Mike & Keys, formerly known as The Futuristiks, is the Grammy-nominated production powerhouse that has carved out a distinct niche in the music industry with their innovative use of Reason and a focus on sound over song. From creating chart-topping hits for Nipsey Hussle, Eminem, and many others, Michael Ray Cox Jr. (Money Mike) and John Groover (J-Keys) they reveal their creative process and the keys to their success. Discover how this dynamic duo continues to shape the sound of the West Coast and beyond.
How did you get into music production and what’s your background?
Mike: Both of us came from church backgrounds and musical families. We met on Myspace and we started collaborating together using Reason 2 around 2004.
Keys: I learned production in piano class in high school, and in college I would do beat battles and sell beats on Rocbattle. Mike & I had a lot of mutual friends, so it just evolved organically.
How come you choose Reason as your primary DAW?
Mike: Keys got Reason when he was in college in Sacramento. We stuck with it because it was the underdog and everyone was using all the other programs.
Keys: It was the first software we learned and knew the music was going to change into that. We started on hardware, and liked that no one else was really using Reason at the time.
What are you working on at the moment?
We just released an album with Dave East called “APT 6E,” and our production was on seven songs on Tha Dogg Pound’s “WAWG” album. We also taught a class at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and spoke at Berklee Valencia. We have a lot of exciting collaborative projects coming out, and being very intentional about working with artists internationally to be inspired by their sounds and create new music together.
How has Reason influenced your music production workflow compared to other music software?
Mike: Best workflow in the game!
Keys: Reason’s sound quality, stock sounds, and effects have a unique sound that a lot of programs don’t have. We created a sound with sounds that came from Reason, and made it our own.
What would you say is your biggest career highlight so far?
Mike: Being Grammy nominated for the music we made with our brother on “Victory Lap.”
Keys: Enjoying success with Nip — someone we spent so much time with and shared so much of our journey with — is a major accomplishment.
What are your favorite Reason devices or features, and how do they shape your sound?
Mike: The NN/XT and Redrum are central to our production.
Keys: The Subtractor is signature to our sound because of the bass sounds; we use them daily.
How do you stay creative and inspired when working on new tracks?
Mike: Traveling!
Keys: Working with musicians and other producers that inspire us, and watching legends on Youtube make beats, be in studio, and create special moments.
In what ways has Reason evolved since you first started using it, and how have these changes impacted your production style?
Mike: A lot of ways – it went from not being able to use VSTs to being able to, which enhances our production style because we can use other sounds.
Keys: The fact that we can record live instruments, we are able to really work with musicians really well now without sampling them. We can record vocals in Reason as well.
Favorite things about Reason 13 so far?
Mike: It’s easier to find your sounds and move your favorites.
Keys: I like the synths that were added.
If you could give aspiring producers and beat makers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Mike: Never get comfortable and continue to challenge yourself. Energy is everything.
Keys: Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you how to do your music because the music is part of you. It’s your identity, so let people know you for you.
Follow Mike & Keys
Instagram: @mike_n_keys
X: @mike_n_keysstan
How did you get into music production and what’s your background?
Mike: Both of us came from church backgrounds and musical families. We met on Myspace and we started collaborating together using Reason 2 around 2004.
Keys: I learned production in piano class in high school, and in college I would do beat battles and sell beats on Rocbattle. Mike & I had a lot of mutual friends, so it just evolved organically.
How come you choose Reason as your primary DAW?
Mike: Keys got Reason when he was in college in Sacramento. We stuck with it because it was the underdog and everyone was using all the other programs.
Keys: It was the first software we learned and knew the music was going to change into that. We started on hardware, and liked that no one else was really using Reason at the time.
What are you working on at the moment?
We just released an album with Dave East called “APT 6E,” and our production was on seven songs on Tha Dogg Pound’s “WAWG” album. We also taught a class at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and spoke at Berklee Valencia. We have a lot of exciting collaborative projects coming out, and being very intentional about working with artists internationally to be inspired by their sounds and create new music together.
How has Reason influenced your music production workflow compared to other music software?
Mike: Best workflow in the game!
Keys: Reason’s sound quality, stock sounds, and effects have a unique sound that a lot of programs don’t have. We created a sound with sounds that came from Reason, and made it our own.
What would you say is your biggest career highlight so far?
Mike: Being Grammy nominated for the music we made with our brother on “Victory Lap.”
Keys: Enjoying success with Nip — someone we spent so much time with and shared so much of our journey with — is a major accomplishment.
What are your favorite Reason devices or features, and how do they shape your sound?
Mike: The NN/XT and Redrum are central to our production.
Keys: The Subtractor is signature to our sound because of the bass sounds; we use them daily.
How do you stay creative and inspired when working on new tracks?
Mike: Traveling!
Keys: Working with musicians and other producers that inspire us, and watching legends on Youtube make beats, be in studio, and create special moments.
In what ways has Reason evolved since you first started using it, and how have these changes impacted your production style?
Mike: A lot of ways – it went from not being able to use VSTs to being able to, which enhances our production style because we can use other sounds.
Keys: The fact that we can record live instruments, we are able to really work with musicians really well now without sampling them. We can record vocals in Reason as well.
Favorite things about Reason 13 so far?
Mike: It’s easier to find your sounds and move your favorites.
Keys: I like the synths that were added.
If you could give aspiring producers and beat makers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Mike: Never get comfortable and continue to challenge yourself. Energy is everything.
Keys: Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you how to do your music because the music is part of you. It’s your identity, so let people know you for you.
Follow Mike & Keys
Instagram: @mike_n_keys
X: @mike_n_keysstan
