1. “I used to tap beats in class and at lunch in sixth grade. And those were my first instruments:
two Bic pens and a school desk. I believe every producer’s first instruments are those.” –Jhenet
Tait
Tait, also known as Beatz McGee, is an artist and producer from The Bronx, New York. Since
her birth in 1989, music has always been a part of Tait’s life. Growing up, her family owned an
electric keyboard and a young Tait would always play it on automated DEMO. The first tune she
recalls learning is “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige. Describing this time, Tait says, “I was 5-
years-old performing for my mom and friends at her job.”
When she was 8-years-old, after deciding she wanted to play several instruments, Tait’s mom
bought her an electric drum set and a guitar. “I remember my grandmother calling my mother to
let us know when all of Michael Jackson’s videos would debut.” Along with Jackson, other
artists were also influential for Tait, including Al Green, Anita Baker, Queen, Stevie Wonder,
Pat Mentheny, George Michael, Billy Paul and Alicia Myers.
Also significant for Tait was a music shop near her home called Moodie’s Records. Originally
located in the White Plains Road neighborhood of The Bronx, Moodie’s was first opened in 1982
by Earl Moodie, Sr., as a way to provide Bronx residents with hard-to-find vinyl records. Tait
recalls seeing artists like Fabolous, Lil Mo, Fat Joe, City High and Ashanti at Moodie’s. “Being
able to access big artists just a block away from my home influenced a lot,” Tait says. “Dreams
became attainable.”
These moments all foreshadowed what was to come later in Tait’s life: music as both a career
and passion.
A Hip-Hop Education
Tait first began producing in her late teens, early 20s. The first beat she learned to recreate was
“FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt” by Jay Z ft. Rick Ross produced by Boi-1da, Vinylz, Timbaland
and J-Roc. Artists like Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, J. Dilla, No I.D., Guru, Just Blaze and
Noah “40” Shebib have played a huge role in Tait’s evolution as a producer. “They’re just

2. amazing. The skills, the feeling, the vibration, and style; they’re unfuckwithable. Masters of their
craft. That’s how I want to be.”
Hip-hop has always played a huge role in her life. Growing up in the Bronx, hip-hop artists and
the messages they rapped over beats was something Tait was familiar with, it was a world she
knew.
One of her biggest inspirations is Kanye West. Tait describes how she first learned of West: “My
brother, who is like the ultimate A&R, came to me one day and was like, ‘yo, Roc-A-Fella has
this new artist I think you’re going to like him.’ I heard ‘Through the Wire’ and since then, I’ve
never stopped listening to Kanye.”
“The College Dropout” is Tait’s favorite West album. The album relates to her on both a
personal and professional level. Songs like “All Falls Down,” “Spaceship,” “Jesus Walks” and
“Never Let Me Down” capture many of the “trials, tribulations and adversities that we go
through as young struggling musicians,” adds Tait.
Another important figure is Oscar Acevedo, owner of H.I.T.M (pronounced Hit’em) Productions,
one of the largest music production companies in The Bronx. Acevedo is Tait’s mentor. “He is
the reason why I am technically able,” she states. From audio engineering to DJing, Acevedo
taught Tait.
The Style of Beatz McGee
Tait describes her own production style as a sort of mix between Kanye, Timbaland, Swizz
Beatz, Pharrell and a bit of Disclosure. “I don’t necessarily have one sound or project one
genre,” she states, and adds, “depending on how I feel I could make anything from hip hop to
house music.”
Tait has taught herself to use programs like GarageBand, Logic Pro X and Maschine. Currently,
Maschine and MPC Touch are her preferred weapons of choice, so to speak. Along with teaching
herself the latest technology in music production, Tait also plays the piano and creates music

3. daily, working for at least eight hours every day. “Sometimes I’ll go to Central Park and create a
tune or if I go on vacation, I’ll make music when I’m away,” Tait states.
This dedication is both inspiring and necessary. Tait adds that presenting your work to other
artists and producers can be nerve-wracking. “Sometimes, you don’t know how someone will
receive your music,” says Tait. But despite the nerves, she welcomes constructive criticism—she
has received it from listeners as well as industry professionals—adding that she finds “positivity
in moments that might not be so positive.”
Along with West, Drake and Jahron Anthony Braithwaite, better known as PartyNextDoor, are
two of her current favorite artists. Her three favorite producers are Boi-1da, Jimmy Jam and
Terry Lewis and Disclosure. Tait hopes to one day be as influential as these idols. She hopes her
music can encourage future generations.
Tait adds, “I want to give women a sense of pride in knowing that we can do all things. It’s about
being confident and loving what you do.”