Bob Robinson from the legendary manufacturing duo Tim & Bob joined us not too long ago on Instagram Reside for an unique interview. Throughout our dialog, Case took us by means of the creation of a few of his greatest hits. We additionally speak to him about his manufacturing approach and discover out what he’s as much as as of late.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak about engaged on Boyz II Males’s “II” album.
Bob Robinson: It was across the time when Dallas went by means of this part the place he wasn’t feeling artistic as a result of his finest pal obtained killed. That actually messed Dallas up as a result of they had been about to be a manufacturing crew. He would give us all of the initiatives. First we had been working with One other Dangerous Creation and we had been working with Wanya on it. That’s how we began with him and we did half of One other dangerous Creation’s second album. After working with Wanya in Atlanta, he was like “I’ve to get you to Philly”. We had been already in awe working with Wanya as a result of they had been the most important group on this planet. We had been presupposed to solely be there for every week however we had been there for a month. Dallas like “You guys have to come back again to Atlanta!”. It was cool to go as much as Philly and actually lock in with the fellows. They had been such cool guys. We had a lot enjoyable engaged on that album. The group ended up flying us to Nevada to work on the album and it was in the course of the mountains with snow. Guys had been driving round on horses and all of those individuals knew who Boyz II Males was. Tim and I had been simply two guys from Illinois. For us to work on the most important group on this planet, it was superb. The artistic vibes had been simply flowing. “50 Candles” was one of the crucial memorable classes ever. Afterwards we ended up working in Los Angeles with the group. Tim was like “Nah, we don’t mess with LA. We heard they’ve earthquakes and stuff”. The group was like “Come on!”. We flew to LA and we spent the day driving round taking a look at sights. Wayna was simply displaying us town. That night time, that’s once they had an enormous earthquake. Our first night time was one of many greatest earthquakes the nation had ever seen. It was a loopy expertise.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak in regards to the work on Monica’s debut “Miss Thang” and the document “With You”.
Bob Robinson: I believe that music can be dope to come back out proper now. The way in which it sounds with the 808 and that pattern. I nonetheless don’t know what pattern Tim used. Tim was doing one thing again then that folks weren’t doing. He was sampling and placing them in ballads. I don’t assume Tim will get sufficient credit score for that as a result of that was the factor that made our songs sound totally different. It was actual progressive. I bear in mind when she minimize numerous these information on the album, she couldn’t be any older than 13. You might hear the maturity in her voice. It was difficult to write down for her as a result of there was solely a lot you possibly can discuss. She appeared like a grown lady. That was an incredible expertise.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Your work on the primary 112 album was loopy!
Bob Robinson: We went as much as New York and did the album. We had a ball. So many recollections with that too. It’s humorous as a result of once they first selected “Solely You” as the one, Montell Jordan had a music utilizing the identical pattern. We referred to as Puff like “We have now to go along with a special single. Montell already used that pattern”. Low key we actually needed “Come See Me” to be the primary single. Puff was like “It’s positively going to be the primary single now!”. We thought he was loopy however he was proper. Puff thrives on that kind of stuff.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Take us by means of the early developments of 112 as a result of they’re all nice vocalists.
Bob Robinson: It’s fascinating you say that as a result of that’s one of many issues we’d bump heads with Puff on. They’d 4 leaders which is uncommon in teams. Every of these guys can really sing. After we had been doing the songs, we tried to steadiness it. Puff someday was like “Slim needs to be the lead singer”. We had been like “Huh?” after which Puff was like “No, Slim is the lead singer”. Now I perceive it as a result of he was stressing the significance of each group needing to have a lead singer. Puff made an government choice and that’s how that went. It was nonetheless mutually respect between the fellows as a result of they had been all so proficient. That’s one factor 112 doesn’t get sufficient writing for. Their writing is so underrated. “Cupid” is only one instance of it. Even after we weren’t within the studio and we had been simply engaged on songs in the home, numerous getting them to sing in entrance of individuals as a result of they had been so quiet. They had been tremendous introverted like myself. Whereas we had been engaged on their album in New York, that they had this lady group referred to as 211 that was simply as dope as them. I can’t bear in mind how that fell aside, however 112 was writing all their information. We had been simply serving to them with the manufacturing. That was when Dangerous Boy took over the world. It was very humbling for me as a result of simply after we assume Puff doesn’t know what he’s speaking about, it really labored.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Take us by means of the artistic course of for Sisqo’s “Thong Tune”
