beats, without over-processed hoopla. It's this careful combination of elements that defines the B.R. Gunna sound.

"We pay attention to how we use bass tones, how our drums sound, how we mix our tracks and the way we use samples. We're not too crazy in our attempt to be different," Black says.