R.I.P. Cadence of Raw Produce

cadence

We have recently lost an amazing person/artist in Seth Boyd aka Cadence from the Boston-based hip-hop group Raw Produce. In the mid-90′s, when we were really first learning how to put records out, Seth selflessly opened his doors to us. I’d travel to his studio in Cambridge as often as I could to soak up knowledge and trade stories with him. In ’97 there weren’t many people that were up for 2-hour long discussions focused on the hi-hat from that one Ultramagnetic b-side or what caused Simply Too Positive to change their name to Organized Konfusion. If the conversations ever veered off into other subjects, I’d usually try and steer us back into hip-hop because I couldn’t keep up with him when it came to politics or social issues…he was too informed. He was wise. He described one of his tracks as “another leftist rant” which immediately put us on the same page politically, yet he knew this stuff cold. Everything I felt, he was able to actually articulate. He had a way of communicating that was always well thought out, yet could spin into a sarcastic rant or clever play on words in an instant. I looked at studio visits or “building” with many artists as an obligation or a chore, but never with him. With Seth there was no ego, no tall tales, no war stories, just a modest exchange of ideas, most of them fueled by the desire to create the next great hip-hop record. In ’95, he did: Raw Produce’s single “Cycles” is one of the most moving, beautifully constructed hip-hop singles in Boston history. We met Seth and his partner Damian (Pitch) through the Vinyl Reanimators and we learned a lot from them both. Seth appeared twice on our Soul Purpose album, on “State of the Art” and then “My Rhyme Pt. 2.” I remember recording that one with him, and remembering how “Lakim Shabazz” his ad-libs were. I was jealous, but thankful he lent a helping hand to the track. Last time I spoke with him, he mentioned to me that he was recording and performing with Sammy B and Mike G (of the Jungle Brothers), Zimbabwe Legit, and YZ….and that he rocked with them and Stetsasonic at the Knitting Factory in NYC (more jealousy). He also shared a track he did with Grand Puba. These things, based on all of our conversations, gave me every indication that Seth was living his dream. He will certainly be missed, but never forgotten. RIP Seth. “The phrase turner Cadence here to set it, don’t forget it, taking out more muthaf***ers than radio edits.”