Bob Robinson: It’s loopy as a result of throughout that point, we had been attempting to give you stuff for Michael Jackson. We had been attempting to give you progressive stuff. I heard Tim sampling one thing and I began pondering of some melodies. Once I heard him doing that, I used to be like “That’s loopy!”. We ended up having a gathering with Sisqo’s supervisor. “Thong Tune” wasn’t even presupposed to go to Sisqo. Tim by chance despatched that music to Sisqo. Subsequent factor you understand, Sisqo was like “I need to mess with that one” and we had been like “That one was for Mike!”. I don’t assume anyone on the label was in a position to see how large was going to be. It barely made the album. In fact the music was dope, however it was so totally different than the remainder of the album. Tim was in LA and he was like “We’re in Sisqo tonight!”. I used to be in Atlanta so I obtained there the following morning. There have been some issues we weren’t on the identical web page as Sisqo, I’ll be trustworthy, we hated the identify “Thong Tune”. That is once they had been tough on censorship and that is once they first began placing the parental advisory stickers on the CD. Each music we’d do, Tim would name his mother first as a result of she was our greatest fan. We took pleasure within the lyrical content material with what we had been doing. We had been hating on the identify. I used to be like “The melody is dope, however are you certain in regards to the title?”. The monitor was so dope although. Once I obtained there, that they had the hook going and it was dope. One factor I like is that we repeated the identical verse over. I believe that’s the dopest factor of the music. The label was like “We’re going to place this as a bonus monitor on the European version of the album” as a result of it was so totally different than his different songs. Subsequent factor you understand, the DJ’s had been forcing “Thong Tune” to be the primary single and the label needed to cease the present single. It was loopy as a result of we simply did a documentary on this music. There was numerous drama that occurred with the music. It was this factor the place Sisqo would by no means point out our names when he was profitable all these awards. Phrase of mouth is how we get work. He refused to say our names and we had been like “Is that this as a result of we didn’t just like the title?”. It’s loopy as a result of that music was in litigation for 3 years as a result of his concepts on the music weren’t his. They had been his cousin’s and Sisqo by no means disclosed that to us. He additionally didn’t inform us that he didn’t deal with clearing the pattern on that document. It was all a studying expertise.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak in regards to the work you probably did with Tank again in 2009. Songs like “Misplaced In You” had been bangers, however they by no means got here out. What occurred to that challenge?
Bob Robinson: These had been among the craziest songs we’d ever executed. We had been working with Tank on his challenge on Blackground. We had been additionally working with this white artist on the label named J Lewis. We had been in a groove. They’d given us the entrance finish cash already and we left the studio on a regular basis like “Wow!”. Barry Hankerson shut every little thing down. Jomo referred to as us and was like “We’re going to close every little thing down”. Barry didn’t need to do music anymore. Barry was come to the studio and loving the information. We had been like two months in on their initiatives and someday he was like “I’m executed with the music enterprise”. We thought that Barry simply had a foul week and he would name us again. We simply went again to work. It was bizarre. Tank was as stunned as we had been. That was loopy, however all of these songs are on YouTube. They’re lovely songs too. That’s the way it goes although. Simply Bobby V alone, he may put out an unreleased EP of stuff that didn’t go on his album that we did. Individuals would assume he had a brand new album. You simply study to not be so connected as a result of these songs may not come out. It’s a must to simply love the information and transfer on or else you’ll find yourself driving your self loopy. These Tank songs had been particular! It was magic within the studio each night time working with Tank.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Speak about you and Tim going your separate methods these previous couple of years after which creating music by yourself.
Bob Robinson: It’s loopy as a result of after we first began working collectively, I used to be 17 and I’m 48 now. I discovered loads from Tim and I can nonetheless hear him saying “Don’t play it like this. Play it like that!”. Then you definately discover different issues too as a result of Tim and I by no means went to sure locations creatively whether or not it was Tamar Braxton or some indie movies. These had been fully than the trail I used to be taking with Tim & Bob. It was cool to discover creativity. That’s what’s cool about now after we’re working individually. Individuals count on a sure factor from Tim & Bob. LA Reid taught us that the patron will inform you what they need from you. I believe it is a cool time to discover. I’ve collaborated with youthful guys and I’m honored when somebody calls me to work. A whole lot of marriages don’t final half that lengthy. That’s a very long time to have a friendship with somebody and being artistic. It was difficult for each of us. We could have simply obtained uninterested in one another. *Laughs* It’s cool to see what Tim is doing now with SRG. He was telling me some cool initiatives which are developing. Who is aware of, we would shock all people and reunite on a few issues.