3 DAYS IN THE STUDIO WITH SUNSPOT JONZ (LIVING LEGENDS)  

Welcome to Data Stream , downstairs at
the legendary Hyde Street studios, in S.F.

Bruce " Banner" Leighton has helped record, mix and compose many classic Hip Hop albums in this small yet magical room.

Artists who have recorded here include:

Spice 1, Del, Public Enemy, Paris, The Coup, The Living Legends and many more.

Thanks to my rellie, Neurotic Nate, who used to intern there, I recorded my first solo album with Bootleg in this studio. being able to work in this studio was one of the most exciting experiences for me as an artist. We went on to record some Earthling material that never got turned into an album, but you never know...

I started doing a little production for Sunspot from Legends last year (A song called "Reallionare", off his album "Back In Black"- one of his million albums he was working on). This cat has the illest work ethic I have ever seen, I asked him how many songs a day he thinks he gets done on average... Two. How the fuck does that happen!? That is crazy to me. And I thought I work hard. So, anyways, Sunspeezy invited me to sit in for a few days, throw my opinon in the mix, produce a song for his next album, and rap on one for mine. Hella blunts, hella work, hella fun though. Thanks Spotoven, for the lesson in how to get shit done... (And Bruce for schooling me on a million different things about recording)...

Sunspot was making songs from scratch, Bruce and him have been working together for 15 years, so things move quick and intuitively. Bruce plays keys, guitar, and whatever else is lying around the studio. Plus he's a weed head,so that helps. You can see the homie Butch Jenkins throwing up some sort of weird westside in the background. He is a trip. He works at Hyde Street, but I'm not sure what his job is really. He makes runs to the store for drinks and food, and is just lounging in the studio at all times. Every once in awhile he"ll crack a joke, and when its blunt time, he never turns it down...



Sunspot writes all his rhymes on his IPhone, pacing around the studio in perfect concentration. Somehow, he manages to block out all conversation, and crank out several songs in a row after making the beats.



Coffee is a must! I arrived at the studio early- early for me, 10 am. I usually am not functioning that early. But work is work, and it is motivating to be working on some shit you actually like doing...



Bruce is real nice on the keys, he played alot of instruments on The Coup's classic album, " Steal This Album" (I think. It's on the wall, and I remember Either Boot or Neurotic Nate telling me that).




Sunspot makes alot of use out of his apple laptop, the brain center for all music he creates. How high do I look in that pic?



This is Bruce playing the guitar with a talkbox for this song I helped work on called "Crackin'". Funny, funky ish...



I'm still not sure if Butch is throwing up a Dub, or some old school ish I'm not up on...



My beat, tracked out, for Sunspot's album. The song, "Endure", came out siccccccccccccck.



Dammmmn. The sudio starts feeling like you are going around in circles after 8 hours. Hahahaha. (Actually, I accidently put that pic in twice, and made a joke out of it).



Spice 1 recorded here. Nuff said.



Some of the greats who have added to the history and energy of the studio...



Caffeine. Food. Lots of it. The black bean chicken next door is off the hook. Somehow, I decided to keep bringing donuts each day...



This guy is responsible for some of the most interesting music you have ever heard. Bruce. Banner. One.